Insurance News: Insurance Damage Claim Tips

From: The Rocky Mountain Insurance Information Association Contact: Carole Walker, Executive Director, RMIIA (303) 790-0216

Follow RMIIA on Facebook and Twitter for the latest insurance and safety news.

June 7, 2016 – Mother Nature set her sights on South-Metro Denver yesterday with golf ball-sized hail battering vehicles and roofs. Storms swept across the Front Range during the early evening hours, but some of the largest hail pelted areas in and around Highlands Ranch and Lone Tree.

“June is the launch of Colorado’s peak hail season,” says Carole Walker, Executive Director of the Rocky Mountain Insurance Information Association. “Yesterday’s round of severe storms is a reminder that Mother Nature can leave her destructive calling card at any time, so we need to be financially prepared for the unexpected—check your insurance to know what it covers, what it doesn’t and how much protection you have when you need it the most.” The industry is still accessing the extent of insured damage caused by Monday’s hail and wind. 

Hail, wind, fire or flood damage to vehicles is covered if you carry comprehensive insurance on your auto policy.

How to file an auto claim

Homeowners insurance covers damage from hail, fire and wind. Property damage resulting from rising water is covered by a separate flood insurance policy.

How to file a property claim

Colorado's Most Costly Storms

With the exception of the May 22, 2008, Windsor tornado and the hailstorm that hit Pueblo on July 29, 2009, Colorado’s most costly hailstorms were centered in the Denver Metro area (the largest concentration of property in the state).

*2015 estimated cost calculations based on the Consumer Price Index.

RMIIA recommends these preventative steps:

SELECT IMPACT RESISTANT ROOFING

• Your roof is the most vulnerable part of your home, so when building a new home or replacing your roof consider using impact-resistant roofing products. Most insurance companies either surcharge or only offer a percentage deductible for wood shake or non-impact resistant roofs. When hail destroys roof coverings, it can lead to water damage to your ceilings, walls, floors, appliances and personal possessions.

DO AN ANNUAL INSURANCE CHECK-UP

• Insurance is something most people don't even want to think about until they need it the most. But, understanding what is and isn't covered in your homeowners’ insurance policy can mean the difference of being able to rebuild your home and replace your personal belongings. Homeowners need to do annual insurance policy "check-ups" to make sure they keep up with local building costs and have adjusted their coverage to include home remodeling and additions.
• If you don't have replacement coverage, consider spending a few extra dollars for coverage that pays for the cost of replacing the damaged property without deduction for depreciation. Ask about endorsements for sewer back-up and building code upgrades.

KNOW WHAT IS & ISN'T COVERED

• The typical homeowners insurance policy covers damage resulting from fire, windstorm, hail, water damage (excluding flooding), riots and explosion as well as other causes of loss, such as theft and the extra cost of living elsewhere while the structure is being repaired or rebuilt.
• Hail and flood damage to your car is covered only if you have purchased optional comprehensive insurance on your auto policy.
• The standard policy does not cover flooding, so you may want to look into flood insurance coverage if you're concerned that you're at risk for rising floodwaters.

Log on to www.rmiia.org for more information.

###

Rocky Mountain Insurance Information Association is a non-profit consumer information organization. Affiliated with the Insurance Information Institute, RMIIA has been serving consumers and the media since 1952.