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CRIME SCENE FAQ

Who pays for Accident Cleaners & Restoration Services?
In many cases, homeowners insurance will cover the costs to clean up after a trauma, homicide, suicide or accidental death. Acting as a liaison, we work with you and your insurance company and will file claims directly with them. If you are a victim of a violent crime, there may be additional resources. We also accept major credit cards if you do not have homeowners insurance or if this cannot be counted toward your deductible. Whatever you choose, we will work with you on payment options.

Will homeowners insurance cover
the cost of crime scene cleanup services?
Yes, in most cases, insurance will cover the cost of crime scene cleaning. We have developed working relationships with many insurance companies, and in fact, we're recommended by many. Acting as a liaison, we work directly with you and your insurance company and will file claims directly with them.

My insurance company recommended someone else.
Do I have to go with them?
No, it's your choice. Many insurance companies maintain a list of "preferred remediation companies," however many of these companies are focused primarily on water remediation. Therefore, these companies may have just started out providing crime scene clean up services. They may not have the training or experience to remediate your needs, and they may not be locally based either. It's your right to work with someone you can trust to do it right, and no insurance company can require you to use a specific contractor for the loss to be covered.

How quickly can Accident Cleaners arrive?
As a locally based crime scene cleaning company, we pride ourselves on our immediate, 24/7 prompt response. We have numerous locally based technicians ready and able to assist you. You don't wait for us; we are here for you, right here and right now. We will work around your schedule and will keep you informed every step of the way.

Why should I call Accident Cleaners instead of cleaning up after a suicide, homicide, trauma or unattended death myself?
When it comes to a crime scene cleanup, in addition to the potential emotional trauma that may result from you attempting to restore the site, you could be exposing yourself or others to potentially biohazardous material. It's our experience that sets us apart. Our compassionate locally based care team understands the needs of your situation. We will give you an honest opinion on your options. We have the training, certifications and experience and are one of the top crime scene cleaning services recommended by insurance companies. And, we will keep you informed every step of the way, from detection to cleaning and disinfection to final restoration.

Are there any potential risks I face if I try to clean it up myself?
Yes. In addition to the emotional impact this can have on you, without the proper training, equipment and personal protective gear, there are potential blood and fluid-borne pathogens that can cause you harm.

Will the property be safe inside after you clean up the scene?
Yes, our goal is to restore your property to its pre-loss condition. We take all necessary steps to insure it is clean, deodorized and sanitized with no lingering odors. Once our process is completed the area is safe and restored.

Do you use bleach?
No, bleach is not part of our disinfection plan because there are better products available to clean up after a crime scene, suicide, homicide, trauma or unattended death. For every assignment, we use hospital-grade detection chemicals, cleaners and disinfectants to insure a clean, deodorized and safe area. Part of our work guarantee is providing you with a certificate of completion. We employ a four-step detection, cleaning, disinfection and confirmation process to make sure the scene is really safe.

If the blood is gone, is the area safe and clean?
No, unfortunately blood and other bodily fluids can seep into fabrics, under baseboards and other areas invisible to the eye. Proper cleaning and restoration takes more than just visible blood removal. Our care team has the training, special tools and experience to clean and remove visible as well as non-visible material. Rest assured, the area will be safe and restored upon completion.

Don't the police clean up the scene?
Unfortunately, it is not the responsibility of law enforcement, fire rescue, EMS or medical examiners to clean up after a trauma, suicide, homicide, decomposition or unattended death. Once the scene is released, we will continue to work with our local agencies to help you get through this difficult time.

How long will It take for the property to be cleaned?
It's difficult to estimate how long a restoration will take since there are many factors involved. However, based on our years of experience and a good assessment of the area, we will provide you with a complete plan of action, and, we will keep you informed of every strep throughout the crime scene cleaning process.

What are your certifications?
We have the experience, training and certification to do the job right. As members of the American Bio-Recovery Association (ABRA), the industry leader in education and certification for crime scene cleaning companies, we are held to a high standard of care. OSHA or other government agencies do not certify bio-recovery companies. While there are other certification programs out there, it doesn't mean the scene will be properly cleaned and restored. Click here to see our certifications.

What about those national crime scene cleanup companies?
There are no national crime scene cleaning companies; they're actually independent companies operating in certain areas who work for a national company. As a locally based company, we will arrive on the scene promptly. If you're out of our area, we can still help you make a good choice for your restoration needs.

Where are so many crime scene cleanup companies: Who can I trust?
Yes, there are many companies, so it's your call. Here's a short checklist you can use to consider whether a crime scene cleaning company meets your needs:

1. Years of experience in bio-trauma restoration
2. Occupational license
3. Proof of insurance
4. Certifications/Training
5. References
6. Experience working with homeowners insurance claims
7. Locally based
8. Membership in ABRA, The American Bio-Recovery Association
9. Permitted for transport of bio-medical waste, state of Florida Department of Health

We have the training, certifications and experience, on top of being one of the top crime scene cleanup companies recommended by insurance companies. Our ability to make the recovery process smooth and seamless has earned us the trust and countless praise from our past clients.

What guarantees do you have?
We have the training, tools, certification and experience to do the job right the first time. We are a properly licensed, insured and certified death clean up company. If you used another company who provided less than satisfactory results, we can help make it right. Rest assured, the area will be safe and restored upon completion. We stand by our work: It's what helped us earn recognition from insurance companies and past clients.

