Vandalism and theft is rampant throughout Miami, FL. People who fall victims to vandalism and theft have a hard time recovering because the things that they have lost or items that are damaged were their personal belongings. It is costly to fix and difficult to deal with especially if it results in filing an insurance claim. Some insurance claims are well aware underpaid for the actual worth of the damaged or stolen items. If your insurance company isn’t giving you the monetary settlement that you deserve, we advise you to contact a licensed Miami public adjuster from Churchill’s public adjuster!
Vandalism and Theft Insurance in Miami
Homeowners insurance vary in what they cover and it also depends on your provider. Part of most insurance companies can include:
- Broken windows and lights
- Someone egged your house
- Someone cut your trees or bushes in your garden
- Someone broke one of your plumbing or drain pipes in Miami, FL
- Your locks are either open or glued shut.
Steps After Your Property Gets Vandalized or Broken Into
You may be worried or stressed out about what to do next if your property has gotten broken into or vandalized or even both. If you’re still unaware of what to do follow these steps to be a little less stressed:
- Call the authorities as soon as you can
- Look through your stuff and see what got stolen and make a list of it
- Call your insurance agent and give them detailed information on vandalism and/or theft
- Check for the accuracy of the police reports
- Send any documents, pictures, or videos to your insurer, this includes any receipts, credit card statements that you can use for evidence
- If your home has been vandalized, let your insurance company know of broken windows and lights and send pictures. Pictures are proof that your insurance company can’t deny.
- Your insurance company will then you give you an estimated amount on your belongings
How To Prevent Vandalism and Theft Especially in Miami
Vandalism and theft is at an all-time high. If you do not want to fall victim to this situation some tips are, but not limited to the following:
- Never tell anyone the details of when you’re going away or on vacation
- Be kind to all your neighbors
- If you can invest in motion detectors or security cameras, it’s a plus
- Always keep your doors, windows, and garage close
- Keep your front yard in great condition always
- Hide your personal belongings
Home Contents Inventory Worksheet by Serafin Martinez on Scribd
FAQ
What’s the difference between vandalism and burglary?
Vandalism is the act of destroying ones’ property by means of graffiti, egging a property, breaking windows, and everything related to damaging a property. Burglary is the act of entering ones’ property without permission this can include, breaking and entering and trespassing,
Will my insurance premium go up after I file a claim?
It depends on the claim you have just filed and/or the amount of claims you’ve made in the past few years and the regulations made. But speaking for Miami, it depends on your insurer, for the most part, your premium should not increase. If you’re worried, speak to your insurance agent on how it can increase.
How can insurance companies determine the amount of my valuables that have been vandalized or stolen?
If you’re wondering why your compensation is so low, it is because your valuables are priced from property appraisals your insurance company hired. They work hand in hand with insurance company which allows them to decrease the actual replacement amount. This is in part due to the kind of item, for example, if you bought something a long time ago, it may not be the same price as it is today.
I don’t have documentations to give my insurance company for the loss, so how can I prove to them that it was taken during a burglary?
Your claim compensation will take a long time for you to obtain because the insurance company is basically relying on your credibility for what is lost or damaged during the vandalism or theft. In this case, your insurance company will inspect your property in and out and they will go over your police report for accuracy.
If I haven’t been home for a long time and my home has been vandalized and burglarized, will my insurance company cover for the damages, or will I?
You will have a hard time when it comes to filing because it will be denied. If you are not home for more than 30 consecutive days, your insurance will not cover you for any damages. However, there is a coverage you can buy for your policy that can help you get covered if you are away from your home for a long time and an incident happens.
