Is hail damage an at-fault claim?
What at fault means
At fault is mainly an auto insurance idea: who caused the accident. Homeowners policies do not assign fault for storm damage. A hail, wind or lightning claim is a claim against your own coverage for a natural event.
Where hail claims still show up
- Claims databases: insurers report home claims to industry databases such as CLUE, which other insurers check when you apply. Reports commonly cover up to seven years.
- Pricing: some rating plans consider prior claims, including weather claims, though many weigh them less than claims tied to the home's condition.
- Area rates: heavy hail years raise rates for everyone in a region, filed or not.
Georgia protections
Under O.C.G.A. 33-24-46, an insurer cannot refuse to renew a homeowners policy because of two or fewer claims in 36 months that were not the result of your negligence, which covers typical hail and wind claims. Nonrenewal for other reasons requires advance written notice. See does a roof claim raise premiums.
When not to file
The bigger question is whether a claim is worth it. If the damage is near or under your deductible, a claim adds a record with little or no payment. A roof inspection first tells you which side of the line you are on; see roofer or insurer first.
Cars
Hail on a car is a comprehensive claim, also not at fault. Check your auto policy for how it rates comprehensive claims.