Have hail damage from storms in Dallas-Fort Worth? How long can you wait to report it
.jpg "Hail pummels Tidwell Field at Granbury High School, Monday, May 3, 2021, as parents and student take shelter under the stands.")
Many North Texans woke up to severe weather on Tuesday, with several counties experiencing golf-ball sized hail.
Hail fell in parts of Tarrant County including Bedford, Colleyville, Hurst, Euless, Arlington, Mansfield, Grapevine and Grand Prairie as well as the Dallas area on Monday night. The hail came after a line of severe storms killed seven people and injured at least 100 in Cooke and Denton counties over Saturday and Sunday.
Additional severe storms are in the forecast for North Texas this week and large hail remains one of the main threats.
Most homeowner’s insurance policies cover hail damage, but what about on vehicles? Here’s what we know:
Can your insurance company consider your car a total loss from hail damage?
Yes, if the insurance company determines the vehicle is totaled.
The first move a company will make is to evaluate the extent of the damage and estimate the cost to repair the vehicle, according to Express Auto Hail Repair.
Here’s a few things the insurance evaluators will be looking for:
- Age of the vehicle.
- Condition of vehicle.
- Type of vehicle, as classic or collector vehicles could be treated differently.
- Contributory negligence, which means if the damage was partially the fault of the driver.
The total amount of damage threshold varies among companies, but typically, if the number reaches 70 to 75% of the vehicle’s value then it’s deemed a “total loss”.
A “total loss” is another way for companies to say that they won’t cover repairs, according to Express Auto Hail Repair.
How do you report hail vehicle damage to your insurance company?
Insurance companies should pay for hail damage if your auto policy has comprehensive coverage, according to the Texas Department of Insurance.
Here’s a few tips on filing an insurance claim:
- Take pictures and video of the damage: Make a list of the damage both inside and outside of the vehicle.
- Prevent more damage: Cover broken windows or holes, remove standing water, save receipts and don’t throw away damaged items until your insurance company says to.
- Be available for the adjuster: Make sure when the insurance adjuster visits, to be ready to show them everything.
- Keep a log of people you spoke with: Keep a list of everyone you spoke to at the insurance company and be ready to answer questions.
During this process, you could be approached by fraudulent parties. Here’s how to avoid fraud:
- Get more than one bid or estimate: This will offer a better explanation on if the offers are too high or too good to be true.
- Check with the Better Business Bureau: Reference the BBB to see if the body shop has any complaints.
- Don’t pay the bill in full: Wait until all the work is done to submit any final payments.
How long do you have to report hail damage on vehicles in Texas?
The statute of limitations on hail damage in Texas has leeway, but its better to file sooner rather than later.
It may depend on the severity of the storm and location, but generally, Texans have two years from the date of the event to file a hail damage insurance claim, according to Dax F. Garza, P.C.
