What is a claimant?

The claimant is the person or business filing an insurance claim—either you claiming on your own policy (first-party claim) or someone claiming against your liability policy (third-party claim).

What you need to know

When a customer who slipped in your restaurant files a claim, they’re the claimant. When you file a claim for fire damage to your kitchen, you’re the claimant.

Why it matters for restaurant owners

Understanding who the claimant is helps you grasp how different types of claims work. First-party claims (you as claimant) involve your property or business income policies. Third-party claims (customer or vendor as claimant) involve your liability policies. The claims process, your involvement, and your insurance company’s role differ significantly based on who’s the claimant.