The brutally cold temperatures at the end of January caused some damage to local homes as a result of snapped water pipes. Kevin Koenke, a local State Farm Insurance agent, said the damage was substantial enough that State Farm classified it as catastrophic.”It was similar to a hail storm where a lot of roofs get totaled out – same thing with the frozen pipes from the cold spell,” Koenke said.The damage prompted a slew of claims.”Statistically, most people only file a claim every 8 to 10 years,” said Jeanne Salvatore, vice president of consumer affairs for the Insurance Information Institute.Colorado Springs-based Farmers Insurance Agent Janet McMonigal said she believes the number of claims filed in El Paso County are higher than the average because of severe weather like hail storms.Long before a claim is filed, homeowners should take inventory, McMonigal said. Take photos or videos of each room of the house and complete inventory sheets, often provided by the insurer, she said. Keep two copies of the documentation off site.When a homeowner believes a claim is warranted, he or she must evaluate the situation and consider the deductible, McMonigal said. Getting in contact with the insurance agent should be the first step toward making a decision to file.McMonigal said all claims are summarized on the Comprehensive Loss Underwriting Exchange report. The report documents the history of claims filed and is used by insurers to determine rates and deductibles – and sometimes eligibility as well. “You need to know how many claims you’ve had because that does affect your rate, and it does affect your eligibility at other companies,” Koenke said.” But if you have loss, there is no reason not to submit it; that’s why you have insurance.”Filing a claim is an individual decision, McMonigal said.”You may have the funds to be able to replace those things up to a few thousand dollars,” she said. “But for some people that thousand dollars may be the money that they have to buy groceries next week.”
