Barbecues, Mobile Centers Encourage Auto Owners to Turn in Wilma Claims

South Florida insurance agents encouraged the thousands of automobile owners who had vehicle damage during Hurricane Wilma to report them as soon as possible so they could be repaired, some agencies even held weekend barbecues to encourage customers to come and fill out their paperwork.

United Automobile Insurance, with offices in North Miami Beach, set up an impromptu claims processing center with claims reps and adjusters, and even had a barbecue in front of its offices. United Auto’s barbecues started on Friday and continued Saturday and Sunday. In the two weeks after Hurricane Wilma the agency porocessed about 1,800 Wilma-related claims.

Joe Soto, a spokesman for State Farm Insurance of Florida told the Miami Herald that within a few days the company set up seven claims centers in Miami-Dade and Broward counties. The centers enabled consumers to file claims, have adjusters inspect damage, possibly settle the claim and receive a check, all with one stop. As this issue went to press, State Farm had received 38,000 auto claims, more than it saw after all of last year’s storms, and surpassing Katrina’s claims.

The claims resulted from falling trees and flying debris whipped up by Hurricane Wilma’s winds, which left many cars in South Florida with dents and dings, smashed windshields and windows, some totally crushed. Many agents reported they have seen more claims after Wilma than they saw after this year’s and last year’s other storms, combined.

Almost two-dozen insurers worked out of two “insurance villages,” set up in Hialeah and Plantation by the Department of Financial Services, to help consumers file claims and answer questions.

Safelite Auto Glass, which repairs and replaces auto windshields and windows, told the Herald its business jumped 83 percent during the first three days after the power went back on after Hurricane Wilma. Its technicians worked 12 to 15 hours to handle hurricane-related work.

Safelite has four locations in South Florida and two mobile units in which technicians make house or work calls to do repairs. The company brought 20 to 30 technicians from out-of-state to help handle South Florida claims.

Jack Russell, a spokesman for the Columbus, Ohio-based company, said the week after Wilma was unusually slow because many residents with auto damage couldn’t report claims because they had no power or phone service. Some couldn’t venture from home because of the gas shortage, debris-clogged roads or the curfew enforced in South Florida.

Despite a large volume of claims, Progressive said it has been able to respond quickly to policyholders.

William Perry, a company spokesman, said the Mayfield Village, Ohio,-based insurer closed out claims in about four days.

Progressive was able to close 20 percent of its Wilma claims the week after the storm hit and have 35 percent settled by the second weekend after the hurricane hit.

Topics Florida Auto Claims Hurricane