Stranded Motorist Survival Tips

You’re driving, not a care in the world, when your car breaks down or you get stuck some other way. No matter the cause, it’s an unnerving experience, especially if it happens on a busy highway. Do you know what to do if you find yourself stranded? Read on for some general tips that can help you stay safe if your car breaks down.

• Slow down and pull off the road: If you notice something is wrong with your vehicle while driving, ease your foot off the gas pedal, signal and carefully steer your vehicle toward the right shoulder. Put the car in park, engage the emergency brake and turn the steering wheel away from the road. That way, your car can’t roll into oncoming traffic.

• Be visible: Make sure you can be seen by other drivers. Turn on your hazard lights and if it’s dark, turn on the interior dome light as well. Roll down the driver’s side window and hang out a white cloth or piece of paper and roll the window back up to secure it in place. This alerts drivers that your vehicle is disabled. If you can safely do so, open the hood, a universal sign of car trouble.

•  Call for help: If you have a roadside assistance provider, call them. 

• Stay in your vehicle: Getting out of your car can put you in danger of being hit by oncoming traffic. Sitting in an immobile vehicle with traffic all around you is unnerving, but attempting to cross a freeway or busy street on foot is extremely risky. Of course, if your engine’s smoking or you see flames, get out! If you must leave your vehicle, always exit on the side away from traffic. 

• Wait for help to arrive: Avoid the temptation to try to fix your car by yourself. Play it safe and wait for emergency personnel to arrive.

Every break down comes with its own unique set of circumstances. Just remember to stay calm and exercise caution.

How soon do I need to let my insurance company know I have a new vehicle?

This is an interesting question and varies by insurance company.

Most insurance companies, please check with yours, automatically cover your new vehicle for between 14 to 30 days. That means your coverage starts as soon as you "sign on the dotted line", whether you notify your insurance company or not. But there is a catch. If you only have liability coverage on your old car, you will only get liability coverage on the new car. The car dealership and/or lien holder will require you to have full coverage, ie collision and comprehensive. That is why you should notify your current auto insurance carrier, either by calling your agent and their 1-800 number to make sure you have full coverage.

Also, some companies, like mine, offer some type of new car replacement coverage. With my company, in the event of your car being totaled during the first 3 years, they will cut you a check for the full replacement cost of a current year version of your vehicle with no depreciation, less your deductible. This coverage is only available if you own your car, not lease it. The cost ranges from about $8 to $15 per vehicle every 6 months. For example, one of my clients had this coverage on her car when it was totaled and instead of getting a check for $44,000 on her 2014 Audi, she got a check for $75,000 which was the replacement cost for a 2016 Audi.

Do I really need uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage?

I hear this question every week at my agency and in my opinion, the answer is YES. Let me explain why.

Lets suppose you are driving down the street,and by mistake, run a red light and are at fault for the accident, You have smashed into other car and cause serious death or injuries to other people in that car.The Bodily Injury coverage on your auto policy will pay for those deaths or injuries, up to the limits on your policy. Let's say you have $100,000/$300,000 liability limits. That means your auto policy will pay up to $100,000 worth of injuries per person  and up to a total liability payout of $300,000 per accident.

Now lets suppose the opposite situation. You are driving down the road and someone runs a red light and hits your car. Your medical injury bills total $100,000 but the other driver
only carries State Minimum Coverage of $15,000/ $30,000. What do you do now? You have $85,000 of medical bill that the other person's insurance will not pay and if the other person is driving with State Minimum Coverage, do you think they have the assets to cover your bills if you sue them for the balance? Probably not.

This is where having Uninsured and Underinsured coverage on your own auto policy is a blessing for you. This coverage will help pay your medical bills, to your policy limits, if the other driver is at fault and either does not have auto insurance or does not have enough coverage to pay your medical bills. Uninsured and Underinsured coverage on your policy is not required by AZ State Law and is not very expensive. But it could mean the difference between paying your medical bills or you having to sell some of your assets to help pay your bills.

Is Jewelry Protected on Renters, Condo or Home Insurance?

Just because you don't own your own home doesn't mean that you don't have nice stuff. If you own expensive jewelry, whether it's a diamond engagement ring or a family heirloom, you may have wondered whether renters insurance covers it.