Why should I use Accident Cleaners & Restoration?
You have a choice of who you work with, but it's our experience that sets us apart from other crime scene cleaning companies. Our compassionate, locally based care team understands the needs of your situation. We will give you an honest opinion on your options. We have the training, certifications, and experience and are recommended by insurance companies. Rest assured, we will also keep you informed of our progress every step of the way, from detection to cleaning and disinfection to final restoration.

Do I have to be there when accident cleaners is working?
No, you don't have to be there. It's your choice if you want to stay during the clean up process. We will treat your home or property with the utmost in professionalism and respect. Not only is all of our staff trained and certified, we have the experience and compassion to help you through this tough time. We will keep you posted on the progress of the cleaning and restoration. Our company is properly certified, insured and has earned the trust and respect of past clients.

My family member was not discovered for many days/weeks, and there's a lingering odor. What do I do?
Days, weeks, or months: No matter how long it's been since the unattended death, we can help and remediate the scene in its entirety. Using the correct equipment and techniques throughout the entire decomposition cleaning process is necessary to find and neutralize the source of odors; otherwise, they will continue to linger.

I live out of state, but my family lives in one of your service areas. Can you help us?
Yes, whether in or out of state, we can work with you to clean up after a suicide, homicide, unattended death or trauma. You don't have to be present at the scene. We know that accidents don't wait for normal office hours, and neither do we. You can call us anytime, day or night. We will work with you and keep you informed every step of the way.

I hired another company, but they only made it worse. Help!
If you used another company from crime scene cleanup services who provided less than satisfactory results, we can help make it right. We stand by our work: It's what helped us earn recognition from insurance companies and past clients.

Can't I just have my employees clean it up?
No, a business owner may face potential liability if they assign their staff to clean up a biohazard site after a suicide, homicide, crime scene, trauma or unattended death. Federal Regulation 29CFR1910.1030 states that no employee can be placed in a position to be exposed to blood spills without first:

1. Receiving blood-borne pathogen (BBP) training
2. Having a written BBP exposure control plan
3. Having been provided personal protective equipment
4. Having been offered Hepatitis B vaccine and exposure evaluation and follow-up
5. Being provided with a method to remove and properly store the bio-hazardous waste in properly marked containers for disposal at an approved site

Only after these five steps have been met can an employee be required by his or her employer to clean a bio-hazardous crime scene. Additionally, if the area is not cleaned and sanitized properly, your business could face additional liability. Don't put your employees or business at risk. Let us help you clean up a crime scene.

We're on a fixed income. Are there other resources or payment options?
Yes, we sympathize with you in your time of need. If you've been a victim of a violent crime, there may be additional resources to help you clean up the area. We also accept major credit cards and will work with you to develop payment options.

WATER FAQ

Why can't we do it ourselves?
Complete water removal and water damage repair is not something you learn overnight. It requires extensive training and specialized equipment. Water and other fluids may seep into areas invisible to the eye, so simply removing the carpet or flooring is not enough. To prevent secondary damage, such as mold, standing water needs to be removed immediately. Delays can also increase restoration time and be more costly.

What are your certifications?
It takes special training, equipment and certification to safely and adequately extract, clean, sanitize, deodorize, repair and renovate the site after water or mold damager. Our care team has the training, expertise and experience, while conducting ourselves in a respectful manner. We are current and compliant with all state and federal mandates that govern the removal, treatment, transport and disposal of bio-hazard waste and mold damage.

Our qualifications and certifications include:

1. Applied Microbial Remediation Technician (AMRT)
2. State of Florida Mold Remediator, Lisc. MRSR 1852
3. Water Restoration Technician (WRT)
4. Applied Structural Drying (ASD)
5. EPA Certified Renovator/Lead Pre-1978
6. IIRC - Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification
7. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Title 29, Code of Federal Regulations, 29 CFR Part 1910, Lead 29, CFR 1926.62, 1910.1025
8. Odor Control Technician (OCT)
9. OSHA Lock-out/Tag-out Awareness, Confined Space Operations Awareness, 29, CFR 1910.32,
10. Personal Protective Equipment 29 CFR 1926.25, 1910.32

What's wrong with mold?
Mold removal and remediation requires specific training and state licensing. If not properly done, mold and mold spores will continue to exist in areas such as ducts, sub-flooring or in the walls. Mold can lead to irritation or illness in individuals with respiratory issues or compromised immune systems. Our protocol includes an on-call hygienist who develops a custom mitigation plan that includes pre-and post-testing for the removal of existing and prevention of future mold growth.

How much will water damage repair and mold remediation cost?
When estimating the cost of cleaning and restoration after water or mold damager, there are many factors to consider, such as the damage area, how long the water or fluids have been standing, the source of the break, and more. We develop a specific plan of action for each case and will keep you and your insurance company informed every step of the way while we restore the area after mold or water damage.

Will homeowners insurance cover the cost of water damage repair or mold remediation?
Yes. In most cases, insurance will cover the cost of water damage or mold cleaning services. We have developed working relationships with many insurers, and in fact, are recommended by many for our water damage restoration services. Acting as a liaison, we work directly with you and your insurance company and will file claims directly with them.