As business owners we hope for the best, but also must anticipate the worst. That is why we purchase commercial insurance. One of the most frustrating things business owners can face is destruction of their property in a riot. Riots generally take place in larger cities, but can happen anywhere, at any time and cause thousands of dollars worth of damage.
Riots are usually triggered by a specific event, generally one that can arouse a lot of anger in a crowd, like the George Zimmerman "not guilty" verdict. People take to the streets to protest. Before anyone knows what is happening, the crowd has gotten unruly and begins to lash out and ruin property. Riots can even happen when a large crowd is overly happy or celebratory, like when a baseball team wins the World Series. Most of these groups gather in a city's downtown area, which unfortunately, is where many shops and businesses are also set up. They are the closest thing to these rioters and often bear the brunt of their destructive behavior.
Luckily, most insurance companies acknowledge the possibility of riots and subsequent damage to businesses. Many business owners will find that they are covered when it comes to riots, but that doesn't mean the insurance companies will pay out the full amount without a fight. They may try to delay or completely deny your claim. They will argue that something was already damaged before the riot or that you can't have the amount you are looking for because your property was overvalued. This is not okay; you should not have to lose money because your business was the unfortunate victim of a riot.
Do you own a business that was vandalized, burglarized or completely damaged in a riot? If your insurance company has denied your commercial insurance claim, contact The Voss Law Firm for a free consultation at 888-614-7730.
