General Info
Winter Driving Tips
January 28, 2011 | Author admin
Preparation is one key to successfully navigating winter roads. Winter weather can bring unexpected conditions, so make sure that both you and your vehicle are ready for ice and snow.
Traffic in snow Getting Your Vehicle Ready for Winter
Getting Your Vehicle Ready for Winter
Preparation is one key to successfully navigating winter roads. Winter weather can bring unexpected conditions, so make sure that your vehicle is ready for ice and snow. Prior to the winter driving season, you should have a mechanic check the brakes, battery, hoses and belts. Below are some additional tips for getting your vehicle ready for winter.
* Check that your fluid levels are full.
* Make sure your wipers don´t streak. You may want to consider installing winter wiper blades.
* Ensure that your heater and defroster are working properly.
* Check that your vehicle´s radio is working properly so you can receive weather and traffic reports.
* Make sure all lights are working.
* Check to be sure that tires are properly inflated and have sufficient tread depth.
* If you live in an area prone to heavy snow, you may want to use dedicated snow tires on your vehicle or carry a set of tire chains. At a minimum, your all-weather tires should be mud and snow rated.
* In the case of a problem, contact a mechanic immediately.
Row of Snowplows With Cruiser Winter Emergency Kit
Winter Emergency Kit
PennDOT recommends packing a winter emergency kit in your vehicle anytime you travel. The following items should be considered for your kit:
* Flashlight and batteries
* Battery-operated radio
* Jumper cables
* Cell phone and charger
* Snow shovel
* Matches and candles
* First aid supplies
* Extra warm clothing and gloves
* Blanket
* Ice scraper
* Sand
* Bottled water
* Non-perishable food
* Anything else you may need to accommodate family traveling with you (special medication, baby supplies, pet food, etc.)
Winter Driving Tips Winter Driving Tips
Winter Driving Tips
Remember, if winter weather is forecast, eliminate all unnecessary travel. This will keep you and your family safe and allow PennDOT to more easily perform our winter duties. However, if you must travel, PennDOT offers the following tips for safe driving this winter season.
* Carry a winter emergency travel kit.
* Listen to weather and travel advisories, and if you don´t have to travel in bad weather, don´t.
* Keep your gas tank at least half full.
* Slow down and increase following distance.
* Avoid sudden stops and starts.
* Beware of roads that may look wet, but are actually frozen, often referred to as “black ice.”
* Use extra caution on bridges and ramps where ice can often form without warning.
* Carry a cell phone.
* Do not use cruise control while driving on snow-covered roads.
* State law requires you to turn on your headlights when your wipers are on.
* Use your low beams in bad weather, especially in cases of heavy or blowing snow.
* Remove ice and snow from windows, mirrors and all vehicle lights as often as needed.
* Remove snow and ice from the hood and roof of your vehicle. State law states that if snow or ice from your vehicle strikes a vehicle or person and causes death or injury, you can be ticketed.
* Do not park or abandon your vehicle on snow emergency routes.
* Do not pass or get between trucks plowing in a plow line (several trucks plowing side by side).
* Make sure someone else knows where you are going and when you expect to arrive. In case you run into an emergency and need help, someone will know where to look for you.
* If you do become stranded, it´s better to stay with your vehicle until help arrives. Run the engine every hour or so, but make sure the tailpipe is clear and keep the downwind window cracked open.
* Do not drink and drive and always wear your seat belt.
via Winter Driving.
Winter Driving Tips
January 28, 2011 | Author admin
Driving on snowy or icy roads requires special attention to safety. Although it’s impossible to have ideal road conditions 365 days a year, there are certain precautions you can take to make winter driving safer. Here are some tips and suggestions to help you get ready for the hazards of winter. And check the links at the bottom of this page for information on MoDOT Plowing Priorities and tips on shoveling your driveway. Before the Trip Winterize your car with fresh antifreeze, a good battery, a properly operating exhaust system and oil that will withstand the rigors of cold weather. If possible, avoid driving until the roads are safe and passable. You don’t want to slide off the road, and we don’t want to plow around disabled vehicles. Do a thorough pretrip inspection of your vehicle, paying special attention to your tires, brakes, windshield wipers and windshield wiper fluid.Equip Your Vehicle With: A flashlight with extra batteries A firstaid kit Necessary medications Blankets and/or sleeping bags Extra mittens or gloves, socks, a warm cap and rain gear A small sack of sand to use for traction under your wheels A small shovel Booster cables Small tools – pliers, wrench, screwdriver A brightly colored cloth to use as a flag Nonperishable foods Bottled waterDuring the Trip Obey speed limits; don’t speed. Use common sense, and adjust your speed to suit driving conditions . Give snowplows plenty of room, and don’t pass them. Always wear your seat belt. Remember that driving is most dangerous when temperatures are near 32 degrees. Watch for other vehicles having problems with road conditions. Keep mirrors, windows and lights clean; keep your lights on. Don’t pass other vehicles on or near bridges. Keep your fuel tank at least half full. If you don’t feel comfortable driving, park at the first safe place.If You’re Trapped in Your Car Stay in the vehicle. Don’t leave to search for help. It’s easy to become disoriented and lost in blowing and drifting snow. Display a trouble sign. Hang a brightly colored cloth on the antenna. Run the engine for about 10 minutes each hour. Run the heater and turn on the dome light only when the vehicle is running. Keep the exhaust pipe clear of snow, and open a window slightly for ventilation. Clap hands and move your arms and legs occasionally. Don’t stay in one position for too long. If more than one person is in the car, take turns sleeping. Huddle together for warmth. Use newspapers, maps and even car mats for added insulation.
