Being prepared for driving in bad weather will help you avoid an accident. Have regular car maintenance performed to catch problems before they become serious. Always allow yourself enough time to reach your destination. In addition, follow these tips for safety in bad weather.

Tires

The condition of your tires can make a significant difference in how safely your car handles bad weather conditions. Snow and ice in the winter can make driving treacherous. Heavy rains can cause your car to hydroplane. Your tires need to have adequate tread depth to grip the road.

In general any less than 1/16 inch of tread is insufficient. Many professionals recommend no less than 1/8 inch. Some areas of Colorado will require chains in the winter. Carry a set in your trunk to use when needed.

Wiper blades

Check your wiper blades to ensure they operate correctly. Make sure the rubber fully contacts the windshield surface without leaving streaks or gaps. If you cannot see the road in front of you, you cannot avoid danger. Periodically check the level of wiper fluid in the reservoir. Carry a small container in your trunk in case you run low due to heavy road salt.

While Lakewood, and the rest of Jefferson County, can experience extreme winters, the summer can have very hot days. Heat can be damaging to the materials in windshield wiper blades. Take the time to inspect your blades before the heavy spring rains and again before winter.

As your independent agent in the Lakewood, Colorado area, we want you to prepare and stay safe on the road. Remember that you should check your insurance coverage each year to keep it up to date. Give us a call, we can provide you with competitive quotes to ensure you have the right insurance at the best possible prices.

Collision coverage is optional for Colorado drivers. However, each driver should carefully consider the facts about collision coverage to decide whether or not he is likely to benefit from purchasing it. Although it can seem like opting out will keep your expenses lower by minimizing your monthly insurance bill, it does not necessarily save you money over time.

Collision Coverage Uses

Collision insurance covers the damage to your vehicle that could result from an accident with another car or from hitting an object. Drivers who need to repair or replace their cars after such an incident may rely on their collision coverage.

It’s an unfortunate fact that not all drivers obey Colorado law. Some don’t carry liability coverage even though it is required by law, and others may participate in hit and runs. If you’re in an accident in which you are not at fault, but the other driver does not have insurance that covers damage to your car or the other driver cannot be identified, your collision coverage could come into play and cover your repairs.

What to Consider When Making Insurance Buying Decisions

If you are still in the process of purchasing your car by paying off a loan, your lender can require that you have collision insurance. This is a common requirement as lenders want to protect their investments and avoid suffering from losses if the items securing the loans are damaged. Although collision insurance is not required by law, it can be required by your lender. This is an agreement that you should honor, and one that benefits you as well. You don’t want to find yourself in a situation where you are still paying off a loan for a vehicle you are unable to drive.

If you own your car, then you should consider your vehicle’s value, your financial situation and other considerations in order to decide if collision coverage is right for you. Vehicle owners whose car carries a high value are more likely to opt in to collision coverage than those whose vehicle is an older model with a lesser value. Contact us today and an independent agent in Lakewood will help you evaluate your needs and determine of collision coverage is right for you.

Nearly every state has some penalties for not having auto insurance when you are on the road, but knowing the local laws is essential. In the state of Colorado, there are some stiff penalties for driving your car without auto insurance today. Maintaining at least a minimum policy is essential because it is the law, and because it will protect you!

The State Minimum Insurance Levels in Colorado

In Colorado, a couple of types of auto insurance are required. Liability insurance is the first of these. This is the part of an auto insurance policy that covers property damage that was caused by you if you were using the vehicle in a negligent way. This could include accidents caused by you because you were speeding, because you failed to yield, or any type of damage caused by you due to driving mistakes. Liability insurance also covers bodily injury that was caused to others by your negligent driving. This is the coverage that pays for the hospital and other medical bills of anyone who was injured due to your negligent driving. In Colorado, it is required that drivers maintain $25,000 per person bodily injury up to a maximum amount of $50,000 per accident in addition to $15,000 in property damage. Colorado also requires its drivers to carry uninsured motorist coverage, which covers you in case an uninsured driver damages your vehicle. However, this is normally a part of the liability insurance. Check with your independent agent to make sure you have both types of coverage.

Penalties for Lakewood Drivers Without Insurance

In the state of Colorado, people who are driving without insurance are typically issued a ticket for this offense. The state requires that offenders not only pay the ticket, but that they obtain auto insurance within a set period of time determined by the court. Offenders who get more than one citation for driving without auto insurance will be assessed higher fines and penalties, and may even have their drivers license revoked. If a person is driving without auto insurance and causes an accident, they may be sued by the accident victim in order to recover damages.

