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Business & Tech

Auto Body Shops Swamped After Devastating Hail Storm

Local auto body mechanics describe how their businesses have been affected by the recent hail storm.

After the Aug. 1 hail storm that ravaged cars and property throughout the area, auto body shops and insurance companies have been swamped.

“Never has any of our generations seen anything this bad, as far as hail storms,” said Brian Hogan, general manager of A1 Grand Auto Body Shop. “It’s been the talk of all the [auto body shop] managers."

All told, there have been more than 35,000 damage claims in Nassau County totalling approximately $350 million. Hogan’s shop alone has seen at least 130 repair requests related to the storm. A1 has had to open two additional locations, one in Hempstead and the other on Denton Avenue, to meet the demand. Their original location can hold about 150 cars; the additional two have increased A1's capacity to 300.

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Bob Polgar, owner of Tip Top Auto Body, echoes his colleague’s sentiment.

“Quadrupled wouldn’t even describe it,” Polgar said, referring to the increase in repair requests he has had since the storm.

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The first day following the hail storm, his business received 100 damaged cars and is still taking in about 50 per day.

“We have eight adjusters from insurance companies, plus three of my own,” Polgar said, describing the situation as “a madhouse.”

Damage to vehicles ranged from dings and welts to outright destruction. According to Hogan, the “most impressive” case he has received thus far was a brand-new Mercedes, which suffered three softball-sized impacts through its windshield, shattering the dashboard.

For minor damage, there is a repair procedure known as paintless dent removal, or PDR, where dents are flattened out using metal rods. Both Hogan and Polgar are utilizing it.

“Most shops aren’t doing PDR; they’re using the conventional, modern way, when possible,” Polgar said. “I want to do what’s right for people. I’m still making a profit; I’m just not making a windfall profit, like some people do in catastrophes.”

A1’s Hempstead location is dedicated exclusively to PDR. Hogan explained that the procedure is less common in the Northeast, as opposed to the Midwest or the South, because hail storms of this magnitude are more rare here. Repair teams are being flown in from out of state, because there are so few local mechanics with that expertise. Hogan’s PDR team, for example, was flown in from Texas.

But it isn’t just mechanics coming from far and wide. Both Hogan and Polgar reported that they have been repairing cars from well outside of New Hyde Park. Many North Shore communities were affected by the storm and Polgar said he has even had claims from as far out as Queens. Hogan said there is “no rhyme or reason” to the hometowns of his customers.

Neither Hogan nor Polgar expect to see a major decrease in storm-related damage claims any time soon.

“I’ve been in business since 1981,” Polgar said. “People are waiting for four months because of my reputation.”

Hogan predicted that the weekend would see even more claims, because many people would not be working.

A1 Grand Auto Body Shop is located at 105 Herricks Road. You can reach them at 516-294-4200. Tip Top Auto Body is located at 150 Denton Avenue. You can reach them at 516-746-6663.

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