Virginia Law

Article 10
Part 370 - Principle and Practices for the Investigation and Voluntary Disposition of Loss and Damaged Claims and Processing Salvage

Supporting documents. When a necessary part of an investigation, each claim shall be supported by the original bill of lading, evidence of the freight charges, if any, and either the original invoice, a photographic copy of the original invoice, or an exact copy thereof or any extract made therefrom, certified by the claimant to be true and correct with respect to the property and value involved in the claim; or certification of prices or values, with trade or other discounts, allowance, or deductions, of any nature whatsoever and the terms thereof, or depreciation reflected thereon; provided, however, that where property involved in a claim has not been invoiced to the consignee shown on the bill of lading or where an invoice does not show price or value, or where the property involved has been sold, or where the property has been transferred at bookkeeping values only, the carrier shall, before voluntarily paying a claim, require the claimant to establish the destination value in the quantity, shipped, transported, or involved; provided, further, that when supporting documents are determined to be a necessary part of an investigation, the supporting documents are retained by the carriers for possible inspection, by an authorized specially trained member of the Department of State Police designated for that purpose by the superintendent.