Hail can do more damage than you might think if you have never been affected by it before. Hailstones can be various sizes, and they can travel at up to 25 miles per hour. The larger the hailstones are, the faster they travel. The severity of the weather can also make them travel faster than just 25 miles per hour, which means severe storms may lead to significant hail damage to your vehicle if it’s left exposed.
If your vehicle suffers from hail damage, you may be at a loss for how to react to it other than frustration. However, you can keep a level head and take the next steps when you know what they are. Here are four steps to take when your car experiences hail damage:
- Document the Damage – When the storm is over, take lots of pictures of the damage to your vehicle. Make sure to get every angle you can and take shots from various distances as well, including a full wide shot of the vehicle. Your insurer will need these photos to confirm that the damage was due to hail and not caused by any other incidents.
- Inform Your Insurance Provider – Contact your insurance provider right away to let them know your car has hail damage and you will be filing a claim with them. They will let you know what steps you need to take, and they may send an insurance adjuster out to take more photos and assess the situation.
- File a Claim – File your claim with your insurance provider. In some cases, the professional you hire for repair may be able to handle the claims process for you or assist you with it.
- Contact a Professional for Repair – Your insurer may have a preferred repair company, but you have the right to hire the repair company of your choice regardless of the referral your insurer offers. Choose a company you trust for hail damage repair.