Working Hard for Families in Their Time of Need

Last week, Trayvon Martin’s mother requested an unspecified sum of money from the Crimes Compensation Trust Fund. The state fund was established to help crime victims cover expenses such as lost wages, funeral arrangements, medical expenses and counseling. Despite the fact Trayvon’s father Tracy had a life insurance policy that covered most of the expenses associated with Trayvon’s death, Tracy still incurred $1,300 in out-of-pocket expenses according to the Associated Press.

While Trayvon’s family can rely on assistance from the fund to help with these unexpected expenses, other families will not be so lucky when it comes to financial assistance. According to the National Funeral Directors Association, the average price of a funeral runs more than $6,500, which does not account for additional expense that family members may incur after the death of a loved one, such as lost wages from work or any medical expenses or counseling.

Another factor that isn’t included is whether there will be any cleaning services required after the death of a loved one. After the officials leave the property, many people are surprised to discover law enforcement officials are not responsible for assisting with suicide, homicide or decomposition cleanup. Instead, property owners or family members are responsible for contacting a crime scene cleanup company to properly clean, sanitize and deodorize a home where a death has occurred, which can add to the growing list of expenses that follow after a loved one’s death.

Fortunately, some crime scene cleanup companies will work with insurance companies to save these property owners money. Accident Cleaners and Restoration has been helping families during their time of need since 1999. The Florida crime scene cleanup company works directly with insurance companies, saving families both time and money. Accident Cleaners will save you the hassle of going through insurance claims to receive coverage for the property remediation services.

Dealing with the death of a loved one is difficult enough; you shouldn’t have to spend this time hassling with your insurance company to cover property repairs. Contact Accident Cleaners and Restoration at one of our locations throughout Florida for your crime scene cleaning needs. Let us work to restore your family’s hearts and home

Accident Cleaners Adds New Certification to Already Impressive Resume

Along with the previous certifications and accreditation Accident Cleaners and Restoration has received throughout the years, the company can now say it has a certified building contractor as part of its full-time professional care team.

Crystal Pinkston, co-owner of the  Florida crime scene cleanup company, received her certified building contractor license earlier this week. Pinkston, who owns the crime scene cleanup company with husband, Dan, explained it was a natural transition for the company to have a full-time contractor on staff.

“Before I became certified, we used a contractor on an as-needed basis,” Crystal said. “After 12 years in the property restoration field, we realized having a fully licensed contractor on staff was a step in the right direction to more fully meet our customers’ needs. Obtaining this certification now allows us to provide full-service restoration services from beginning to end.”

To become a licensed certified contractor, applicants must pass a two-day exam and meet various qualification criteria such as related professional or education experience. After countless hours of studying to obtain certification, Crystal said the end result of certification is well worth it.

“Becoming certified is another way we can let our customers know that our care team is credible and professional, working tirelessly to ensure we’re doing business the right way.”

For a full listing of all of Accident Cleaners’ certifications, visit their website. 

Don’t Let Storms Like Debby Dampen Your Home

Tropical Storm Debby did more than just ruin weekend plans for a backyard barbeque or an afternoon at the pool. The storm, which dumped 12 inches of rain in Alachua County within four days, contributed to record-breaking amounts of rain for the month of June. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) issued a flood watch for several counties in North Central Florida, including Alachua County, that extends to July 6. 

Hundreds of damages reports have been received for homes in the area, and residents and animals have been helped from flooded homes. Worn roofs have suffered beatings over the past few days and many of them will need help repairing leaking roofs and removing water damage that has accumulated over the past week. What should you do if you find yourself wading through standing water in your home?

Accident Cleaners and Restoration offers water and flood damage repair services to homeowners in Gainesville, High Springs, Alachua, Lake City, Chiefland, Ocala and other surrounding areas. Our experienced water remediation care team can remove the water that’s invaded your home and repair the damage standing water causes. It just isn’t enough to remove water that’s accumulated in your home; you’ll need to dry your walls, flooring, sub-floors and other materials quickly to prevent secondary damage such as mold growth and odor. Even if you remove carpet from a flooded area of your home yourself, mold and mildew can grow in sub-flooring, ducts or walls in your home. 

Proper drying is the key to preventing this secondary damage. Our technicians are certified in water damage restoration and mold remediation, and we have a contractor on staff to ensure any structural issues to your property are addressed. We work from initial discovery to final completion, including repairs

If you find your home up the creek without a paddle, contact a local company that offers water repair services you can trust. Our water and mold removal services will leave you with a clean, dry home and peace of mind. Contact Accident Cleaners and Restoration at (352) 804-3992 for immediate service. We’ll work directly with your insurance company to ensure you are taken care of.

Our Newsletter Could Earn You an iPad. How? Read On.

Want to win a free iPad? Who doesn’t! While there are plenty of spammy contents and even scams out there to get you to sign your life away before you’re entered to win an iPad (that probably doesn’t exist), our contest requires you only submit one thing – an email address.

By signing up for our monthly newsletter, you’ll be entered to win a drawing for the most recent iPad. No strings attached. No gimmicks. No third party companies hassling you signing up for their services. 

