Massachusetts At-fault Accident Surcharge Appeal

MA Auto Accident Surcharge Appeal

We’ve reported on it before and believe it’s worth talking about some more:

Have you been found “at-fault” in a Massachusetts accident?

Have you received the surcharge notice?

If so, this means your insurance company paid out over $500 and have determined you to be more than 50% at-fault.

If you believe you were less than 50% at-fault, MassAutoQuote believes you should appeal the surcharge.

When determining fault in an accident, unlike the insurance companies, the Board of Appeals takes into consideration contributing factors; such as: road condition (icy, wet, snow-covered), visibility, erratic driving, etc.

The cost to appeal the surcharge is $50 and the Massachusetts Board of Appeal tells us it is taking about 8 months before your receive your hearing date.

You can appeal a surcharge either: in person, by written statement, or by selecting someone to appear on your behalf.

Hearings are scheduled in:  Boston, Brockton, Peabody, Plymouth, Somerville, Springfield, Waltham, or Worcester.

Mass.gov Board of Appeal Contact information

http://www.mass.gov/ocabr/consumer/insurance/auto-insurance/appeal-license-revocation/board-of-appeal-contacts.html

Board of Appeal
Division of Insurance
1000 Washington St, Suite 810
Boston, MA 02118-6200
Phone (617) 521-7478
Fax (617) 521-7772
Email: BOA Mailbox


Merit Rating Board
P.O. Box 55889
Boston, MA 02205-5889
Phone: (617) 351-4400

MassAutoQuote: Save Benjamins

MA-Auto-Insurance-Flashback

The job of the Massachusetts Independent Insurance Agent is to get the best rates and coverage for clients.

The Independent Insurance Agent shops coverage with numerous companies and takes advantage of available discount programs.

The Independent Insurance Agent will advise and advocate.

The Independent Agent will save you Benjamins.

 

Insuring My Teen Driver

Teen Driver

Ah yes, your teen is finally behind the wheel, which allows you to hang up your hat as the resident chauffeur. But in addition to that new found sense of freedom for both parent and teen, comes a new pinch in the pocketbook. Ouch.

It’s true, parents of teen drivers typically incur an increase in their car insurance premiums, but we have some tips to help offset the cost of having a young driver on your auto insurance policy.

Choosing a Vehicle for your Teen Driver-

One factor that can affect your rate significantly is whether your child will have their own car. There is a substantial savings in having a new teen driver share the family vehicle rather than giving them a car of their own. In addition to having one less vehicle to carry on your policy, sharing a car means they will spend less time driving because of limited access to a vehicle.

Should you choose to get your teen their own vehicle, the type of car you select can affect your premiums considerably. Your independent insurance agent can help you determine which models cost less to insure, but considering these factors may help you narrow down your choices:

  • Drive a used car. While a brand new car may seem the safest choice (if cost isn’t an issue), it is often the more expensive route when it comes to car insurance. If you do not need to insure the value of the vehicle (ie- no collision and no comprehensive coverage), you and your teen driver will save – most likely- over $1,000 annually.
  • Safety rankings count. Whether you are considering new or used, it is a good idea to check the safety ratings. Having your teen at the wheel of a safe car might affect your premium as well as your peace of mind.

Happy New Year Massachusetts!

Happy New Year from MassAutoQuote

Massautoquote.com celebrates our 16th year providing free, no obligation Massachusetts auto insurance quotes.

Some popular New Year’s resolutions include:

  • Get in Shape
  • Lose Weight
  • Quit
  • Spend More Time with Family & Friends
  • Smoking
  • Enjoy Life More
  • Quit Drinking
  • Get Out of Debt
  • Try Something New
  • Help Others

To this list, we recommend Massachusetts residents add: compare your insurance!

The biggest problem we see is:

Not enough coverage.

There has never been a better time to shop and compare different companies premium and coverage programs.

Click, call, fax or e-mail a copy of your auto insurance coverage page … we’d love to take a look.

Notes from the Safety Insurance Claims Desk

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The winter of 2015 produced record snow fall and extremely cold temperatures. This combination resulted in a catastrophic number of ice dam claims. With winter weather quickly approaching, now is a good time to prepare our homes and businesses to minimize winter weather threats. Taking a few preventative measures now will help your policyholders get through the upcoming winter.