via Winter Driving Tips.
Homeowners Insurance Claim
January 23, 2011 | Author admin
Homeowners Insurance Claim on wiseGEEK:
* If they feel strongly enough that the insurer is breaking insurance claim law, consumers can also pursue lawsuits. Some attorneys specialize in insurance claim law and dedicate themselves to what is called insurance recovery law.
* The types of insurance coverage disputes may involve areas as divers as health, automobile, or homeowners insurance claims and will determine how a dispute is handled. Some insurance policies might include exclusions which can limit or disallow restitution for damages sought in a claim.
Posted in Claim, General Info, Homeowners Insurance Claims, Homeowners Insurance Deductible, Insurance Claims, Insurance Premium, Liability Insurance Claims, Make a claim, Mortgage Insurance, Property Casualty Insurance, Property Damage Claims, Property Insurance Definition, Third Party Claim, Umbrella Policy | 
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Car Insurance Claim
January 23, 2011 | Author admin
Car Insurance Claim on wiseGEEK:
* If you are found guilty of violating the state financial responsibility laws concerning car insurance, you may find it much more difficult to obtain affordable coverage in the future.
* Even if no immediate emergency medical assistance was required, you may still want to go to the hospital for an evaluation, as car accident injuries such as whiplash may not present immediately but could show up several days later. To pay out the car accident claim, the car insurance companies will want to investigate the traffic accident and determine liability.
via Car Insurance Claim.
What is an Insurance Claim?
January 23, 2011 | Author admin
An insurance claim is the actual application for benefits provided by an insurance company. Policy holders must first file an insurance claim before any money can be disbursed to the hospital or repair shop or other contracted service. The insurance company may or may not approve the claim, based on their own assessment of the circumstances.Individuals who take out home, life, health, or automobile insurance policies must maintain regular payments called premiums to the insurers. Most of the time these premiums are used to settle another person’s insurance claim or to build up the available assets of the insurance company. But occasionally an accident will happen which causes real financial damage, such as a automobile wreck or a tornado or a work-related accident. At this point the injured policy holder has the right to file an insurance claim in order to receive money from the insurance company.
Winter Driving Safety Tips
January 14, 2011 | Author admin
Driving safely on icy roads
- Decrease your speed and leave yourself plenty of room to stop. You should allow at least three times more space than usual between you and the car in front of you.
- Brake gently to avoid skidding. If your wheels start to lock up, ease off the brake.
- Turn on your lights to increase your visibility to other motorists.
- Keep your lights and windshield clean.
- Use low gears to keep traction, especially on hills.
- Don’t use cruise control or overdrive on icy roads.
- Be especially careful on bridges, overpasses and infrequently traveled roads, which will freeze first. Even at temperatures above freezing, if the conditions are wet, you might encounter ice in shady areas or on exposed roadways like bridges.
- Don’t pass snow plows and sanding trucks. The drivers have limited visibility, and you’re likely to find the road in front of them worse than the road behind.
- Don’t assume your vehicle can handle all conditions. Even four-wheel and front-wheel drive vehicles can encounter trouble on winter roads.
If your rear wheels skid…
- Take your foot off the accelerator.
- Steer in the direction you want the front wheels to go. If your rear wheels are sliding left, steer left. If they’re sliding right, steer right.
- If your rear wheels start sliding the other way as you recover, ease the steering wheel toward that side. You might have to steer left and right a few times to get your vehicle completely under control.
