Extreme weather events such as violent rain storms and twisters have dramatically increased automobile insurance claims from car owners citing hailstones and rising flood waters, according to a report released Wednesday by Farmers Insurance.
Nationwide, claims for hail-related damage increased by 40 percent in the three years of the study, from 2013-2016. Flash flood and rising-water claims increased by a whopping 166 percent last year over the same period in 2013, according to the study.
Hail and flood waters have become more ubiquitous elements during the past three years, part of an increase in violent storms in Texas, New Mexico as well as numerous states in the Midwest, South and Pacific Northwest.
"It was a big increase. Especially in Texas last year, which experienced much higher hail losses than in previous years," said Paul Quinn, head of claims customer experience for Farmers in Woodland Hills.
Pellets of ice leave pockmarks on car bodies. More cars caught in rising rivers, creeks and streams from freak storms that sit over an area for days also increased the number of claims and payouts, Farmers reported.
In California, which was still mired in a five-year drought during the study period, hail and flood waters were not a big factor. Instead, vandalism and theft accounted for nearly 50 percent of all claims, according to the report.
Next year's study, which will include the recent record rainy season from October 2016 through March 2017 may show more claims from flood waters and hail than usual for the Golden State, Quinn said.
"Our spring edition (of the study) next year should give us a better insight as to what volume of claims will happen in California," Quinn said.
Increased automobile insurance claims from hail and rising flood waters on urban streets may be interpreted as proof that extreme weather is happening more frequently due to the rapid warming of the earth from too much carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere.
"It is fair to say that these effects align with what we are hearing about climate change," said Jonathan Parfrey, executive director of the Los Angeles-based nonprofit Climate Resolve. However, Parfrey said insurance claim data over three years is not enough to say climate change from man-made sources such as the burning of fossil fuels in automobiles and power plants is causing the weird weather.
"While the data (from Farmers) could be very supportive of climate change, it would be premature to say there was a causal effect," Parfrey said. "You would want to see the effects over many years."
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The Farmers study definitely found more instances of extreme weather as the cause for more unusual automobile claims, like hail damage. But it did not attempt to explain why.
Instead, the report warns travelers from say Southern California who are unfamiliar with tornados and are embarking on a road trip this spring or summer to beware of extreme weather.
If it is hailing, park in a carport or a garage. In the event of a tornado, drive away at right angles and never park under an overpass — that only adds to the wind and debris that may fly into the vehicle. If that's not possible, there are emergency measures recommended.
"The most important thing for them to do is pull off to the side of the road if a tornado is coming right at you. Get into the lowest area possible, like a ditch and ride it out," Quinn said.
Major flooding incidents swept 22 cars down a coastal canyon in Santa Barbara County in January. Floods in San Jose devastated neighborhoods and a portion of the 15 Freeway collapsed in the Cajon Pass due to flooding and erosion.
Source: www.bing.com