Factors to Consider Before You File a Claim
Factors to Consider Before You File a Claim
Most of us have had insurable homeowner's or automobile losses at one time or another and wondered whether or not to file a claim. The two questions that run through one's mind during such trying times are fairly uniform - If I file a claim will my insurer raise my rates? Or - will they drop me like a hot potato?
Often, small claims under $500 may not affect your individual premiums if they are few and far between. Insurers vary, however, in their underwriting of accounts with losses, particularly "at-fault" losses. Two or three claims a year on a given policy will signal to most insurers that you are a problem insured. To complicate matters, you need to consider the effect of even one claim on your ability to obtain insurance elsewhere. Some companies take a long hard look at any applicant who has had claims with their current or previous carriers in the past three years. For our clients living in Chantilly 20151, South Riding 20152, Brambleton / Ashburn 20148, and Aldie / Stone Ridge 20105, we always engage in a meaningful discussion before proceeding further with filing a claim.
Consumer watchdog groups have been critical of one method used by most insurers in the underwriting process for personal lines applicants - the use of a shared database called CLUE (Comprehensive Loss Underwriting Exchange). This database is tapped by insurers not only to investigate the person or persons behind the application, but in the case of homeowner's insurance, the property as well. Participating insurers report all claims, large and small, even ones not resulting in a payout. Realtors hate this system because it often signals problems with properties that they feel unnecessarily complicate a home sale. You need to know that your record is affected by the reporting of the claim much in the same way that your credit is affected by late payments or financial default. South-Riding-Insurance and Loudoun-Insurance are equally affected by this database.
So when should you file a claim with your auto or homeowner's insurance? Common sense says if the repairs cost less than the deductible, you're better off paying for the repairs on your own. With this in mind, you may even want to consider taking a higher deductible on your insurance to lower your rates. Take the money you save on the lower rates and deposit it into a savings account. In the event you are involved in an accident, you will have the money for the repairs even if the cost is slightly higher than your deductible.
If you have an automobile accident and there is another car involved, or there is someone else in the car with you, you definitely need to let your insurance company know about the accident - regardless of deductible or repair costs. Same with a third party slip and fall in your home. This protects you and your insurance company, as you can never be certain if the other driver, additional passenger or any other third party will decide to file a claim at a later date. When someone else is involved, it is important to get your side of the story on record with your insurer and, in many cases, the police as well. Keep in mind that each claim scenario is different and has different implications for you as an insured. If your windshield cracks as a result of a stone hitting it on the highway, your insurer will consider it an "act of nature" and will not assign fault to you as the driver. On the other hand, if the damage is only slightly higher than the deductible and the claim comes close on the heels of another recent and more serious claim, you may do well to bite the bullet and pay the difference out of your own pocket. We, at NOVA Insurance Group (in South Riding, VA 20152) can help you assess the likely costs and benefits of filing a borderline claim. It is important to note that policy language varies from company to company with respect to your responsibility to report a claim, i.e. information needed, timeliness of reporting, etc. Read the policy carefully and consult with your agent any time a significant property loss occurs and/or a threat of legal action or actual lawsuit develops. Do not let indecision or carelessness prejudice your ability to rely on the coverage you may one day desperately need.
Labels: Ashburn homeowners insurance, Ashburn Property Insurance, Brambleton Homeowners Insurance, Leesburg Homeowners Insurance, Leesburg Property Insurance, Stone Ridge Homeowners Insurance
Using a Cell Phone While Driving Is Similar to Driving Under the Influence
Using a Cell Phone While Driving Is Similar to Driving Under the Influence
A 2005 study conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety found that drivers who use cell phones while driving were four times more likely to get involved in an accident. It also concluded that accident risk wasn’t affected by whether the driver was using a hand-held phone or a hands-free phone. Reference cell-phone restrictions, in Virginia (including Loudoun county - South Riding 20152, Stone Ridge / Aldie 20105 and Ashburn / Brambleton 20148; and Fairfax county - Chantilly 20151), there is currently no hand-held ban, except drivers younger than 18, and school bus drivers.
www.south-riding-insurance.comNew research from Carnegie Mellon University shows that just listening on a cell phone while driving is enough to distract a driver. In this study, 29 volunteers used a driving simulator while inside an MRI brain scanner. They steered a car along a virtual winding road, driving at a high, fixed rate of speed. They were tested while driving undisturbed, and while driving and trying to decide whether a sentence they heard was true or false. The researchers measured activity in 20,000 brain locations, each about the size of a peppercorn.
