We hired a company for a move and, for the first time in my moving history, I am truly disappointed. In general, a moving company is responsible if they lose or damage a customer's household belongings during the move. In this situation, the customer can file a claim with the moving company to seek financial compensation for the loss or damage. If the moving company denies the claim, in whole or in part, the customer may need to file a lawsuit or initiate arbitration to obtain compensation. In addition, in this situation, it may be necessary for the client to hire an attorney.
Moving companies can deny liability if they believe the item was already damaged. Taking photos of your items before the move can help you prove otherwise. Usually, the moving company is responsible for any damage to the house, whether it's the house you're moving into or from. Long working hours, uncomfortable boxes, and heavy furniture can cause dents on drywall or scratches on the floor. This section discusses the specific conditions under which moving companies are responsible for damages, focusing on the negligence of moving companies, contractual agreements and limits of liability.
While moving companies have a duty to handle items with care, there are many situations in which they are not held responsible for damage. Moving companies are not responsible for damages caused by natural disasters, extreme weather conditions or accidents beyond their control, unless their negligence is proven. The STB does not require removers to use the high-value declaration form, but since the form is intended to notify removers in advance about high-value items in a move, removers are encouraged to use the declaration. If a customer opts for full protection, the moving company may require them to let them know when high-value items are going to be part of the customer's shipment.
The moving company's financial liability depends on your level of coverage, whether you packed the item, and whether negligence can be proven. If customers don't document their belongings properly or if fragile items aren't packed properly, the moving company may refuse to be responsible for the damage. These clauses help protect moving companies from financial liability when damage is due to conditions they couldn't avoid. With full value protection (FVP), moving companies are responsible for repairing, replacing, or refunding the full market value of lost or damaged items.
This section discusses the most common situations in which moving companies are not responsible for damages, and helps customers understand when they need to take extra precautions to protect their belongings. Just because an item is broken or lost during a move doesn't automatically mean that the moving company has the Guilt. From the perspective of the moving company, it protects your company from ruin in the event of a major lawsuit. If an item was already scratched, dented, or broken, the moving company can argue that they didn't cause the damage.
While accidents can happen, a reputable moving company must take responsibility for avoidable damage caused by mishandling, poor packaging, or lack of adequate security of belongings during transportation. When it comes to boxes, ladders, and closed corners, even professional removers can accidentally damage your belongings or your house.
