Mistakes That People Make When Dealing With Hail Damage
In America, we love our cars. No matter what size, shape, or engine type they come in, there's nothing more satisfying to most people than hearing that engine crank and going someplace. We tend to accept that when we drive on the road, anything we are at fault for doing can result in getting a car fixed later on. Whether this is irresponsible driving or being in the wrong place at the wrong time almost doesn't matter - driving incurs a risk.
Yet, there are many accidents that are out of our control entirely. Natural disasters, criminal activity, or getting caught in a hail storm are just some examples. What was previously a simple drive to the grocery store ends up trying to decide whether repairing dents from hail damageis worth it or not (hint: it is), or something worse.
In this brief article, we're going to discuss some of the costly mistakes that people make when it comes to hail damage. Not every storm will necessitate the hand-wringing decisions of glass repair or windshield replacement, but there are many more subtle factors to consider. Unfortunately, hail is an equal opportunity discriminator and does not care that you love and value your car. It will rain mercilessly down on you until it decides to stop, and so it is better to be prepared than not.
Thinking That Light Hail Damage Won't Erode Your Car's Value
Cars are known as depreciating assets. From the moment you buy a car brand new and drive it off the lot, its value goes down further and further with time. You can keep your car's value relatively stable by performing regular maintenance on it and not needlessly subjecting it to auto body repair.
Unfortunately, because many people are in precarious economic situations, they shrug off "light" hail damage as not being worthy of repair or maintenance. Nothing could be a worse decision, especially if you are ever planning to sell or trade your car in. A car damaged by hail will easily be noticed by professional mechanics and decrease your car's value. To put it simply, damaged cars sell for less and have less value. It's worth getting fixed!
Not Being Legally Compliant Because Of Hail Damage
There is a school of thought amongst drivers that "if something happens to my vehicle that isn't my fault, I am not responsible for it." Nothing could be further from the truth, especially when it comes to broken windshields, busted lights, or other areas that hail damage has come into contact with. Many people have a fantasy that if they get pulled over by the authorities and questioned about such damage, answering "I was caught in the last hail storm" will get them off the hook for not being legally compliant. It won't, and you better believe that eventually, the law will catch up with you.
Trying To Space Out Insurance Claims For "The Next Storm"
For many drivers that live in states where it hails frequently, they often don't get the damage repaired because they are waiting for "the next storm," where they can make an insurance claim for larger damage. Not only is this technically insurance fraud, but you may be surprised to find out that insurance companies respond less quickly when they are inundated by claims from storms.
Instead of trying to compile damage claims to get a better deal, you'll be ahead of the game by finding (or investing) in a safe place to store your car so that you eliminate the risk of hail almost entirely. By purchasing a portable carport, renting a parking space in a garage or keeping your car indoors during all suspected hail events, you'll be better off than trying to wrestle around with insurance.
When You Expect It To Storm, Be Prepared
Instead of freaking out about expected hail damage when a storm is likely to hit, be prepared instead. By having a plan in place or a safe haven for your car to dwell in, you'll be able to think calmly and rationally about the best course of action instead of reacting to bad events. By keeping your head on straight, you can deal with any bad situation.