As your independent agent, we can help you to determine the right type of auto insurance coverage for you. Even though liability insurance is required and comprehensive and collision coverage are not legally required in Colorado, getting full coverage is wise because it protects not just others, but also you.

In Lakewood, Colorado, personal injury protection will cover expenses caused by an accident which is the insurance holder’s fault. You should have this type of protection on both your homeowners and your automobile insurance plan. If you are ever involved in an accident, personal injury protection will help take care of medical and other expenses incurred.

Your homeowners insurance plan will help pay for personal injury expenses if someone is hurt while visiting your property. This could be a result of a cranky dog biting the neighbor, or someone attending a party who falls off the deck. Either way, as the homeowner, you could be responsible for bills from the hospital or doctor and loss of wages for the injured person. You homeowners insurance should carry enough personal injury protection to take care of all of the expenses.

An automobile insurance plan will also include personal injury protection. When an auto accident occurs this portion of your policy will take care of medical expenses incurred by the injured parties. Adequate protection is important so you don’t end up paying money out of pocket. If the accident is severe, more than one person could be injured. Your insurance should protect you even if you are sued for a large amount.

Talking with an independent agent will help you understand the personal injury portion of your insurance policy. A professional will be able to determine if you have enough coverage or if you should consider upgrading your policy. Using us as your independent agent, we can compare the rates of several companies and give you several quotes to choose from in Lakewood, Colorado. Knowing you have enough insurance to take care of expenses if you are involved in an accident will give you and your family peace of mind.

People in Lakewood, Colorado often cringe when there are reports of thunderstorms and possible hail in their local area. If the storm is severe and the hail is large, it can cause extensive damage to both your car and your home. No one wants to look out the window and see dents all over their beloved vehicle or notice leaks from a damaged roof. Before a disaster like this happens, make sure you have talked with an independent agent about your home and auto insurance to make sure you are covered for hail damage.

There are some simple steps you should take if you are a victim of hail damage to your home and car. First, you should report the damage as soon as you notice it. Often there is a time limit for reporting hail damage so the insurance company can check other reports in your area. Second, you may want to take photographs of the damage. Although you still may be able to drive your vehicle, take pictures of the dents so you can show the insurance agent. If there is damage to your home, you will want to take pictures of this also. Often hail will damage the roofing material of your home. Check for leaks and make sure all of your belongings are safe from water damage.

As a local independent agent, we can help you find an affordable insurance plan that will cover hail damage to your home or vehicle. We are able to compare quotes from several different companies and find rates to fit any budget. If you experience damage from hail, you need to get the repairs made quickly. You should never be without reliable insurance coverage in Lakewood, Colorado. Take the time to call us today.

A local independent agent in Lakewood is your most important ally in dealing with any type of car or truck accidents that you may encounter while driving in Colorado. No matter how responsible and well prepared you are in terms of vehicle insurance, when you are the victim of a hit and run driver, all that preparation can feel like it just was not enough. Fortunately, when you have a good auto insurance policy, it will cover this type of accident, even though you are unable to identify the driver who caused it. Here are some things that your independent agent would like for you to know when it comes to dealing with a hit and run accident.

First, you should always call the police as soon as you are aware that this happened. Fleeing the scene of an accident is a crime, and the person who did this needs to be held accountable for doing that if at all possible. The police may have the ability to find out the identity of the driver who caused the accident, whether through video (if that is available), through eye witness statements (when other people saw the accident), or through other special methods of investigation.

Next, contact us, your Lakewood insurance agent. We can look at your insurance policy to examine the portion of it that applies to hit and run accidents to let you know what will be involved in making your claim. Many comprehensive car or truck insurance policies today do cover hit and run driver accidents under the uninsured motorist part of the policy. Fortunately, this means that just because you were the victim of a hit and run driver you do not have to pay for that damage yourself if you have proper Colorado insurance coverage.

Navigating the world of insurance is confusing. There are so many different types of insurance to begin with, and then the different options… even those who have a basic knowledge of the industry find it hard to understand everything. Auto insurance is no exception. One of the questions that come up again and again is “Why do insurance rates change when you move?” Learn more about why this is and what you can do to counter it.

One of the main reasons your rates may change is because you are driving more. If you live in a rural area and have a much longer commute, you may find that your rates go up for this reason. Make sure your independent agent has the right information on file with how many miles you drive each year. If you have overestimated, reducing this is a quick way to save money on your car insurance.

Another reason why insurance may cost more or less is based on the lay of the land where you are located. Those who are located in the mountains will pay a higher premium than those in an area such as Lakewood, Colorado. There are more accidents in the mountains, especially in winter, so naturally the premiums run higher.

