Was your home or car damaged in a summer hail storm? You're not alone, and hail damage is a pretty common problem in Colorado.
Colorado ranked highest in the nation for auto and homeowner insurance claims in 2018, according to State Farm. The insurance agency paid out more than $2.7 billion across the nation last year for hail damage claims, nearly $600 million of which was in Colorado.
If a hail storm damaged your home or car, here’s what you need to do:
If your home's roof was damaged by hail
- Check your homeowner policy to figure out what you might owe. Many policies in Colorado, especially on the Eastern Plains, have separate roof deductibles due to frequent hail storms, according to a news release from the Better Business Bureau. It’s worth it to check how many times you can get your roof repaired or replaced under your insurance policy.
- Contact your insurance company as soon as you can to get the claims process started. If you have issues with your claim, reach out to the Colorado Department of Insurance. It can help you get your claim processed in accordance with your policy, according to the release.
- Larimer County requires roofers to be licensed. You should check to make sure the business has the proper licenses for the work it will be doing, especially if it’s based in a different city or county.
If your car was damaged by hail
- Your car insurance policy will only cover hail damage if you have comprehensive coverage, according to the release. Call your insurance agent or company right away to report the damage and discuss how to go forward with repairs.
- Hail claims don’t typically cause your insurance premium to rise — claims on your comprehensive policy are priced into the policy based on things like the weather and crime rate wherever you most use your car, according to the release. However, states with more hail claims than others could cost all drivers more in premiums.
- Your insurance company will be able to determine the severity of the damage and consult with you and the body shop on which repair method makes the most sense, according to the release.
- Ask how long the repair will take. If a bunch of cars in the area were damaged, it might take longer than usual.
- Once your vehicle is repaired, make sure to check for any remaining dents before driving home.
- Get a guarantee and contact information from the shop in writing before you leave. If you notice a flaw in your vehicle’s repair, you should be able to get that fixed with no additional charge, according to the release.
If your home flooded in a storm
- Use local contractors who are qualified in mold mediation and property restoration. You can check that at that bbb.org. Check the company’s rating and see if there is a history of complaints. You can also read customer reviews if available.
- Be suspicious of any contractor who contacts you out-of-the-blue or is going door-to-door. Some municipalities require solicitors have a license. If yours has one, ask to see the license.
- Ask for references and then call them. Ask if they would hire the contractor again.
- Every insurance contract requires the policyholder (you) to mitigate damages. This means cutting off the water, moving things to a safe place, and tarping the roof or boarding up broken windows. Only do this if you can do it safely, according to the release.
- Don’t be surprised if the insurance company issues the check to both you and the lender holding your mortgage. Your contractor may require you to sign a statement acknowledging the lien on the mortgage attaches to the insurance check. This has been a common practice since Hurricane Katrina, according to the release. It helps ensure the check is used to fix the property.
- If many homeowners and businesses are affected, it may take a while for local contractors to meet with you.
- Be suspicious of any contractor who asks you to pay for the entire job upfront, according to the release. For certain jobs it might be OK to pay a deposit, but no more than one-third to one-half. Check with a trusted friend, relative or your insurance agent to see if payment of a deposit is customary for the work you need done, according to the release.
- Keep a copy of all contracts you sign and any warranty papers your contractor gives you. Make sure the contractor’s contact information is on the paperwork.
- Some contracts contain a clause where substantial cancellation fees, sometimes called liquidated damages, will be charged if the homeowner decides not to use the contractor after the cancellation period referred to in the contract, according to the release.
More hail and severe weather resources:
►Save your garden:Here's how to salvage your plants after hail
►More:Holy hail! Dealers offer discounts on dinged vehicles, but is it worth it?
►More:Hail damage led to insurance woes for homeowners: Know what to expect when you file a claim
This story was updated on July 8, 2019.
How long do you have to file a hail claim in Colorado?
The Law states that you have 3 YEARS. Then the Colorado Statute of limitations kicks in and you no longer have the right.It can still get tricky tho.. In our experience at Hail Inc, having repaired thousands of hail damaged cars and trucks, and having dealt with every insurance carrier under this Colorado sun.
Is hailstorm damage covered by insurance?
Car insurance can cover your car if it's damaged by a hail storm, but the extent of cover depends on the type of policy you take out. For instance, you'll need comprehensive car insurance – the highest level of car cover available – to cover hail damage.
How do I claim for storm damage insurance?
How do I claim? As soon as you can, you need to tell your insurer that your property has been damaged and you want to make a claim. Most insurers have 24-hour helplines and they should be geared up to deal with the fallout from the storm, as forecasters have been talking about it for days.
Is it worth it to claim hail damage on car?
Yes, you should consider filing a claim for hail damage if the total cost of repairs exceeds your deductible. For instance, if your deductible is $1,000 and the repairs are estimated at around $1,500, it might be worth paying out of pocket, since your insurance company will only pay $500 of the bill.