Are Movers Responsible For Damage?

Hiring movers to transport your belongings from one home to another requires a lot of trust. Nobody wants to unpack their belongings and discover damage, after all. So, are movers responsible for the damage?

Movers are responsible for damage, the extent of which depends on the insurance coverage plan you choose. Full Value Protection costs 1% to 2% of the value of your belongings and Released Value Protection is a free plan. However, Released Value Protection only compensates customers for $0.60 per pound of damaged and lost items.

It’s a great idea to take pictures of your belongings and home before moving. That makes it easier to file a claim with your moving company if you notice your belongings are home suffered damage. Follow along as we explore how movers are responsible for damage and highlight the claim process.

Are Movers Liable for Damage?

Movers are responsible for damage, but how much responsibility they take depends on your coverage plan. According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), you must file a claim within 9 months of the move. Federal law requires moving companies to offer two insurance coverage plans: Released Value Protection and Full Value Protection.

Released Value Protection (RVP) is a free insurance coverage plan that you can choose when you schedule a move. This coverage plan reimburses customers $0.60 per pound of lost and damaged items during the move. For example, a moving company would compensate you $24 for a damaged coffee table that weighs 40 pounds.

Conversely, Full Value Protection is a premium insurance coverage plan that customers can choose. The price of Full Value Protection is based on 1% to 2% of the value of your household belongings. This includes full reimbursement for lost and damaged items.

When Are Movers Responsible for Damage?

Movers are only responsible for damage that occurs during the move. You can’t expect movers to compensate you for damage that occurred before the move. Moving companies take a thorough inventory of your belongings before handling them.

This lets them figure out how many packing materials they need and even determine what truck they should use. It also tells movers what condition your belongings are in before handling them. Upon filing a claim, the movers will check your photographic evidence and often cross-reference it with their information.

What to Do if Movers Damage Your Property

Unfortunately, damaged items are somewhat common when moving, despite the movers’ best efforts. Luckily, you can make the situation much easier for yourself by taking the right steps, such as:

1. Take Pictures

Take pictures of the item that suffered damage to speed up the reimbursement process. This is the best way to quickly communicate which item was damaged and highlight the severity. Make sure the picture is well-lit and clear enough to articulate the damage.

Granted, you can’t take a picture of an item that went missing during the move. In that case, you must describe the item to articulate what you’re referring to. This is often just as useful as a picture because movers take inventory of your belongings throughout the process.

It’s a great idea to take inventory of everything you have before the movers handle your belongings. This makes it easy to double-check everything when the move is over. Doing so also makes it easier to organize, pack, and unpack your belongings.

2. Review Your Coverage

It’s a great idea to review your coverage plan before calling the moving company. This makes it easier to understand what kind of coverage you are entitled to. Review the contract you signed and double-check to see whether you have Released Value or Full Value Protection.

Ideally, you should have a great understanding of the contract and your insurance coverage during the consultation. Never hesitate to ask questions about insurance coverage and the moving services you’re entitled to. This can help you decide whether Released Value or Full Value Protection is the best choice for you.

Many homeowners find Full Value Protection worthwhile when moving with many high-value items. That’s especially true for long-distance moves where items are more likely to get damaged because of the long trek.

3. Contact the Movers

You must call or email the moving company to express your concerns over the damaged or lost item. They will likely put you in touch with the moving crew’s foreman or coordinator to discuss the issue. The coordinator who headed your move can review your contract and item inventory.

Explain the situation and specify which items you believe were damaged or went missing during the move. They will take note of it and request that you send the office pictures of the items in question. Review the pictures to ensure they are clear and provide a succinct description when you email the moving company.

4. Give Them Some Time

Don’t panic if a representative from the moving company doesn’t reach out right away. Be patient as it sometimes takes several days or even weeks for the process to be completed. They must verify the information, review your item inventory, and process the reimbursement.

Someone from the moving company’s office may even reach out to ask some follow-up questions. Luckily, you will get reimbursed accordingly based on the coverage plan you choose if everything checks out.

What Should I Do if Movers Damage My House?

Take pictures of your damaged walls or floors if you believe the moving crew is at fault. The process is the same as filing a claim for damaged items. Granted, it’s much easier if you took pictures throughout your house before the movers arrived.

That way, you can easily demonstrate the difference between before and after they arrive. Keep in mind that this isn’t always as cut and dry as reimbursing for items they can easily evaluate. For example, they may need to speak to a contractor or see receipts to reimburse you for the cost of patching a wall.

Start the process as soon as you notice damage to get reimbursed quickly. Call them right away and follow the steps they require to complete the process.

NJ Movers With Your Best Interest in Mind

Our crew at Optimum Moving takes every precaution to protect our customers’ belongings. Even still, accidents can happen, and items occasionally get damaged. That’s why we make our damage claim process easy for each customer to follow.

After all, we want you to start your next chapter at a new home without any moving-related stress. Call Optimum Moving at (855) 315-6683 to review our coverage plans and book your next move.

Call Us: (855) 315-6683

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