Ice Dams

What is an ice dam? An ice dam is an accumulation of ice at the lower edge of a sloped roof, usually at the gutter. When interior heat melts the snow on the roof, the water will run down and refreeze at the roof’s edge, where temperatures are much cooler. Eventually, the ice builds up and blocks water from draining off of the roof. This, in turn, forces the water under the roof covering and into the attic or down the inside walls of the house or other structure. Once an ice dam forms, the potential damage can be serious. Taking the following steps will decrease the likelihood that ice dams will form or, at least, will reduce their severity.

  • Keep the attic well ventilated. The colder the attic, the less melting and refreezing on the roof.
  • Keep the attic floor well insulated to minimize the amount of heat rising through the attic from within the house.
  • If heavy snow does accumulate on the roof, have the snow removed from the outer edge.

Frozen Pipes

Frozen water in pipes can cause water pressure buildup, which eventually will lead to pipes bursting at their weakest point, causing water damage to your home or business.

To keep water in pipes from freezing, take the following precautions:

  • Keep the temperature in your home or business above 65 degrees at all times.
  • Fit exposed pipes with insulation sleeves or wrapping to slow the heat transfer.
  • Seal cracks and holes in outside walls and foundations near water pipes with caulking.

Heating

Heating equipment is one of the leading causes of house fires. With a few simple safety tips you can prevent most heating fires from occurring.

• Have your furnace and oil tank serviced annually.
• Have your wood stove inspected before seasonal use.
• Keep the area around your heating system clear of debris and flammable materials.
• Turn portable heaters off when you leave the room or go to sleep.
• Install smoke and carbon dioxide detectors in your home and check the batteries twice a year.

Candles

An open flame easily can ignite anything that can burn. The following precautions will help prevent candle fires.

• Do not leave lit candles unattended.
• Have a flashlight ready during a power outage; never use a candle.
• Keep candles at least 12 inches from any flammable materials.
• Place candles in a holder on a sturdy uncluttered surface.

Simple. Massachusetts. Auto Insurance.

Simple Massachusetts Insurance

At MassQuotes we make Massachusetts Auto Insurance Simple.

Really simple.

3 Ways to Get Your Auto Quote:

  • Give us a call!
  • Fill out our online quote request.
  • E-mail or fax us a copy of your Auto Coverage Page.

MassQuotes will rate your insurance with, at least, seven different companies. We utilize Professional, Independent Insurance Agents that will assist you in finding the best rates, the best insurance programs, with the best insurance companies that do business in Massachusetts.

Massachusetts Operator Report

MA Auto Accident Driving Record Program

When Must a Massachusetts Crash Report be filed?

MGL Chapter 90, Section 26 requires a person who was operating a motor vehicle involved in a crash in which (i) any person was killed or (ii) injured or (iii) in which there was damage in excess of $1,000 to any one vehicle or other property, to complete and file a Crash Operator Report with the Registrar within five (5) days after such crash (unless the person is physically incapable of doing so due to incapacity). The person completing the report must also send a copy of the report to the police department having jurisdiction on the way where the crash occurred. If the operator is incapacitated but is not the vehicles’s owner, the owner is required to file the crash report within the five (5) days based on his/her knowledge and information obtained about the crash. The Registrar may require the owner or operator to supplement the report and he/she can revoke or suspend the license of any person violationg any provision of this legal requirement. A police department is required to accept a report filed by an owner or operator whose vehicle has been damaged in a acrash in which another person unlawfully left the scene even if damage to the vehicle does not exceed $1,000.

You can print a copy here: http://www.massrmv.com/rmv/forms/21278.pdf

Once you have completed report send copies to:

  1. local or state police department in the city or town where crash occurred
  2. your independent, MA insurance agent or insurance company
  3. a copy to the RMV, Crash Records, PO Box 55889, Boston, MA 02205-5889

Where is the best place to find Massachusetts auto insurance?

We recommend getting a quote right here at www.MassAutoQuote.com and utilize the power of the Massachusetts Independent Agent!

What is Gap Insurance?

What is Gap Insurance

Sounds dangerous.

Like something Evel Knievel would have jumped.

Sounds like something you might want to have.

It’s called Gap Insurance.

