Ten of the Funniest Car Accident Excuses

I recently found some real life excuses that were on accident claim forms for a major insurance company.  Clients were asked for a brief statement describing how the accident occurred and below are some of those examples.  I have narrowed it down to what I believe is the top ten, but not in order of preference.  I would love to hear what you feel is your favorite one(s)?  Please respond on our Facebook Fan Page.

1.       The other car collided with mine without giving warning of its intention.

2.       I thought my window was down but found it was up when I put my hand through it.

3.       A pedestrian hit me and went under my car.

4.       The guy was all over the place. I had to swerve a number of times before I hit him.

5.       I pulled away from the side of the road, glanced at my mother-in-law and headed over the embankment.

6.       As I approached the intersection, a stop sign suddenly appeared in a place where no stop sign had ever appeared before. I was unable to stop in time to avoid the accident.

7.       To avoid hitting the bumper of the car in front, I struck the pedestrian.

8.       An invisible car came out of nowhere, struck my vehicle and vanished.

9.       I saw the slow-moving, sad-faced old gentleman as he bounced off the hood of my car.

10.   Coming home, I drove into the wrong house and collided with a tree I don’t have.

Although many might find humor in this article, please know that my intention is not to downplay or minimize the seriousness of being involved in a car accident.  I know firsthand how unpleasant the experience can be and that more serious ones resulting in bodily injury can have lasting effects. 

As always, be safe out there on the road.  You have control over your actions, but not over the actions and reactions of other drivers.  Finally, as warm weather arrives and the days grow longer, more motorcycle riders appear on the roads.  Please take an extra care, share the road, and stay alert at all times! 

Car Totaled in California: You Have Options

If unfortunately you end up in a serious accident, your insurance company may declare your vehicle a “total loss” or “totaled”. A car is totaled if the cost to repair it exceeds its current value as determined by industry statistics. Insurance companies tend to use databases such as CCC Information Services. For most insurers, the vehicle will be considered totaled if repairs add up to 75% or 80% of market value.  Insurance companies may use factors like age of vehicle, mileage and general condition to figure out the car’s actual cash value. 

Before you decide to accept a settlement amount, be sure to use resources that can easily be accessed online to validate the actual cash value.  For example, use Kelley Blue Book, the National Association of Automobile Dealers guide and Edmunds’ True Market Value appraiser to name a few.  You can always contact dealers to obtain an estimate as well.  You will need this information if you decide to appeal the settlement offer and request for an adjustment.  Whichever database, site, or appraisal source is used, remember, the insurance company has an obligation to restore you to your pre-accident status, vehicle-wise that is.

At the end of the day, if you and the insurance company still can’t resolve your differences, you may have the right under your policy to get an independent appraisal.  In California, the Department of Insurance offers an Automobile Claims Mediation Program, which helps resolve disputes about total losses and other physical damage claims.  Although there is no cost for consumers, the amount of claim must exceed $7,500 and the disputed difference between the policy holder and the insurance company must be at least $2,000.

Sometimes there are good reasons why people might want to keep their vehicle even when it is declared a total loss by the insurance company.  Whether your reasons are sentimental or financial, you can negotiate a deal to buy back the vehicle from the insurance company.  This transaction typically will subtract from the final cash settlement offer whatever the insurer could have received for the wrecked vehicle from a salvage yard.

For instance, if your car is worth $5,000 but the repairs would be $5,800, and you want to buy it back, you would get the $5,000 cash value, minus what a salvage bidder offered -- $1,000 or so – and your deductible. You pay the salvage bid, because that is the money the insurer could have recouped by totaling the car and selling it to the salvage yard.

If what is left over is sufficient to repair your vehicle or you are willing to come out of pocket because you don’t want to part with the vehicle, you can then get it fixed on your own.  But, wait, in California, like in most states, you still will need to deal with the issue of the insurance company reporting the car as totaled to the Department of MotorVehicle.  The title on the vehicle will then show salvaged, which is a way of informing future buyers that the car was severely damaged and totaled at one time.  Additionally, the repairs you get done on the vehicle must pass DMV inspection before it can be re-registered. Although the insurance company may continue to cover it, there might be restrictions that could include eliminating coverage for any future accident repairs.   