- If you have standard brakes, pump them gently.
- If you have anti-lock brakes (ABS), do not pump the brakes. Apply steady pressure to the brakes. You will feel the brakes pulse — this is normal.
If your front wheels skid…
- Take your foot off the gas and shift to neutral, but don’t try to steer immediately.
- As the wheels skid sideways, they will slow the vehicle and traction will return. As it does, steer in the direction you want to go. Then put the transmission in “drive” or release the clutch, and accelerate gently.
If you get stuck…
- Do not spin your wheels. This will only dig you in deeper.
- Turn your wheels from side to side a few times to push snow out of the way.
- Use a light touch on the gas, to ease your car out.
- Use a shovel to clear snow away from the wheels and the underside of the car.
- Pour sand, kitty litter, gravel or salt in the path of the wheels, to help get traction.
- Try rocking the vehicle. (Check your owner’s manual first — it can damage the transmission on some vehicles.) Shift from forward to reverse, and back again. Each time you’re in gear, give a light touch on the gas until the vehicle gets going.
What Makes A High Risk Driver
January 6, 2011 | Author admin
From the mountains of North Carolina to the beaches of Florida, high risk drivers seek insurance quotes to fit their car, truck, SUV, boat or recreational vehicle. There are many reasons why a driver may be classified as a high risk driver in the world of insurance. Sometimes it’s the driver and sometimes it’s the vehicle that causes one placement in the high risk pool.
The most apparent reason is what we often think of first — a driver has a dwi, dui, or has repeated moving violations or accidents on the driving record. But there are many other reasons a person may be classified as a high risk driver.
Being found to have either no insurance or inadequate insurance coverage will put a motorist in a high risk pool. It is seen as unreliable to be without proper coverage, so this can easily change a person’s status.
Adding a luxury car or other high priced vehicle can also alter one’s status to that of hard-to-insure driver, even though an individual may not have had difficulty in the past. Luxury vehicles come in all styles, but are characterized by special amenities that are costly to replace, should claims be made. Parts for these vehicles may be hard to come by and expensive. The same can be said for high priced vehicles of any kind, be they sport utility vehicles, vans, coupés, sedans, station wagons, hatchbacks, roadsters, light trucks, etc.
When people insure vehicles that are “souped up” to have increased power, they pay a higher premium when they receive this designation. While many souped up cars are expensive vehicles, many people modify very low priced cars to find themselves also in a high risk category also. The type of modification may impact whether or not one is placed in a high risk pool. Insuring high performance sports cars also puts insureds in the high risk category. Cars that have been artistically modified may be seen as higher risk as well, as bringing the car back to its artful condition in the event of damage can often be both expensive and difficult.
Drivers of motor homes also find themselves in a hard-to-insure high risk pool. Additional skills are needed to safely drive a motor home and the damages tend to be greater when incidents do occur.
Speed boats are certainly high risk crafts, and many different kinds of water craft share this designation. In addition, 4 wheelers, ATVs and similar recreational vehicles are often considered high risk. In addition, motorcycles are seen as more high risk, especially some particular makes and models.
In addition, the driver’s age plays a big part in the high risk equation. Those who are over 65 years of age are classified by their insurance companies to be high risk drivers. Teen drivers are in the most high risk pool of all. When teens drive modified or luxury cars, or have had a dwi or dui, they are considered to be a supremely high risk in the eyes of insurance companies. Individuals under 25 are considered to be high risk drivers.
As readers can see, there are many reasons one may be in a high risk drivers pool. We know that getting an insurance quote for your car, boat, motorcycle or recreational vehicle can often be a challenge, so agents in NC and FL stand by to assist you with all your questions. Contact us and receive helpful insurance information today. We are here to serve you and your insurance needs.
via Insurance :: What Makes A High Risk Driver | ArticleBiz.com.
Vehicle insurance – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
January 6, 2011 | Author admin
Vehicle insurance (also known as auto insurance, car insurance, or motor insurance) is insurance purchased for cars, trucks, and other road vehicles. Its primary use is to provide protection against physical damage resulting from traffic collisions and against liability that could also arise therefrom.
Cheap Homeowners Insurance
January 6, 2011 | Author admin
There are many ways you could start saving on homeowners insurance. Below are the top fifteen ways that can put money back into your pocket.
1. First, you should shop around. You will be amazed how many companies out there offer homeowners insurance. There are many ways you could shop around. You could search online, ask your friends and family, or just simply open up the yellow pages and start making some phone calls. By shopping around you are sure to find the best rate available to you.
