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Don't Drink and Drive!
Aug 30, 2020
Which statement is true in the State of California?
A. A DUI's effect on Auto Insurance premium could be as high as a 250% increase.
B. Over 1.5 million drivers were arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol or narcotics last year.
C. A DUI remains on your Driving Record for 10 years from date of arrest and on your Criminal Record permanently.
Well, the bad news is ALL 3 ARE CORRECT. Frankly, there is no GOOD NEWS when it comes to a DUI. Along with the impact on your driving record, the emotional cost and the physical cost of a DUI or DWI, driving under the influence could wind up costing as much as $20,000 additionally in legal fees and fines according to the Insurance publication, CoverHound. Auto insurance premiums are calculated based on what insurers calculate individual risk to be, and a DUI is among the costliest factors that could determine individual risk.
Nationally, the first year after getting a DUI, car insurance premium can go up as high as 94.13%. After the second and third year, granted no additional moving violations, premiums could lower slightly. On the third year after a DUI, the average premium comes in at a 63.75% increase. California is among the states with the highest premium rate increases at more than double the national figure at186%.
We all know someone whom this hazard has affected. Driving under the influence is undoubtedly one of the most dangerous decisions a person could make, threatening the wellbeing of not only the driver, but every other driver and passenger on the road.
The bottom line, DON’T DRIVE UNDER THE INFLUENCE, AT ALL, EVER.
Our companies implement reviews of their clients’ limits for homeowners coverage annually. These limits are based on estimates of the replacement costs within neighborhoods. The outcome of the calculations may lead to adjustments of the policy limits. The estimates are usually related to each area’s general factors and are provided by various appraisal agencies.
This is only one part of the entire systematic process. We also suggest that you get an agent to check your insurance for you at least annually. This will allow you to choose carefully the proper coverages you will need. Nobody wants to pay a higher premium than is necessary. However, the costs of construction continue to rise significantly each year. As a homeowner, it is important for you to ensure that possible future losses are satisfactorily covered by your insurance policy.
This is true, especially, if you have made new improvements to your house but have not yet included these within your coverage. And even if improvements have not been made, we still suggest that you review your insurance coverage in order to make sure that it is enough to cover the costs you have to incur when rebuilding your home. Also, remember that rebuilding costs can be different in different areas and neighborhoods.
Things to Consider
It’s always best to review your coverage and ensure that your assets and your family’s future are protected. The following is a list of some of the things you should consider as you review your policy with your agent.
- When did you last evaluate the cost to rebuild your home? Has it been a year or more? Then, you seriously need to talk to an agent with regards to your coverage.
- Does your policy include extended replacement coverage? Our companies offer up to 150% of the dwelling limits on your policy. When a disaster happens and you lack extended coverage, your insurance policy might not be adequate to cover the costs you incur for rebuilding your home or restoring its contents.
- Did you make improvements to your house? Are these improvements already covered? If not, you should make sure the improvements have adequate coverage for replacement when necessary.
- Make sure you get an appraisal from a licensed professional. This will help you make an informed decision as to the right amount of coverage necessary in case something happens. Remind the appraiser to calculate the cost to rebuild using the same quality features at today’s costs.
- Make sure you have a record of your house, its contents, and its unique features. It is best to keep photos and even videos of your house and its contents. This will make the claim process go faster.
- Make sure you have read your coverage documents and your entire policy carefully. You can talk to your agent if you have any questions.
In Conclusion
You, as the homeowner, know more about your house than anybody else. That’s why you have to decide what’s best for you, your property, and your family. As agents, we are happy to help with whatever you need especially when it comes to evaluating your policy, its coverages, and its limits.
When a disaster strikes, whether it's a fire, storm, or burglary, your home and belongings can suffer significant damage. In such unfortunate circumstances, knowing what to do after a disaster is crucial. This blog post will guide you through the necessary steps to take after a disaster strikes and how to navigate the home insurance claims process smoothly.
When it comes to auto insurance, there are essential coverage options to protect you and your vehicle. However, you can also enhance your policy with additional add-ons that provide extra layers of protection and peace of mind. In this blog post, we will delve into the various add-ons and additional coverage options available for auto insurance. From roadside assistance to rental car coverage, we'll explore these options that can make a significant difference in times of need.
Life insurance is a valuable investment that provides your loved ones with financial security and peace of mind. Most people think of life insurance as a way to provide for their family in the event of their untimely death. However, life insurance can be used in a variety of ways beyond just protecting your family's future.
When it comes to protecting your assets and finances, having adequate insurance coverage is essential. While most people are familiar with auto, home, and health insurance policies, there's another type of insurance that's often overlooked - umbrella insurance. In this post, we'll explain what umbrella insurance is, who needs it, and why it's important to consider.