When it comes to your belongings, it's important to understand what types of risks your renters insurance protects against and how much coverage it provides. In some cases, you may decide that it's worth putting extra protection in place. Here are some things to consider.

Personal Property Limits on Renter's, Condo or Home

Insurance policies typically come with limits for each type of coverage. For instance, your renters insurance policy may provide $50,000 in coverage for your belongings (described in most policies as personal property). However, renters insurance policies usually include sub-limits for certain types of items, such as jewelry.

That means that while you may have up to $50,000 in coverage to help pay to replace your belongings if they are stolen, for instance, you may find that your policy provides only $1,000 in coverage for theft of jewelry. Some insurers may set a "group" coverage limit for an entire category of valuables — for example, a maximum of $2,500 for all of your jewelry.

In either case, the coverage provided by a standard renters insurance policy may or may not be enough to cover what you actually paid for your jewelry or what it's worth on the current market.

For this reason, it's important to document how much your jewelry is worth so that you can make sure you have enough coverage in place. Documents like receipts and appraisals are good ways to track the value of your belongings, the Insurance Information Institute says. Such records may come in handy in the event that you need to file an insurance claim.

The question is not whether or not you will have a chip in your windshield, the question is when!

Glass claims here in Arizona are as common as scorpions. With our dusty and rocking environment, the question is not whether or not you will have a chip in your windshield, the question is when!

Most insurance companies give you the option of picking your own glass company. My suggestion, is that if you have a chip or crack in your windshield, contact your agent. They will help you determine the best place to get it fixed. Here are some suggestions to help you.

• Refrain from using "car wash" glass companies. You want to deal with a glass company that will back your repair with a 100% guarantee and will be there if you need them. 

• If you are offered a cash incentive to use a glass company, than buyer beware. There is usually a reason they have to offer you a cash incentive to use their services.

• All glass companies are not created equal. You want to pick a glass company that does a complete job, such as replacing the rubber molding, not just putting a new windshield. Replacing the rubber molding the glass fits into helps make a more complete seal and eliminating wind noises.

• I always like referrals from such sources as Angie's List, Yelp (4 star reviews) and personal friends. Hint, you can also ask your agent where they get their windshields repaired. 

Why having a "local insurance agent" is better for you than an "800# agent"

In my opinion, it is ALWAYS better to have a local insurance agent rather than an 800# agent. My reasoning is as follows.

• To us, you are a client , not just a policy number;
• As a local agent, we get to know you, your family and your needs;
• Insurance is a custom fit product, not a one size fits all;
• If you have a question, we are there personally to help you;
• When you call our office, you always talk to the same people, not a call center;
• If you need a recommendation for a body shop, plumber or repair person, we are in the neighborhood and can guide you to qualified professionals;
• Should you need additional coverage, we are there to recommend that coverage;
• If you can make changes to your policy to help you save money, we will recommend these changes, not so much with "800# agents" or call centers;
• If you have a question regarding the possibility for filing a claim, a local agent can help you make the right decision. With most "800# agents" or call centers, once you call them, they immediately log your call in as a claim;
• We offer renewal reviews on your policies, most "800# agents" and call centers do not. They just send you a new bill;
• Our office offers perks such as free document shredding and free smoke detector batteries;
• We help support local charities, such as Foothills Animal Rescue and Purple Purse Foundation; 
  

If you have rental properties, please read this.

If you have rental property, you need to make sure you are covered for all possible situations. That is why I STRONGLY RECOMMEND that when you have the tenant sign a lease for your property, you require two things.

1) as part of you lease agreement, your renter MUST obtain and maintain a renter's insurance policy containing at least $100,000 in liability coverage. If your property has a swimming pool, I would recommend the renter have a minimum of $300,000 in liability coverage. This way if someone is injured on the property, the renter has coverage for the injuries and the claim is not filed against your landlord policy;

2) as part of your rental agreement, your renter MUST list yourself or your management company as an INTERESTED PARTY on their renter's policy. This way if they make any changes to the policy or decide to cancel the policy, you or your management copy get a copy of all changes.

An average renter's policy, including $20,000 in personal property coverage and $100,000 in liability coverage is only about $150 per year.