What is Gap Insurance?

If a car is stolen or declared totaled, the auto insurance company will pay actual cash value for the car.

The actual cash value can be a lot different from what is owed on the vehicle.

The difference is “the gap.”

Gap insurance covers this amount.

Without gap insurance the lender will hold the individual responsible for paying the difference between the actual cash value and the amount left on the loan.

Many companies allow Gap insurance to be added to the Massachusetts personal auto policy.

The cost for Gap insurance can range from between +$25 annually to +$120.

Sometimes Gap insurance coverage is included in lease agreements. If leasing, make certain Gap insurance is included.

Is Gap coverage a good idea? Depending on the gap … it might be a great idea.

Give us a call to find out more about Gap insurance on your MA auto policy.

MA Auto Insurance Companies

Partial list Massachusetts Auto Insurance Companies, websites, telephone number & address:

MA Auto Insurance Companies

Partial list Massachusetts Auto Insurance Companies, websites, telephone number & address:

  • Amica
    1-800-24-AMICA
    P.O. Box 9128
    Providence, RI 02940-9128

  • Arbella
    1-800-972-5348
    1100 Crown Colony Drive
    P.O. Box 699103
    Quincy, MA 02269-9103

  • Commerce
    1-800-922-8276
    211 Main Street
    Webster, Massachusetts 01570

  • Electric
    1-800-227-2757
    75 Sam Fonzo Drive
    Beverly, MA 01915

  • Encompass
    1-866-760-6050
    51 West Higgins Road
    South Barrington, IL 60010

  • Hanover
    1-800-922-8246
    (Allmerica Financial)
    440 Lincoln Street
    Worcester, MA 01653-0002

  • Liberty Mutual
    617-357-9500
    175 Berkeley Street
    Boston, Massachusetts 02116

  • Metropolitan
    1-800-422-4272
    PO Box 350
    Warwick, RI 02887
  • National Grange Mutual
    1-800-258-5310
    55 West Street
    Keene, NH 03431
  • Norfolk & Dedham
    1-800-688-1825
    222 Ames Street
    Dedham, MA 02026
  • 781-332-7000
    One Beacon Lane
    Canton, MA 02021
  • Plymouth Rock
    617-951-1620
     695 Atlantic Avenue
    Boston, MA  02111
  • Premier
    1-800-222-4184
    One Chestnut Place
    10 Chestnut Street, Ste 300
    Worcester, MA 01608
  • Quincy Mutual
    617-472-8770
    57 Washington Street
    Quincy, MA 02169
  • Safety
    1-800-951-2100
     20 Custom House Street
    Boston, MA 02110
  • State Farm
    1-800-526-8210
     1 State Farm Plaza
    Bloomington, IL 61710
  • USAA
    1-800-531-8080
    PO Box 659464
    San Ant

7 short years ago …

According to a recent article in the Boston Globe, MA auto insurance rates are on the rise …

MA Auto Insurance Discount Programs

7 short years ago the Massachusetts auto insurance industry welcomed “managed competition” to the state.

Managed competition has helped usher in a new era for MA auto insurance consumers.

Companies that long ago fled the state, came back. Some that were never here entered the state.

In order to make certain you are getting the best rates, it’s important to shop around and look for every discount available.

The first place to start when looking for the best auto premium is by packaging your auto insurance with the same company as your home insurance.

If you don’t own a home or condominium, it might be time to purchase apartment insurance coverage. If not for the only reason of taking advantage of an auto insurer’s “account discount.”

Other discounts to consider:

  • Did you drive less than 10,000 miles over the past 12 months?
  • Are you a good driver? Have you had any at-fault accidents or moving violations over the past 6 years?
  • Do you pay your bills in full?
  • Do you receive your bills and documents by e-mail?
  • Did you recently get married? Do you have the same company as your spouse?
  • Are any of your kids good students? Do they have a “B” or better average?
  • Are you a college graduate?

According to a recent article in the Boston Globe (http://www.bostonglobe.com/business/2015/05/24/massachusetts-car-insurance-rates-climbing/Uht5d2fU0JX0ft3Rwa5CvO/story.html) MA auto insurance rates on the rise.

Now, more than ever, is the time to shop your auto insurance with a Massachusetts Independent Insurance Agent.