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FAQ
Crime Scene & Biohazard Cleanup Questions & Answers
When a traumatic event happens, you may have questions about what to do next, who is responsible for cleanup, whether insurance may help, how much cleanup costs, and whether professional remediation is necessary.
National Crime Scene Cleanup’s Answer Center provides straightforward answers to common questions about crime scene cleanup, biohazard remediation, insurance, costs, safety, and the cleanup process.
Emergency Questions
When something traumatic has happened, knowing what to do next can be difficult. The following questions and our emergency guide provide practical information about the immediate steps families and property owners may need to take.
What should I do after a homicide?
After a homicide, the property may remain an active investigation until law enforcement releases it. Once the scene has been released, professional remediation may be necessary to address blood and other biological contamination.
Read: What to Do After a Homicide
What should I do after a suicide?
Families dealing with a suicide may be faced with both profound grief and the practical challenge of addressing the affected property.
Our guide explains what families should know after authorities have completed their investigation and released the scene.
Read: What to Do After a Suicide
What should I do after an unattended death?
An unattended death can leave biological contamination behind, particularly when a person has been deceased for an extended period.
Learn what families and property owners should know about securing the property, protecting family members, and arranging professional remediation.
Read: What to Do After an Unattended Death
What happens after the police leave?
When police leave a property, their investigation may be complete—but that does not necessarily mean the property is ready to return to normal.
Learn what property owners and families should consider after the scene has been released.
Read: When the Police Leave: What Happens Next?
How do I secure a crime scene?
If a property has been released but cleanup has not yet begun, limiting access can help protect family members and prevent unnecessary exposure.
Read: How to Secure a Crime Scene
How can I keep family members safe?
Children, pets, and other family members should be kept away from areas affected by blood, bodily fluids, or other potentially hazardous materials.
Read: Keeping Family Members Safe
Insurance Questions
One of the first questions many families ask after a traumatic event is:
“Will my insurance pay for this?”
The answer depends on your policy and the circumstances of the incident. Our insurance resources explain the coverage and claims process without assuming that every policy is the same.
Does insurance cover crime scene cleanup?
Some insurance policies may cover professional crime scene or biohazard cleanup following a covered loss. Coverage can depend on the cause of the loss, policy exclusions, deductibles, limits, and other factors.
How do I file an insurance claim?
Filing a claim after a traumatic event can feel overwhelming. Knowing what information to collect and what questions to ask your insurer can make the process easier to navigate.
What documents do I need for an insurance claim?
Keeping organized documentation can help establish what happened, what remediation was necessary, and what work was performed.
Does homeowners insurance cover biohazard cleanup?
Homeowners insurance may provide coverage for certain biohazard remediation following a covered event. However, coverage varies by policy and circumstances.
Can National Crime Scene Cleanup work with my insurance company?
National Crime Scene Cleanup can help with insurance-related documentation and billing as appropriate.
What happens when an insurance adjuster gets involved?
An insurance adjuster may review the circumstances of the loss, applicable coverage, and the scope of remediation.
Understanding the role of the adjuster can help you know what information to expect during the claims process.
What if insurance doesn’t cover everything?
Insurance may not cover every expense associated with a traumatic event. Deductibles, exclusions, policy limits, and uncovered circumstances can leave property owners with additional costs.
Cost Questions
Cost is another major concern after a traumatic event.
The price of professional cleanup can vary significantly depending on the circumstances, the size of the affected area, the type of contamination, materials requiring remediation, and the scope of work.
How much does crime scene cleanup cost?
There is no single price for crime scene cleanup. Each situation needs to be evaluated individually.
What affects the cost of biohazard cleanup?
Factors such as the extent of contamination, affected materials, accessibility, labor, disposal requirements, and the amount of remediation needed can affect the final cost.
Safety Questions
Not every biohazard is immediately obvious.
Blood and bodily fluids can create health concerns, and attempting to clean contaminated areas without appropriate training, protective equipment, and procedures can create additional risks.
Is dried blood dangerous?
Blood should be treated as potentially hazardous even after it has dried. You cannot determine whether blood is safe simply because it is no longer wet.
Can I clean blood myself?
Cleaning a small household spill is different from cleaning blood or bodily fluids associated with a traumatic death, serious injury, or crime scene.
When biological contamination is extensive or involves potentially infectious materials, professional remediation may be appropriate.
Is professional biohazard cleanup required?
There is no universal answer for every situation.
The need for professional remediation depends on the type and extent of contamination, the materials involved, the circumstances of the incident, and applicable requirements.
Choosing a Biohazard Cleanup Company
If you’ve never needed crime scene or biohazard cleanup before, knowing what to look for in a company can be difficult.
The lowest price isn’t necessarily the most important consideration. Training, safety procedures, experience, documentation, professionalism, and proper handling of contaminated materials all matter.
What certifications should a biohazard company have?
There isn’t one universal certification that automatically makes a company qualified for every type of remediation.
Instead, property owners should ask about technician training, bloodborne pathogen training, safety procedures, PPE, waste handling, insurance, experience, and applicable state and local requirements.
How quickly can a cleanup crew arrive?
National Crime Scene Cleanup provides 24/7 emergency response.
Actual response times can vary depending on location, availability, the circumstances of the incident, and whether authorities have released the property.
Need immediate assistance? Call (844) 255-2461.
Biohazard & Compliance Questions
Professional biohazard remediation involves more than cleaning visible contamination. Proper handling, containment, transportation, and disposal of potentially hazardous materials are important parts of the process.
What are the OSHA requirements for biohazard cleanup?
OSHA requirements can apply to employers and workers who may be exposed to blood or other potentially infectious materials.
The specific requirements depend on the work being performed and the circumstances.
How is biohazard waste disposed of?
Biohazardous materials cannot simply be treated like ordinary household garbage.
Professional remediation involves appropriate containment, handling, transportation, and disposal procedures based on applicable requirements.
National Crime Scene Cleanup Is Here to Help
You shouldn’t have to figure everything out at once.
Whether you’re trying to understand what happens after police leave, determine whether insurance may cover cleanup, protect your family from potential exposure, or find a qualified professional to handle the remediation, National Crime Scene Cleanup is here to help.
We provide professional crime scene cleanup and biohazard remediation with a focus on safety, discretion, compassion, and respect.
If the property has been released by the appropriate authorities and you need immediate assistance, our team is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Call National Crime Scene Cleanup
