Insurance and Homicide Cleanup
(Hopefully you’ll never need it, but it’s still good to know.)
Written by
Christine Lacagnina has written thousands of insurance-based articles for TrustedChoice.com by authoring consumable, understandable content.
Reviewed by
Paul Martin is the Director of Education and Development for Myron Steves, one of the largest, most respected insurance wholesalers in the southern U.S.
When shopping for a homeowners insurance policy, the last thing you’re probably thinking about is whether the coverage includes something like death cleanup.
The sad truth is that tragic incidents such as homicides and suicides do occur, and sometimes in the home. Having the right kind of coverage can help a catastrophe be handled as smoothly and efficiently as possible.
To help provide at least a financial cushion against the blow from tragic incidents, you’ll want to make sure your homeowners insurance policy lists coverage for death cleanup.
Our independent insurance agents are here to help you get set up with the right homeowners insurance for your specific needs and concerns. But first, let’s take a closer look at why this coverage might be necessary.
What Is Death Cleanup Coverage?
When an accident or other tragic incident occurs that results in deaths in the home, once the initial shock has passed, unfortunately, there’s still a physical mess that must be dealt with.
Depending on the type of incident that took place, especially if an area of the home has become a gruesome crime scene, there may be actual damage to the structure in addition to corpses.
Here are a few things that death cleanup coverage can help with:
- Body removal: Death cleanup coverage can help pay for a biohazard cleaning service to safely remove corpses from your home after an incident. Biohazard cleaning services usually accept homeowners insurance as payment and will even submit the claim on your behalf.
- Bodily fluid cleanup: Sometimes corpses leave behind blood or other bodily fluids that can stain or even severely damage carpeting, walls, or other fixtures in the home. Coverage can help pay for the costs associated with the secondary level of cleanup required after an extreme incident. Note: You should never try to clean up bodily fluids on your own, as you may put yourself at risk of contracting infectious diseases.
- Property damage: If a severe accident or crime took place in the home and resulted in broken windows or other physical damage, death cleanup coverage can provide the funds to repair or replace these features of the home, in addition to the body removal and fluid cleanup costs.
Death cleanup coverage not only takes care of the removal and cleanup of bodies of the deceased, but also aids in repairs and cleanup for the damage inflicted on the home itself. Homeowners with this coverage listed in their policy may find some comfort in knowing that even gruesome incidents can be covered.
Why Would I Need Death Cleanup Coverage?
It might be hard to imagine ever needing death cleanup coverage, but sadly there are several possible circumstances that could warrant having this coverage. Homeowners insurance policies do not discriminate by the type of incident that requires cleanup. There are no exclusions made for purposeful acts vs. accidents.
You might need death cleanup coverage if any of the following were to happen in your home:
- Homicide: Murders and other violent crimes can cause property damage and a mess in the home that extends beyond the physical removal of corpses.
- Suicide: Your death cleanup coverage will not discriminate between homicides and suicides. Both can be equally upsetting and messy tragedies that are costly to clean up after.
- Unattended death: This refers to a body that has been sitting for a while before it’s discovered. Sadly, this can be a fairly common occurrence when it comes to the elderly passing away quietly at home.
- Destructive accidents: Extreme accidents that result in death in your home can leave behind a lot of debris and damage, in addition to any mess caused by the bodies.
- Large animal accidents and deaths: Let’s say a spooked deer jumped through one of your windows, resulting in broken glass, bloodstains, and a decaying carcass. Death cleanup coverage could provide funding for every aspect of the incident requiring cleanup, and even any resulting property damage—depending on your policy.
No homeowner wants to think about the possibility of a tragedy occurring inside what’s supposed to be their safe place. However, it’s important to consider the harsh truth that these incidents can and do happen, even in the home.
Does My Homeowners Insurance Policy Cover Death Cleanup Costs?
Most likely, yes. Most homeowners policies provide coverage for the dwelling on an all-risk basis—meaning there are no exclusions made for things like crimes or corpses.
That being said, certain policies do not include cleanup coverage for furniture or carpeting. Also, depending on the policy, coverage for things like furniture cleanup or repair may be limited.
You’ll need to review your specific policy to be sure death cleanup coverage is included, and what exactly falls into that category. Make sure to identify which kinds of personal property your plan covers, so you’ll have this information ready beforehand should disaster strike.
How to Find the Best Homeowners Insurance
In order to get the protection you need (and deserve), you’ll want to work with a trusted expert. Independent insurance agents will not only know where to find the best coverage and price, but also help to make sense of the fine print.
Consider your unique needs, then connect with an agent to help you take it from there. Have a list of your specific concerns and desires handy before you reach out, to help make the process even smoother.
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We all know how valuable your time is, so why spend it doing all the hard work yourself? From homeowners insurance policies to special add-ons, our expert independent insurance agents will help you determine what type of coverage makes the most sense for you.
Our independent insurance agents stay on top of the insurance industry and all the latest discounts so you don’t have to. That means they’ll help find the right coverage at the right price for you.
They’re not just there at the beginning, either. If disaster strikes, your agent will be there to help walk you through the claims process and make sure you are getting the benefits you’re entitled to. Now that’s thinking ahead.