SIOUX CITY, Iowa (Iowa Media Wire) — Sioux Body Shop opened its doors Thursday and has already seen many people walking through the door asking for an estimate on vehicles damaged by hail.
“Left the Omaha airport, came up [Interstate] 29, and the next thing I knew I heard bang, bang, bang, bang, bang,” Sioux City resident Thomas Widner said. “That’s when the hail started and it just let loose.”
Widner has seen hail plenty of times, but he’s never experienced it being so large and destructive.
“Tennis ball-sized hail just came down like crazy,” he said. “I couldn’t do it with a sledgehammer as well as the hail storm did. Every panel needs replaced, roof, hood. It’s going to be totaled.”
Like other drivers, Widner took his vehicle to the professionals.
“It’s been a little hectic this morning,” Sioux Body Shop manager Costa Tsiobanos said. “We’ve seen quite a few vehicles come in. A lot of telephone calls about hail damage that people received last night.”
However, there’s only so much body shops can do at this time.
“Basically, right now, just writing estimates,” Tsiobanos said. “Trying to help people get their claims started with the insurance company and guide them on, you know, what the steps are in the process. There’s not a wait list yet. At some point, I’m sure there will be a little bit of a wait, but parts availability can be an issue.”
If you find yourself with a hail-dented vehicle, Sioux Body Shop recommends talking with your insurance company first.
“The first thing we’re going to do is file a claim with their insurance company,” Tsiobanos said. “Each company handles things a little differently. Some of them will want you to submit photos of the damage, others, they want you to get an estimate from the body shop. So just be in touch with your insurance company.”
Widner also encourages people to take cover if they find themselves caught in tennis ball-sized hail.
“I was saying I should have stopped at the overpass instead of continuing on and watching the wall cloud,” he said.
Widner also said he plans on getting a new truck, the exact same vehicle that he has right now.