After a thorough analysis of the data, the researchers were able to conclude that:
When the drivers were tested while listening to the sentence to see if it was true or false, they lost 37 percent of the normal activity of their brain’s parietal lobe. This is significant because this area of the brain is the one motorists rely on the most when driving. The parietal lobe assimilates all the information the body receives from the senses, and uses it to determine how near/far perceived objects are. There was also a decrease in the activity of the occipital lobe, which assimilates visual information.
When the drivers were tested while listening, they lost their ability to control the car. They not only were unable to stay in their lane, but they frequently hit objects such as guardrails. These are the kinds of driving errors most closely associated with motorists who drive while under the influence of alcohol.
www.loudoun-insurance.comLabels: 20151 Auto Insurance, 20151 Car Insurance, 20152 Auto Insurance, 20152 Car Insurance, Chantilly Auto Insurance, Chantilly Car Insurance
Protect Your Precious Cargo on the Road This Summer
Protect Your Precious Cargo on the Road This SummerWith the warmer months upon us, many families are planning to hit the road for their beloved summer vacation. If you are traveling with children this season, you’ll need to take some extra precautions.
Because babies and children can cause countless distractions like crying, spills and sibling scuffles in the backseat, parents often lose their focus on the road. While these disturbances are usually unavoidable, there are some things you can do to ensure that your family arrives safely.
As you make your way towards your final destination, remember that your family’s safety should always come first.
Here are a few tips to keep in mind as you load up the family car for this year’s road trip:
- Review your insurance coverage
A couple of weeks before you hit the road, take a look at your auto insurance plan. You may find that it’s time to upgrade your policy, especially now that you are traveling with a baby or young child. Faced with huge responsibility of raising a child, new parents often decide to increase their liability or property damage coverage to ensure their family is protected financially. Allow our agency, NOVA Insurance Group in Chantilly / South Riding 20152 to review your existing insurance policy paperwork. (
www.Loudoun-Insurance.com)
- Double check child seats
Many parents unknowingly make mistakes while installing child safety seats and booster seats in their cars. Sadly, children suffer from serious injuries and die in car crashes every day due to the misuse and incorrect installation of child seats, according to the National Safety Belt Coalition.
Are you certain that your child’s seat is installed properly? Even if you think your seats are good to go, it’s well worth double checking. Visit
http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/people/injury/childps/Contacts/index.cfm for a listing of certified child passenger safety technicians in your town. One of these experts can show you how to correctly install and use your child’s safety or booster seat. The fire depts. in Brambleton 20148 and Aldie / Stone Ridge 20105 can assist with this effort also!
- Play it safe with special mirrors
Child safety mirrors are extremely popular with parents who frequently travel with their kids in tow. These mirrors, which easily attach to your rear view mirror, allow you to keep your eyes on the road while occasionally checking on your kids in the backseat. It’s like having another pair of eyes in the back of your head—your kids know you can see them at all times, so they’ll be less likely to start trouble.
If you are traveling with a baby in a rear-facing car seat, you may consider installing an infant mirror. These mirrors attach to the back window or back seat headrest so you can see what your baby is up to every time you peek in your rear view mirror. An added plus is that baby gets to check out his reflection on the road—an activity that provides endless entertainment for many infants.
