How to File a Homeowners Insurance Claim in Texas After a Hailstorm

Texas leads the nation in hail damage claims. The DFW metroplex, the Central Texas corridor, and dozens of communities across the state experience significant hail events every spring — and the claims that follow those events are among the most common homeowners insurance transactions in the state.

Despite how frequently it happens, most Texas homeowners have never filed a hail claim before the first time they need to. Here's exactly what to do.

Step 1: Assess the Situation Safely

After a hailstorm passes, resist the urge to immediately get on your roof to check for damage. Post-storm roofs can be slippery and structurally compromised in ways that aren't visible from the ground.

Do a ground-level assessment first. Walk around the perimeter of your home and look for visible signs of damage — dented gutters, damaged downspouts, cracked or missing shingles visible from the ground, broken windows, damaged siding, dented HVAC equipment, vehicle damage if your car was outside.

Hail damage to a roof is not always visible from the ground. That's expected — you'll confirm rooftop damage through the adjuster process. What matters at this stage is documenting what you can see.

Step 2: Document Everything Before Touching It

Before any cleanup or temporary repairs, document the damage thoroughly with photos and video.

Photograph every damaged surface — gutters, downspouts, window screens, siding, any visible roof damage, damaged HVAC units or other exterior equipment, and any interior damage if water entered the home. Take wide shots for context and close-up shots for detail.

Include something in your photos that establishes scale — your hand, a coin, a ruler — near damage areas. Hail dents in gutters and siding are easier to assess in photos when there's a size reference.

Note the date and time on your photos. Most smartphones do this automatically in the file metadata — but if yours doesn't, a photo of a newspaper or your phone showing the date alongside the damage provides documentation.

Step 3: Contact Your Insurer

Report the claim to your insurer promptly after documenting the damage. Most carriers have 24-hour claims lines and app-based claim filing.

When you report, you'll provide: your policy number, the date of the storm, a description of the damage you observed, and contact information for reaching you to schedule the adjuster visit.

You don't need to have a complete damage assessment before filing.

Report what you observed and let the adjuster process fill in the full picture.

Step 4: Be Careful With Storm Chasers

After significant hail events in Texas, roofing contractors descend on affected areas in large numbers — sometimes door-to-door, sometimes following emergency vehicles, sometimes setting up in parking lots near affected neighborhoods.

Some of these contractors are legitimate and do excellent work. Others are storm chasers who are less interested in quality repairs than in quickly processed insurance claims. A few engage in practices that can create serious problems for homeowners — signing contracts that give them control of your insurance claim, inflating damage estimates in ways that can constitute insurance fraud, or doing poor work that fails inspection or creates new problems.

Before signing anything with a contractor who approaches you after a storm, verify their license with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, check reviews independently, and understand exactly what any contract commits you to. Never sign an Assignment of Benefits agreement that transfers your insurance claim rights to the contractor.

Step 5: The Adjuster Visit

Your insurer will schedule an adjuster to assess the damage. After a large-scale hail event affecting many homeowners, this may take days or weeks — adjusters are in high demand following major events.

You don't need to be present for the adjuster visit, but being present is advantageous. You can show the adjuster all the damage you've documented, ask questions about the assessment process, and ensure nothing is missed.

If you've had a contractor or public adjuster assess the damage before the insurer's adjuster arrives, you can share that assessment — but don't let a contractor prevent the insurer's adjuster from doing their own independent evaluation.

Step 6: Review the Settlement Offer

After the adjuster completes their assessment, your insurer produces a settlement offer itemizing what they'll pay for covered damages minus your deductible.

Review it against your documentation and any contractor estimates you've received. Common issues in hail claim settlements include: scope that doesn't include all damaged areas, depreciation calculations that seem aggressive, and repair costs that don't reflect current material and labor prices in your Texas market.

If the settlement seems low relative to what contractors are quoting for the same scope of work, negotiate with documentation. A written response identifying specific discrepancies between the settlement estimate and your contractor quotes, supported by photos, is the most effective approach.

Know Your Wind and Hail Deductible

Before you reach the settlement stage, confirm your wind and hail deductible. Many Texas homeowners policies have a separate deductible for wind and hail claims expressed as a percentage of the dwelling coverage — not the flat dollar amount that applies to other claims.

On a $400,000 home with a 2% wind/hail deductible, your deductible is $8,000 — not the $1,000 flat deductible that might apply to a water damage claim. This surprises homeowners every hail season.

Know your number before the claim reaches settlement so you're not surprised by how much you owe before your insurer pays anything.

For educational purposes only. Consult a licensed Texas insurance agent for guidance specific to your situation.