What to do after a hail storm in Fort Worth
The first day decides how the claim goes. Take the photos, keep the receipts, and compare the estimate with your deductible before you file.
Where hail becomes severe
1 in
The National Weather Service calls a thunderstorm severe once its hail reaches one inch across, the size of a quarter.
How big was the hail?
Size it against something you own, and take a photo of a stone beside it. Adjusters use the same comparisons.
- Pea0.25 in
- Penny0.75 in
- Quarter1 in
- Golf ball1.75 in
- Baseball2.75 in
Drawn to scale against each other. Sizes from the National Weather Service office in Fort Worth.
What should I do first?
Take pictures and video
Shoot the roof, gutters, windows, fences and cars before anything is cleaned up or moved.
Make a list
Write down the damage inside and outside the house, and to each car.
Keep the damaged items
Do not throw anything away until your insurance company says you can.
Stop more damage
Remove standing water. Cover broken windows and holes so rain stays out.
Save every receipt
Temporary repairs and a hotel stay may be covered. The receipts are how you get paid back.
Be there for the adjuster
Walk the property with them and point out what you found.
Keep a contact list
Write down the name of everyone you talk to at the insurance company, with the date.
These steps follow the Texas Department of Insurance guidance for hail damage to a home or a car.
What should I ask a roofer?
- Get more than one written estimate
- Check references, and look the company up
- Never pay in full up front
- Never sign a contract with blank spaces
- Walk away from anyone who offers to waive or absorb your deductible. It is illegal in Texas
Should I file a claim?
Compare the repair estimate with your deductible first. If the repair costs less than the deductible, the policy pays nothing.
The table uses a $7,600 deductible, which is 2% on a house insured for $380,000. Work out your own, or call us with the estimate and we will do it with you.
| Repair estimate | You pay | Policy pays | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| $6,000 | $6,000 | $0 | No claim pays |
| $18,500 | $7,600 | $10,900 | A claim pays |
| $32,000 | $7,600 | $24,400 | A claim pays |
An illustration with round numbers. It is not a quote.
How long does the insurance company have?
Texas sets deadlines for the company once you file. The state can extend them by 15 days after a weather catastrophe.
For a car, hail is paid by comprehensive coverage. Liability alone does not pay for hail dents.
| The company must | Within | Counted from |
|---|---|---|
| Acknowledge your claim | 15 business days | From the day the company receives it. |
| Accept or reject it | 15 business days | After the company has everything it asked you for. It can extend this by 45 days if it tells you why. |
| Pay it | 5 business days | After the company agrees to pay all or part of the claim. |
Why does Fort Worth take hail seriously?
On May 5, 1995, a storm hit the Mayfest festival beside the Trinity River at 7:10 in the evening. Hail up to the size of softballs fell on the crowd, and more than 400 people were injured.
The National Weather Service puts the damage from that day's storms at an estimated $2 billion in Tarrant and Dallas counties, and still counts it among the costliest hail storms on record.
Hail claims, answered
How big does hail have to be to damage a roof?
There is no single size. The National Weather Service calls a storm severe once hail reaches one inch across, the size of a quarter. Older shingles can be bruised by smaller stones.
Should I file a claim for hail damage?
Compare the repair estimate with your deductible first. If the repair costs less than the deductible, the policy pays nothing. Call us with the estimate and we will do the math before you file.
Does car insurance cover hail?
Comprehensive coverage does. Liability alone does not. Your comprehensive deductible comes out first.
How long does an insurance company have to pay a claim in Texas?
The company has 15 business days to acknowledge the claim, 15 business days to accept or reject it after it has what it needs, and 5 business days to pay once it agrees. The state can extend these after a weather catastrophe.
Can a contractor waive my deductible?
No. It is illegal to waive a homeowners deductible under Texas law.
Have us read your policy
Send four details and an agent calls back the same business day. Bring your current policy to the call and we will find the deductible together.
Monday to Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:30 PM Central. Magnolia Avenue, Near Southside, Fort Worth.