The Hail Shop USA

Auto Hail Repair Denver

Navigating Auto Hail Claims In A Catastrophic Event

On March 15, 2024, O’Fallon, MO, was hit by a massive hail storm that left thousands of its residents scrambling for answers about what to do next about their hail-damaged cars and personal property damage.  We have gathered as much information as we could to help ease the hail claims process.

Other cities that have declared a ‘catastrophe’ location are Wentzville & St Peters.

In today’s article, we will cover what to do if your vehicle has been damaged in a hail storm, both from your insurance company’s perspective and from an auto body shop or paintless dent repair shop.

Steps to Take After A Catastrophic Hail Storm

Insurance Company & Auto Hail Damage Claims

  1. Mobile Catastrophe Claim Teams. State Farm and American Family have on-location adjuster stations set up around O’Fallon, one in the Home Depot parking lot and another in the CarShield overflow lot. You will need to schedule an appointment before you visit.
  2. File a hail claim as soon as possible. Contact our local agent, file a claim, and schedule a time to visit a Mobile Catastrophe location or your address. You will need the date of the occurrence, your policy number, and your vehicle make/model/year.
  3. Be prepared for a ‘total loss.’ Due to the size of the hail, wind conditions, and the amount of time the hail fell in O’Fallon, Wentzville, and St. Peters, many vehicles are being written as a total loss. Adjusters are issuing checks for ‘total-loss’ vehicles on-site. Learn more about a ‘total loss’ determination and your options.
  4. Repair checks issued on-site.  For the vehicles that can be repaired, insurance companies are issuing checks on-site to expedite the hail damage repair process. As convenient as this may sound, take a minute to read more about how this might affect you and the repair of your vehicle.
  5. Crash wrap is provided. This storm also broke windshields, sunroofs, and side mirrors. You can pick up some crash wrap at these on-site catastrophe centers.

The Hail Shop Hail Catastrophe Advise

  1. Mobile Catastrophe Claim Teams. Mobile Catastrophe Claim Teams are convenient for getting your vehicle estimate fast. With convenience does come a few draw backs. Number one, adjusters are not experienced hail damage inspectors. In a majority of Catastrophe parking lot estimates, damage is missed and NOT written into your initial estimate. This essentially means that the insurance company is agreeing to pay for the damage ‘seen.’ On average, 30-45% of hail damage is missed upon further inspection at a O’Fallen paintless dent repair or auto body shop.
  2. File a hail claim as soon as possible. Filing a hail claim ASAP is suggested. After a major catastrophic event that resulted in widespread & severe damage, there will be thousands of claims. Dent repair shops get backed up fast. Repair times become longer.
  3. Be prepared for a ‘total loss.’ Multiple factors contribute to a ‘total loss’ claim. The cost to repair windshield damage, multiple dents per panel, paint damage, dents on the body lines, and interior damage (broken sunroofs = water damage to the interior) can add up fast. If your vehicle is written as a ‘total loss,’ we suggest you do your research. Check CarFax to get an idea as to the fair-market-value. You do have the right to negotiate the settlement check amount.
  4. Repair checks issued on-site.  As mentioned in point 1, be prepared to get a check that doesn’t cover the cost to repair 100% of the hail damage. Ask the adjuster what your options are. Can I get a second opinion from an O’Fallon paintless dent repair shop? What happens if the repair shop finds more damage? What is the wait time for supplement approvals? If I take this check today, does that mean any additional damage won’t be paid for? Who is my contact, i.e., adjuster?
  5. Crash wrap is provided. This is a very good option and is highly recommended. What is not recommended is assuming that you have to use an O’Fallon auto body or PDR shop that is on your insurance “Preferred Partner” shop list, or DRP. Learn more.

Who is The Hail Shop?

We are a full-service paintless dent repair shop specializing in auto hail repair. We offer free inspections, free vehicle pick-up and delivery, and free loaner cars. With a complete auto hail repair, you won’t pay a deductible. To schedule your free inspection, you can call us at 314-252-8851 or use our online scheduling form.

 

 

Auto Hail Damage Claims – Aurora, IL

Aurora, IL FAQ Answered About The Hail Claims Process

If you suspect your vehicle has hail damage as a result of the early April 2023 hail storms, this article will answer some of the most frequently asked questions we have received from Aurora, IL vehicle owners.

How do I get the hail damage repaired on my vehicle?

There are generally 2 methods to repair dent damage to vehicles.
  • Paintless Dent Repair (PDR). PDR is the preferred method for repairing auto hail damage. Specialized tools designed specifically for PDR technicians to remove dents from either the underside or top surface of the damaged area. Special rods are used on the underside of the vehicle panels to push out and smooth dents. Dent pullers are used to gently pull the dents out from the top surface. Both methods ensure the painted surface is not disturbed. In most cases, repairs may take only a few days. PDR may not be effective on large dents or extensive damage by hail.
  • Conventional vehicle repair. Conventional body repair is the preferred method for repairing dent damage that has damaged the vehicle’s paint or damage that is too large to be reversed with PDR. Working mostly on the exterior of the vehicle, dents are pulled out and irregularities filled in with a body filler While the method is most effective on deep dents, repair time is generally longer because the repaired area must be primed and repainted.