Few people want to hear after an accident that an insurance adjuster has pronounced their vehicle a total loss, but it happens.  If it happens to you, the team at Pacific Preferred Insurance Agency hope that this article has helped by making the experience a little less painful and more informed to make the best decision for your own unique situation. We always suggest that you discuss with your agent questions you may have as it relates specifically to your policy.

Protecting Your Collectible Auto

Auto enthusiasts take their cars very seriously - as they should. You’ve put plenty of time, effort and a lot of money into your collectible auto. To some it may seem like a hobby, but to you, it’s more than that, it is your passion. As a result of this passion and interest, it is important that you have the right insurance policy. Although, collector car insurance has been available for five decades, most owners of collectibles, specialty cars and street rods are still insuring them through a standard insurance company despite the higher cost and often more restrictive policies. You want to enjoy driving your classic vehicle and the last thing you should have to worry about is whether or not you have the right insurance coverage. Consider these tips as you go about the process of finding your classic car insurance.

Standard insurance annual premiums can cost up to 500% more than those offered by a specialty program that Pacific Preferred Insurance Agency can offer. Sure, standard insurance companies can provide adequate coverage for those who drive daily, but they rarely will offer the added benefits associated with a specialty program such as a collector program.

There are three types of automobile insurance offered today: Actual Cash Value (ACV), Stated Value, and Agreed Value. ACV coverage is what insures most everyday cars and pays out a depreciated "book" value in the event of a claim: the older a car is on an ACV policy, the less value it has. Some insurance companies offer Stated Value policies for collectibles. These policies are better than ACV because they allow you to "state" a value for your vehicle greater than its depreciated "book" value. But, be cautious, Stated Value can still depreciate vehicles because the policies generally require the insurance company only to pay "up to" the "stated" amount. Only Agreed Value, sometimes referred to as Guaranteed Value insurance policies is the only kind that will guarantee you will get all of your money back in the event of a total loss. There is no depreciation of a car's value with an Agreed Value policy. This is why at Pacific PreferredInsurance Agency we have an excellent program that offers “Guaranteed Value”, which ensures that you receive every cent of your car’s insured value in the event of a covered total loss.

Although there are several fine specialty programs available in the marketplace, there are differences among them. Levels of service, rates, types of coverage and claims handling all vary from program to program. Anyone insuring a collectible in California should speak to a licensed agent at Pacific Preferred Insurance Agency, where our program is second to none.

The bottom line? Classic car insurance will save you a lot of money. Interested hobbyists and collectors can now afford to own, insure, and enjoy their classics because specialty insurance programs offer lower rates and better benefits than standard insurance companies. Give us a call today at 805.351.3851 and ask us about our special collectible insurance car program.

The Top Factors Affecting Auto Rates In California

Shopping around for the best price for California car insurance can be well worth the effort for most drivers in California. In 2006 the average expenditure in California for auto insurance was $843 and this average has steadily increased since then. In that California car insurance is a legal requirement, doing price comparison between California car insurance companies can save you a lot of money over time.

Have you ever had a conversation with a friend or family member and wondered why their auto rates are so different from yours?  The factors that go into determining the premium for an auto insurance policy are many, and the rates for two drivers can be very different.  If you are wondering how the insurance company arrived at your rate, here are some of the factors that have an impact on your premiums.  To learn more, we recommend that you speak with a licensed agent at Pacific Preferred Insurance Agency.

Your Age And Experience

Your age and the length of time you have been driving are two of the biggest factors in determining insurance rates.  Young drivers who are less experienced are statistically more likely to have accidents, and their accidents are more likely to be serious.  Thus insurance companies rate for age and experience based on the risk they are taking by insuring you.  You might hear that word a lot if you look into how insurance rates are determined: risk.  The higher the risk a driver represents to an insurance company, the more they will be charged in California.

The Type Of Vehicle

The type of car you drive has a big impact on your rates as well.  Some cars are more expensive to repair, more likely to be stolen, or considered more dangerous to drive due to high speeds (sports cars, for example).  All of these things can lead to an increase in the premiums to insure that car.  Older, less valuable cars tend to be a lot cheaper to insure than newer, more expensive cars, because it will cost the insurance company more to repair or replace a newer car.

Where You Live

The zip code where you park your car at night is another determining factor in your premiums.  If there is a lot of theft in your neighborhood, this might cause an increase in insurance rates, as the insurance company is taking on a higher risk of having to pay out on a theft claim.

