One minute, you’re driving through a steady rain. The next, large pieces of ice begin pelting your vehicle. You get off the road and find shelter as fast as you can, but the damage has already been done. Hail can do anything from leaving small dents on the top of your car to severely damaging the windshield.
When your car sustains more serious damage, you may consider trying to file a claim with your insurance company. Though not every policy covers hail, you may have one that does. Use these guidelines to determine your eligibility for a hail damage claim.
Can You File a Claim for Hail Damage?
You’ll need to look at your insurance policy or call your insurance company to determine whether you’re eligible to receive a payout for hail damage. Policies with “comprehensive coverage” will cover hail damage, but not every plan has this. Some people opt to skip comprehensive coverage to lower the cost of their insurance.
Those who live in areas prone to hail often include comprehensive coverage in their policies. In Pennsylvania, hail may not be as prevalent as in other places, so you may not have opted for this type of coverage.
How Do You File a Claim for Hail Damage?
After determining whether your policy will cover hail damage, the next step is to file a claim. Call your insurance company and report exactly what happened. They will connect you with an adjuster, who will determine how much the repairs to the damage will cost.
Hail damage can be moderate, dimpling the top of your car but not causing anything beyond cosmetic damage. Still, you should get these imperfections fixed. The flaws could impact the trade-in value of your vehicle, or, if you lease your vehicle, require you to make a higher payout when you turn it in.
After the adjuster has settled on a figure, you can get your car fixed. Don’t go to the repair shop until the insurance company has approved the repairs.
Should I File a Claim for Hail Damage?
In some cases, it may not make sense to file a claim for hail damage, such as if your deductible is higher than the amount you would pay for the damage. For the future, keep in mind these tips for protecting your car from hail damage:
- Store it in a garage or another shelter if the forecast calls for storms
- Cover your car with blankets or a tarp if you don’t have a garage and can’t get to shelter
- Learn to recognize the signs of imminent hail and stay off the roads during storms
If you still have questions about filing a hail damage insurance claim, get in touch with Strock Insurance. We can guide you through the process and get you the answers you need. Call our offices in Camp Hill, Harrisburg or Lebanon, or get in touch online. You can also get car insurance quotes.
