What to Do if Your Car Has Been Damaged by a Hurricane
If you’re in an area affected by an incoming hurricane, it can be a stressful time and the last thing you’re likely thinking about is your car being damaged by a hurricane. Unfortunately, it can be a reality that many drivers experience but there’s no need to stress. Our experts have helped drivers from Thomasville and beyond with their automotive journey and now we’re here to help you understand the steps you can take if your vehicle has had any damage from a hurricane.
Learn all about hurricane vehicle damage today with the service experts from Valdosta Mitsubishi. Don’t forget to explore our other service tips to ensure that your vehicle drives smoothly on the streets of Tifton for many miles ahead.
Hurricane Vehicle Damage – What To Do After a Hurricane
In the wake of stress during a hurricane, you may not have had time to ensure that the damage was minimized to your vehicle. However, there are some things you can do after everything has endured to ensure that your vehicle can run smoothly or if it’s past the point of repair that you get the most amount of money for your vehicle. Here’s what to do after a hurricane:
- Flooding: If water is above your vehicle’s doors and the interior has become completely flooded, do not attempt to start your vehicle. When water levels get too high, they could contaminate different fluids and damage electrical components in your vehicle. As a result, you want to avoid starting your vehicle to minimize the damage.
- Visit a Professional: When it’s safe to do so, have your vehicle inspected by a professional to assess the level of damage. Maybe your vehicle wasn’t flooded and only minor cosmetic damage has occurred but you won’t know for sure until a service technician has taken a look at your vehicle.
- Dry Everything Out: If you’re positive that your vehicle is in working condition and the only issue is your interior has become completely soaked, it’s a good idea to let everything dry out quickly. You can attempt to remove your interior carpeting as letting it sit could not only cause your vehicle to start rusting but it could potentially harbor the growth of mold as well.
- Electric Vehicles: While electric vehicles don’t have engines that can flood, their electrical components can still become damaged by water. If you’ve got an EV that has been flooded, don’t attempt to start your vehicle and have it inspected by a mechanic first.
- Take Pictures: If you’re positive your vehicle has been damaged by the hurricane and flooding, take as many pictures as possible when you can safely do so. Ensure you’ve got pictures of damages and anything else that may make it easy for you to work with your insurance.
Hurricane Vehicle Damage – What To Do Before a Hurricane
Now that you know what to do if your vehicle has been damaged by a hurricane, you’ll want to familiarize yourself with the steps you can take before a hurricane so that you’re prepared for the future. By taking a couple of precautionary steps, you can avoid having a flooded and hurricane-damaged vehicle or at the very least, minimize the damage. Let’s take a look at what to do before a hurricane:
- Find a Good Parking Spot: If you can, park your vehicle somewhere on high ground. Parking on high ground can help you avoid flooding but in addition to that, ensure that no debris or falling objects can damage your vehicle.
- Cover Your Vehicle: It may not always be possible to find a good parking spot before a hurricane. However, you can often cover your vehicle with a car cover or even blankets to avoid debris from scratching and denting your vehicle.
- Take Before Pictures: If you know a hurricane is approaching, taking before pictures of your vehicle can help your insurance company better asses the damages if any occur.
- Fill Up On Gas: After a hurricane, finding a gas station with power can prove to be difficult. Filling your vehicle up on gas before can ensure you can evacuate when you need to.
- Separate Important Documents: Many drivers like to keep vehicle documents in their vehicle but it’s not always a good idea before a hurricane. We suggest keeping your documents separate so you have easy accessibility when you need it.
Valdosta Mitsubishi Can Help if Your Car Has Been Damaged by a Hurricane
Whether you’re looking for assistance with regular maintenance near the Moultrie area or your vehicle has been damaged by a hurricane, you can count on Valdosta Mitsubishi to assist. Get in touch with our experts in Valdosta today and we’ll be more than happy to help you with all of your automotive needs!
What Kind of Insurance Covers Hurricane Damage?
Does car insurance cover hurricane damage? Yes but it depends on the type of insurance coverage you have. Depending on local laws, you may only be required to have liability insurance which would likely not cover hurricane damage. However, comprehensive and collision insurance will usually provide some form of hurricane damage coverage.
We suggest you speak to your insurance provider to ensure that you’re protected in the event that your vehicle is damaged by a hurricane. With that in mind, here are some ways comprehensive and collision insurance may protect you if you have vehicle damage from a hurricane:
Comprehensive Insurance
Comprehensive insurance often provides coverage for damage to your vehicle that may be out of your control. In the event of a hurricane, your vehicle may have coverage if it is damaged by:
- Extreme wind
- Falling debris
- Water damage
- Flash flood
Collision Insurance
Collision insurance provides protection as the name suggests, during a collision. If you were driving in a hurricane and experienced any of the following, you might be covered by collision insurance:
- Utility pole collision
- Vehicle collision
How to File a Hurricane Damage Insurance Claim
Filing a hurricane damage insurance claim is the thing to do if you are looking to get your life back to a sense of normalcy. While this can be an anxiety-inducing process, we hope to make the process as easy as possible by walking through how to file a hurricane damage insurance claim step-by-step.
- Make a List of the Damaged Property and Belongings: Grab a pen and paper, and make a list of items damaged by the hurricane and the damage it sustained. The insurance adjusters will show up to survey the scene, so do not discard any damaged items. Taking photos and videos can speed up the hurricane damage insurance claim.
- Contact Your Insurance Agent or File Online: Filing a hurricane damage insurance claim is quite simple when boiled down to the essentials, and can be filed either online or on the phone with your insurance agent. Be sure to call quickly in order to get expedient service as claims are processed first-come first-serve. If your home is uninhabitable, be sure to inform them of your plans to make arrangements at a hotel or some other location.
- Check Your Insurance Policy: It’s vital to know what your policy covers and what it does not. Consult your policy documents or the insurance company if you would like to learn more about whether amenities such as solar panels are covered, or whether the policy is different for a condo. If your documents were damaged in the hurricane, your agent can find them over the phone and assist you along the way.
- Know Your Hurricane Deductible: Many homeowner policies carry a standard $500 or $1,000 deductible; however, if you live in a location where hurricanes are common, you’ll be dealing with a “hurricane deductible.” This is usually a $5,000 deductible depending on your home’s dwelling coverage. Once you pay off the $5,000 deductible, the qualifying damage may be covered.
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