Author: Linda Grissett

Drivers, Local Authorities Deal with Tough Winter’s Potholes

Posted on by Linda Grissett

Trusted Choice® survey shows about 50% of U.S. car owners report vehicle pothole damage.    

Poor road conditions have cost consumers and the insurance industry at least $27 billion over a five year period, according to a 2014 survey commissioned by Trusted Choice® and the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America (IIABA or the Big “I”). The survey also reveals that from 2009 to 2014 half of car owners experienced damage to their vehicles as a result of potholes. As millions of Americans encounter potholes as the rough winter wraps, Trusted Choice® urges drivers to be cautious now and as repairs continue.

The snow, ice and freezing rain during the rough winter months left their mark on our roads in metro Atlanta and across the country.  Severe potholes have led to accidents which may impact insurance rates, as premiums are determined by past claims, accidents and driving violations. Potholes and poor road conditions aren’t just an inconvenience, they are an expensive and dangerous result of harsh winters.

The pothole survey also found that 31% of car owners who reported pothole damage to their vehicles filed a claim with their insurance company. A surprising 65% of respondents who needed repairs said they (or a third party) paid out of pocket for the vehicle to be fixed. Only about 3% said local authorities stepped in to foot the bill. For about 40% of respondents, that bill was more than $500.

This survey highlights how widespread the pothole problem is on our roadways and that the costs are enormous to both the insurance industry and to consumers.  And now, local authorities are struggling to keep up with the extensive road repairs.

While motorists in the Midwest, Northeast and North Central regions of the country reported the most pothole damage, surprisingly the numbers were not that different even in the Southern and Western regions which typically experience milder winters.

Trusted Choice® independent agents offer the following tips to motorists to help avoid costly damage from potholes and stay safe as they hit the roads after a tough winter:

Pothole safety tips:

  • Keep an eye on traffic patterns. A number of cars that slows down or move quickly to other lanes may be a sign of major potholes or road damage ahead.
  • Avoid the urge to swerve out of the way of a pothole at the last minute. You may swerve into the path of an oncoming vehicle. Risking damage to your car is wiser than risking the loss of your life or that of another person.
  • Report potholes to your state or local transportation department. Some states and localities have pothole hotlines. Motorists who think their state or local government will pay for damage to their cars may be out of luck. Laws in this area vary by jurisdiction and, even where such remedies are available, conditions may apply such as a requirement that the jurisdiction had notice of the pothole.
  • If you hit a pothole and suspect damage, pull over as soon as it is safe. If you notice damage, record details and specific damage—just as you would in the event of a collision with another motorist—in case you need to file an insurance claim.
  • Check in at least annually with your independent insurance agent to ensure that you have the right coverage.

The pothole survey was conducted for Trusted Choice® and the Big “I” by MFour Mobile Research, Inc. using MFour’s Surveys on the Go® Smartphone Application Panel which includes Apple and Android mobile device users. MFour is an independent research company headquartered in Costa Mesa, California. Interviews of a nationally representative sample of 2,565 U.S. car owners were conducted in June 2014 and weighted by age and gender to represent the general U.S. population over age 18. More information about MFour can be obtained at www.mfour.com.

How long do you have to add a newly purchased car to your auto insurance?

Posted on by Linda Grissett

Generally speaking, most insurers provide either 14 or 30 days, for a current policyholder to notify them of a newly purchased vehicle.  This coverage extension, however, only applies for the broadest coverage which is applicable to one of your currently insured vehicles.  Therefore, if none of your vehicles currently have physical damage coverages (comprehensive and/or collision), then you should be sure to notify your insurer before you drive that brand new car off the dealer’s lot.

The majority of policyholders do have at least one vehicle with physical damage coverage, so then you can rest easy if you make that new purchase over a weekend and wait until the next business day to notify your insurer.

Since you have up to 30 days to notify  your insurer, does this mean you should wait this long?  No.  First, all insurers have slightly different policies.  There have been smaller or regional companies that may only give you 3 days to notify them of a new purchase.  Second, if given proper notice, your insurer should add the vehicle as of the purchase date, otherwise, you could receive a penalty from your lender or your State for being uninsured.  So, you will not save any money by delaying the notification.  Finally, it is always best to avoid the more complicated scenario of having an accident or loss with a car that your insurer has not yet added to the policy.

Irrecoverable Property Loss? The IRS Could Be Your Friend

Posted on by Linda Grissett

Even though we are big fans of insurance and its valuable place in your protection planning, we also understand this basic truth: No one wants to have a claim.

Yet when that time comes, your Trusted Choice® agent knows your homeowners policy will have a chance to prove its mettle in responding fairly and expeditiously to repair, replace or restore your valuable property assets. With proper coverage at the proper limits, even catastrophic financial loss to your property due to hurricanes, tornadoes, blizzards, fires, and even crime can be minimized.

But what about your deductibles? When an insured loss is so severe as to exceed even the best planned protection?  Or claims for which no coverage may exist, either because you didn’t have the proper coverage in place or simply the loss was uninsurable?

For any losses not fully recoverable from your insurance, some help may be available from an unexpected source: the IRS.

Specifically, Tax Topic 515 from the Internal Revenue Service addresses casualty, disaster and theft losses (including federally declared disaster areas). By referring to this topic, and then information in Publication 547: Casualties, Disasters and Thefts, and in Publication 584: Casualty, Disaster and Theft Loss Workbook (Personal-Use Property), you can find detailed advice on when and how you may be eligible to deduct losses not reimbursed by your insurance on your individual income taxes.

