There is nothing more frustrating than becoming a victim of vandalism or theft, and billions of dollars are lost each year because of it. While police can perform an investigation and perhaps apprehend the offenders, having insurance coverage can give you financial protection.
Understanding Theft and Vandalism
Most incidents of theft will be covered within homeowner’s insurance. However, it is the responsibility of policyholders to ensure that the information regarding their valuables is accurate. Another challenge involving claims of theft or vandalism is the issue of who actually owned the stolen or damaged goods. This is why accurate inventory is extremely important as it helps verify you as the owner.
Damage which occurs as the result of vandalism is often included within commercial property insurance, along with homeowner’s insurance. However, there are a number of exceptions that must be considered. For example, has the premises been vacant? Property which has been vacant for a set period of time may not be covered for vandalism.
The losses involved with theft and vandalism may vary widely. If rare artwork or jewels were stolen, the losses could amount of hundreds of thousands. More often, thieves will take off with modest things such as copper pipes, HVAC units, toilets, sinks, cabinets and appliances. Thieves will take anything they can resell, and in some cases they might steal siding and gutters.
How Our Theft and Vandalism Claims Adjusters Can Help
Insurance companies depend heavily on the documentation which is distributed by policyholders to verify ownership and value for their lost goods. These documents might come in the form of receipts, pictures, credit card statements, videos or appraisals. In order for our team to help, it is essential that you be able to provide this evidence.
If you possess no ownership documentation or title for bigger losses, the majority of insurance firms will invoke an examination right which is referred to as EUO. They might also make requests for financial documents to determine ownership along with tax returns to show you had the lifestyle and income necessary to afford the goods. Our claims adjusters at Stone Claims Groups can assist you during this process, ensuring that you’re fairly compensated.
We’ll perform an extensive review of your insurance policy and determine the exclusions or limits for specific items. In many instances, specific merchandise has to be scheduled within your policy to obtain coverage. 3rd party appraisals might also be needed for item scheduling and to determine the maximum amount you’ll be given should theft or vandalism occur.
Why Choose Stone Claims Group, Inc. for Theft and Vandalism Claims?
One of the greatest challenges of theft and vandalism claims is that policyholders often believe that they will be compensated for a specific dollar amount based on schedules established in the appraisal. However, some insurance companies may give you a hard time and try to pay the smallest amount possible, so working with Stone Claims Group can help you get fairly compensated.
To find out more, reach out to one of our professional adjusters by contacting us or calling us at 1-800-892-1116 today.