We won’t ever share your contact information with anyone, so rest assured your email address is in good hands. We also promise not to flood your inbox with spam. Instead, we’ll provide you with the most up to date information about what’s been happening in our Florida crime scene cleanup company, as well as other news around the industry. We’ll even include information about programs available for advocates, law enforcement, firefighters and other referral sources.

To enter the drawing to win a free iPad (did we mention it’s free?), sign up for our newsletter here.

New Logo, Same Professional and Compassionate Company

Florida crime scene cleanup company Accident Cleaners and Restoration, formerly known as Accident Cleaners Inc., has updated its logo, but the reasoning behind the change wasn’t purely cosmetic.

The new logo was inspired by the symbol commonly associated with firefighting, a profession well known to co-founder Dan Pinkston. Pinkston started his career as a firefighter 23 years ago and is still an active firefighter.  In addition, several members of the property remediation team have backgrounds in the firefighter or EMS fields.

Crystal Pinkston, who co-founded the company with husband Dan, said the Accident Cleaners team not only relies on their medical expertise to get the job done properly, but they also know how to compassionately deal with families experiencing a traumatic situation.

“Our new logo is a symbol of the building block of our company,” Crystal said. “Our foundation allows us to successfully assist families with compassionate care during a difficult time. The history of service that is associated with our company, as well as the honor and service our team displays on a daily basis, is really what makes us stand apart. Our logo signifies our belief that we can restore hearts and homes while maintaining the highest standard of honesty, integrity and privacy for the families we serve.”

Families, Officials Gather to Honor Fallen Law Enforcement Officials

State leaders and law enforcement officers gathered at the Florida Capitol yesterday to honor officers who have died in the line of duty. Comrades and families of fallen officers heard Gov. Rick Scott, Attorney General Pam Bondi, and St. Petersburg Mayor Bill Foster speak. The Florida Fraternal Order of Police sponsors the march every year to honor Florida law enforcement officers. 

James Preston, president of the Florida Fraternal Order of Police, said, “This morning is not a funeral. We were exhausted by funerals last year. Rather, this morning is a celebration of the men and women who were and are our heroes.”

Despite Florida’s crime rate being at a 41-year low, the state led the nation in the number of officer deaths in 2011. According to the Fraternal Order of Police, 12 officers died in 2011, and there are already three deaths in 2012.

As a Florida crime scene cleaning company, we are a proud supporter of the Florida Sheriff’s Association and members of law enforcement. Crystal Pinkston, co-owner of Accident Cleaners and Restoration, said, “We know the risk, and we respect our service members who put their lives on the line daily. The job calls for a duty to citizens, and safety, which we understand and believe should be honored. We offer decomposition, suicide and homicide service for the agencies, as well as the individual needs.”

For more information about services available for members of law enforcement, contact Crystal Pinkston at crystal@accidentcleaners.com to enroll in the program.

Honoring Victims Throughout the State of Florida

April 22 – 28 marks National Crime Victims’ Rights Week, which has the theme “Extending the Vision: Reaching Every Victim.” On Monday, President Barack Obama made an official proclamation for the week, asking Americans to observe the event by volunteering to serve victims in their times of need or raise awareness for victims’ rights and services.

At the National Crime Victims’ Service Awards Ceremony held last week, the Office for Victims of Crime paid tribute to crime victims and survivors and paid homage to organizations and individuals that displayed exceptional service to victims. (You can see and read more about all the award recipients here.)

Cities throughout the state planned events to commemorate the week, and the following are a few of the events that happened throughout the state:

• On Monday, Tampa started its recognition for NCVRW with a program led by state officials including Attorney General Pam Bondi and States Attorney Mark Ober. The ceremony also offered victims’ assistance information and a full resource fair that highlights Tampa’s Victim Assistance Program.
• The Florida Coastal School of Law offered a continuing legal education course on how to represent victims on crime to honor National Crime Victims’ Rights Week in Jacksonville on Friday morning.
• Alachua County held a candlelight vigil on Wednesday evening where victims and survivors of violence were invited to light a candle in honor or memory of someone who has been affected by violence. 
• On Thursday evening in Marion County, 300 people attended the Victims’ Remembrance Ceremony that honored about 150 victims of violence. 
• In Clearwater on Sunday evening, a candlelight vigil was held to commemorate Trayvon Martin and commemorate the beginning of NCVRW. 
• About 150 people participated in the first ever Jog for Justice in St. Augustine to commemorate the area’s NCVRW celebration on Tuesday.

Florida crime scene cleanup company Accident Cleaners and Restoration has taken part in many victims’ rights events throughout the course of the year and is also affiliated with the Florida Network of Victim Witness Services and the National Organization for Victim Assistance. The company also offers resources for any victims of crime on its website.

Crystal Pinkston, co-owner of Accident Cleaners and Restoration, realizes how important it is to honor victims, survivors, and advocates not just for this week, but also year round.

“This is not only a time to reflect on the Victims and Survivors, but also a time to honor, respect, and pay tribute to those who are dedicating their lives to helping others,” Pinkston said. “As a company that features employees with experience in firefighting, emergency medical services, and law enforcement, we know first-hand that serving others day to day can be a hard job, both emotional and physically. The burnout is high and the appreciation is low. It’s an important job, and just like others who are serving the public, we are here to take on the task.”