Navigating sketchy local insurance companies - tips and cautionary tales

Had a bit of a run-in recently with one of those smaller, local insurers that handle high-risk policies. Learned the hard way to always, always document every single conversation - emails, phone calls, everything. Saved my butt when they tried to deny coverage over some tiny technicality. Curious if anyone else has dealt with these sketchier insurers and found other useful tricks or hacks to keep them honest...