Authorities often characterize vandalism as a petty crime, but it can take a toll when it happens to a company vehicle. Unfortunately, though, it’s hardly a petty matter for the victims — especially if the subject of the vandalism is a company car. If somebody vandalizes your company vehicle, you might be wondering what to do next. Luckily, many commercial auto insurance policies cover damages that stem from vandalism, so you may be able to recoup your losses.
After Your Company Vehicle Suffers Vandalism
Read on to find out what you should do in the aftermath of a vandalism incident — and see why it’s so important to ensure that you have the right commercial auto policy.
Look at Your Commercial Auto Insurance Policy
Before you can file a claim with your business insurance provider, you need to ensure that your coverage includes expenses resulting from vandalism. Although this is common inclusion for most commercial auto policies, some policies exclude this type of coverage. Take a look at your policy’s summary of benefits to determine whether you have coverage. If you’re unsure what your policy includes, contact your insurer for more information.
File a Police Report Promptly
The next step in handling a vandalism incident is filing a police report with the local authorities. You will likely need to obtain a copy of this report and give it to your insurer when you are filing a vehicle vandalization claim with your insurance policy. In most cases, completing a police report should be a relatively simple process that typically entails answering a few questions. The information you provide will help police identify potential leads, investigate the incident, and build a case if they happen to arrest a suspect.
Document the Extent of the Damage
In addition to the police report, your insurer will want to see documentation of the damage that the car sustained. You can furnish this in the form of photographs that demonstrate the incident. Be sure to photograph every part of the scene, including glass on the ground, the car’s interior, and the spot where the vandal broke into the car. You can also capture video footage to further illustrate the extent of the damage and the surrounding scene of the crime.
Contact Your Commercial Auto Insurance
Finally, you need to reach out to your commercial auto insurance policy provider and let them know about the incident. Your insurer will likely ask many of the same questions that the police asked, and they will also want to see the police report and photographs from the incident. Once you give this to your insurer, they can start processing your claim and coordinate any repairs that your company car may require. You should stay in touch with your insurer throughout the claims process.
About Haughn & Associates
Founded by Michael Haughn in 1986, Haughn & Associates is a full-service, family-owned, independent insurance agency based out of Dublin, Ohio. H&A strives to provide the best possible price and unique insurance solutions across a myriad of industries, including construction, IT, Habitation & Commercial Property, Agriculture, and Engineering. Devoted to providing the best of business insurance, life and disability insurance, personal insurance, employee benefits, and bonds, H&A is proof that success lies in long-standing client relations and satisfaction. To learn more about how H&A can be of service to you, contact us at (877) 802-2278.
