Unattended Death Cleanup Costs: Who Pays?

Unattended death is an unavoidable part of many people’s lives. Whether left to deal with the aftermath of a loved one, tenant, roommate, etc., the cleanup can be a distressing, and often times traumatic experience.

Crime Scene Cleanup companies, such as ourselves, are available 24/7, nationwide to assist in the remediation process, however the thought of paying for this service can frequently prevent people from reaching out and getting the help that they need. Here we’ll take a look at the myth that Crime Scene Cleanup companies are too expensive for ordinary people to utilize, along with the methods in which the service can be paid for.

What is an Unattended Death?

By definition, an unattended death occurs when a person passes away without a witness. This situation lends itself to a variety of issues, due in large part to the fact that if nobody is around to witness the death, there is a great possibility that nobody is made aware of this person’s passing in a timely manner. In some instances, the deceased individual is found relatively quickly, possibly in a matter of hours.

That being said, far too often is the individual not discovered for days, weeks, months, and in rare instances, years. If not properly sanitized by a professional cleanup company, the area in which the death occurred is subject to odors, pests, dangerous pathogens, and the frightening chance of coming across solid matter or stains after the initial cleanup.

Upon coming to the realization that a professional company is a necessity for the cleanup, the next concern for many is the cost of the service. There are many factors that are taken into consideration when determining the cost of the unattended death cleanup.

Factors That Affect Unattended Death Cleanup Costs

When it comes to a professional biohazard remediation company assessing the final cost of the death scene cleanup, the primary conditions can be broken down into 2 groups.

Cause of Death

• Natural causes
• Overdose
• Suicide
• Accidental death
• Homicide

Circumstances

• Location on property
• Time lapsed since death
• Death by violence
• Climate
• Pre-death condition of body
• Pests
• Hoarding
• Severe saturation

Once these factors have all been accounted for, the company providing the service is typically capable of offering a fairly accurate estimate of the final cost. The following decision to be made is how the service will be paid for.

Who Pays?

When an individual is in the unenviable position of being left to deal with a death scene aftermath, the last thing that this person needs is the added anxiety of worrying about coming up with the money required to hire a company. Luckily, there are several viable methods of payment that are available to aid those going through this difficult time.

Homeowners Insurance

Homeowners insurance commonly covers the cost of unattended death cleanup. Contact your insurance company if you are unsure if you have this coverage. Many companies will work with your insurance provider directly to ensure that the claims process is as simple and beneficial to you as possible.

Crime Victims Fund

This method of funding support was established by the Victim of Crime Act, in which fines and penalties were collected from convicted federal offenders. It has a current balance of $12 billion. Much of the fund’s money is given to victim assistance programs.

Renters’ Insurance

If you have renter’s insurance, and the landlord of the property where the death occurred carries insurance, it is likely that you can cover the cost of cleanup services.

Credit Card

Most legitimate crime scene cleanup companies accept all major credit cards.

Financing

Certain companies, such as ourselves, offer financing options to anyone who needs the service. This allows the individual to workout a payment plan that works on their schedule, if insurance will not cover the cost of the cleanup.

Call Today

If you are in need of unattended death cleanup, but worried that you will not be able to afford the cost, do not hesitate to call for help. The longer that the problem is not resolved, the more exacerbated it will become. With many different ways of alleviating the financial burden of the service, professional service providers are more than happy to work with you.

Companies should not be in the business of turning people down due to reasons beyond their control. We are here to help.