What to Do After Hail Damage in Kentucky: A Step-by-Step Claim Guide

Written by Blake Boswell, owner of the Boswell Insurance Agency in Murray, KY — 136 five-star Google reviews (5.0★). Our independent agency represents Erie Insurance and four other carriers, and we walk Kentucky homeowners through hail claims almost every week during storm season. This guide is the same one we hand our own clients when a supercell rolls through Calloway, Marshall, Graves, Trigg, or McCracken County.

Kentucky averages several severe hail events every year, and western Kentucky in particular sits in a corridor where 1″+ hail is common between March and July. What you do in the first 30 minutes after a storm and the first 72 hours after that can be the difference between a full roof replacement paid at replacement cost and a partial repair paid at actual cash value.

First 30 minutes: right now

1. Make sure everyone is safe. If the storm knocked out power lines, do not touch metal fences, wet ground near downed lines, or standing water in the basement.
2. Stop further damage. If shingles are missing or a window is broken, tarp the roof and board the window if you safely can. Insurance requires you to mitigate further loss — but do not climb a wet or steep roof yourself.
3. Photograph everything before you clean up. Take wide shots of the property, then close-ups of hail on the ground next to a ruler, quarter, or golf ball for scale. Photograph dents in the gutters, downspouts, air-conditioner fins, mailbox, grill cover, and vehicles.
4. Save the hail. Put a few of the largest stones in a Ziploc in your freezer. This becomes evidence of hail size if a carrier tries to argue the storm was too small to cause damage.
5. Call your independent agent before you call the carrier. At Boswell Insurance, we tell you honestly whether filing makes sense given your deductible, prior claim history, and the storm’s severity — before a claim goes on your CLUE report.

Documentation checklist

The claim goes better — every single time — when the paper trail is thick. Gather:

• Storm proof: local news screenshots, National Weather Service storm reports for your zip code and date, radar images from RadarScope or the NWS Paducah/Louisville offices.
• Roof photos: from the ground with a zoom, plus drone shots if you have one. Do not walk the roof unless you are trained and it is dry.
• Soft-metal test: photograph dents in gutters, downspouts, AC condenser fins, roof vents, and metal flashing. Adjusters use soft-metal damage to verify hail size when shingle bruising is subtle.
• Screens and window frames: torn window screens and dented aluminum siding are strong evidence.
• Vehicle damage: photograph every dented panel, hood, and roof. Auto and home are usually separate claims, but they corroborate each other.
• Personal property: patio furniture, grills, skylights, solar panels, satellite dishes, playsets.
• Receipts: tarps, plywood, emergency roofer visits, hotel stays if the home is uninhabitable — save every receipt.
• Roof age and prior work: pull the invoice from your last roof replacement if you can find it. Roof age drives how the claim is paid.

Working with the adjuster

After you file, the carrier assigns an adjuster who inspects the roof and writes an estimate. Here is what to expect and where to push back.

• Be there for the inspection. Walk the property with the adjuster or have your roofer present. If a reputable local roofer marks hail hits before the inspection, the adjuster sees the same damage the roofer saw.
• Ask what test squares they used. Adjusters typically chalk off 10′ x 10′ test squares on each roof slope and count hits. If a slope has 8+ hits per square in Kentucky, that slope usually qualifies for replacement. Fewer than that and the adjuster may pay for repair only.
• Get the full estimate line-by-line. You are entitled to it. Compare it against a written estimate from a local roofer who is not a storm chaser.
• Push back on missing items. Ice-and-water shield, drip edge, ridge vent, gutter aprons, and code-required upgrades often get left off the first estimate.
• Do not sign an “Assignment of Benefits” with a roofer. This hands your claim rights to a contractor and has caused real headaches in Kentucky and neighboring states.

Kentucky-specific: wind/hail deductibles, roof age, and ACV vs. replacement cost

Your wind/hail deductible is probably not your regular deductible

Most Kentucky carriers now write a separate wind/hail deductible that is either a flat dollar amount ($2,500 or $5,000 is common) or a percentage of your Coverage A dwelling limit — typically 1% or 2%. On a $400,000 home a 1% wind/hail deductible is $4,000. That is what comes out of the claim before the carrier pays a dime. Pull your declarations page today and know your number before a storm hits.

