Reducing Mover’s Liability in Rockford
Though we are all knowledgeable that the mover has to assume full responsibility on our properties shipped, we should also understand that some of our actions may have unknowingly mitigated the mover’s normal liability.
And of course there is really no way that some movers would tell us that!
Your moving company in Illinois’ liability may be reduced when you include perishable, dangerous, or hazardous materials in your household goods without your mover’s knowledge. For them, if you don’t declare it then it is not there, so better be careful on this.
Plus, Federal law prohibits shipping hazardous materials without informing your mover. A violation can result in five years’ imprisonment and penalties of $250,000 or more. Doing so also, could risk yourself losing or damaging your household goods by fire, explosion, or contamination.
If you include hazardous materials to your luggage, you should have the responsibility of labeling and marking your package carefully and arrange shipping papers and emergency response information before transporting it. On the other hand, your mover also must comply with some requirements as a hazardous materials carrier.
Hazardous materials include explosives, compressed gases, flammable liquids and solids, oxidizers, poisons, corrosives, and radioactive materials. Examples include the following: nail polish remover, paints, paint thinners, lighter fluid, gasoline, fireworks, oxygen bottles, propane cylinders, automotive repair and maintenance chemicals, and radio-pharmaceuticals.
However, if those materials do not exceed 70 ounces total, they could be exempted.
Also choosing the alternative level of liability (60 cents per pound per article) but ship household goods valued at more than 60 cents per pound ($1.32 per kilogram) per article gives you on the losing end. Though having your local mover fully insure your household goods is expensive, it is better to have it that way than suffer the consequences once an unexpected unfortunate event occurs.
Lastly, failure to notify your mover in WRITING that some of your articles are worth at more than $100 per pound ($220 per kilogram) also lessens the mover’s liability. If they are not notified they will entitle you only to full recovery up to the declared value of the article or articles, not to exceed the declared value of the entire shipment.
