Are movers liable for damage?

Opening a crate to find shattered dishes, damaged devices, or breakage in any form may spoil your entire day, as if relocating isn’t stressful enough. Who is to blame for the shambles? It’s likely that your mover is to blame, but this isn’t a hard-and-fast rule. It is dependent on a number of things, and our friends at Safebound Moving & Storage are here to help us sort through the details.

Moving companies, at least those that are respectable, are covered by insurance. That safeguards both you and them. From the mover’s perspective, it protects their firm from financial ruin in the event of a significant claim. Accidents do occur. It ensures that you are compensated in the case of a loss or damage.

When anything goes wrong during a home relocation, here’s how to figure out if you or your mover should pay the bill.

Let’s Play The Tape Through – House Damage

The mover is normally accountable for any damage to the home, whether it’s the one you’re moving storage to or from. Dented drywall or a scuff across the floor can be caused by heavy furniture, awkward boxes, and long days at work.

Take photographs of your home before moving day to document its condition. If the damage is visible before or after the movers arrive, there will be no doubt as to who caused it and who should pay to fix it.

Note: If the damage was unavoidable, the movers may not be liable. A loose stair tread or railing, for example, may lead a mover to trip, drop a nightstand, and rip a hole in the drywall.

Damage to Items

When movers transport your precious items to their new home, you expect everything to be in the same condition as when it was packed. Accidents do happen, unfortunately. Inside a moving crate, glasses crack, lampshades bend, and all sorts of mischief might occur.

It may come down to one factor when it comes to determining who is responsible for damage to packaged items: who packed the box. If your items were packed by movers, you should not be held liable for any damage that occurred during the transfer. However, movers may be held liable if you packed the boxes and they just picked them up.

Keep in mind that if you packed a box and it was plainly damaged by the movers, you undoubtedly have a case for compensation. However, look for a “hold harmless” clause or a liability waiver with wide and sweeping language in the moving contract. This wording is intended to safeguard the mover regardless of the circumstances, at least if the client packed their own stuff. Although such terms aren’t often upheld in court, once you signed the contract, you may have a harder difficulty getting reimbursed.

Safeguarding Yourself

Inventorying and photographing your valuables is one of the most critical things you can do to protect yourself against loss. Between the point of origin and the point of destination, a carton may vanish. Accidents do happen, after all. And every now and again, a prized asset is damaged.

An inventory and pictures are the only method to establish the existence of a container and the condition of your items. Fortunately, there are a number of moving applications on the market that make it simple, including one that combines itemization and camera capability. Otherwise, a spreadsheet with digital images or a basic ledger with photographs will suffice.

Submit a Claim

In the worst-case situation, you may have no choice but to file a claim after your relocation is complete. You may not be compensated for the entire worth of the damaged item. However, the more information you supply, the better. Because most movers utilize a standardized form, the process should be simple.

Reputable movers are noted for their cautious work and delivery. Check each mover’s credentials, such as license and insurance, before hiring them. Also, keep an eye on the Better Business Bureau, Angie’s List, and other review sites for damage concerns.

Moving is never straightforward, and it’s never easy. Everyone’s mood may be thrown off by a single dropped box. However, if you keep good records, you can make a solid case for reimbursement. Damage happens, and movers are prepared to cover it when the responsibility falls on them.