When Winter Weather Hits: How Safe Driving & Auto Insurance Can Protect You
Just some months ago a slow moving blizzard made its way across the mid-west, blanketing the Twin Cities with snow and causing hazardous driving conditions. Multiple wrecks occurred with one fatal crash. December 9th brought 16 inches of snow. That is the most snowfall the cities have experienced in two years. With conditions like that, crashes were inevitable. Visibility was so bad that snowplows were ordered off the road in parts of Minnesota. Multiple accidents were reported. Even though spring has come, we still are likely to face bad weather in some regions, and for sure, we will face it again, every year.
Minnesota State Patrol reported back then that over 600 crashes had been reported within a week as well as 1,140 spinouts. Injuries were reported in 63 accidents. It’s likely that many of these residents are going to be contacting their insurance companies, making claims for damages. If it involved one car or multiple cars, they should be covered if they chose the best kind of insurance for their situation. When winter weather hits you, knowing essential safe driving skills as well as what your insurance company can do will help make that winter wonderland a little bit more enjoyable.
Your Insurance Coverage
Before the first flake
falls, you should already know what your plan covers and what it does not. The minimum requirement for almost all states is liability insurance and while having only this is legal, it does not provide a large safety net when the unexpected happens. You need to consider what kind of area you live in. For example, it is much more likely that the Mid-West is going to experience more severe winter weather than Texas so it makes sense to tailor their insurance to buffer for weather related incidents. Make sure that you have an insurance policy that includes comprehensive coverage and collision coverage.
Comprehensive insurance will cover anything that happens to your vehicle in a non-collision related accident. This means that if your car is parked under a tree and one of the branches cracks and falls due to the weight of the snow, your car and its damages are covered under comprehensive. With comprehensive insurance, there is a deductible that must be met before the insurance company will pay out damages. At first thought, it may be attractive to set a low deductible but a higher deductible means a lower premium overall. You also want to make sure that you have collision coverage.
This will cover any type of property damage and bodily injury to you and your car that occurs as a result of colliding with another object, like another car. In weather conditions such as those displayed in the Mid-West, losing control of a car is all too easy to do and whether you crash into a telephone pole or another person’s car, collision can take care of you. Collision costs depend on the value of your car. If your car has a high safety rating, then it is more likely that your collision premiums will be lower than someone that has a car that is expensive, easily damaged, or likely to be stolen.
Another important part of your policy to consider is whether you have Uninsured Motorist and/or Underinsured Motorist insurance. If you are in an accident, weather related or not, and the other person does not have insurance (which is illegal) or has insurance but not enough to cover the damages, your insurance can pay the rest of the amount. Also check to see if your coverage includes roadside assistance and towing expenses. If your car spins out and ends up in a ditch, you will probably need to call a tow truck unless you have very handy friends. Tow truck companies not only charge for the actual act of towing but also charge a fee based on the number of the miles they must travel. This can be a hefty fee you were not expecting to
pay when you were just on the way out to get dog food.
Safe Driving Starts With You
As winter’s chill spreads, many people keep driving as they always have when it’s 70 and sunny but you may not realize how much the weather affects your driving habits. Many people warm up their cars during the winter, leaving them unattended for 10 minutes or more. In a city prone to thievery, this is not a good idea and presents a prime opportunity for your car to be taken. Replacing a car can be very expensive and can raise your premiums. If you have to start your car just to see out your window, maybe consider investing in a remote starter which will allow your car to remain locked while running.
Once you are on the road, practice safe driving skills to you avoid an accident. When conditions are bad, be sure to reduce your speed. Slick roads and high speeds are a certain mixture for an accident. Also be sure to give other cars more space. The close you are traveling to another car, the more likely it is you will involve both vehicles if you begin to slide uncontrollably. If this does happen to you, do not slam on the brakes. By applying constant pressure, you can avoid any kind of spin a brake slam might put you in and have more control over the car. It is also a good idea to get a seasonal checkup. Before cooler temperatures start to invade, take your car to an auto-body shop to make sure it is prepped for winter. While cars are fine built machines, being exposed to the conditions can take a toll on cars not ready for winter.
It doesn’t matter what the temperature is outside, accidents and insurance claims can make premiums rise. The winter is considered a high risk season though, especially because of the holidays that happen and the amount of traveling that occurs. Be sure to protect yourself by practicing safe driving skills and making sure you have adequate insurance coverage. If you do this, your winter can be worry free.
