What To Do If Your Business or Home is Vandalized

As you are pulling up, you immediately see that the windows have been completely broken. Shards of glass are everywhere. The inside has been ransacked and covered in graffiti. Waves of panic set in – who did this? How long will it take to clean up? Will my insurance cover this?

If your business or home has been vandalized, the first step is to call the police and file a police report. Depending on the extent of the damage, vandalism can be classified as a misdemeanor or felony. Specifically, if the value of the damage is under $1,000, the crime is a misdemeanor. If the vandals caused more than $1,000 of damage or “if there is interruption or impairment of a business operation or public communication, transportation, supply of water, gas or power, or other public service,” then the crime is a third-degree felony[1]. Because of this, it’s important not to clean or make any changes to the site so the police can thoroughly investigate. You will need a copy of the police report for filing an insurance claim.

The next step is to take photos and videos of the vandalism so that the insurance company can see exactly what happened and the condition of your property. If you have photos from before the vandalism, that would be helpful to provide as well, so the insurance company can view a before and after comparison.

At this point, if you have broken windows or doors, you can board those up to prevent water intrusion or additional theft / vandalism. However, hold off on any permanent or non-urgent repairs or clean-ups.

The good news is that most business and home insurance policies cover vandalism. While the specifics of each policy vary, for home insurance, you are likely entitled to compensation for repairing the physical damage, replacing destroyed personal items, and temporary living expenses, such as a hotel or rental apartment while your home is being restored. For a business, you are generally entitled to repair or replace all damaged items and can receive compensation for business interruption, such as income, payroll, taxes, and mortgage / rent.

Securing the full potential value of your coverage can be complex for a vandalism claim, especially if theft is involved as well. Rather than handling this yourself, call the experts at Get Paid For Your Claim. We will promptly come to your business or home and inspect the damage. We may take additional photos and videos to build a compelling case that will prove the full extent of the damage to the insurance company. We can even file the insurance claim on your behalf. When the insurance company adjuster comes, one of our adjusters will accompany them to ensure that they accurately record the damage and its associated repair costs.

Not all public adjusters are experienced in handling vandalism claims. To maximize the compensation you recover, hire a public adjuster who has a track record of success in managing these types of claims, like Get Paid For Your Claim. Contact us today at  (954) 914-5454.

Insurance companies have their own team of experts and insurance adjusters to advocate on their behalf.  At Get Paid For Your Claim, weadvocate for you.  As a licensed and bonded Public Adjuster, we help insurance policyholders who have been forced to use insurance to make a claim.

Our service is fast and to the point.  We get results.  We know how to strategically move the process along, while negotiating on our clients’ behalf toward the best possible outcome — the maximum settlement available.

The earlier a public adjuster is brought into the process, the better the opportunity to help you obtain a more favorable claim settlement. As soon as you engage our team, we swing into action on your behalf.  And, we support you throughout the entire claim process to achieve the maximum insurance recovery. 

For a free inspection and claim consultation, please contact us at any of our convenient Florida locations:

BOCA RATON

2255 Glades Road
Suite 324A
Boca Raton, Florida   33431
Phone: (954) 914-5454

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STUART

1 SE Ocean Blvd
Stuart, Florida   34994
Phone: (954) 914-5454

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FORT MYERS

9160 Forum Corporate Parkway
Suite 350
Fort Myers, Florida   33905
Phone: (954) 914-5454

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WELLINGTON

12161 Ken Adams Way
Suite 110-UU
Wellington, Florida   33414
Phone: (954) 914-5454

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VERO BEACH

601 21st Street
Suite 300
Vero Beach, Florida   32960
Phone: (954) 914-5454

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[1] The Florida Legislature. Statutes & Constitution :View Statutes : Online Sunshine (state.fl.us). Accessed March 3, 2022.