As insurance companies adopt new technology and modern innovations, it will allow them to gain access to more information than ever before.
The use of drones to assess roof damage is gaining popularity, especially for roofs that are high, steep, heavily damaged, or unstable. Insurers are deploying drones to inspect claims related to fires, wind, storms, hail, or other events like fallen trees or debris. Drones aren’t limited to roof inspections; they can also be used to examine other hard-to-reach structural components.
The drone operator can navigate the aircraft to access various areas and capture detailed images. Once the adjuster receives these images and other relevant data, they can begin evaluating the damage and preparing repair estimates. If a secondary inspection is needed, a drone can be quickly deployed to conduct a follow-up assessment.
Drones can range in size from as large as a truck to as small as the palm of your hand. They can fly both outdoors and indoors, reaching areas like attics and crawl spaces. Additionally, they can capture both photos and videos.
New Technology That Has Exploded in Recent Years
As drone technology continues to evolve, more insurers are using drones to assess claims. This technology can help make the inspection and claims process quicker, safer, and more efficient compared to traditional inspections carried out by field adjusters.
Drone inspections and imagery have gained significant attention in recent years for capturing aerial images of catastrophic damage following hurricanes and other natural disasters. However, insurers are increasingly using drones for more routine homeowners’ insurance claims, such as those involving fires, fallen trees, and hail damage.
The commercial drone industry is projected to grow rapidly over the next decade.
Benefits of Drone Inspections
Some national insurers have reported that drone technology has reduced their claims cycle time by 30% to 40%, which is the time from the initial notice of loss to settlement. In certain cases, it has also boosted adjuster efficiency by 50% to 60%.
Drones can capture high-quality images and data, allowing insurers to quickly and accurately assess damage to a house or other structures. As drone technology continues to improve, insurance companies are likely to expand their use across even more areas of their operations.
The main benefits of using drones for insurance inspections include:
High-quality images and data: Drones are equipped with high-tech digital cameras that can capture precise, high-resolution images, including images that are nearly impossible to capture by a person manually operating a camera. Perhaps even more valuable are the software and related technology that process and analyze the images and other data drones collect. Technology such as 3D-mapping, machine learning and telematics can provide insights to insurers.
Speed: Drones can perform some of the same tasks as a human inspector but in a fraction of the time. For instance, insurers report that drone roof inspections can be completed in about one-third of the time it takes for a physical inspection. This is especially valuable after a storm or other event that impacts many policyholders. Additionally, the images and data captured by the drone can often be uploaded and sent to the insurance claims adjuster within minutes, further accelerating the claims process.
Safe access: Traditionally, insurance field adjusters must physically access areas like steep or high roofs, which can be hazardous. However, drones can quickly reach these areas multiple times, capturing accurate views and images without putting a human inspector at risk. Drones can also access other damaged areas more easily and swiftly after a fire, flood, or other disaster.
There are specific restrictions when conducting assessments related to natural disasters, which means you may not always see your insurer deploy a drone. Additionally, it’s not always the most suitable tool for every situation.
Drone Technology and Natural Disasters
Drones have been effectively used to assess damage following natural disasters like hurricanes and tornadoes due to their ability to safely survey extensive areas of destruction.
In 2018, Hurricane Florence and Hurricane Michael caused extensive damage across the Southeastern United States. Drones played a crucial role in insurance and rebuilding efforts, allowing insurance companies to use aerial images, videos, and other data to start assessing damage and processing claims almost immediately.
Drone operators can work remotely to capture aerial imagery quickly and efficiently, without requiring direct physical access to the damaged area. Following certain disasters, it may take days, weeks, or even longer before an area is deemed safe enough for field adjusters to access and start inspections. Drone technology allows for nearly immediate surveying of the area, giving the insurance company and other stakeholders a first look to begin making an initial assessment. In many cases, insurers have been able to respond to policyholders almost immediately following a catastrophic loss.
Drones for Individual Home Insurance Claims
Many national and regional insurance companies are now integrating drone technology into their homeowners and property claims processes. They may use drones and aerial imaging technology to complement other types of inspections, such as virtual, remote, and on-site assessments conducted by a field adjuster or other professionals.
Some national insurers have already established in-house commercial drone inspection teams, training their own drone operators to carry out inspections and other assessments. Other insurers have partnered with drone technology companies that offer comprehensive drone services and software platforms. Additionally, some companies rely on third-party commercial drone operators, local to the area, to conduct inspections.
In all cases, your policy will cover the use of drones, and you will be notified when this method will be employed. You should never interfere with the drone’s flight or data capture during an insurer’s inspection. You may also want to inform your neighbors, so they are not surprised or worried about the drone activity.
Be aware that a drone operator will be nearby, as close as necessary according to regulations or operational needs. It’s a good idea to confirm with your insurer who the operator will be, when they arrive, what their tasks will include, and how long the process will take. This ensures you don’t mistake someone photographing your home for an insurer when it might be someone with malicious intentions.
Contact Us if You Have Questions or Concerns
If you have any questions about decisions made based on drone footage, be sure to ask your claims adjuster.
Additionally, familiarize yourself with your insurance contract/policy. If a dispute arises or if the drone causes further damage to your property, it’s important to know how to file a complaint. This can help you resolve any disagreements smoothly, without unnecessary confusion or conflict.