Anyone who finds their car's sheet metal dented or a broken windshield after a violent storm should remain calm. Going to the workshop immediately is usually a bad idea after storm damage.
The stormy start to the year caused body damage in many places. Under no circumstances should those affected drive directly to the workshop, but first and foremost theirs Insurance Contact.
To act quickly
The call to the Insurance but you should do it as soon as possible. Because in the event of major storms, the insurance companies often have collective reports drawn up on fixed dates, since a large number of vehicles in a region are usually affected. If you miss this deadline, you have to be patient first. Unlike in an accident caused by someone else, the injured party is not allowed to call in their own expert. A repair on your own is also not recommended, otherwise you can be left with the costs.
If you have comprehensive insurance, you are usually well protected against storm damage to your car. As a rule, the partial casco occurs, so that the owner only has to pay the deductible. There is no downgrading in the no-claims class. At the request of the insurance company, the vehicle owner must prove storm damage with information from the weather office, because the wind must have been at least force 8 at the time of the damage. However, payment is only made for damage that is not your fault. If a car crashes into a tree that has been lying on the road for a long time while driving, the driver gets nothing with a partially comprehensive insurance. In this case, only comprehensive insurance pays.
Don't just take care of the car
Anyone who has not taken out comprehensive insurance at all does not necessarily go away empty-handed. Because in certain cases, vehicle owners have a claim against homeowners, owners of fallen trees or construction companies - namely when they can be accused of violating the duty to keep traffic safe. If roof tiles have fallen off the house, the owner must prove that he regularly checks whether the tiles are still in place. Tree owners are obliged to check their condition and remove rotten branches. In this case, too, the owner of the tree must prove that he has complied with this obligation. If a vehicle is damaged by a construction fence or a construction site sign, the operator is liable if he has not properly secured these facilities.
Anyone driving a car during a storm should always be aware of the danger and drive with particular care. In addition to the appropriate speed, this also includes placing both hands firmly on the steering wheel if there are strong crosswinds on a motorway bridge or in front of a forest aisle. These can be particularly dangerous for cars with attachments such as roof boxes or bicycle racks, as well as high vehicles such as trucks, buses or trailers.
