Oh, Hail!

04/06/2026

Happy Spring, Mid-Ohio Valley! Well, sort of. Unless you have been living under a rock, you are likely aware of the horrible storm that came through the valley on the evening of 04/01/2026 (not an April Fools joke) that wrecked havoc on us all in way one or another. We wanted to provide you with some information about how best to handle a hail claim for both your home and auto insurance.

#1 Tip: Document. Document. Document.

#2 Tip: Don’t let anyone you don’t know inspect your property unless you request them to do so.

Home

The most common issues we are seeing with this particular storm is hail damage to vinyl siding. Siding looks peppered with golf balls and is chipped off and if not addressed creates an enviornment for water to get into your walls.

We are also seeing damage primarily to asphalt shingle roofing. In most cases, this damage is cosmetic, but with roofs that are over 15 years old, this damage can weaken the structural integrity of the shingles. Again, this can be a breeding ground for water issues as well as make your roof more susceptible to future wind damage.

We have also seen a rise in downed trees. The most any of our companies will pay out for one tree is $500 with a limit of $1,000. But this is a good time to remind everybody, that even though it is not “your tree” it is still very much your problem if it is to fall on your property. So be aware of your neighbors tree that is leaning towards your garage.

The industry has moved towards a separate wind and hail perils deductible from a flat all perils deductible. Most often, this deductible is determined by the age and material of your roof. The older the roof, the higher the deductible - with most wind and hail deductibles starting at $1,500. Some companies also offer a percentage deductible based on the dwelling coverage. For example, if your home is insured for $500,000, the wind/hail deductible could be 1%, which would be $5,000 that you are responsible before the insurance company would step in.

The best thing to do in these situations is to evaluate first. Photograph your damages, make temporary repairs to prevent additional damage when possible, and get in touch with a contractor to schedule a time for them to come evaluate your damages. If you have a higher deductible, this will give you the chance to make an educated decision on if turning in a claim to your insurance company will be worth the premium increase you would sustain from having claims activity on your record.

My best advice with any claim is that you want the insurance company to pay twice the amount of your deductible for the claim activity to be worth it. If your deductible is $1,500, you want your damages to be estimated to be above $4,500.

Auto

When you have a weather event of this magnitude, cosmetic auto damage is going to take a back seat to the more critical home claims.

When it comes to hail damage, the sun can help more than you think it would! So park that vehicle in the sunshine, let it warm up the metal, and many of the cosmetic dents will pop themselves out. I encourage my clients to do just that and wait to go get an estimate for damages. And again, making an educated decision in regards to damages vs deductible is always a good place to start.

Hail damage would fall under your comprehensive (other than collision) deductible. Other perils covered by this deductible are fire, theft, animal impacts and glass breakage.

Much like a home claim, it’s most beneficial to turn in a claim when an estimate is at least three times the amount of your deductible.

This is also the time when we see the most Contractor Fraud. Criminals will descend on a region that has been hit hard by a weather event and offer “free” services such as claims reporting or to cover your deductibles. The best ways to avoid these fraudulant encounters is to not pay in cash, contact your local insurance agent for recommendations, do a quick online search of the contractor at your door to check their reviews, and finally see if their company is registered with the Secretary of State.

When a weather event of this size comes through your area the best thing to have is patience with your local contractors, roofers, body shops, and even your insurance agents. This weather event is the worst we have experienced in our area since the Derecho of 2012. While it has been deemed a catastrophic weather event, the region will likely experience an increase in insurance premiums over the next year or two to recoup some of the extensive damages insurance companies will be paying out.

As always, it is important to review your policies annually and go over any questions or concerns you may have with your agent as well as report any modifications you have made to your property. We are always happy to go over your policies in detail as often as you’d like and help you work through the claims process when needed. When in doubt - reach out!

Want more information? Check out the Ohio Department of Insurance Severe Weather Toolkit