Protect Your Family During Severe Weather

Did you know that March is Severe Weather Preparation Month?

While it may still feel like winter outside, it won’t be long until spring arrives. And with it comes spring storms! Is your family prepared?

Spring weather will be here before we know it! And now is the time to think about protecting your home and family.

First things first, make sure you have designated a safe place to go to if the weather gets severe. It could be a basement, closet, or room with no windows or outside walls. Make sure this space is cleared out enough that you could easily get your family (and pets) inside if needed. (You don’t want to be frantically clearing out the closet if there is a tornado!)

Next, put together a small emergency kit. What would you need if the power was out? Consider putting in flashlights, extra batteries, canned food, a weather radio and plenty of water. (Don’t forget supplies for your pets too!)

Keep emergency phone numbers in your cell phone contacts, including the phone number for our office (508-347-9343) in case you need to make a claim. You could even save a note in your phone with your policy numbers too.

If you do suffer damage, give us a call to report a claim once the danger has passed. We’ll do everything we can to make the claim process simple and quick!

While we can’t prevent bad weather, it’s always great to be as prepared as possible. Take care of your family first and know that we’ll be there to protect your belongings.  

March Home Maintenance Tips

What do you need to do this month to keep your home running smoothly and your family protected? Read below to find out!

Change Batteries In Smoke Detectors - When the clocks spring forward, take a few minutes to change the batteries in your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. This way you know that they’re always in working order!

Make A Severe Weather Plan - March is Severe Weather Preparation Month. Designate a safe place in your home in case of dangerous weather. Stock it with basic emergency supplies and throw in an extra flashlight, batteries, and a weather radio too! Make sure the entire family knows where to go during a severe storm and how to get alerts.

Check Your Credit Report - March is also Credit Education Month. When was the last time you checked to see that your credit reports were accurate? If it’s been over a year, stop by www.annualcreditreport.com and order a free copy today. Then use an app like Credit Karma to check your credit score with multiple bureaus. These steps can help you catch identity theft or errors. Plus, good credit saves you money on interest and insurance!

Review Your Insurance Discounts - Are you getting all the discounts you qualify for? While you’re busy preparing your taxes and spring cleaning, take a few minutes to call us to review your policy! We’ll make sure your information is all up to date and that you’re receiving every discount that you qualify for.

And as always, give us a call at 508-347-9343 if you have any questions or need assistance with auto, home, business, or life insurance. 

Insurance For Newlyweds

February is one of the busiest times of the year for engagements and weddings. And if you’re planning to tie the knot soon - congratulations!

Now it’s time to think about what this means for your insurance! When you get married and combine two households, there are some important insurance things to think about. Let’s go over some of the most common (and often overlooked).

Once you’re married, you’ll want to combine your vehicles onto one auto insurance policy. Bonus? Many times you’ll get a discount when you have multiple vehicles on one policy! If you only own one vehicle, just make sure to add your spouse to the policy.

Next you’ll want to make sure that you have renters or homeowners insurance in place for your new household. If you’re keeping your current residence, just have us add your spouse to the policy. If you’re renting and don’t have coverage, have us quote a renters insurance policy! You’ll save on your auto insurance PLUS protect all of those fancy wedding gifts!

And finally, have a conversation about Life insurance. No one wants to think about this important coverage but if you’re planning to start a family or if your spouse depends on your income, then now is the time to get it started. We can quote an affordable life insurance policy to protect your new family.

None of this is time consuming or difficult! In fact, it can usually be done in one short phone conversation. Call us today at 508-347-9343 to discuss your policy!  

5 Ways To Save On Auto Insurance

Are you tired of paying too much for auto insurance?  No one wants to pay more than they have to!  That’s why it’s important to know what savings and discounts are available.  Here are a few things to discuss with your agent at your next review.

Is Your Driving Record Accurate? 

Tickets, accidents, and claims will raise your rates!  That’s why it’s important to make sure your motor vehicle report is accurate.  Ask your agent if anything showed on your record and make sure that the information is correct.  

Take A Defensive Driving Class

 Have you taken a defensive driving course in the past?  Let us know.  You may qualify for a discount!  

Don’t forget about driver’s ed classes for your teenagers too.  Just get a copy of the completion certificate for your records.  Many of these discounts apply for several years and give substantial savings.  

Increase Your Deductibles

 The deductible is the amount you pay out of pocket after an accident (or for hail damage, etc.)

The higher that out-of-pocket amount, the lower your monthly premium!  

