A homeowners-focused carrier writing across five Southeast states had a subrogation unit built around auto. Ishqkala swept 30 months of closed files and found 678 actionable recoveries worth $10.4M, led by fire and product defect files averaging $41,800. Recall matching and Real-Time FNOL Triggers now put a preserve-the-part instruction on new water and fire claims from day one.
The challenge
Fire and water losses drove most of the carrier's severity, but its four-person subrogation unit spent most of its time on auto, where liability was clearer and Arbitration Forums offered a fast path. Product defect and contractor claims need expert inspection and early evidence preservation. By the time a property file reached the unit, the burst supply line was often already in a contractor's dumpster.
The facts were in the file. "Plumber states braided line failed at the coupling." "FD notes origin at the dryer." "Roofer was using a torch on the flat roof." The coded loss cause said water damage or fire, and nobody checked appliance model numbers in estimates and origin reports against recall data.
The approach
- 1
Free Closed-Claim Audit
500 closed homeowners and dwelling fire files went in; the Subrogation Opportunity Manifest came back in five business days with 16 actionable files.
- 2
Full sweep from Duck Creek Claims
A secure SFTP extract delivered 22,600 closed-without-recovery files from 30 months, including Xactimate estimates, plumber and electrician invoices and fire department reports.
- 3
Recall and model matching
Ishqkala pulled make, model and serial numbers from estimates and origin reports and matched them against CPSC recall data. 37 files tied to a recalled appliance or component.
- 4
Evidence-aware scoring
Each product file was scored on whether the failed part had been retained, so counsel received the files with evidence first. The 128 fire and product defect files went out with demand packages and expert report summaries; 360 water and 190 auto files went to the in-house unit.
- 5
Preserve the part at FNOL
Real-Time FNOL Triggers flag new water and fire claims with a likely product or contractor cause, prompting the adjuster to hold the failed component and send inspection notice to potentially liable parties.
“The recall matches got my attention first. Ishqkala tied appliance and fitting model numbers in our water and fire files, including our small commercial book, to recalls we had never checked, and it did it in days. Now our field adjusters get a hold-the-part note on day one instead of a subrogation referral months later.”