No car insurance claim is fun, but hurricane related or other catastrophic claims are probably the worst. Insurance companies get slammed with thousands of claims all at once. It overwhelms their network of services and claimants are often in need of help quick. Filing a hurricane related claim takes a lot of patience.
When Should You File a Hurricane Claim?
Time is of the essence. The amount of insurance claims caused by a single hurricane is an insurance nightmare. Do not waste any time filing your hurricane claim. Your agent may be out of the office, but it is important to notify your insurance carrier by calling its 800 number as soon as you know the extent of your damage.
Filing early could get you a little better service. Potentially a local claim adjuster will get assigned to your claim verses an outside contracted adjuster. Insurance companies do not typically have enough man power to cover all the claims after a catastrophic event so they hire outside adjusters. Insurance carriers might prioritize claims by severity, but it does not hurt to get your claim filed as soon as possible, it could get your loss resolved faster.
Where Should You Get Your Car Repaired?
Most insurance carriers offer preferred body shops to do repairs. Repairs can often be handled faster because you can bypass the adjuster altogether. At a time of a hurricane, the preferred shop could be out of commission due to their facility being damaged. Look for a reputable shop which is acceptable to both you and your insurance carrier. Most shops will be overwhelmed by the amount of work stacked up all at once. Patience is going to be required.
Verify whether or not you have car rental coverage on your car insurance policy. If you have purchased the coverage, a daily dollar amount is often assigned to the coverage. Some carriers offer a small dollar amount at no additional charge. Make sure to verify what your insurance carrier offers.
If you do rent a car, check on extended coverage from your car insurance policy to the rental car. Rental companies often charge a fee for physical damage coverage. You may not need to purchase the rental company’s coverage if you have coverage extended from another source.
A rate increase is definitely a possibility for a couple of reasons. Some insurance carriers surcharge for comprehensive claims. Often, the surcharge is smaller than an at-fault claim, but still an increase. Many insurance carriers do not surcharge for comprehensive claims, however with a catastrophic loss such as a hurricane, rates can potentially increase for everyone in the area. When insurance companies have huge losses, sometimes they have no choice but to put some of the expense back on the insured customers with an overall rate hike.
Tips for a Smoother Claim
Getting back to "normal" after a major disaster such as a hurricane takes time. Focus on what you can control. Make sure to give the claims adjuster a good contact number so they can reach you. Make your appointments with the repair shop. If you are looking at a total loss claim, get your paperwork in order as quickly as possible. Keep organized and prepare for potential setbacks.