- Keep the kids entertained
We all know that as soon as kids get bored, they start acting up. Try to keep the kids entertained on the road by packing some fun activities, like puzzles, games or coloring books. You may even consider purchasing a portable DVD player so they can watch their favorite movies or play video games in the car. The happier your kids are on the road, the fewer distractions they’ll create. This will help you stay focused on driving safely. (
www.south-riding.insurance.com)
- Make frequent pit stops
If you’re on a particularly long drive, make sure to take plenty of breaks. Try to stop every couple of hours at a park, restaurant or even an interesting historical site. This will allow everyone to stretch their legs, burn some energy and feel refreshed and ready to face the rest of the trip.
Labels: Centreville Auto Insurance, Centreville Car Insurance, Herndon Auto Insurance, Herndon Car Insurance, South Riding auto insurance, South Riding car insurance
Northern Virginia and Loudoun Long Term Care Insurance
Virginia Long-Term Care Insurance is a fairly recent phenomenon, due in part to the rapidly aging yet longer-living population, retirement planning of the "baby boomers", and quickly escalating long-term health and medical costs that aren't typically covered by traditional health insurance or Medicare. This type of insurance is especially helpful for those who develop disabilities or chronic (long-lasting) illnesses later in life. Long-term care services range from home- and community-based services to services provided in an assisted living, retirement or nursing facility. All services are typically designed and intended to improve or maintain an individual's health in the least restrictive setting that ensures their physical and mental health, safety, and welfare. As well, services facilitated by long-term care insurance providers include help with daily living activities among the wide variety of home, facility and community settings.
Read more about Northern Virginia and Loudoun Long Term Care Insurance....
Labels: insurance, long-term-care, loudoun-long-term-care
Ensure Your Boating Experience Is a Real Pleasure Cruise
Ensure Your Boating Experience Is a Real Pleasure CruisePublished reports from the U.S. Coast Guard show that boating deaths and injuries increased for the second consecutive year in 2006. Aside from the disturbing trend in boating deaths, the biggest change was actually in the amount of property damage, $43 million in 2006 as compared with $38 million in 2005.
www.south-riding-insurance.comThese statistics should serve as a powerful reminder to all watercraft owners to review their insurance coverage. Owners of canoes, small sailboats, and small engine powerboats (many of them residing in South Riding 20152, Chantilly 20151, Aldie / Stone Ridge 20105 and Ashburn / Brambleton 20148) generally have limited coverage for physical damage included with their homeowner's insurance policy, but liability coverage has to be added as a policy endorsement. Physical damage coverage is typically equal to 10 percent or less of their home's property value. If you find the coverage limits offered by your homeowner's policy to be insufficient, you'll likely need a separate boat insurance policy.
Since no coverage exists under a homeowner's policy for larger boats, yachts, jet skis and wave runners, a separate boat insurance policy is a must. Coverage for physical damage includes the hull, machinery, fittings, furnishings and permanently attached equipment up to pre-determined amount. Such policies also provide additional protection for:
- Injuries to another person
- Damage to someone else’s property
- Legal expenses incurred by someone using the boat with the owner’s permission
- Injuries to the boat owner and other passengers
Even though you may have solid Boat insurance coverage thru NOVA Insurance Group in South Riding 20152 (Virginia),
www.loudoun-insurance.com the Insurance Information Institute (III) offers the following suggestions to help you avoid having to file a claim:
- Check weather forecasts before heading out.
- Let someone know where you’re going and when you expect to return.
- Check engine, fuel, electrical and steering systems, especially for exhaust-system leaks.
- Carry one or more fire extinguishers, matched to the size and type of boat. Keep them readily accessible and in condition for immediate use.
- Equip the vessel with required navigation lights and with a whistle, horn or bell.
- Don’t overload. Distribute weight evenly.
- Don’t stand up or shift weight suddenly in a small boat; and don’t permit riding on the bow, seatbacks or gunwales.
- Be sure you bring paddles or oars, a first-aid kit, a supply of fresh water, a tool kit and spare parts, a flashlight, flares and a radio.
- Make sure that every person on board wears a life jacket.
- Never operate a boat while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
Labels: Ashburn Boat Insurance, Fairfax-Boat-Insurance, Leesburg Boat Insurance, Loudoun Boat Insurance, South Riding Boat Insurance
