Trauma and Blood Cleaning Questions
When something terrible happens, questions pile up fast. Who cleans this? Who pays? How long will it take? We have gathered the questions people ask us most and answered them as honestly and simply as we can.
- Cost and insurance
- Timing and police release
- Privacy and belongings
- Tennessee specifics
What is trauma and blood cleaning?
Trauma and blood cleaning is the professional cleanup of blood, bodily fluids and related contamination after a crime, suicide, injury, accident or death. It involves protective equipment, removal of materials that cannot be decontaminated, disinfection with EPA-registered products and regulated medical waste disposal.
There are no wrong questions
People often apologize for asking about cost or insurance in the middle of a tragedy. Please do not. These are practical worries, and you deserve clear answers to them. Knowing what to expect can take a little weight off an already heavy day.
The answers below are general. Every situation is a little different, so if something does not fit yours, call us and we will talk through your specific case.
What these answers cover
- What cleanup costs and what affects the price
- How insurance and victim compensation may help
- When cleanup can start and how long it takes
- What happens to belongings and removed materials
- Privacy, odor and whether you need to be present
- Vehicles, businesses and the areas we serve
A few things people are surprised by
These come up again and again on our calls.
Police do not clean
Law enforcement and the medical examiner leave the scene as it is. Cleanup falls to the property owner.
It goes deeper than it looks
Blood and fluids often reach padding, subfloor and walls, well beyond the visible stain.
Insurance often helps
Many homeowner's, renter's, landlord and commercial policies include coverage for this kind of cleanup.
You do not need to be there
Many families never return to the scene until it has been fully restored.
How a typical job unfolds
A quick overview to go with the answers below.
You call us
A real person answers and asks a few gentle questions about what happened and where.
Scene is released
If police were involved, we confirm the scene has been released before starting.
Written scope
We inspect the area and give you a written scope of work before any work begins.
Cleaning and removal
We remove contaminated materials, disinfect surfaces and verify with detection tools.
Documentation
You receive photos and an itemized report to support any insurance claim.
Towns we answer calls from
The people these answers are for
Families
Most questions come from relatives trying to understand what to do after a loss or a violent event.
Landlords and managers
Property owners want to know about timing, documentation and getting a unit ready again.
Employers
Businesses ask about contracts, after-hours work and keeping staff and customers away from the area.
Why we answer questions openly
This work happens on the worst days of people's lives. Clear information is one of the few things we can give right away, before we ever arrive. That is why we answer every question honestly, including the ones about money.
We never pressure anyone to book. If you call with questions and decide to wait, or to go another direction, that is your choice to make.
We serve Nashville and Davidson County along with Williamson, Rutherford, Wilson, Sumner, Robertson and Cheatham counties, and we answer the phone 24 hours a day, every day of the year.
Steady hands on the hardest days
Local to Middle Tennessee
Based in Nashville and serving Davidson County plus the six counties around it.
Compassion on every call
We speak plainly and gently, and we never rush a family that needs a moment.
Trained for blood
Our work centers on crime scenes, suicides and blood, so these are the jobs we know best.
Licensed waste disposal
Blood-soaked materials are packaged and sent out through regulated medical waste channels.
Paperwork handled
Photo reports and itemized scopes for your insurer, landlord or estate. Learn more.
Fair, explained pricing
We explain every line before we start. What drives cost.
Serving Nashville and the six counties around it
See every community on our areas we cover page.
Frequently asked questions
Fourteen of the questions we hear most often. More on our questions page.
Talk with us nowHow much does trauma or blood cleaning cost?
It depends on the size of the affected area, how much material has to be removed, how long before the scene was found, disposal volume, access and timing. We give you a written scope before any work begins.
Will my insurance pay for it?
Homeowner's, renter's, landlord and commercial policies often cover this cleanup. Coverage depends on your policy, and we provide photos and an itemized report to support your claim.
How soon can you come?
We are usually on site the same day in Nashville, and the surrounding counties are typically same day as well.
Can you start before police release the scene?
No. Cleanup can only begin after law enforcement has released the property. You can call us beforehand so we are ready.
What happens to personal belongings?
We set aside photos, documents, jewelry and keepsakes, and clean salvageable items whenever it is safe. We ask before removing anything personal.
Will there be a lingering odor?
We remove the source of odor, which is often in padding, subfloor or furniture, rather than covering it up. We check before we leave.
Will neighbors find out?
Our vans are unmarked, our crew arrives in plain clothes, and we never discuss a job with neighbors or bystanders.
Who is responsible for cleanup after a death in Tennessee?
Generally the property owner, or the estate or family of the person who died, is responsible for arranging cleanup. Police, the medical examiner and funeral homes do not clean the scene.
Can crime victim compensation help with costs?
Tennessee's crime victim compensation program may help with some cleanup costs in qualifying cases. We can provide documentation to support an application.
Do you clean vehicles?
Yes. We clean personal cars, trucks, rideshare vehicles, ambulances and police vehicles.
Do businesses need to sign a contract?
No. We bill businesses per incident with no contract or retainer.
What areas do you serve?
Davidson County and the six bordering counties: Williamson, Rutherford, Wilson, Sumner, Robertson and Cheatham.
Does a family member need to be present?
No. We can arrange access through a relative, friend, landlord or other representative and keep you updated by phone.
What happens to the materials you remove?
Contaminated materials are sealed and sent out for proper regulated medical waste disposal. They never go out with household trash.
Ask us directly
If your question is not answered here, call at any hour. We will give you an honest answer and no sales pitch.
