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The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted every part of daily life, from sheltering in place to lost paychecks. While car insurance is no exception, the good news is that every major provider has pledged to help Americans in need like never before. To separate fact from fiction, we spoke with experts and analysts across the country to determine exactly how the coronavirus crisis will affect your car insurance.
Is my insurer going to give me money back? As of March 22nd, the number of cars on the road had fallen dramatically, about 20%, following the declaration of a national emergency in the U.S. Many of the largest auto insurance companies recently announced they will be responding to the lowered risk of auto claims with premium rebates for customers. State regulators are also putting pressure on all insurers to step up to support consumers with measures like extended grace periods, so if your insurer hasn’t yet responded with meaningful actions, you can routinely check its website to catch updates or reach out directly. Should I change my auto coverage because of COVID-19? While you can definitely reach out to your insurance company to see if your lowered mileage could mean a discounted rate, keep the following in mind: Don’t cancel coverage you’ll need in the future. Canceling your car insurance, even if it’s only for a limited period of time, can have several negative impacts:
How can I lower my monthly payments? Increase your deductible Your deductible is the amount of money you agree to pay out of pocket before the insurance coverage will kick in. Increasing your deductible helps lower your premium because you’ll be on the hook for a larger part of any potential losses, but that also means saving on your bill now is something you’ll need to weigh with your ability to take that additional risk. Reduce your liability coverage limits Lowering your liability coverage limits can also help you save on insurance, but it will likely make a smaller dent than changing your deductible. Your car insurance coverage will have both bodily injury and property damage liability, or the maximum amount your insurance company will cover, if you cause damage to someone else or their property. Switch to a usage-based plan If you’re driving fewer miles than usual, you may want to consider a usage-based car insurance plan. While traditional car insurance is priced using factors like your age and claims history, usage-based insurance relies on driving data (usually gathered through an app on your phone) to determine how much you pay for coverage. Many larger insurers are starting to offer usage-based options. This option would be best for users who are likely to benefit from a usage-based policy for the long-term, though. Switching insurers too often can signal that you’re not a loyal customer, which can mean you may be quoted higher rates from even other insurers in the future. Will my future auto insurance premiums be affected by COVID-19? Most drivers are well aware that an increase in claims can spike car insurance rates, but the economy as a whole is also closely tied to an insurance company’s business. Will auto insurance claims be affected by COVID-19? With social distancing measures in place across the country, insurers are making sure their employees and customers stay safe by keeping the claims process digital. This may be a big change from a typically hands-on process or you may not see a change at all. What if I can’t afford my auto insurance payments because of COVID-19? If you are struggling with your car insurance premiums, you should contact your insurer. Many are addressing the COVID-19 pandemic with programs to assist policyholders. For more information, please contact Theodore & Associates today.
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Hurricanes are strong storms that cause life and property threatening hazards such as flooding, storm surge, high winds and tornadoes. Preparation is the best protection against the dangers of a hurricane. As forecasters track a hurricane the terms “hurricane watch” and “hurricane warning” will be used often. It is important to know the difference:
What Should I Do?
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What Do I Do After A Hurricane?
