Falling Objects Structural Inspection Checklist

This Structural Inspection Checklist guides you through examining a building after a falling object has struck it, from the roof and framing down to walls, ceilings, and support elements. It focuses on the hidden structural damage that is easy to miss when only the surface impact is obvious.

The most costly falling-object damage is often the damage you cannot see — cracked framing, compromised trusses, or shifted load-bearing elements behind an intact-looking wall. When that damage is left off the initial claim, it becomes a dispute later. Undocumented or overlooked damage is a leading reason insurance claims get denied or underpaid.

Work through each structural area in order, noting any damage and flagging anything that needs a licensed inspection. Record what you find on the falling-object damage documentation form so the structural findings join the rest of your loss record, then submit the complete file with your falling-object insurance claim.