Stay Safe During Storms: Beware Power Lines!

This is the season when high winds, snow, rain and lightning can combine to wreak havoc in Massachusetts, especially if they cause trees to topple and electric lines to fall.

To stay safe, follow these safety rules:

  • Never assume that a downed line is a cable television or telephone wire. Assume every wire is dangerous – it could save your life!
  • Do not drive over downed power lines.
  • Do not touch downed power lines or use any object – including brooms, boards, limbs or plastic ot move them. Never step in water that is touching a downed wire. Never touch a person in contact with a power line or an object that’s touching the wires.
  • Do not touch a person who has been shocked by a power line.
  • Do not try to cut or remove a tree that is entangled with power lines
  • If you are involved in an accident that results in a power line touching your car, do not get out of your car unless it is on fire.
  • In case of a fire, jump clear of the car and land on both feet. Warn people to stay away from your car.
  • Do not approach a car that is touching power lines. Keep the victim in the vehicle and for emergency personnel to handle the situation.

MA Auto Insurance

Our independent, Massachusetts insurance agency received a call this morning from a woman shopping for MA auto insurance.

She presently has a policy with an online company that does not use independent insurance agents in Massachusetts. When the company entered the state a few years ago they offered her, what she thought was, a terrific rate.

Two years ago she was involved in a minor, single vehicle accident and surcharged 3 points on her Mass license.

We asked her about her accident and, after listening to the details, asked her if she had filed a state Surcharge Appeal form?

She had not, and said no one had ever explained the surcharge or appeal process to her.

We then rated her March renewal with 7 MA auto insurance companies and offered her the best premium we could find.

By the end of the conversation, we were able to save her over – $200 and, we believe, she is well on her way to winning her MA surcharge appeal!

Using a MA Independent Insurance Agent has it’s advantages!

Kids & Cars in Massachusetts

We’ve mentioned it before & I’m certain we’ll mention it again (because it’s worth mentioning):

Parents in Massachusetts, in order to best protect assets, should consider registering and insuring a vehicle in their child’s name.  In Massachusetts parents are provided 100% insulation from lawsuits arising from bodily injury or property damage claims.

Mass. MGL Chapter 231, section 85A: “If a car is registered to the child and the child gets into an accident causing personal injury and/or property damage, there is no reponsibility on the parent. It does not make any difference who bought the car or who pays for the insurance, or how old the child is so long as we are talking about negligence.”

On this basis it might make sense for parents to consider insuring a vehicle in their child’s name.

MA Auto Insurance Discounts

Different auto insurance companies in Massachusetts offer different discounts. It is important to know which company has the best discount program for you and your family.

Do you have anyone in your house that is newly licensed?

If so, different companies have different appetites (ie- better rates) for newly licensed drivers.

Is there anyone on the policy that is a full-time, good student (B or better average)?

If so, many companies have “good student” discounts.

Does your student go away to school?

If so, and if they leave their vehicle behind, there is an “away at school” discount that some MA auto insurance companies offer.

Do you own a home?

If so, there are terrific account discounts available.

Are you a safe driver?

Companies offer excellent safe driver (in MA, steps “99” & “98”) discounts and “accident forgiveness”: programs.

Are you a member of AAA?

Some companies offer a AAA, or other roadside assistance program, discount.

Did you, or anyone rated on your policy, complete a Crash Control Prevention course?

MassAutoQuote.com recommends taking a Crash Control Prevention course. If insured with Safety Insurance, they will even supplement the cost of the course.

Call or click us today, for your free discount program review!

Massachusetts Auto Insurance Coverage

MA auto insurance quotes, no obligation. Before paying all that money year after year on your Massachusetts auto insurance policy, you should know what coverage you are buying. Call your independent MA insurance agency or call or click us today!

The Massachusetts Private Passenger Auto insurance policy consists of 12 parts, as follows:

Part 1, Bodily Injury to Others – $20,000 per person/$40,000 per accident (compulsory)

Part 2, Personal Injury Protection – (compulsory, self & household deductible available): $8,000. No-fault coverage.

Part 3, Bodily Injury Caused By An Uninsured Auto – protects driver & occupants against other, uninsured drivers. We recommend you match your Parts 3 & 12 to your Part 5 (Optional Bodily Injury to Others).

Part 4, Damage to Someone Else’s Property – traditional coverage amount is: $100,000. Coverage can be increased (& lowered) to $250,000 with most companies for about $16 per year. Lesser limits are available but the savings isn’t very much.

Part 5, Optional Bodily Injury to Others Coverage – injury to others and lawsuit coverage. This is the coverage the other party will go to if you injure someone in an at-fault auto accident. This is your policy’s “first line of defense” to protect your assets. We recommend limits of, at least, $100,000 per person/$300,000 per accident.

Part 6, Medical Payments – first dollar (no deductible) medical payments coverage which is available to driver & guest occupants. Medical payments coverage can help supplement health insurance coverage.

Part 7, Collision Coverage – coverage protects the value of your vehicle. If at fault in the accident or if a “hit & run,” coverage is subject to policy’s deductible.

Part 8, Limited Collision Coverage – option if you have an older vehicle and you don’t want to carry collision coverage. Coverage allows consumer to collect through own company if not an at-fault accident.

Part 9, Comprehensive Coverage (fire, theft, vandalism)  – coverage is available for damage done to your car by anything other than a collision claim. Coverage is subject to the policy deductible, first dollar (no deductible) coverage for glass claims.

Part 10, Substitute Transportation – available coverage amounts: $15 per day/$450 ($12 per year); $30 per day/$900 ($52 per year). Coverage pays for rental while vehicle is in the shop for accident related vehicle repairs.

Part 11, Towing & Labor – available coverage amounts: $50 per disablement ($8 per year); $100 per disablement ($16 per year).

Part 12, Bodily Injury Caused By An Underinsured Auto– protects driver & guest occupants against other, underinsured drivers. Drivers that carry less Part 5 limits than you. We recommend you match your Parts 3 & 12 to your Part 5 (Optional Bodily Injury to Others).