GET HELP - Vandalism Damage and Theft Insurance Claims

Miami Dade and Broward

Property owners in either commercial or residential properties have a risk of theft and vandalism. There are many factors that can increase or decrease these risks - such as location of the property, type of business, economic levels of the community, time of the year. Regardless, vandalism or stolen property is not an enjoyable situation and can be very frustrating to handle. Pubic Adjusters in Miami work with owners to get a clear understanding of the scenario and make sure the insurance claim is handled correctly.



The definition of these types of claims is very relevant and should be understood. Vandalism is explained and defined at answers.com as the following:



The intentional and malicious destruction of or damage to the property of another.



The intentional destruction of property is popularly referred to as vandalism. It includes behavior such as breaking windows, slashing tires, spray painting a wall with graffiti, and destroying a computer system through the use of a computer virus. Vandalism is a malicious act and may reflect personal ill will, although the perpetrators need not know their victim to commit vandalism. The recklessness of the act imputes both intent and malice.



Because the destruction of public and private property poses a threat to society, modern statutes make vandalism a crime. The penalties upon conviction may be a fine, a jail sentence, an order to pay for repairs or replacement, or all three. In addition, a person who commits vandalism may be sued in a civil tort action for damages so that the damaged property can be repaired or replaced.



Read more: http://www.answers.com/topic/vandalism



The most common type of property vandalism can occur when tenants are evicted from a commercial or residential property. In the event the property owners enforce their rights to evict, these tenants have no regard or respect for the owner or property. In some cases the tenants completely trash the premises, making holes in the walls, graffiti, smashing appliances and fixtures, and many other damaging things. There is coverage for this vandalism, a Public Adjusting team will make sure you have the appropriate coverage and then begin outlining the loss to proceed with an insurance claim.



Here's an article and photo of a commercial property vandalized.





In addition to vandalism, there are many times in which theft occurs on the property. Theft is explained on answers.com as the following:



In law, the crime of taking the property or services of another without consent. Under most statutes, theft encompasses the crimes of larceny, robbery, and burglary. Larceny is the crime of taking and carrying away the goods of another with intent to steal. Grand larceny, or larceny of property of substantial value, is a felony, whereas petty larceny, or larceny of less valuable property, is a misdemeanor. The same principle applies to grand theft and petty theft, which need not necessarily involve the "carrying away" of property and may include the theft of services. Robbery is an aggravated form of larceny involving violence or the threat of violence directed against the victim in his presence. Burglary is defined as the breaking and entering of the premises of another with an intent to commit a felony within.



Read more: http://www.answers.com/topic/theft



It can happen to you. Whenever there are items of value that are accessible by someone other than the owner of those items, there exists the risk that those items can be stolen. It's always recommended to have a detailed documentation of items before an unfortunate event of theft occurs. Take photos of valuables, appliances, fixtures, computers, and other items. Remember to check with your insurance company regarding specific items and if a specific rider needs to be purchased to maintain coverage. This is often the case with jewelry, firearms, antique collectibles, and fine art.



Hiring a professional who will approach the situation clearly to be able to successfully recovery what you deserve is essential when facing an insurance claim for theft and property vandalism.

Information Needed When Filing A Claim

Try to have as much of the following information as possible available when calling us to file a claim.
To start the claims process, we will need the following information:

Policyholder information: Name of insured, address, phone number, e-mail and policy number Description of loss: Time and date of loss, location of incident, detailed description of damages Authority notification: Please note all authorities notified (fire dept., police, etc.) Emergency Service Companies & Damage Mitigation: Please let us know if you have already contacted any emergency service companies or performed any sort of damage mitigation.

If you are not sure if you need a public adjuster, give us a call at (305) 396-9110 or fill out one of our contact forms.