So if you are currently carrying $100 or $250 deductibles, consider raising them to $500 and keeping a little extra in your savings account.  You could save a lot each month while still being protected from any major damage.  We can give you prices for a range of deductibles to help you decide.

Find The Best Payment Options

 Depending on your individual policy, we may be able to offer various discounts for paying your policy premium in full or putting it on a monthly bank draft.

While $3-4 a month might not seem like much, over time it really adds up!  Ask us about payment options for your policy and see where you can save.

Keep Your Insurance In One Place

 And one of the largest, and most overlooked, savings opportunities is to have multiple polices with one company!  

If you carry homeowners or renters insurance with a different company, let us quote it!  Many times our clients will save several hundred dollars per year just by having their policies in one place.  It’s a no-brainer!  

And remember, getting these savings isn’t difficult.  In fact, with one short phone call we can review your policy, look for discount opportunities, and discover your coverage.  Give us a call today to get started!

P.S. Our open house is coming up on May 8th at 4:00 p.m. There will be BT's smokehouse, Rapscallion beer, Rob Adams, raffles, and other surprises! I hope to see you all there! 

New Law on the use of Headlights!

The Legislature has passed a new law that would require drivers to turn on their headlights whenever they turn on their windshield wipers. 

The new law, M.G.L. c. 85, § 15 takes effect on April 7, 2015. Below is the wording of the new section of the law:

A vehicle, whether stationary or in motion, on a public way, shall have attached to it headlights and taillights which shall be turned on by the vehicle operator and so displayed as to be visible from the front and rear during the period of 1/2 hour after sunset to 1/2 hour before sunrise; provided, however, that such headlights and taillights shall be turned on by the vehicle operator at all other times when, due to insufficient light or unfavorable atmospheric conditions, visibility is reduced such that persons or vehicles on the roadway are not clearly discernible at a distance of 500 feet or when the vehicle’s windshield wipers are needed; provided further, that this section shall not apply to a vehicle which is designed to be propelled by hand; and provided further, that a vehicle carrying hay or straw for the purpose of transporting persons on a hayride shall display only electrically operated lights which shall be 2 flashing amber lights  to the front and 2 flashing red lights to the rear, each of which shall be at least 6 inches in diameter and mounted 6 feet from the ground.

As a result, the list of surcharge-able incidents has been amended by adding two new requirements effective April 7, 2015.

1. Motorists are now required to turn on headlights and taillights whenever the windshield wipers are on.

2. Motorists are also required to turn on headlights and taillights when visibility is reduced so that persons or vehicles are not visible at 500 feet due to insufficient light or unfavorable atmospheric conditions.

The requirement to turn on headlights and taillights 1/2 hour after sunset and 1/2 hour before sunrise has not changed.

Car-deer collisions are surprisingly more frequent than you might think. Nationally, about 1.5 million people are involved in deer collisions each year and more than a hundred people die as a result.

According to AAA, almost seventy percent of car-deer accidents occur during October through December when deer are most active, but this doesn’t mean that motorists can let down their defenses in other seasons. Historically, the majority of the car-deer accidents happen between 5:30 and 7:30 a.m. or between 5:30 and 8 p.m.—the hours that coincide with dawn and dusk as well as the times that most cars are on the road.

SAFETY TIPS:

·If you see one deer, slow down. Chances are there is another close behind. Be especially careful in heavily wooded areas, where deer are more prone to dart out in front of the car.

·Also, use your high beams whenever possible. It will give you a larger field of vision and you’ll have more time to react to animals in the road ahead. It might also help you spot deer at the side of the road before they run across the highway.

·The best defense is to be prepared. Wear your safety belts.

·Be extra alert on two lane roads near dawn and dusk. Be particularly alert near deer-warning signs.They are placed at known crossing areas.

Police departments say swerving to avoid a deer is sometimes more dangerous than hitting one. Severe collisions with trees or other cars—or rollover accidents—might result. If you swerve, or skid to a stop, there’s a chance the deer might panic and dart into the path of another vehicle, or back into the path of yours.

So what should you do if a crash with a deer is unavoidable? Brake firmly, keep both hands on the steering wheel, stay in your lane, and sound your horn. In the case of the ’Cuda driver, a firm foot on the brake pedal as soon as the deer was in sight might have given the animal that extra bit of time to get out of the way.

The jury is out on deer whistles, which claim to alert animals that a car is nearby. Some drivers swear by them, claiming they stop deer in their tracks. Others swear at them, asserting they do nothing but panic the deer into stampeding across the road. Then there are yet others who doubt they work at all, saying that the deer don’t hear the whistles until it’s too late.

