Insurance, auto body shops rise in business after hailstorm [Video]

HAZELWOOD, Mo. – The hailstorms brought by severe weather Monday have led to an influx of business for insurance agents and auto body repair shops.

“I’ve had a large number of calls for hail damage. You can basically follow the path of the storm and that’s where all my calls are coming from, starting in Chesterfield and ending in Illinois. My largest concentration was over in Ferguson,” Paul Manganelli, insurance agent at American Family Insurance, said.

He says several customers were confused about whether they needed to get estimates before calling their insurance company.

“They have a year to turn in their claim and get all the repairs done to be fully paid for their claim minus the deductible,” Manganelli said.

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Several auto body shops are still repairing vehicles from the hailstorm in Wentzville last month. The addition of damaged cars Monday has become overwhelming for some shops.

“We are …