How Much And How Far You Drive

If you have a long daily commute, you spend more time in your car than someone who works from home, which means you are more likely to be in an accident.  The more you drive your car, the higher your premiums are likely to be.  Again, you are at a higher risk of having a claim due to more frequent use of your car, resulting in a higher premium.

These are just a few of the many factors that go into determining what an individual pays for their auto insurance.  Insurance companies rate each driver and vehicle based on the level of risk they represent-the likelihood that they will have a claim.  The lower your risk level, the better your premiums will become.

Pacific Preferred Insurance agents can help keep the process simple and will provide you with competitive insurance quotes.  We pass the savings along to you.  That's what we call "preferred savings made simple".  Give us a call today at 805.351.3851 and find out why our clients in Santa Barbara, Ventura, Oxnard, Thousand Oaks, and throughout California prefer us as their agent of choice. 

  

Insuring Your Teenager: Tips And Tricks For Saving Money

If your son or daughter has recently reached the age when they are starting to drive, you likely already have enough anxiety without thinking about what your teen driver is going to do for your car insurance rates. Inexperienced drivers usually come with high insurance premiums, and having the facts about insuring your teen driver before contacting your insurance company will ensure you are ready to find the best deal possible. Here are some tips to saving on your car insurance if you have a teen driver!

How Insurance Companies Include Additional Drivers - Some insurance companies assign the most expensive car to the most expensive driver, making them the primary driver for that vehicle whether or not this actually reflects the circumstances. If you have a luxury car, this could cost you a fortune. Your options are to buy your teen an older vehicle or switch to an insurance company that doesn't use this method.

Have Your Agent Shop Around - Getting the best deal with any major purchase involves shopping around. Getting quotes from several companies before adding a teen driver may save you money.  Your agent will not only save you money, but saving you time can be just as important, especially nowadays. 

Keep Their Grades Up - Most insurance companies look at factors such as your teen's grades to gauge responsibility, much as they would look at the credit score of an adult. Requiring good grades as a part of their responsibility as a new driver is a good idea, both for them and your pocketbook.

Driver's Education - Taking a Driver's Education course often provides an insurance discount for teen drivers. It will also give them the skills they need to be safe and accident-free.

Increase Your Deductible - This is always an effective way to reduce your insurance rates, but always be sure you choose a deductible that you can safely afford.  It's a good idea to discuss this with your insurance agent.  He or she will be able to guide you best on making the most informed decision.

Keep Your Teen Accident Free - The best way to keep your rates down and your teen safe is to encourage safe driving practices. This includes having rules about when your teen can drive, the number of passengers they can have in the car, and a no tolerance policy if they violate these rules. Driving is a privilege, not a right, and instilling this mentality in them as new drivers will keep them safe through the years.

These tips can help make the cost of insuring your teen a little less stressful.  We recommend that you give us a call today at 805.351.3851 to discuss your options further.  At Pacific Preferred Insurance Agency, we take pride in delivering "preferred service", "preferred rates", and "preferred coverage", for you and your family. 

We want to be your agent for life!

Care for Your Christmas Tree and it will Care for You

At Pacific Preferred Insurance Agency, we want you to have a safe and fun filled holiday season.  By properly caring for your Christmas Tree, you can rest assured it will care for you and keep you and your family out of harms way.  

Selecting a tree

1. Get a healthy tree - Don't buy a tree that is losing green needles, or has dry, brittle twigs or a sour, musty smell. Excessive needle loss can be detected by vigorously shaking the tree, or dropping it onto the end of the trunk several times from a height of about 1 ft (30 cm). The loss of old dead needles from the inside of the tree does not indicate that there is a problem with the tree. Mechanical shakers can remove these needles, and reduce the potential for a mess inside the home.

2. Size of the tree - Do not buy a tree that is too large for the area where it will be displayed. Aside from paying more than necessary, up to $10 per ft (30 cm) of height, you will have to cut off a large section of the lower trunk, and possibly the lower whorl of branches. This might ruin the appearance of the lower part of the tree.