In the event of a car-deer collision, you will find, as this client did, that such accidents are covered under the comprehensive portion of an automobile policy. Some insurance carriers claim up to one third of all comprehensive losses result from deer collisions.

In instances where you swerve and avoid the animal but end up colliding with something else, such as the ditch, the collision portion of your policy would also apply. Keep this in mind when you set your collision deductible.

And watch out for moose! They usually inflict five times the amount of damage to the vehicle than a deer does. In 1985, the winter in Alaska was particularly bad. By March 13th, 1985, there had been 165 train-killed moose, and on that night, a single moose on the tracks derailed a train, engine, and five coal cars.

Essential tips to avoiding deer car collisions

·Watch out at dawn and dusk

·High beams on when possible

·Slow down!

·Brake, don’t swerve

·Honk the horn

Driving Safety

One in three children and young adults that are in auto accidents are seriously injured or killed every year in America. It doesn’t matter how good a driver you are, no one can predict an accident. If you have children, make sure that they are properly restrained.

For infants and children eight years old and younger or at least fifty-seven inches tall should be in a federally approved child safety seat. Anyone over eight years old and fifty-seven inches tall should be wearing a seat belt. In Massachusetts, the fine for not complying with the safety seat rule could be fined $25 and their insurance will increase but more importantly it could save a life.

-Check Your Car Seat. Did you know that 73 percent of car seats are not used or installed correctly? Before you hit the road, please take 15 minutes for an at-home car seat checkup using the Safe Kids downloadable checklist (http://www.safekids.org/sites/default/files/car-seat-checklist.pdf). The checklist offers ways to make sure your car seat is right for your child and that the seat is installed properly. These tips are important because we know that when used correctly, child safety seats can reduce the risk of death by as much as 71 percent.

-Use Booster Seats. Safety in the car goes beyond your little ones. Kids who have outgrown a forward-facing harness seat are not ready for a seat belt or front seat yet. They are safest in a booster seat that enables the adult seat belt to fit properly. Even when children have outgrown booster seats, they are safest in the backseat until the age of 13.

- See more at: http://www.safekids.org/blog/what-parents-need-know-safe-summer-travel#sthash.bKsa52Nx.dpuf

Is There Coverage For My Company Car On My Personal Umbrella Policy?

Under the standard Personal Umbrella Policy there is not coverage afforded for the company car that you may be driving on a regular basis unless you are using that car for personal use AND you have “Use of Other Vehicles” endorsed to your Personal Auto Policy and also have that vehicle listed on your Umbrella at the time of a loss. The vehicle also cannot be “owned” by the named insured. Now if you happen to take the company car that is “not provided to you for your regular use” and happen to have a loss while you’re running “personal” errands, then the Umbrella Policy would afford coverage automatically. If that same scenario were to happen with the company car that was provided to you for regular use; you would need to have that vehicle endorsed to your Auto & Umbrella policies in order to have coverage. This is a tricky situation to say the least, so please contact our agency if you have any questions.

Passing on the Right

How many times have you seen a vehicle passing another on the right and wondered if that was legal? Well, there are special circumstances when this is actually legal but many people don’t follow the guidelines. It can only be done when the road is clear and is wide enough for two or more lines of motor vehicles AND:

-The vehicle you are passing is making, or is about to make, a left turn.
-You are driving on a one-way street.
-You are driving on a road where traffic moves in one direction (such as a multiple lane
Highway).

Needless to say, passing on the right is very limited and not allowed on all streets and in all situations. Before you pass another vehicle on the right; think of these guidelines to make sure it is ok to do so and safe. Patience is not only a virtue; it could save your life.

Air Bag Safety

Air bags and seat belts save lives every day and here are a few things you should know to make sure they work properly. Their purpose is to cushion occupants during a crash and provide protection to their bodies when they strike interior objects such as the steering wheel or a window. Modern vehicles may contain multiple airbag modules in various side and frontal locations of the passenger seating positions; the airbag is designed to only inflate in moderate to severe frontal crashes. 

Airbags are normally designed with the intention of supplementing the protection of an occupant who is correctly restrained with a seat belt. Be sure to use your shoulder and lap seat belt; air bags are not a substitute for seat belts. 

