A car crashed through the roof of a Missouri veterans hall — for the 2nd time in 3 months. Why the building’s so vulnerable and how it could impact their insurance

‘It sounded like a gas explosion going off’

That brand-new roof had only just been repaired after a previous incident on February 15, when a fugitive from Kansas lost control of a vehicle during a police chase and launched it into the same spot.

The Clay-Ray Veterans Hall, located just below a road that curves over a hill, sits in a vulnerable position. Its roof is level with the street, which has a 25 mph speed limit.

Locals say the issue isn’t the road, it’s the drivers. “If you drive the speed limit, it’s not an issue,” said Lisa Reinhart, who lives nearby. “It’s 25 through here, so it shouldn’t be an issue unless you’re blatantly not listening to the speed limit.”

Reinhart was shocked to hear the impact. “It sounded like a gas explosion going off,” she said. “It rattled the windows and everything. It was insane.”

The damage has been more than physical; it’s hitting the veterans group’s finances hard. Chris Stull, president of the Clay-Ray Veterans Association, says the repeated repairs are straining their budget. “It’s crazy,” Stull said. “It’s seriously crazy.”

The American Legion post, which relies on bingo nights for revenue, hasn’t been able to host events during repairs. That also means no income to help pay bills or support local community donations.

Still, the legion has no intention of relocating. “We’re staying here,” Stull said, saying the organization has been at the location for over 100 years.

But staying put doesn’t mean doing nothing. Stull said the association has spoken with city officials about installing a barricade to prevent future crashes.

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Frequent claims and the impact on insurance

While commercial property insurance would typically cover damages like the ones at Clay-Ray Veterans Hall, the frequency of these incidents could lead to higher premiums and potential challenges in policy renewal.

Insurance companies can adjust premiums based on a property's claim history. So, if there are frequent claims, a property could be considered high-risk, leading to higher premiums.

The insurance providers could also choose not to renew a policy if a property has a history of multiple claims. Ultimately, the insurer often bases the decision on how risky they deem the property to be.

In one example, approximately 14,400 Connecticut homeowners received non-renewal notices for their property insurance in 2023 — a shocking 45% increase from the year before. Insurers are pulling back from high-risk policies because of more frequent weather-related catastrophes and rising repair costs.

The commercial property insurance market has experienced consistent premium increases in recent years. Since 2017, commercial real estate insurance costs have risen an average of 7.6% annually.

In 2023, insurance companies paid more than $120 billion in losses, even without a major hurricane, partially due to increased construction costs and inflation.

With these things in mind, there are some steps you can take to manage and potentially reduce the impact of frequent claims on insurance premiums and coverage:

Consider risk prevention measures: Stepping up safety protocols, like the safety barriers that Clay-Ray Veterans Hall is requesting, and maintenance routines can help cut down on the likelihood of incidents. Knowing what your particular property’s potential vulnerabilities are can inform what measures you take to mitigate these risks.

While not a commercial property, this Pacific Palisades resident, for example, used fireproofing measures and materials to ensure his property was as protected as possible from potential wildfires common to the California area. These efforts ended up paying off for him.

Keep open communication with insurers: Make sure to regularly update insurers about improvements and changes to your property.

Research alternative coverage options: Some insurers specialize in high-risk properties, and they may offer options that fit your situation best. And though imperfect, the state FAIR plan is another option.

As for the Clay-Ray Veterans Hall, crews are once again at work repairing the roof, for the second time in just over as many months, while the nonprofit tries to keep its doors open and its mission alive.