2. Next, you could raise your deductible. The higher your deductible is, the less you need to pay for homeowners insurance. The deductible is the amount you need to pay if something does happen to your home. If you are going to raise the deductible, just make sure you could afford to pay that in case of an emergency. The more your deductible is, the higher percentage you will save. Most deductibles start at $250, if you raise it to $500 you could save up 12%, raise it to $1,000 save up to 24%, raise it to $2,500 and save up to 30%, raise it to $5,000 and save up to 37%, and so forth.
3. Another way to save is to combine your policies with one company. For example, if you have car insurance and home owners insurance on two different companies, see if one of those companies will offer the other type of insurance. Most insurance companies offer both home and auto insurance. By simply putting both policies with one company you could be saving a lot of money.
ways to save money on homeowners insurance
4. Fourth, think about the insurance when purchasing a home. A lot of different factors go into determining how much you will pay for homeowners insurance. For example, if your home is newer, the insurance will most likely cost less. If the structure of the home is in good condition, than the insurance will not be as costly as an older home with bad structure. Also, the location of a home is important as well. Make sure your home is built for the geographical location it is in. This could make a big difference on the price of your homeowners insurance policy.
5. Next, make sure you leave out the value of your land when insuring your home. Including the land could make the homeowners insurance a lot more expensive. When you are estimating the value of your home, keep that in mind. The values of your home are at risk for many things, such as a fire or even theft, however the land of your home is not at that high of a risk, therefore does not need to be included.
6. Another great tip is to invest in safety for your home. Just by getting locks, alarms, and smoke detectors you could be saving up to 20% on your plan. The safer your home is, the less it is to insure it. Not only will keeping your home safe save you money, but it will also put you and your family is a better environment.
7. You could also save on homeowners insurance by simply stop smoking. If no one in your home smokes, than you will most likely receive a discount. The reason behind this is that more than twenty thousand residential fires last year were started due to smoking. Insurance companies keep this in mind and discount those who do not smoke.
8. Also, if you stick with your insurer you could get a larger discount. Every year you are with the same company they may lower your rates. You could also save by checking homeowners insurance policies annually. One year your company may be better than the next, while the next year the rates may have changed.
9. You could also ask about other discounts that homeowners insurance companies may offer. Senior discounts and group discounts are two other ways that could save you money when it comes to homeowners insurance.
10. A few other ways to save on homeowners insurance is to stick with the private companies, pay over the computer, check your credit rating before purchasing insurance, and getting replacement-cost coverage.
While the list of how to save on homeowners insurance can go on and on, these are just the top ten things you should look for when looking to buy.
Home insurance – Wikipedia
January 6, 2011 | Author admin
Home insurance, also commonly called hazard insurance or homeowner’s insurance (often abbreviated in the real estate industry as HOI), is the type of property insurance that covers private homes. It is an insurance policy that combines various personal insurance protections, which can include losses occurring to one’s home, its contents, loss of its use (additional living expenses), or loss of other personal possessions of the homeowner, as well as liability insurance for accidents that may happen at the home or at the hands of the homeowner within the policy territory. It requires that at least one of the named insureds occupies the home. The dwelling policy (DP) is similar, but used for residences which don’t qualify for various reasons, such as vacancy/non-occupancy, seasonal/secondary residence, or age.
It is a multiple-line insurance, meaning that it includes both property and liability coverage, with an indivisible premium, meaning that a single premium is paid for all risks. Standard forms divide coverage into several categories, and the coverage provided is typically a percentage of Coverage A, which is coverage for the main dwelling.[1]
The cost of homeowner’s insurance often depends on what it would cost to replace the house and which additional riders—additional items to be insured—are attached to the policy. The insurance policy itself is a lengthy contract, and names what will and what will not be paid in the case of various events. Typically, claims due to floods or war (whose definition typically includes a nuclear explosion from any source), amongst other standard exclusions (like termites), are excluded. Special insurance can be purchased for these possibilities, including flood insurance. Insurance should be adjusted to reflect replacement cost, usually upon application of an inflation factor or a cost index.
The home insurance policy is usually a term contract—a contract that is in effect for a fixed period of time. The payment the insured makes to the insurer is called the premium. The insured must pay the insurer the premium each term. Most insurers charge a lower premium if it appears less likely the home will be damaged or destroyed: for example, if the house is situated next to a fire station; if the house is equipped with fire sprinklers and fire alarms; or if the house exhibits wind mitigation measures, such as hurricane shutters. Perpetual insurance, which is a type of home insurance without a fixed term, can also be obtained in certain areas.
