Duty to Mitigate

The “Duty to Mitigate” is a legal requirement in every insurance policy that obligates the homeowner to take reasonable steps to prevent further damage after a loss occurs. For example, if a storm damages your roof, you must tarp the hole to prevent rain from destroying the interior. If a homeowner fails to mitigate damage, the carrier may legally deny coverage for any “secondary damage” that occurred because the property was left exposed to the elements after the initial event.