Extreme weather anywhere in the world presents car owners with hard times and unforeseen struggles. In the U.S., one of the main challenges for auto owners is hail damage. According to the NOAA’s Severe Storms records, there were over 6,000 major hail storms in the U.S., which resulted in crop and property damage worth over $1.8 billion.
A catastrophic storm can cause severe hail damage to the car. It may result in minor or serious dents and dings on the car’s body. In extreme cases, it may even total your vehicle.
Some of the states with the most devastating cases of hail damage include Texas, Nebraska, Wyoming, and Colorado. Texas leads the pack with almost 150,000 claims against hail damage made in 2016. A car that has endured a hail storm will most likely have less aesthetic appeal and consequently, lose its resale value.
If you have encountered a hail storm recently, check the following to see if your car has hail damage:
Dents and Dings Everywhere
During a hail storm, hundreds or thousands of ice chunks fall randomly out of the sky at very high speeds. These pieces drop with extreme force and can damage anything in their path. If they strike your car, they can cause minor or major dents on its surface.
Start by inspecting the car’s hood and roof to see if there is any sign of dings. The two are the most vulnerable parts because they’re directly in the line of falling hailstones. Take the car out and expose it to the sunlight so that you can thoroughly inspect these areas.
Proceed to inspect the body, including the doors and sides of the car, side mirrors, trunk, and any other part that’s exposed. It could help to have someone else to help with the spotting so that they can detect any dents that you won’t notice.
Cracked or Broken Windshield and Windows
If the hailstones are large, or small but moving extremely fast, it’s easy for them to break glasses and mirrors. Check if any of your car’s windows are cracked or broken. Don’t forget the windshield, side mirrors, and even front and tail lights.
You can use a magnifying lens to identify small cracks that may be invincible to the normal eye. If there are any breakages or signs of potential cracking, head to the repair shop.
Dented or Stuck Doorjambs
Check to see whether all your doors are opening and closing well. A severe hail storm can cause damage to doorjambs and make them malfunction.
Know What to Look out for During Hail Damage to Car
Follow the above simple step when checking for hail damage on a car before you contact your insurance company. You can write everything down or if you have a camera, take snapshots of the vehicle and any damage you spot. Dents and dings are not a difficult problem to solve if you take your car to a professional repair technician.
Contact us today for timely, reliable, and professional hail solutions in Colorado.
