The night of April 12 is not one that most in San Antonio and the northwestern part of Bexar County will soon forget. Nor is it likely that their property insurers will forget it either as that San Antonio hailstorm breaks record with $1.36B damage. Fortunately, no personal injuries were reported as a result of the massive hailstorm.
The night of April 12 is not one that most in San Antonio and the northwestern part of Bexar County will soon forget. Nor is it likely that their property insurers will forget it either as that San Antonio hailstorm breaks the record with $1.36B damage. Fortunately, no personal injuries were reported as a result of the massive hailstorm.
According to insurance industry group, The Insurance Council of Texas, aside from the widespread property damage, the biggest injuries are likely going to be to the bank accounts of property insurers when those first party claims start rolling in. The Council said the hailstorm is the costliest in Texas history.
Hailstones, some of which were grapefruit-sized, left roughly $560M in automotive damages and home & business damages near $800M in their wake. The executive director of Independent Insurance Agents of San Antonio, Robert Crosby opined that “uninsured losses were also expected to be high.”
If you’re wondering what the previous record for hailstorm damage was, it came from a storm that slammed Fort Worth on May 5, 1995 causing $1.1B in damages.
Here are some things you should be doing to preserve your claim:
- Take pictures of all damage to your property inside and out, including sheds, fences, or any other structures. If possible, use the timestamp function on your digital camera to provide proof of the timeframe.
- Protect yourself and your home from further damage, whether from vandals or more foul weather, by covering broken windows.
- Cover holes in your roof with a tarp to prevent further water damage.
- Keep your receipts for things such as tarps and window coverings. Your policy should reimburse you your out-of-pocket costs.
- Be wary of hiring repair people who go door-to-door offering to help. Often, this is a scam.
- Research local licensed contractors and reputable roofers to do the necessary repairs.
- Only hire those contractors or roofers who can prove they have liability insurance. If they don’t and they are injured on your property, you may be liable.
- Never pay in full up front. Reputable businesses will take deposits.
Remember, insurance companies are businesses. These record damages will severely impact their bottom lines. Some companies may go so far as to low-ball or even deny your valid claim in order to preserve their profitability. This is known as “acting in bad faith.”
If your insurer tries to delay proper processing and payment of your first party insurance claim, contact an experienced insurance attorney. You paid your premiums, you deserve fair dealings when you file a claim.
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