Memphis Vandalism Insurance Lawyers
Helping policyholders obtain full compensation when their real or personal property is vandalized
Sadly, teens, adults, competitors, and others may vandalize your home, commercial property, and personal possessions. The police should investigate to identify those who vandalized your property, and to give the district attorney an opportunity to hold them accountable by filing criminal charges. At McWherter Scott & Bobbitt, we file civil claims with your insurance company for any damage due to vandalism, regardless of the outcome of any criminal cases. Our experienced Memphis vandalism lawyers help our clients show what property suffered damage, and work to obtain compensation for the cost to repair or replace the items that have been damaged due to vandalism pursuant to the terms of your insurance policy.
How can we help?
- What is vandalism?
- What should you do if your property suffers vandalism in Memphis?
- How do your insurance dispute lawyers fight for victims of vandalism?
- What types of repairs are necessary when vandalism occurs in Memphis?
- How can policyholders reduce the risk of vandalism?
- Do you have a Memphis vandalism insurance lawyer near me?
What is vandalism?
The criminal definition
Tennessee’s criminal statute (Section 39-14-408) defines vandalism as causing damage or destruction to another’s real or personal property. The statute also includes other definitions. Vandalism includes polluting, defacing, reducing the value of, and other types of harm to real and personal property.
The civil definition
Your insurance policy should define what types of vandalism the carriers will cover, how to file vandalism claims, and how to value the damage that vandalism causes. Vandalism generally includes any destruction of real or personal property that prevents the owner from using and enjoying their property and any loss in value of the property. Examples of vandalism include:
- Breaking doors or windows
- Defacing property
- Destroying landscaping, such as cutting down trees
- Intentionally causing floods or fires
- Spray painting
- Many other acts
Most of the time, your homeowner’s policy should cover vandalism damage to your dwelling, other structures such as fences, and your personal property. Commercial liability policies should typically cover vandalism damage to buildings, structures, inventory, equipment, and other real and personal property.
You may not be covered if you leave your property vacant for a specified length of time unless you arrange for a vacancy endorsement.
What should you do if your property suffers vandalism in Memphis?
If vandalism occurs, homeowners and businesses should:
- Contact their local police
- Take pictures or videos of the damage
- Make temporary repairs, like boarding up windows, to prevent further damage until your insurance claim can be resolved
- File a claim with your insurance carrier
Vandalism victims should also contact our Memphis vandalism insurance lawyers. We’re here to help you assert your right to compensation under the terms of your insurance policy.
How do your insurance dispute lawyers fight for victims of vandalism?
At McWherter Scott & Bobbitt, we advocate for policyholders when vandalism occurs in the following ways:
- We promptly file your insurance claim with the appropriate insurance carriers – home and
- We hire contractors and valuation experts (appraisers) who can identify the damage to your real and personal property and determine whether repairs are possible or whether you need to replace the property. These experts can also determine the cost to repair the property that can be fixed, determine the fair market value of the property that can’t be repaired, and analyze the cost to replace your property.
- When your insurance policy includes replacement cost coverage, we argue for full replacement value, which is generally higher than actual cash value.
- We also seek insurance benefits to allow you to relocate temporarily if the vandalism prevents you from using your property until the necessary repair work is completed.
Our Memphis vandalism insurance lawyers help assess your business interruption losses if vandalism prevents you from operating any covered business, including for-profit and non-profit businesses. The damage amount may include the cost to notify your customers, pay your fixed costs while you relocate, keep your IT running, meet your payroll obligations, and your lost profits.
Our Memphis insurance dispute lawyers also work to contest any efforts by the insurance carrier to deny your claim, limit the value of your claim, or use bad faith tactics to pressure you into a low settlement.
What types of repairs are necessary when vandalism occurs in Memphis?
At McWherter Scott & Bobbitt, we work with experts who remove graffiti, properly paint over property that has been defaced, disinfect your property, get rid of noxious orders, remove dangerous chemicals, install new windows and doors, and make many other repairs.
Vandalism can be extremely costly if the perpetrators damage utility systems, computer equipment, business equipment, and other essential parts of a home or business.
How can policyholders reduce the risk of vandalism?
Some of the safety measures home and business owners should consider protecting their property from vandalism in the following ways:
- Install security video systems that are visible to anyone who might want to damage your property
- Install security alarm systems to alert you if someone intrudes on your property
- Install fences and other structures to control access to your property
- Lock all your doors and windows
Home and commercial property owners should also keep an inventory of all their possessions.
Do you have a Memphis vandalism insurance lawyer near me?
Yes. We meet policyholders at our Memphis office located at 6000 Poplar Ave. McWherter Scott & Bobbitt also consults with clients by phone and through online video platforms like Zoom and FaceTime. When necessary, our lawyers will review the vandalism damage in person.
We’ve helped many insurance policyholders obtain the full compensation they deserve.
Get help from our Memphis vandalism insurance lawyers today
The damage from vandalism is more than just your financial damages. Someone has deliberately violated your trust and your peace of mind. The criminal justice system should help address the violations against your person. At McWherter Scott & Bobbitt, we work to ensure your insurance company pays you the proceeds you deserve because you paid the premiums. Please call us or complete our contact form today to schedule a consultation.
Our lawyers also file insurance claims throughout Tennessee and in Mississippi, Kentucky, Alabama, Arkansas, Missouri, and Georgia.