Allstate says 2009 weather-related auto claims up 50 percent in Texas

Allstate sees spike in Texas weather auto claims

IRVING, Texas — Allstate Insurance said Tuesday that it saw a 50 percent increase in storm-related car insurance claims in Texas during 2009.

Allstate, which is the second largest auto insurer in Texas, says the largest increases in claims from 2008 to 2009 occurred in El Paso, Lubbock and Houston. Many of the claims were linked to damage from hail, wind and floods.

Allstate received a lower number of storm-related car insurance claims in cities such as Waco, Dallas and Amarillo.

Texas had $2.45 billion in catastrophe losses in 2009, the highest amount in the nation. That represented 23 percent of the $10.57 billion in catastrophe losses nationwide, according to Insurance Services Office data cited by Allstate.

“The Allstate data is a snapshot, but it illustrates the challenge we face in Texas dealing with severe weather,” said Catalina Palma, an Allstate agent in El Paso. “We know every year that we’re going to see severe storms packing hail, wind and rain.”