What do I do if I have a car accident?
Accidents happen – even to the most careful drivers. Knowing what to do after an accident will help you to remain calm and in control. You should keep your registration and proof of insurance in your vehicle.
Accident Checklist
Get help for the injured.
Call the police and remain at the scene of the accident.
Warn oncoming traffic, set hazard lights and flares.
Do not admit fault.
Exchange names, addresses, phone numbers, makes of vehicles, drivers and vehicle license numbers, and insurance company and policy number information with all drivers.
Get the names, addresses, and phone number of all passengers and witnesses.
Take pictures of the scene and damage.
Make a rough drawing of the scene, showing position of cars and other details.
Do not discuss the accident or sign any documents. Only answer questions asked by police and your insurance company claim representative.
Notify your insurance agent as soon as possible.
Back to TopWhat do I do if I have a home, condo or renters claim?
It is important to realize that if you don't follow the required steps, it could result in nonpayment by the insurance company. It's also a good idea to take pictures of any damage.
Here are the steps you should take.
Notify the police in the case of a burglary or robbery.
Notify your agent and insurance company as soon as you realize there has been damage or loss of property.
Protect your property from further damage.
Prepare a detailed list of the things damaged or missing.
Be prepared to show the insurance company the damaged goods.
Complete a statement for the insurance company that details what happened before, during, and after the loss occurred.
Back to TopWhen I rent a car, do I need to purchase the extra coverage the rental company offers?
With many insurance companies, when you rent a car under your personal name, you are automatically covered under your current personal automobile policy for the same coverage limits in the US and Canada. If you don't have full coverage on your policy, then you should purchase the extra coverage.
If your auto insurance policy doesn't cover loss of use, you'll need to buy the insurance from the rental company.
Give us a call before you rent a car to make sure what coverage you have.
Back to TopDo I need rental reimbursement coverage?
If you have an automobile accident or if your car is stolen, will you need a rental car while your car is being repaired or replaced? If you do, you should add this coverage to your auto policy.
Rental reimbursement coverage applies if you have a claim, it can't be used for regular maintenance.
Back to TopWhy is the replacement cost of my home different than the market value?
A home’s market value reflects current economic conditions, taxes, school districts, the value of the land, location, and other factors that have nothing to do with the actual cost of rebuilding a home and replacing all of its contents.
Insurance companies factor in the size, materials and the current cost of construction in your area in order to come up with the replacement cost.
With replacement cost, you will have the proper amount of coverage to rebuild your home in the event of a total loss, not what it is worth on the current market.
Back to TopShould I get water back-up coverage?
Fall and spring tend to be our wettest seasons making our homes most susceptible to the backup of sewer or drain lines. While these events don't occur often, when they do, the problem can be a small disaster. Did you know a standard homeowner's insurance policy excludes coverage for such an event?
It's true. The backup of sewer and drains as well as the failure of a sump pump is excluded. The damage you sustain from either of these problems will not be covered and you'll be responsible to pay for the loss and the clean up. If you have a finished basement, or use your basement area for storage, you shouldn't go without this coverage endorsement.
Heavy rains can trigger a backup. A storm sewer or sanitary sewer backs up into your home and usually comes in through a sump well, washtubs in the basement, or toilets in the basement. However, the damage can happen anywhere in the house. Sump pump failures normally occur from power outages or motor failures. Sump pumps run on electricity and during a bad storm many times the power goes out. That’s when you need the sump pump the most, to pump the heavy water from the rain out of the basement.
The damage can be quite costly. Normally damage occurs in the basement, which houses the mechanical systems of the house such as: washer and dryer, furnace, hot water tank and the numerous items people store there. Water or sewage usually destroys anything it comes in contact with. For the thousands of dollars in damage, it would be well worth purchasing the additional coverage with your homeowner's policy to cover such an event.
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