According to research conducted by Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, children exposed to air bags during a crash are twice as likely to suffer a serious injury.  Children younger than 13 years are safest when placed in the back seat of a vehicle, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). Other air bag safety rules to follow include:

• Never place an infant in a rear-facing child safety seat in the front seat with an air bag. In a crash, the air bag comes out of the dashboard with its force directed at the back of the infant's head if riding in the front passenger seat.
• The rear seat is the safest place in the car for children younger than 13 years. If you don’t have enough room in the back of your car to safely transport the number of children who need to travel safely, please visit a car seat check in your area where a trained expert will help evaluate your situation. You may need to arrange to use a safer vehicle with enough back seat positions to keep all the kids safe.
• All passengers ages 13 and older need to wear a lap and shoulder belt when riding in the front seat. Air bags are designed to work with the lap and shoulder belt to protect the occupant in the event of a crash.
• To keep your older child (age 13 and older) safe in the front seat:
• Move the front seat as far back as possible from the dashboard
• Teach your child not to lean forward to change the radio dial or to insert CDs
• Insist that your child sit upright against the seatback, with the seat belt snug at all times

Auto Safety Kits

In today’s world, we all spend an enormous amount of time in our cars and may not even think about having a car safety kit in case of an emergency. Having a well planned safety kit in your car could save your life, especially in winter weather. You can purchase a ready-made kit or you can make your own but either way you should have one in all of your vehicles. Your kit should include at least:

• Blankets or sleeping bags
• Flashlights with extra batteries
• First aid kit
• A knife and some healthy non-perishable food (trail mix, peanut butter, crackers, etc…)
• In a large plastic container with a cover, store paper towels and other sanitary items and an empty coffee can (or other waterproof container) to keep water-proof matches and a candle to melt snow for drinking water.
• Sand or cat litter for tire traction and a shovel.
• An auto emergency tool kit with basic tools, jumper cables, ice scrapers, etc…
• A compass and road maps (what if your GPS or cell phones aren’t working?)
• Extra clothing in case your clothing gets wet or you need to layer your clothes to stay warm

Have You Paid Off Your Home or Auto?

If you’ve paid off your mortgage or car loan, did you know that you should inform your insurance agent? Most people don’t know to do that until they have a claim and have to deal with the insurance company and bank to rectify the situation. If you have a loss and the bank is still listed on your home or auto policy, the claim check has to be written out to you AND the bank which leads to more work for you at a time that you don’t need the extra hassle. Once you receive the documentation that you have paid off the bank loan, get a copy to your Insurance Agent so that they can have the bank or lender removed from your policy to avoid having to deal with this at the time of a claim.

Winter Travel Safety Tips

Winter in New England can be beautiful (depending on who you ask) but it can also be very dangerous. Here are some tips that you should follow before you head out in the winter weather:

• Keep your gas tank full to avoid running out of gas and also to prevent ice in the gas tank or fuel lines.
• If you're traveling to an unfamiliar place, try to avoid traveling alone if at all possible.
• Let someone know where you’re going, which route you’ll be taking, and what time you expect to arrive.
• Winterize your car BEFORE bad weather arrives, preferably in the fall to avoid any surprise storms (remember October 2011?) and to beat the rush. Make sure that your tires always have good traction, no matter what the season.
• Have an auto safety kit in all cars.  Purchase a ready-made kit or make your own.

When is the Speed Limit NOT the Speed Limit?

Did you know that even though a speed limit is posted, you could actually get a speeding ticket if you follow that limit? You ask yourself “how can that be?” The answer to that question is that the speed limits that are posted are for when driving conditions are favorable and there are no obstructions or hazards on the road. It's important to remember that if the weather and visibility are bad and/or road conditions are hazardous due to construction, traffic, weather conditions, bicyclists and pedestrians, you need to adjust your speeds accordingly. If you drive 40 mph in a heavy rainstorm on a highway with a speed limit of 50 mph, you can get a ticket for driving too fast. Always be patient and mindful of your speed when the road conditions are not favorable to not only avoid a speeding ticket but also for everyone’s safety.

Winter Driving

We haven't had a lot of practice driving in the snow this winter, so with the possibility of some significant snowfall over the next 24 hours, here are a few tips:

• Drive slowly because accelerating, stopping and turning all take longer on snow-covered roads.
• Leave more distance between your vehicle and the one ahead of you, giving yourself at least 10 seconds to come to a complete stop.
• Avoid sudden stops and quick direction changes.
• Do not activate your cruise control when driving on a slippery surface.
• Be careful when driving over bridges, as well as roadways rarely exposed to sunlight - they are often icy when other areas are not.
• Monitor the weather conditions at your destination before beginning your trip. If conditions look as though they are going to be too hazardous, just stay home.