The most important thing to remember is that you are not simply stuck paying what you are told. Contact a local independent agent and talk to them about the options available to you. Quite often working with someone like this will save you money over being stuck paying what a faceless quote program on the internet tells you. Finding the right agent is important, do your research and find someone who you feel comfortable working with on your insurance needs.

There is no questions that a garage is the easiest and most effective way of keeping your vehicle safe from the elements and other possible perils, but not everyone is privy to garage storage. Here is Colorado, cars left outside can take a real beating year-round. There is heavy winter snow, falling tree limbs buckling under the weight of ice and multiple other dangers that car owners must be concerned about. So what can you do to protect your car without a garage?

Get a Carport

In comparison to garages, carports are much less expensive and easier to install on your property. Best of all, carports provide significant protection from the elements just like a garage would. Be sure to have your carport professionally installed, and make sure it is in compliance with local ordinances or homeowner’s association requirements. It can withstand high winds, hail, falling tree limbs and heavy snow, protecting your assets.

Pay Attention to Your Surroundings

If a carport is not within your budget or not possible for your property restrictions, you can protect your vehicle by paying attention to your surroundings and where you park your vehicle. For example, high winds and snow can cause store front awnings to collapse, causing damage to nearby vehicles. Similarly, if you normally park your vehicle under a tree for shade, you may be placing it at risk for damage from falling limbs — or even the tree itself.

When Your Car Suffers Damage

Sometimes, damage to your vehicle is unavoidable. Whether the damage is minor or significant enough to prevent you from driving, the right insurance coverage could help ensure you are not without a vehicle or the money to make the necessary repairs. Here in Lakewood, you can contact our office to speak to an independent agent who will explain your insurance coverage options and the ways that you can protect your finances when the unthinkable occurs. Call us for your no-obligation quotes today.

Most normal people try to avoid unnecessary risks. Driving without insurance in Lakewood, Colorado is just plain stupid. The consequences of not having an auto insurance policy with at least the state minimum requirement, can be severe. Every responsible car owner should have insurance before the car should be driven. If you do not buy insurance because you cannot afford the price of a policy, you probably should not own a car.

An independent agent can stress the importance of having proper coverage for your automobile, but ultimately, it is up to you to make sure your vehicle is insured. Colorado requires every car owner to have property damage and bodily injury liability coverage. Most people choose to also have comprehensive and collision coverage in addition to the minimum state requirements. You can ask your independent agent about the other coverage available and then decide whether or not you want to add them to your basic policy.

Driving without coverage and getting pulled over by the police can make your life pretty miserable. First time uninsured drivers, who are found guilty of such an offense, will be slapped with a mandatory minimum fine of $500. Your license will be suspended until you can show proof that you have proper insurance. Four points will be put on your record and, your cost of buying an insurance policy will likely go up.

If you are found guilty of driving without insurance for a second time, the mandatory minimum fine increases to $1,000. Your license will be suspended for a minimum of four months and you will still get points and see your insurance rates go up.

As a three time loser, you can get a $1,000 minimum fine, a minimum eight month license suspension and be ordered to perform up to 40 hours of community service. After three times, you will probably lose your driving privileges for a long, long time.

All offenders, for the next three years are required to file an SR-22 form showing proof that they have the minimum, state mandated, liability coverage. Don’t be stupid. See your independent agent and get the coverage you need.

Making a claim with your auto insurance company can be a little intimidating at first. Although, once you know the steps involved, you will be on your way to getting your vehicle repaired. If you have been involved in an accident, or if there is damage to your automobile from a storm, you will want to get the auto claim process started.

The first thing you will need to do is contact your Lakewood, Colorado insurance agent. He will ask you for details about the accident and about the damage. If there is another party involved, your agent will also ask you for their name, address and insurance information. Depending on the type of coverage you have, you may be able to request a rental vehicle immediately. People who drive their cars to and from work do not have time to be without a reliable vehicle. The next step is to obtain quotes for the damage to your car. If you have full coverage, you should be able to get the repairs made quickly. Once your deductible is met, your insurance company will pay for the repairs or if the car is a total loss, will give money for what your car is worth. If your vehicle is not paid off, that money will go to your lender to take care of the outstanding balance on your loan.

If you own an automobile in Lakewood, you need to make sure you have excellent auto insurance. You never know when the time will come that you may need to file a claim. You can find affordable premiums on car insurance by comparing quotes with several companies. An independent agent can check out the rates for several different types of insurance and give you a quote for the best deal.