3. Bottom of the tree - Note the location of large branches at the bottom of the tree. Be sure that the handle is long enough to allow display of the tree without cutting off the lower whorl of large branches. USDA grading rules specify trees should have a handle 1 to 12 in (2.5 to 3.8 cm) long per ft (30 cm) of height. However, some species are routinely sold without pruned handles, eg, Fraser fir.

3. Shaking the tree - When purchasing a tree from a choose-n-cut farm, have the producer mechanically cut the tree, if possible. This will eliminate dead, loose needles, especially in species such as Virginia pine, white pine, Scotch pine and red cedar. There is less potential mess to reach the home.

Transporting the tree

4. Wrap the tree - If the transport time from the retail lot or farm to the final destination is more than 15 min, it is best to wrap the tree in a tarp, or carry it in an enclosed camper or the back of a pick-up. Strong wind of 60 mph (100 km h-1) on the highway, especially during warm weather, can damage a tree in a short time.

5. Orientation on the car - Put the bottom of the tree aiming forward to protect the needles from being blown off.

6. Tie it securely! - If the tree is carried on the outside of a vehicle, tie it securely. 

Storing the tree before bring it in the house

7. Keep out of the sunlight - Do not leave a cut Christmas tree lying in the sunshine for long periods of time, especially if air temperatures are warm. Fresh trees dry rapidly in those circumstances.

8. Keep it in water - If a tree cannot be immediately displayed in water, make a fresh cut on the base of the trunk, and stand it in a bucket of water in a cool, shaded location, either indoors or outdoors. When the tree is displayed in a water holding stand, a second fresh cut is probably unnecessary, but might enhance water uptake. 

Setting up the tree in your stand

9. Cut off a disk of wood about 0.5 to 1 inch (1.25 to 2.5 cm) thick from the base of the trunk immediately before putting the tree in the stand. Make the cut perpendicular to the stem axis. Do not cut at an angle, or into a v-shape, which makes it far more difficult to hold the tree plumb in the stand, and reduces the amount of water available to the tree. Do not cut off too much trunk, resulting in a handle too short for the stand. This would lead to the situation described in (2) and (3) above.

If no saw is available, get the retailer to make a fresh cut on the base of the trunk before departing for home. Assuming that the trip home is relatively short, put the tree in water as soon as possible. Species like Douglas-fir and Fraser fir can go 6 to 8 h after cutting, and still take up water. Do not bruise the end of the trunk or get it dirty.

10. Drilling a hole in the base of the trunk does not affect water uptake. The use of drilled/pin type devices to supply water directly to holes drilled in the tree is not as effective as displaying the tree in a more traditional type of stand.

11. Use a stand that fits your tree. Some stands have circular rings at the top, so the ring must be large enough so the trunk goes through the hole. Other stands are open, which allows more range in trunk size. Avoid whittling the sides of the trunk down to fit a stand. The outer layers of wood are most efficient in taking up water and should not be removed. Use a stand with an adequate water holding capacity for the tree. Using stands that are too small is a very common mistake. Fresh trees use about 1 qt (about 1 L) of water per day per in (about 2.5 cm) of trunk diameter. The stand should hold enough water to last 24 h. If the stand goes dry and is subsequently refilled, water uptake may stop or be severely limited, leading to premature drying. Contraptions are available that maintain constant water level in the stand, working on the principle of a commode float.

12. Cold water - Do not use hot water in the stand; it is of no benefit.

13. No chemicals - Do not use chemicals in the stand to prevent evaporation. Water moves into the trunk at the lower cut end, and eventually evaporates (transpires) from the foliage. Evaporation from the surface of water in the stand is negligible, compared to the loss from transpiration. Do not use additives in water, including floral preservatives, molasses, sugar, bleach, soft drinks, aspirin, honey, or other concoctions. The products supposedly block the evaporation of water from the surface of foliage, but in reality have little benefit. Do not use water holding gels in the stand. They reduce the amount of water available to trees. Clean water is the only requirement to maintain freshness. 

Decorating your tree

14. Keep away from heat - Keep displayed trees away from point sources of heat (fireplaces, heaters, heat vents, direct sunlight). Lowering the room temperature will slow drying, resulting in less water consumption.

15. Lights - Use only UL approved lights and electrical cords and devices on trees. Check electrical cords and lights for damage prior to placement on the tree.