Roof age changes how the claim gets paid

Ten years ago most Kentucky homeowners policies paid roof claims at full replacement cost regardless of roof age. Today many carriers depreciate roofs 10 years or older, paying actual cash value (ACV) instead of replacement cost value (RCV). On a 15-year-old three-tab roof, ACV can pay less than half of what a new roof costs. Some carriers apply this by roof material — architectural shingles get more years, three-tab gets fewer, metal gets the most. Ask your agent specifically how your carrier settles roof claims by roof age. If you are on an ACV roof schedule, you may want to shop for a carrier that still offers RCV on roofs — Erie is one option we quote often for this reason.

Cosmetic damage exclusions

Watch for a cosmetic damage exclusion on metal roofs. If it is on the policy, dented but functional metal panels will not be replaced — only structurally compromised panels will be paid. This shows up more often on rural Kentucky properties with standing-seam or ribbed steel roofs.

Kentucky’s storm frequency matters at renewal

Western Kentucky sees frequent severe-thunderstorm watches from March through July. Two hail claims within a rolling 3-5 year window can push your home into surplus-lines pricing or make it non-renewable with your current carrier. If you have already filed one hail claim recently, we usually recommend calling the agency before filing a second small one — sometimes the math does not work in your favor.

When to bring in a public adjuster or attorney

Most Kentucky hail claims settle fairly without a public adjuster. Consider one if:

• The carrier denies obvious hail damage after two rounds of inspection.
• The estimate is thousands below three separate independent roofer bids.
• The dwelling suffered structural or interior damage beyond the roof.

Public adjusters in Kentucky typically charge 10-20% of the recovery. Bring in a property insurance attorney only when the carrier acts in bad faith — outright denial, unreasonable delay, or lowball settlement after clear documentation. Attorneys usually work on contingency for bad-faith cases. Before either step, call our agency — often we can resolve the dispute directly with the carrier’s claims department because we have the relationship and the leverage.

How Boswell Insurance can help

As an independent agency in Murray, KY representing five carriers including Erie, we do three things during a hail claim that a captive agent or an 800-number cannot:

• Advocate directly with the carrier. We call the desk adjuster, escalate stuck files, and hold carriers to the coverage language.
• Review the estimate before you sign. We compare the carrier estimate to what we know is typical for a Kentucky roof replacement.
• Reshop the policy if the carrier changes their tune. If your carrier non-renews or spikes your rate after a claim, we already have four other options ready.

Frequently asked questions

How long do I have to file a hail claim in Kentucky?

Most Kentucky homeowners policies require prompt notice of loss and set a one-year suit-limitation clause. File as soon as you have documented the damage. Waiting six months makes it harder to prove which storm caused what.

Will my rate go up after a hail claim?

A single hail claim on a clean policy after a widespread event usually does not spike rates. Two claims in a short window can raise rates or make the home non-renewable. Ask us to run the math before you file.

What if my roof is older than 15 years?

Depending on your carrier, older roofs may be paid on actual cash value rather than replacement cost — sometimes 40-70% less than a full replacement. Know before the storm; do not find out during the claim.

Should I hire the roofer who knocks on my door?

Be cautious. Storm-chasing crews follow Kentucky hail swaths from out of state. Use a local, licensed, insured Kentucky roofer with references. Never sign an Assignment of Benefits.

Do I need a public adjuster?

Usually not on a straightforward hail claim. Consider one only if the carrier denies clear damage or lowballs the estimate by thousands compared to independent bids.

Can I file a claim for hail damage that happened months ago?

You can try, but you must be able to tie the damage to a specific storm date within the policy period. The longer you wait, the harder that is. Old damage attributed to a recent storm gets denied.

Does homeowners insurance cover hail damage to my car?

No — hail on your vehicle is a comprehensive auto claim, not a home claim. You need comprehensive coverage on the auto policy, and the auto deductible applies.

Talk to a Kentucky agent who has done this before

Call (270) 925-1524, request a quote at theboswellagency.com/quote, or read the 136 five-star Google reviews from Kentucky families we already help.

Written by Blake Boswell, owner of the Boswell Insurance Agency, Murray, KY.