Lauren explains why preventing the spoliation of evidence is one of the most important parts of handling a claim.
The spoliation of evidence is the intentional, reckless, or negligent withholding, hiding, altering, fabricating, or destroying of evidence relevant to a legal proceeding. This can prove to be an issue when handling claims.
Here’s an example: Disposing of a broken pipe before the adjuster has a chance to evaluate. This prohibits the adjuster from being able to investigate the cause of loss to the pipe, and can result in limiting of coverage or a denial altogether. The recommendation is to save all parts, which need to be repaired or replaced for inspection. If you do need to dispose of anything that was damaged, which is occasionally the case, make sure you take many photos and have a report written up by the contractor/vendor who is handling the disposal.
Preventing the spoliation of evidence is one of the most important part of handling a claim. This is one of the main reasons it is so important to report claims and present any evidence in a timely manner. For more information, please contact us.