16. Placement of ornaments - Hang all ornaments that are breakable, have small, detachable parts or metal hooks, or that look like food or candy on higher branches where small children can't reach them. Green floral wire, which can be twisted firmly around branches, is a great way to hang fragile ornaments. More durable Christmas ornaments like candy canes, holiday cards, knitted ornaments on higher branches where small children can't reach them. Green floral wire, which can be twisted firmly around branches, is a great way to hang fragile ornaments.

17. Pets - Keep pets out of the room in which the tree is placed, especially if you can't be there to supervise. Cats are known for leaping onto Christmas trees, especially when pursued by another pet. Use a ceiling hook to keep the tree from toppling. Both cats and dogs can knock down and break glass ornaments, then cut themselves on the pieces. Pets may also gnaw on electrical cords for Christmas tree lights. So hide them when possible, or help prevent injury by purchasing a pet-proof cover for the wiring.

18. Avoid using artificial snow sprays, to which some people are allergic and may cause lung irritation if inhaled.

19. Turn off tree lights when you go to bed or leave the house. Use only UL-approved electrical decorations and extension cords, and check to be sure no cords have frayed since you last used the lights. 

Watering your tree

20. Always keep the tree stand filled with water. Dried sap will form a seal over the cut stump within several hours if the water level falls below the base of the tree. If this occurs, make another fresh cut in the butt-end and promptly fill the stand with water. Use hot tap water which will soften sap and facilitate absorption.

21. How much water - A tree will absorb as much as a gallon of water or more in the 24 hours after it is cut, and one or more quarts every day after. Maintaining a steady water level prevents the needles from drying out and dropping off and the boughs from drooping. Water will also keep the tree fragrant. Do not allow the water pan to empty or go below the tree base

Taking down the tree

22. Monitor the tree for dryness. If the tree is dry, remove it from the house.

23. Disconnect all electrical devices prior to removing them from the tree.

24. Never burn a tree in a fire place or wood stove. Pine trees have a lot of sap which can flash and also create a chimney fire.

Avoiding Hazards during the Holidays

The holidays are here and our homes have become more hectic as we have friends and family over to visit.  With more people means more electrical items being used and this can result in more potential hazards.  At Pacific PreferredInsurance, we would like to offer you some helpful hints to keep you clear of these potential holiday hazards.

The addition of extension cords during the holiday is one sure way of adding the potential for a fire if misused.  It is best to check each cord to insure they are in good working condition.  You want to specifically look for frays or kinks or even small burn marks, which will be an indication that the cord is susceptible to a fire and should not be used.  As we mentioned in the opening of this article, the holidays bring an increase in foot traffic in our homes, so be sure to keep extension cords out of those paths, as holiday guests may easily trip over these.  It is also wise to never use rugs to conceal cords, because this too can be a fire hazard.

I remember growing up in the Northeast and we had a natural wood burning fire place in our home.  My dad always reminded me to use only well seasoned natural wood or man-made wood logs specified for in home use only.  My mom always reminded me to never throw Christmas wrapping paper in the fire place.  These two lessons have remained with me throughout my life.  Also remember to have proper screens in place to stop embers from flying out of the fire place and into your home.  Now, for those of you living in Southern California, this might not be applicable, but many Californians go up to the slopes in the winter months and this could be helpful when renting a cabin.  

Did you know, each year there are a reported 164,000 ladder related injuries?! Be sure that when using a ladder this year to put up those Christmas lights you use one that is the correct height for the job and that you are using a nonmetal latter, metal ladders of course conduct electricity. Reaching or stretching may cause you to fall. Be sure that the feet of the ladder are positioned evenly from the wall and that the ladder itself is standing on a solid surface. 

If not properly managed, bringing in a fresh tree to your home can become a huge fire hazard.  Do things right and you will enhance the mood of the holiday while being safe.  Some things to remember are to be sure the needles are soft to the touch and secured to the tree.  Ensure that your tree stand holds at least one gallon of water and maintain the water level at all times.  

While preparing your holiday meal there are additional dangers of being burned due to the large number of family and friends trying to help in the kitchen. Steer children clear of the kitchen, most burn accidents happen to small children. Be aware of your surroundings and keep the traffic around hot foods to a minimum. Taking these preventative steps will keep you and your loved ones safe this holiday season.

Wishing you and your family a safe and joyous holiday season,

Pacific Preferred Insurance Agency