ST. LOUIS – People across the St. Louis metro area are still sharing photos and videos of damage from last week’s storm that battered cars, homes, and businesses. It was a storm that was especially significant in terms of hail damage.
State Farm Insurance reported a staggering number of claims following the hailstorm—roughly 6,900 claims due to last week’s severe weather alone. For comparison, they recorded just over 2,000 hail claims in total last year in the state of Missouri.
The severity of this storm stunned an entire industry. AAA Missouri Spokesperson Nick Chabarria said its timing made it especially impactful.
“There’s no doubt; this was a big storm. And it came at a time when we typically don’t see storms of this size, at least not this early in the season,” Chabarria said.
Chabarria predicts there will be a lot of deals to be had in the coming months for hail-damaged vehicles. But buyer beware: the agency said there could be more damage to those cars than meets the eye.
“It’s easy to spot body damage on a hail-damaged vehicle. What you may not know is if other components under the engine on the interior, particularly electrical components, were damaged as well,” he explained.
AAA suggests people looking to buy a hail-damaged car should always have it inspected by a trusted technician to make sure there are no hidden damages. The agency has compiled a list of vetted body shops and mechanics on its web site. Chabarria said consumers should also ensure the car is under warranty and eligible for comprehensive insurance coverage.
State Farm says April, May and June are the months they see the most hail claims. Last year, they reported more than 27,000 of those claims nationwide, totaling more than $6 billion in damage.
The insurance giant has some advice for customers as we enter the busiest months:
- Call your insurance agent and conduct an annual review of your coverage.
- Update your home inventory and take photos or videos of everything in your home.
- If you know a storm is coming, pull your vehicles into a covered space or garage.
Comments are closed.