Dangerous distracted driving continues across the U.S., and it might have increased in the busy post-pandemic period, as one new study shows. Commercial drivers are part of the problem, as well as a key to the solution, according to the trucking insurance company that performed the survey. Are you back to driving on the roads POST-PANDEMIC as part of your employment? If you are, you are most likely feeling STRESSED, PRESSURED and CONCERNED about meeting your employers’ expectations. Recent reports are showing that 30% of drivers are feeling more anxious and 54% of drivers are feeling distracted and aggressive while driving. A risk survey from Travelers suggest that work-related pressure might be leading to distracted driving. Expectations are high and so everyone is feeling pressured. Here are some helpful ideas for employers and employees: Communicate with your boss. 68% of employers report that they have official driving/texting/phone usage policies in place. Find out the expectation. Encourage Best Practices. A full 56% of consumers admit to reading a text or email while driving. Decide before you get behind the wheel what you are going to do. Speak Up. Only 11% of passengers have actually spoken up to co-workers when they feel unsafe due to a driver’s distraction. Let your employer know what to expect. Lead by Example. Don’t call or text your employees when they are driving.
If you are like us, we are grateful to be in business and have the opportunity to serve our community. General Insurance Services is always looking for opportunities to support other small business owners and we wanted to let you know that Mercury Insurance does too! Mercury proudly offers a variety of insurance protection specifically designed for business owners. Mercury has policies to help with your Commercial Auto, Apartments, Residential Condominium HOAs, Commercial Buildings, Restaurants and Small Businesses. The affordable insurance offered by Mercury offers best in class coverage and allows for peace of mind. Working together, we can support each other. General Insurance has been serving the small business community over 75 years now. Let us know how we can help you.
Our neighbors work hard at maintaining the front yard of their property. It’s beautiful to look at and always decorated for the Holidays. Just after Christmas the yard was still decorated for Christmas but it was also filled with dirt, pipes, mud and a tractor. It was concerning. We tried to help. We brought Dinner, helped take down the Christmas decorations and even helped level the ground once the broken pipe was located and repaired. It was an opportunity to be a good neighbor but we could have been a better neighbor if we had spoken to them earlier about the Service Line Protection Endorsement offered by Mercury with their Homeowners Policy. Did you know that it is Your responsibility to repair or replace any service lines on your property that connect with municipality lines when the damage occurs on your residence property? Did you also know that your Standard Homeowners Policy does not provide coverage for these lines and they can be costly to repair? Service Line Protection, a new enhancement to the Mercury homeowners policy offers coverage for service lines to the insured-owned, exterior and underground Water piping, Sewer piping, Ground loop piping, and power lines that provide electrical service. The best part is that it costs just a few $$ per month. Be a good neighbor, be a good homeowner, talk to us, your MERCURY AGENT about how we can help. Ask us about Service Line Protection.
There’s a lot to think about when teens begin to drive. As local insurance agents and the parents of 7 children we know a little about the best way to help those teens get safely on the road. Mercury has given us a few tips to consider when teens get behind the wheel. Establish a pre-start car routine that includes adjusting mirrors and driving position. Practice. Practice. Practice. Keep calm. Talk to your teen as you drive. Burgers, Instagram, texting and anything else that can distract you while driving can wait. Go to drivesafe.mercuryinsurance.com to learn more. If you are looking to keep your teen safe AND save money here are a few more tips. Teens can do their part by doing well in school and maintaining a 3.0 grade point average or better. No tickets, no accidents Drive a vehicle with a smaller engine Enroll in a driving class Bundle your policies to get a discount Reduce the number of miles you drive Increase your deductible to lower your premium; and Install an anti-theft security system on your vehicle. As your local Mercury agent, we can help you find out what it will cost to insure your teen. Give us a call and let General Insurance Services help you, and them, get started 949-661-2201
What Can We Do For You? We Have 2 Main Objectives in Our Office: 1) To be of service to you. 2) To match your insurance needs to the best policy available at the best price available. We are a multi-generational family owned Insurance agency. Barbara’s father, Herb Brown started the business in 1947 in the basement of Barbara’s childhood home wth the same two objectives. We would love the opportunity to show you why we are still in business nearly 75 years later. Give us a call at 949) 661-2201 and you will always reach us directly if you call M-F between 8:30 A.M – 5:30 P.M. You can also see more of our story on our web site www.gen-ins.com
Vehicle Safety Tip This is a simple one and will take less than 5 minutes to complete. When you are done you will have one less thing to worry about! Want To Try It? Get a penny, place it Head First into your tire several tread grooves towards the center. If you see the top of Lincoln’s head, your tread is shallow and worn. It is Time to replace your tires. If part of Lincoln’s head is covered by the tread, you have depth remaining and can wait a few months to try the test again. Easy! One less thing to worry about. Now you have extra time to call us and see what we can do to save you money on your Auto Insurance. We would love to talk to you, we have been in business almost 75 years and we are good at what we do. Callus at (949) 661-2201.
Location
General Insurance Services
629 Camino De Los Mares Ste 306
San Clemente, CA 92673
Contact Us
(949) 661-2201
support@gen-ins.com
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