Term of the Week: FNOL (First Notice of Loss)

FNOL — First Notice of Loss is the initial report a policyholder (or agent) makes to the carrier that a loss has occurred. It kicks off the claim: triage, reserves, assignment, and routing.

Why it matters: traditionally, real damage intelligence arrives after an adjuster inspects — days later. When claimants can submit photos at FNOL and get an instant damage read, carriers triage severity, set smarter reserves, and route the right resource on day zero. FNOL stops being a form and becomes the first decision point.