90% of hail damage can be repaired using the paintless dent repair method. If we discover paint damage, such as cracking, scratches, chips or loose paint, The Hail Shop USA can still repair the vehicle. We offer 100% auto hail repair services, including paint damage repair.

Does my car insurance policy cover hail damage?

It depends on the type of coverage you have. You’re covered for auto hail damage if you have comprehensive insurance coverage.

Minor hail damage often isn’t worth claiming because the repair costs don’t exceed the deductible. Keep in mind that hail damage can be hard to perceive with the naked eye. The Hail Shop uses special LED lighting specifically designed to identify hail damage you might not see.

Can hail damage total your car?

Yes, a very severe hail storm CAN total out a vehicle.  Depending on the size of the hailstones and wind speeds during the storm plus the grade of your vehicle’s panels, a hail storm can deem a vehicle beyond repair. Some materials, such as steel, used in car manufacturing are more durable and safe than others.

The hail damage must be severe enough before insurance companies will declare a vehicle as totaled. If you are concerned that your vehicle was totaled by the recent Aurora storms, call the professionals at The Hail Shop USA first for a thorough and comprehensive assessment first.

When an insurance adjuster estimates the hail damage, they will sometimes decide a vehicle is totaled because they don’t understand the magnitude of what PDR can repair.

Do I have to repair hail damage on my car in Aurora, IL?

If your vehicle is completely paid off and you own it outright, the choice to repair is yours. If you still carry a lien on your vehicle, you must repair the hail damage.  Any settlement will be made out to you and your lienholder.

Will I need to deal with an insurance adjuster on hail damage?

The choice is yours! You can take care of the hail claim and deal with the insurance company or you can skip the stressful parts and leave it to us. From inspecting your vehicle and writing up an estimate for your insurance company to filing your hail claim for you, we can take care of everything.

This is how it works:

  • We inspect your vehicle at the location of your choice.
  • We write the estimate and submit it to your insurance company.
  • If the assigned insurance adjuster wants to double-check our estimate, they will come to the shop to go over the claim.
  • If additional damage is discovered after we have disassembled your vehicle for repairs, we contact your adjuster to request a supplement to cover the damage.
  • Once your vehicle has been repaired, we reach out to the insurance company to close the claim.

Will a hail damage claim in Aurora, IL raise my insurance rate?

If you file a claim for auto hail damage in Illinois, the claim information will go into a database that stores previously filed insurance claims. If you have an extensive claims history, that could result in higher premiums.

Frequent hail can also affect the insurance rates for everyone in a particular area. If your area is prone to severe weather, insurance companies might set rates higher due to the likelihood of claims.

The National Weather Service continues to track increasing instances of severe hail across primary reporting sites, including Chicago, Springfield, Rockford, Peoria, Moline, and St. Louis. According to the most recent State Farm Catastrophe Analysis, the insurer paid out over $4.6 billion in hail claims nationally in a single year, highlighting the growing intensity of storm seasons and the critical need for professional PDR restoration.

Ultimately, Aurora, IL auto hail damage claim, or any city in Illinois, can affect your car insurance rates, whether you file a claim or not.

Learn more by reading our Auto Hail Claims Guide.

Millions of Dollars in Auto Hail Claims – Omaha

Aftermath of a Severe Hail Storm in Omaha, NE

When high wind speeds and hail meet during a severe summer storm, the result is millions of dollars in repairs. Omaha auto hail repair shops will be busy for many months and possibly even into next year. Residents are worried that these severe storms could be the new norm.

Kearney County Emergency Management Director Craig Lupkes said, “We’ve been hit pretty hard the last couple of years. We can never just catch rain. All it is is severe weather. When it comes through, it destroys everything.”

Omaha meteorologists and scientists are echoing these concerns.

Scientists say that damaging hailstorms are on the increase in Nebraska and are expected to worsen with climate change. Meteorologists describe these storms as a “ring of fire” because they follow along the periphery of the hot air mass. Climatologists have notated that 2022 has been the second worst June for hail in the last 10 years.

Good news. Hail storm season in the midwest typically only lasts about 3 months of the year. Bad news, the consensus by experts in the scientific community doesn’t see this trend in severe weather getting better.

Nebraska can get hail any month of the year, but most hailstorms occur from May through July, with June the peak month. June 14, 2022, has been the worst.

Omaha insurance groups report a major increase in wind/hail damage claims.

Hail Damage Repair Omaha, NE$32 million dollars in 2022 hail damage claims alone.

