Who pays for biohazard cleanup in Michigan

Homeowner and renter insurance

Many property policies cover sudden, accidental damage to the home, and some insurers treat a biohazard cleanup that way. Others exclude it, or cover the building and not the contents. The only way to know is to ask.

• Call your agent or the claims line before the cleanup starts if you can.
• Ask whether biohazard or trauma cleanup is covered, whether an adjuster needs to see the room, and whether there is a deductible.
• Keep photos, the police report number and every invoice.

This site does not handle insurance claims and cannot tell you what your policy covers.

Michigan Crime Victim Compensation

Michigan's Crime Victim Compensation program, run by the Crime Victim Services Commission within the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, lists crime scene cleanup inside the home or vehicle where the crime happened among the costs it may cover. The statute allows it once the investigating police agency has permitted the cleanup (MCL 18.361).

To be eligible, the crime has to be reported to law enforcement, the victim or claimant has to cooperate with the investigation, and other sources such as insurance have to be tried first. The claim is generally due within five years (MCL 18.355). Award amounts are reduced by what insurance or other sources pay.

Applications go to the Crime Victim Services Commission. The application page lists how to send one and a victim-only helpline. The Kent County prosecutor's victim advocates can help fill it in.

Landlords and property owners

In a rental, Michigan law makes the landlord promise to keep the premises fit for use and to follow health and safety laws (MCL 554.139). In practice the owner usually arranges the cleanup of the unit, then looks to its own insurance. Lease terms and who caused the damage can change that.

Estates

When someone dies at home and owned the property, the cleanup is usually paid from the estate, often through the homeowner's policy if it applies. An executor or personal representative normally makes the decision.

What drives the price

Every job is quoted on what is actually there. These are the things that move it:

• How large the affected area is, and how many rooms it reaches.
• What the fluids reached: hard surfaces clean up; carpet, pad, mattresses and sometimes subfloor or drywall have to be cut out.
• How much time passed before the death or injury was found, because that decides how far things soaked in and how much odor treatment is needed.
• How much contaminated waste has to be bagged, boxed and sent for proper disposal.
• Access and setting: stairs, a basement, an apartment hallway or a vehicle each change the work.

Ask for a written estimate and an itemized final invoice. Both are useful for insurers and for the compensation program.