In order to recover for a loss from an insurance company, you first have to report the loss.  In the legal/insurance parlance, this is called reporting a claim.  Insurance policies typically have a “duty of cooperation” clause.  What this means is that when you report a loss to your insurance company, you must cooperate and provide them information regarding the loss.  Keep in mind this discussion is related only to dealing with your insurance company, the one you pay to protect you.  You do not owe a duty to cooperate to someone else’s insurance company though there are situations in which that might be beneficial to you.