How long do you have to claim storm damage?
Short answer. The answer is in your policy's conditions, in three places. The duties after loss section sets how quickly you must report, usually prompt notice and sometimes a hard window for wind and hail; the suit against us section sets the deadline to sue, often two years in Georgia; and the loss settlement section sets how long you have to replace the roof and collect withheld depreciation.
Where each deadline lives
- Duties after loss: requires prompt notice, protection of the property from further damage, records of repair costs, and a sworn proof of loss if requested, often within 60 days of the request. Some policies or endorsements add a specific limit for wind and hail claims, such as one or two years from the date of loss.
- Suit against us: says you cannot sue unless you complied with the policy and you start the lawsuit within a set time after the loss. In Georgia policies this is often two years.
- Loss settlement: on replacement cost policies, explains that the insurer pays actual cash value until repairs are complete. The standard form asks you to tell the insurer within 180 days of the loss if you intend to claim the additional replacement cost. Many carriers also give a completion deadline in the payment letter.
Endorsements can change the clocks
Read every endorsement attached to your policy. State amendatory endorsements, roof surfacing endorsements and windstorm deductible endorsements sometimes change notice or settlement rules.
Write them down
Once you know your date of loss, put each deadline on a calendar: the reporting window, the depreciation notice and completion dates, and the lawsuit deadline. Ask the insurer in writing to confirm any deadline you are unsure about.
Hail-specific tip
Hail damage can go unnoticed for months. Checking the hail history for your address after any big storm lets you start the clock on your terms instead of discovering it at the edge of the window.
More: Georgia roof claim deadlines and recoverable depreciation.