Let Your Family Know You Are Safe! If your community experiences a hurricane or any disaster, register on the American Red Cross Safe and Well website available through RedCross.org/SafeandWell to let your family and friends know about your welfare. If you do not have Internet access, call 1-866-GET-INFO to register yourself and your family. Click here to download a Hurricane Safety Checklist provided by the Red Cross. Click Here for How To Prepare for Hurricane Safety! The winter holiday season is full of family, friends and festivities, but unfortunately, all that extra celebrating, cooking and decorating can pose potentially serious hazards at home. Knowing the risks and how to help avoid injury, theft and damage to property through the holiday season are important and can save you from expensive homeowners’ insurance claims. 1.Decorate wisely. To help reduce the risk of fire, use non-flammable or flame-retardant decorations. Planning your displays carefully is important to help reduce the risk of fire, electrical shock, trips and falls and property damage. If you decorate a Christmas tree, select a quality artificial tree and decorate with only UL-listed lights. If you choose to have a fresh tree, be sure to keep water in the stand at all times. 2. Use candles responsibly. December is the peak time of year for home candle fires — the top three days for home candle fires are Christmas, New Year’s Day, and New Year’s Eve. Each year between 2012 and 2016, an average of 8,200 home candle fires were reported each year. Keep lit candles at least 1 foot away from anything that burns and make sure candles are out of reach of children and animals. Also, extinguish all candles when leaving a room or before going to sleep. 3. Keep your tree away from heat sources. U.S. fire departments respond to an estimated annual average of 200 home structure fires that begin with Christmas trees, according to the National Fire Protection Association. These fires cause an estimated annual average of $14.8 million in direct property damage. A heat source too close to the tree causes one in every four Christmas tree fires. 4. Prevent theft. Unfortunately, the holiday season sees an increase in break-ins. Always lock your doors, keep the garage closed, lock windows, and make note of strangers in your neighborhood. Whether you are hosting a party for the neighbors or leaving home for a holiday get away, secure your valuables in a personal safe or a locked room in your home. If you don’t have one already, consider purchasing an alarm system. Also, with the gift giving season in full swing, if you have recently acquired new valuables, inform your insurance agent so that your homeowners’ insurance policy can be updated so you have adequate protection. 5. Protect your pipes. Nothing could ruin the holiday more than the unanticipated damage a burst pipe could cause. The three central causes of frozen pipes are quick drops in temperature, poor insulation and thermostats set too low. Insulate pipes in your home’s crawl spaces and attic, even if you live in a climate where freezing is uncommon. Exposed pipes are most susceptible to freezing. 6. Be a responsible party host. If you plan to serve alcohol at any type of party, it’s important to take steps to limit your liquor liability and make sure you are covered with the proper insurance. Offer guests the option to stay over, have a designated driver to take people home at the end of the night and ensure no one is driving after they have been drinking. 7. Protect your identity. Protect yourself from hackers and identity thieves as you shop in stores and online this holiday season. Keep wallets, passports, smartphones and other sensitive items secure in bags or pockets and only take them out when needed. Only share your credit card and payment information online on trusted websites. 8. Test all your fire and carbon monoxide detectors. Help avoid fire and smoke damage by making sure your home’s fire safety prevention system is working correctly. The National Safety Council recommends you install a battery-operated carbon monoxide detector in your home near the bedrooms. Check or replace the battery when you change the time on your clocks each spring and fall. 9. Inspect and clean your fireplace. Whether you have a natural or gas fireplace, it’s a source of heat and potential danger. Have your fireplace cleaned and inspected regularly. Also, don’t position your Christmas tree — or anything else — near the fireplace. 10. Practice kitchen safety. Cooking is the leading cause of home fires year round, and the increased use of stovetops and ovens for preparing holiday meals can increase the risk. Christmas Day and Christmas Eve are the second and third most common days for home cooking fires. The leading cause of fires in the kitchen is unattended cooking. 11. Don’t overload electrical outlets & use proper extension cords. Don’t plug all of your holiday lights into one outlet or one circuit. Try to distribute the electrical load across several circuits to prevent any one from being overloaded. Extension cords should always be heavy-duty, quality cords that are grounded for fire safety. Never run extension cords under rugs or in areas where they pose a tripping hazard. 12. Follow dryer safety recommendations. According to the U.S. Fire Administration, the number of dryer fires increases in the winter months and peak in January. Be sure to empty the lint screen before every load and remove all snow from the outside opening to the dryer vent. Also, never run the dryer while you’re asleep or away from home. 13. Avoid injuries in the home. Injuries requiring medical attention occur more often at home than in public places, the workplace and motor vehicle crashes combined, according to an analysis by the National Safety Council. The number and rate of unintentional home injury deaths has been steadily rising since 2000, largely due to increases in unintentional poisonings and falls, according to the Insurance Information Institute. 14. Keep matches and lighters away from kids. The number of blazes — and, tragically, the number of deaths — caused by children playing with fire goes up significantly during the holidays. From January through March, 13% of fire deaths are the result of children playing with fire, the U.S. Fire Administration reports, and in December, that percentage doubles. 15. Prevent pet bites. The holidays are a busy time and can cause a lot of stress, especially on your furry companions. Pets can become over-excited or territorial when unfamiliar individuals enter your home. Dog bites are a common cause of injury to guests and as the home/pet owner, you could be liable for resulting medical bills.  For more information, please visit Property Casualty 360.
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