Part of the good news is that the IRS definition of “casualty loss” is quite broad:

A casualty loss can result from the damage, destruction or loss of your property from any sudden, unexpected, or unusual event such as a flood, hurricane, tornado, fire, earthquake or even volcanic eruption. A casualty does not include normal wear and tear or progressive deterioration.

It’s not quite as simple as totaling your losses and deducting the amount paid by insurance. (This is the IRS, remember.) You must also consider the adjusted cost basis of your property, any decrease in fair market values, salvage value, and other factors that the IRS takes into account to arrive at the final amount you may deduct. Calculations, values and determination of your final deduction are provided on IRS Form 4684.

At a time of loss, any benefit the IRS can offer may prove a welcome addition to your financial recovery. Yet your Trusted Choice® agent still wants to minimize your need to deal with the potential complexity and limitations of the IRS requirements with a simple strategy: Minimize your uninsured loss. Schedule time today to discuss with your insurance professionals a comprehensive review of your current assets at risk and the protection provided by your current insurance. When it comes to losses to your property, let’s work together to keep the IRS deductions as a nice bonus, not your first line of defense.

 

Sources:

http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f4684.pdf

http://www.irs.gov/taxtopics/tc515.html

http://www.irs.gov/publications/p547/index.html

http://www.irs.gov/publications/p584/index.html

http://www.iii.org/assets/docs/pdf/AEGIS-080113.pdf

So You Need (or Want) to Take a Defensive Driving Course

Posted on by Linda Grissett

Whether you were caught speeding (or worse), you’re looking for a discount on your car insurance, or you simply want to be a better driver, there are a wide range of defensive driving and driver improvement courses available in Georgia these days.

 

But, which is right for you? Here are five tips to help you decide:

 

  1. Check with your state or municipality. If you’re taking training to avoid a traffic infraction, not just any course will do. You’ll need to take an approved course – ask for a list before signing up.

 

  1. Check with your insurer. The same goes if you’d like to potentially save on your car insurance. Your carrier may only offer a car insurance discount for completing certain courses. Also ask how much your discount will be — this will help when it comes time to choose a course.

 

  1. Choose the type of course. There are online and classroom options, typically ranging from 4-12 hours depending on the course material. And, there are advantages to each. Online courses offer convenience (and sometimes a lower cost), while in-person settings can provide more interaction.

 

  1. Determine how much you want to spend. If you’re trying to avoid a ticket (and a potential increase in your insurance premiums), the cost might not be much of an issue. If you’re taking a course to receive an insurance discount, however, make sure the total discount you’ll receive is greater than the cost of the course.

 

  1. Check out the reviews. Online review sites, such as Yelp, can show you what others thought of a course. Keep in mind, people who felt “forced” to take a course might have a biased opinion, especially compared to someone who took the course willingly.

 

No matter why you’re considering a defensive driving course, we’re happy to help you weigh the pros and cons. The biggest pro being, once you complete your training, you’re likely to be a little more careful the next time you get behind the wheel. And, that always pays off!

Night Driving Dangers

Posted on by Linda Grissett

A little extra caution can go a long way while driving at night

Summer has ended, and while fall and winter have their own pleasures — including high school or college football games — longer nights mean increased danger on the roads.

You might think you drive just as well at night, but consider this: Even though nighttime driving accounts for just 23% of vehicle miles traveled, more than 50% of fatalities for vehicle occupants 16 and older occur between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m., according to the National Safety Commission (NSC).

Because we’re big advocates for safety at LG Insurance Group, we thought it would be helpful to take a look at why night driving is more dangerous, and what you can do to decrease that danger.

What’s dangerous about night driving?
1. Decreased vision. We won’t go into all the biological details, but different parts of the eye (such as iris, pupil and retina) work differently at night. Your peripheral vision is actually slightly improved, but it’s more difficult to focus on objects ahead of you. And traveling between well-lit areas and darker roads creates issues as well.
2. Driving too fast for your headlights. Depending on vehicle speed and headlight setting, many people “over-drive” their headlights. That means, by the time they see something on the road, it’s too late to stop in time to avoid it.
3. Impaired judgment. Whether due to drowsiness or the use of alcohol or drugs, it appears that drivers at night often don’t use good judgment. According to the NSC, 66% of fatalities at night involve vehicle occupants who weren’t wearing seat belts.

So what do you do?
Sometimes, there’s no way around driving at night. So here are some tips to help you make a safe trip — whether you’re just running to the store, or you’re headed all the way to the Georgia mountains.
1. Make sure your vehicle’s lights are in good working condition. And not just headlights, but turn signals, taillights, etc.
2. Avoid speeding. Leave a bigger cushion between you and other cars than you would during daylight hours. Leave yourself more time for the trip.
3. Be more aware of your surroundings. You shouldn’t be using your phone, messing around with the radio or trying to find something on the floor while you’re on the road anyway — and distractions are even more deadly at night.

Of course, if you’re not comfortable driving at night, the best thing is to avoid it altogether if possible. There’s nothing wrong with asking for a ride from a trusted safe driver or waiting for the sun to come out!

(Content provided by Safeco Insurance)