Does Car Insurance Cover Lightning Strikes? Most drivers get protection because of their automobile’s rubber tires, which prevent them from lightning damage while they’re inside. Lightning strikes directly or indirectly, causing damage to your car if it falls on a nearby object like a tree. Since car insurance is meant to cover you from unanticipated harm, you might wonder if it can cover lightning strikes.
Yes, car insurance can cover damage caused by lightning strikes, either directly or indirectly, as long as the policy has comprehensive coverage. Moreover, review your policy documentation to determine the losses your insurance company will cover during a lightning strike. In this article, we will go over the coverage type you need to cover lightning strikes, how to submit a claim, and other details.
What Type of Car Insurance Covers Lightning Strikes?
To make sure you’re insured, your policy must provide comprehensive coverage. Comprehensive insurance offers coverage against extreme weather events, such as lightning strikes, theft, vandalism, and lightning damage. If your house is struck by lightning without it, you will be liable for the cost of repairs. If your car is declared a total loss due to irreparable damage, your insurance provider will issue a cash value check upon acceptance of your claim and repair payment.
When Does Car Insurance Cover Lightning Strikes?
If comprehensive insurance is purchased before a lightning strike, it will cover damage from such hits. It includes replacements or repairs for damage not caused by collisions, like fallen tree branches, animals, or lightning. Most drivers have comprehensive insurance, which may be required by lenders or leasing companies, in addition to collision coverage. Also, any damage caused by lightning would be your responsibility. This is if you didn’t have comprehensive insurance, and repairs may run into the hundreds or thousands of dollars. Therefore, having adequate insurance is crucial.
When Does Car Insurance Not Cover Lightning Strikes?
If comprehensive coverage is not included in your auto insurance policy, you will not be protected against a lightning strike. Liability insurance and other state-mandated requirements only cover damage to other drivers, not your own car. Loan leasing companies require full coverage for vehicle investment. The lack of comprehensive auto insurance for lightning strike damage, despite no state mandate, can lead to liability.
What Happens When Lightning Strikes a Car
Lightning typically strikes a car through its metal frame and into the ground, protecting the people inside. However, significant damage, mostly electrical, may be done to the vehicle itself. It might melt components of the car’s frame, harm the radio and navigation system, destroy the battery, or fry the electrical system.
What to Do When Driving Through Lightning
There are several safety measures you may take to help protect yourself and prevent expensive damage to your car if you are traveling during a lightning storm.
- Get off the road and move to the side.
- Activate your hazard or emergency lights.
- Switch off your vehicle.
- Keep your windows and doors secure.
- Hold off till the storm passes.
Moreover, you should not remain outside if your car is struck by lightning. It’s advisable to exit your vehicle and locate an indoor location for coverage, such as a restaurant or store.
How to Know If Your Vehicle Was Hit By Lightning
There are several indicators that a lightning strike has occurred. Burn scars or melted components may be seen, especially around the antenna and other metallic regions. Also, your vehicle may not start, or your electrical systems may not function properly. The extreme heat of the lightning may occasionally cause tires to burst or puncture.
How to Fix a Car Struck By Lightning
If your car is hit by lightning, it’s crucial to submit a claim promptly, provided you have comprehensive insurance. While electrical issues are more difficult to accurately link to a lightning strike, physical damage caused by lightning is an obvious sign of the incident. If you suspect lightning damage but were not present at the time, it’s crucial to have your car inspected by a mechanic promptly. To demonstrate that the issues the mechanic reported were brought on by a thunderstorm, you can also think about gathering information or storm reports. Furthermore, it might be simpler to have your claim accepted with this additional information.
How to File a Claim for Lightning Strikes
Following a lightning strike, the insurance claims process is comparable to that of other comprehensive claims. You must take the same actions as for other comprehensive claims to submit a claim following a lightning strike. The following procedures include
- Consult an insurance provider. It is important that you notify your insurance company as soon as possible after a lightning strike.
- Share information about the event: Record and take pictures of the car, and share information about the impact, such as where you were, how much damage was done to the vehicle, and any other details you may have.
- Inquire about your coverage: Verify your eligibility before filing a claim by inquiring with your insurance company about the deductible for your policy and whether you are currently covered for lightning strikes.
- File a claim: If lightning causes significant damage to your car and it doesn’t require major repairs, you can pay for it out of pocket.
- Observe your claim progress: Maintain communication with external parties like repair shops and provide timely information to the claims adjuster to ensure the success of your claim and increase its chances of success.
Verify whether you or a repair company will receive the money from your insurer after your claim has been handled. Also, you can use the processes your organization has established for resolving claims disputes to appeal the verdict if you don’t agree with it.
