How long do you have to file an insurance claim for storm damage?
Short answer. You are expected to report storm damage promptly, and many Georgia policies set an outer window of one or two years from the storm for wind and hail claims, with lawsuits usually limited to two years from the date of loss. Once you file, Georgia's claim rules put the insurer on a clock too: it generally must acknowledge the claim within 15 days and accept or deny it within 60 days unless it is waiting on information from you.
Your deadlines
- Report: promptly, and inside any wind and hail window in your policy.
- Proof of loss: if requested, often within 60 days of the request.
- Depreciation: notify and complete repairs within the policy's limits.
- Lawsuit: often two years from the date of loss.
The insurer's deadlines in Georgia
The Insurance Commissioner's rule on first-party property claims generally requires the insurer to:
- acknowledge your claim within 15 days of notice;
- send any proof of loss forms you need within 15 days;
- tell you in writing, with a reason, if it needs more time;
- accept or deny within 60 days of notice, unless its file shows it is waiting on information it asked you for; and
- pay within 10 days once coverage and the amount are settled.
If the insurer misses its deadlines
- Follow up in writing and keep copies.
- File a complaint with the Georgia Office of Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner.
- For a covered loss the insurer refuses to pay without a reasonable basis, Georgia law allows a written demand; if the insurer still has not paid 60 days later, a court may award a penalty and attorney fees for bad faith. Talk to an attorney before relying on this.
Keep a claim log
Write down every call, email and visit with the date and the person's name. A clean timeline is your strongest tool if deadlines slip.
More: Georgia roof claim timeline, bad faith in Georgia and filing a complaint.