Why are hail damage claims getting more expensive?

If you live in an area where severe thunderstorms and hail are common, you likely have experienced or feared hail damage to your property at some point.

Even if you have an insurance claim, it’s natural to be wary of these things because of the potential they have to disrupt your life and the cost involved.  But just how expensive is hail damage?

According to Bloomberg, people in the United States lost over $19 billion collectively in 2008 to property damage stemming from hail and severe thunderstorms. This is a huge increase compared to the $8 billion to $12 billion range reported in the years before. What’s more, since then damage has consistently sat at $19 billion annually or exceeded it.

Explaining the phenomenon

There is a relatively simple explanation as to why the cost of damage is on the rise, and surprisingly it doesn’t have much to do with the hail itself. Frankly, it’s because there is more surface area for the hail to strike and cause damage to.

In recent years, people have been moving from cities to suburbs and from suburbs to exurbs. As people and their valuable property occupy more space, there is a greater likelihood that a passing hail storm will affect them.

Regional Differences

This trend affects some parts of the country more than others. Brion Callori, senior vice president of engineering and research at an insurance company, told Bloomberg, “70% of the losses are coming from what we define as the very severe hail zone.” This zone stretches from the middle of North Dakota down the Great Plains to Texas, which is the top state for insurance claims related to hail damage.

Thankfully, there is insurance to help offset the cost of repairs, but the process of making a claim is not always clear-cut. If you have experienced property damage because of hail and need help resolving problems with your insurance claim, an attorney who is experienced in the area can be a useful resource.