Cars, trucks and vans
Blood and biohazard cleanup in a vehicle
A vehicle is a small, closed space full of fabric and foam. Fluids that reach the seats or the carpet do not stay on the surface.
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Where it goes in a car
Seat cushions are foam under fabric, and they soak up fluids like a sponge. Carpet sits on padding and the metal floor pan. Seat belts, the gaps beside the seats, the headliner and the air vents all hold residue.
That is why a car can smell fine on a cool day and bad on a hot one. Columbia summers are hard on a closed car. Leave the windows cracked if it is parked safely, and do not drive it with fluids still in the seats.
If the police have the vehicle
After a crime or a death in a vehicle, the police may hold it for a time. Property kept by law enforcement is released by that agency, so ask the officer how and when you can get it back (Richland County Coroner FAQ).
Tell the cleanup company where the vehicle is. Some can work where it is parked; others need it brought to them.
Questions about vehicle cleanup
Is it worth cleaning, or should the car be written off?
That depends on how far the fluids spread and what the car is worth. A company can tell you what would have to be removed. Your auto insurer decides whether it treats the car as a loss.
Will my auto policy pay?
Some comprehensive coverage includes interior damage of this kind and some does not. Call your insurer and ask before work starts.
When you are ready, one call is enough
Tell the company what happened, which room or vehicle it is in, and whether the police and coroner have finished. They will explain the work, when they can come and how they arrive at a price.
Talk to a cleanup company
The call puts you in touch with an independent biohazard cleanup company that works in the Columbia area. Say what happened and ask what you need to know. Whether you hire them is up to you.
Call (803) 637-8296Phone answered 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
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