June 22, 2015

Filing A Total Loss Claim For Vehicle Hail Damage

Shopping for car insurance means taking the time to understand the levels of coverage. With rising insurance costs, many people cut corners on the necessary forms of coverage. When there's potential for hail damage, car insurance quotes should contain comprehensive coverage. It will make filing a total loss claim for hail damage on a vehicle much easier.

Most people consider auto insurance strictly for accidents on the road. If a person runs off the side of the road, gets hit in the rear or is involved in some other accident, auto insurance is in place to cover it. However, there are other things that can go wrong that a driver has absolutely no control over. Such things include hail damage.

It's not uncommon for parts of the country to experience significant amounts of hail. Hail can come down in the size of golf balls and cause a significant amount of damage. If the damage is so severe, it may require a total loss claim for the vehicle. This is when the insurance company decides that it's cheaper to file the vehicle as a loss than to pay to repair it.

The majority of states have laws in place to require a driver to cover liability insurance. This covers property damage as well as bodily injury from hitting another vehicle or private property. This does not cover anything such as broken windshields or body damage from hail or any other form of weather or road condition.

The only type of coverage that covers hail is comprehensive coverage. Due to rising insurance costs, many people dismiss this form of coverage if they can get away with it. Lien holders typically require the coverage, but they are the only ones. To try and file a total loss claim without this form of coverage will result in the claim being denied.

Adding comprehensive coverage is not that expensive. Car insurance quotes online can show how much it will add to a policy on a monthly basis. It's usually only a few extra dollars. That's a small price to pay to ensure a vehicle will be repaired or replaced in the event of serious hail damage.

When a person has comprehensive coverage and they file a claim, it is typically processed quickly. An adjuster will come out to check out the vehicle and determine the extent of the damage. If it is categorized as a total loss, the policyholder simply needs to pay the deductible before money can be released to purchase a new vehicle.

Hail is a very serious problem throughout the country. Those who have the potential of enduring it should ensure the auto insurance policy has comprehensive coverage.