American Family Insurance, a major insurer in Nebraska, has received 6,200 claims for wind and hail damage this year and over 4,000  more in June.

In an attempt to expedite the Omaha auto hail claims process, some insurance companies have set up drive-through inspection tents in multiple big box store parking lots across multiple counties.

Omaha vehicle owners are expressing major concerns about the likelihood of rate increases as a result of the hail claims.

American Family Insurance spokesman Ken Muth says, “While storm damage does affect insurance rates, no single year does,  Instead, the company bases rates on a 20- to 30-year average. The recent sharp increases in insurance rates are due to the rising cost of building materials, car parts, replacement cars, and labor.”

Quotes extracted from the Omaha World Journal.

The Hail Shop – Omaha’s #1 Auto Hail Repair Shop

We can’t stop the influx of severe weather occurrences but there are steps vehicle owners can take to soften the blow. Visit our Auto Hail Repair page to access our collection of articles and blogs to get ahead of the storm.

If your vehicle has hail damage that still needs to be repaired, you can visit our Omaha shop to get scheduled. All of our paintless dent repair technicians specialize in repairing auto hail damage.

Andover, Wichita Storm Brings Tornado, Wind, Hail – Damages Cars & Homes

2022 has been a topsy-turvy year for severe weather occurrences. In true form, Kansas weather trends are all over the board,  something Wichita residents are accustomed to, but catastrophic weather is something never completely expected. Especially when the word ‘tornado’ hits the scene. Tornados never arrive alone.

When you think  ‘tornado’ in the midwest, you know there will be a high likelihood of torrential rain, hail, and wind gusts that like to shoot hail stones across the sky like killer bees.

This is exactly what happened in Andover, KS. Nearly 1,000 structures were hit by a destructive EF3 twister. Downed power lines and large debris blocked most major intersections, more than 13,000 people were without power in Andover and Wichita, and hundreds of homes and vehicles were battered with large hail.

“Kansas Governor Laura Kelly has even issued a State of Emergency Disaster Declaration for the state just before 9 p.m., activating the disaster response and recovery portions of the Kansas Response Plan,” KSN.com writes.

Record high temperatures in the midwest continue to put residents in danger of more severe weather occurrences.

If your vehicle has sustained hail damage, call the auto hail repair specialists in Wichita, KS. The Hail Shop has extensive experience with catastrophic storm recovery services and will be offering a free valet  and pick-up/delivery services for vehicle owners in Andover, KS.

Call 316-247-1249 or you can schedule online.

Weather Pattern Predictions for 2022

Mood SwingsMother Natures Mood Swings

We all have bad days. Sometimes we can even have a bad week. 2021-2022 is proving to be an overall bad year for Mother Natures. From wild weather mood swings to unpredictable barometric behavior, someone needs to muster up the courage to suggest that MN take a “Netflix & Chill” approach for the rest of the year.

The 2022 Farmers Almanac Playbook

Temperature swings and lots of snow. 

We can all agree that December, January, and February could be considered “unseasonable.” This is especially true for the Texans that traded in their light jackets for snow shovels on February 3rd. South Carolina and Virginia saw rare blasts of snow and ice in late January. A Myrtle Beach fire chief warned residents that “even walking out the front door could be treacherous.” Meanwhile in the midwest, where snowy and icy conditions are quite commonplace, Missourians and Kansans are experiencing blizzard like conditions just 3 days after Valentines Day.

The Farmers Almanac managing Editor Sandi Duncan says this about March.

“And, she says don’t get fooled if March starts off relatively calm…Unfortunately, March looks very stormy. We’re actually calling for some stormy conditions in the middle of the month and the unusual thing is if you look even further ahead in April, we’re calling for possible late-season blizzard across the region. SO, winter is going to hang on.”

Oh, yay.

The official descriptive words used by The Farmers Almanac of 2022 are flip-floppy and mixed bag. We call this Mother Nature manic depression.

La Nina & Her Influence on Spring 2022 Tornado & Hail Season

La Nina 2022 Hail TrendsLa Nina has an important influence on the Spring 2022 hail season in the United States. And usually not in a good way.

In a La Nina spring season, there is a substantially higher frequency of hailstorms  in the southern and southeastern parts of the United States.

It nicely shows the main outlines of the central and eastern parts of the Tornado Alley including Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Texas.

 

Are You Ready For Hail Season?

In the afore mentioned states (Arkansas, Oklahoma, & Texas) – hail season is nothing new…certainly not appreciated, but not new. If 2021 is any indication of how 2022 comes rolling in, it is a good idea to get ready.

Auto hail damage is a real thing in Hail Alley. If you are in the unfortunate situation of not being afforded the amount of time needed to prepare for a hail storm, The Hail Shop USA has got you covered.

We have repaired thousands of hail damaged vehicles back to their original pristine condition and can do the same for you!