If your car has been damaged in a Colorado hailstorm, the cost of repairs may be one of your top concerns. Especially for serious damage, the expense of repairing your vehicle may be steep. But, with your car insurance policy, you may be able to submit a claim for hail damage coverage.
Here, we’ll talk about hail damage coverage from car insurance companies. By ensuring that your insurance policy includes auto hail damage, you won’t have to worry about having to cover the repair costs on your own.
Insurance For Auto Hail Damage
A major question among Colorado car owners is whether or not hail damage is included in their car insurance policy. The truth is that not all policies provide coverage for hail damage.
Comprehensive coverage is a type of car insurance plan that does offer coverage in the event of hail damage to your vehicle. Specifically, comprehensive coverage includes damages that you don’t have control over, including vandalism, theft, and “acts of nature”. Hailstorms are considered acts of nature and, therefore, fall under the umbrella of comprehensive coverage.
Let’s Talk About Auto Liability Insurance.
Auto liability insurance, which may also be called liability-only insurance, is legally required in most states, including Colorado. It’s important because it protects other drivers on the road in the event that you cause an accident. If you were found to be at fault in a car accident, your auto liability insurance would compensate the other driver for property, medical expenses, and other losses related to the accident.
That said, auto liability insurance doesn’t provide coverage for damages to your own property. So, in the case of automotive hail damage, auto liability insurance won’t be much help to cover your repair expenses.
Contacting Your Car Insurance Company
If your car was damaged in a Denver hailstorm, it can be easy to panic. But, instead, make sure that you call your insurance company as soon as possible. Your claim has a better chance for approval when you get the damage appraised quickly. That way, the insurance company can’t argue that the damage was exacerbated in the time that you waited to contact them.
After talking to your insurance agent about the claims process, the appraisal will be scheduled. This can happen in one of two ways: the insurance company can send one of their own representatives to evaluate the damage, or you can go to a hail damage repair shop.
During the car appraisal, the appraiser’s job is to assess the condition of the vehicle and the type of damage. The goal of the appraisal is to estimate the cost of necessary repairs to make the vehicle safe to drive again. Once the estimated repair cost is determined, your insurance company will decide whether or not to approve your claim.
For the best possible chance of claim approval, wash your vehicle before the appraisal. This may seem superficial, but it can make a difference in how severe the hail damage appears. Also, work with hail damage repair experts that have experience in working with insurance companies. They can help you navigate the claim process so that you get compensation for the repair expenses.
I Only Have Auto Liability Insurance. Should I Bother Calling My Insurance Company?
In short, yes – it’s still worth your time to contact your insurance company after a hailstorm if you only have auto liability insurance. While you probably can’t file a claim for this instance of hail damage, you can discuss options with your insurance agent to make sure that you’re protected in the future. After all, in Denver, hailstorms are far from a rare occurrence. It wouldn’t be unlikely for your car to get damaged by hail again at some point down the line. So, don’t make the same mistake twice – make sure that you have an adequate car insurance policy to cover the cost of hail damage repairs.
Act Quickly For Auto Hail Damage Coverage
When you wait to contact your insurance agent after auto hail damage occurs, your chance for compensation lowers. The risk of further damage to your vehicle gets higher the longer you wait, and hail damage can get worse as time goes on. So, don’t hesitate to call your insurance agent after a Colorado hailstorm. Their job is to help you, after all!
