What your home or car damaged in one of the recent summer hail storms?

You are not alone. Hail damage is a pretty common occurrence in Colorado.   In fact, Colorado rated fourth in the nation for homeowner’s insurance claims in 2017.  In fact, one insurance company paid $271 in damages for hail loss claims last year. Texas was #1 at $610 Million paid out. The other states that have common hail damage claims are Illinois and Minnesota.  

If hail damaged your car or home, here is what you need do.

• 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.
• Some counties require 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:

• 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.
• 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: 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.

  What happens if your business had damage like this golf course? Contact the All Access Insurance office today and we’ll get a claim filed for you. Keeping you protected,   Rick   All Access Insurance in Littleton, CO,  who represents multiple insurance companies as a “Broker” and provides products for auto, home,  commercial, workers compensation, and much more!   Call us today for a free quote at (303) 932-1700