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It’s a strange sight that we often get to see at least once or twice each summer — hailstones bouncing on the sidewalks, off the roofs of our homes and off our autos.
Hail causes over $1 billion in damage to crops and property each year. Denting cars, breaking windshields, damaging roofs — are just some of the problems.
What is covered by your insurance and what should you do if hail damages your vehicle?
You’re covered if you have comprehensive coverage which applies to weather-related damage as well as vandalism and theft.
If you have hail damage:
1. Call your insurance company to report the damage as soon as you can.
2. Discuss repair needs with your insurance company and with a local body shop. Hail damage may need repair by conventional means, but often, paintless dent removal (PDR) may be the preferred method. PDR techniques use specially molded tools on the underside of a damaged area which do not affect a vehicle’s factory finish.
3. PDR isn’t used on large dents or when previous damage has required plastic fillers or bonding. The insurance company can help determine which repair method is the most practical.
4. Select an experienced and reputable repair shop and find out how long the repairs will take. Since many other vehicles were probably damaged by the same storm, the repair shop may be very busy.
5. Be sure the repair shop guarantees the work and check the work carefully before accepting the vehicle. Check the dented areas from a number of different angles under good lighting.
For a helpful guide on hail damage repair click here
Please call us if you have a question on your auto coverage.
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Vacation time — not for burglars
Aahh, it’s finally Summer. It’s time for sun and fun, day trips to the beach and vacations. It’s also a prime time for burglaries and vandalism.Even when you’re at home, things can get stolen quickly and easily. Do you ever work in your backyard and leave your garage door open? Because of the heat do you leave you car windows open?
We all get a little lax at times, but thefts can increase over the summer months. Teens are out of school, more people are walking around during the warm weather, and families are away on vacation — all of these factors increase the temptation and likelihood of theft.
Here are some tips to reduce that likelihood:
- Keep your garage door shut and locked when you’re not in the immediate area.
- Close all gates.
- The perimeter of your home should be clean and orderly so that you appear to be home often.
- When on vacation, stop newspaper delivery.
- Leave lights on inside when away. Use electronic timers that switch various lights on and off at different times.
- If possible, park a car in your driveway when you’re away.
- Be wary of strange cars cruising the neighborhood and strangers walking around.
- Keep car windows and doors locked. Leave no valuables in plain sight.
"We hit the sunny beaches where we occupy ourselves keeping the sun off our skin, the saltwater off our bodies, and the sand out of our belongings" — Erma Bombeck
Motorcycles thieves like the best
A new study by Progressive Insurance Company indicates that the motorcycle most likely to be stolen is the Suzuki GSX-R Series. The GSX-R Series of bikes is also the most likely to be crashed.
The least likely to be stolen is the Suzuki Savage and the least likely to be crashed is the Yamaha Virago Series.
Also in the top five for being stolen and crashed are the Yamaha YZF Series, Kawasaki Ninja Series, and the Honda CBR Series.
In addition to your driving record, rates are also influenced by the type of vehicle and its theft appeal. If you choose a bike that’s stolen often, you’ll pay more for comprehensive coverage. If you choose a bike that crashed more often, you’ll pay more for collision coverage.
"I believe many Harley guys spend more time revving their engines than actually driving anywhere; I sometimes wonder why they bother to have wheels on their motorcycle." – Dave Barry
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Insurance 101 — replacement cost
This is the actual cost at today’s prices for replacing an item. Not what you paid when you bought the property, no reduction for depreciation — but what it costs now to replace it. If your home has appreciated in value (and most have) you should check your policy to be sure your coverage is adequate to cover the replacement value.
Are you using these dangerous products?
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Fire Sticks — from Aristo of Deptford, NJ — these butane filled lighters lack child resistant mechanisms and pose a fire hazard and burn risk. A 7” model (324007) and a 12” model (324012) should be returned immediately. www.aristousa.com |
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Bicycle Trailer — from Nashbar — these become unstable when changing directions due to incorrectly assembled hitch mechanisms. Trailers involved have serial numbers PC4F001 through PV4F300. Contact Nashbar at www.nashbar.com |
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Baby Gyms — sold at Wal-Mart — 26,000 of these have upright arms that allow a wire to poke through the fabric posing a laceration and puncture threat to babies. Return these to Wal-Mart or go to www.infantino.com |
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Razor Electric Scooters — There are two problems with these. A bad weld can cause the handlebar to detach in use causing falls. The battery charger can overheat posing a fire and burn hazard. Go to www.razor.com |
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