Recovering From the Loss of Vandalism

If you experience property damage or vandalism to your home, vehicle, office space, or anything else, you'll want to know what to do. When in a tense situation, you may have a hard time deciding what the appropriate course of action is. 

You must understand what needs to be done to begin the process of a vandalism insurance claim so that you can get the best settlement. You want to ensure you don't accidentally void your insurance and have your vandalism claim denied. 

What To Do Following the Vandalism of Your Property

Before filing a vandalism insurance claim, call the police and don't touch anything until they have assessed your home or damaged property. You'll need to have a police report prepared for your insurance claim.

You can, however, secure the property to avoid any further damage, like temporarily boarding up a broken window. Do your best to list what was damaged or stolen from your property. Having photographic evidence can help your claim, so take a lot of pictures of the damage.

However, first and foremost, be sure it is safe to return to the property. If there are concerns there may be vandals still inside, avoid going in until police arrive.

Getting an Adjuster to Document the Damage

Call your insurance agency immediately and speak to a vandalism damage claims adjuster.

Even though you've taken stock of the damage, stolen property, and its value, an adjuster will need to create a vandalism insurance claim and take as many details from you about the incident as possible.

The agent will review your insurance coverage to see what will be covered. Make sure you provide the claims adjuster with as much detail as you can, and make sure they have the photos you took of the damage done.

Getting Estimates for the Insurance Claim

Your claims adjuster can help you find local contractors who can help secure your property, review the damage, and fix it. Even with their help, you can always hire an independent contractor for a second opinion, quote, or who can complete the repairs.

If you hire an independent contractor, ensure that it doesn't void anything in the vandalism insurance claim contract. The last thing you want is to null the eligibility of your claim and have to pay for repairs and replacement of items yourself.

Let the Public Adjuster Negotiate on Your Behalf

Hiring a public adjuster may be worthwhile. A public adjuster can negotiate the damage claim on your behalf, particularly if the damage to your property is substantial. 

A public adjuster will exclusively represent and advocate for you and will get you the best outcome for repairs, replacements, or reimbursements from the insurance claim.

A public adjuster will make the process of filing a claim easier and will make sure you can get the highest amount you're entitled to. You can bring in a public adjuster at any point in the process, even after receiving your claim decision.

Getting the Best Settlement

To get the best settlement out of your vandalism insurance claim, having complete and thorough documentation about the incident, what is missing, and what is damaged is imperative.

Provide your adjuster with as much detail as possible. By using a public adjuster to help you negotiate and understand your policy to its fullest potential, you will get the best settlement.

If you're ready to work with an insurance agency that values you and will make the process simple, it's time to speak with TSO Adjustment Service. Request an appointment with one of our agents by using our online form or call us at (215) 886-7440.