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Teen Driving Safety

1/20/2016

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Talking to Your Teen About Safe Driving
 
January is Teen Driving Awareness Month. Having had many teen drivers myself (my last currently with a driving permit in hand), I can't stress enough the importance of consistently having these conversations. ​
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​According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the National Safety Council, when teens begin to drive, the sobering statistics start to pile up:


  • Car crashes are the leading cause of death for U.S. teens ages 14 through 18.
  • A teen’s crash risk is three times that of more experienced drivers.
  • Being in a car with three or more teen passengers quadruples a teen driver’s crash risk.
  • More than half of teens killed in crashes were not wearing a seat belt.
 
You can help your young driver make better decisions behind the wheel, however. Start by setting a good example yourself. And set time aside to have a serious discussion about the following issues, all of which have a large impact on the safety of teen drivers:
 
  • Speed: According to the Governors Highway Safety Association, speeding continues to grow as a factor in fatal crashes involving teen drivers. While a lot of emphasis is rightfully placed on the risks of driving under the influence or while distracted, the danger of speeding is just as important.

  • Alcohol: If drivers are under 21, driving with any amount of alcohol in their system is illegal. It’s as simple as that. And not only does the risk of a serious crash increase once alcohol is involved, jail time is a possibility as well.

  • Seat belts: Teens don’t use their seat belts as frequently as adults, so it’s important to set a good example and always have yours on. Seat belts are the simplest way to protect themselves in a crash, so let teens know that buckling up is mandatory.

  • Phones: You are 23 times more likely to crash while texting. STOP! Distracted driving is dangerous driving, especially for an inexperienced teen. That means no calls or texting when behind the wheel — no exceptions. Again, it pays to set a good example when you’re driving with your teen in the car.

  • Passengers: The risk of a fatal crash goes up as the number of passengers in a teen driver’s car increases, according to the NHTSA. Depending on your state’s licensing laws for young drivers, limiting your teen to one passenger is a good guideline. (And some states don’t allow teens to have any passengers for a time.)​
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Of course, any driver needs to have a good grasp on the laws and rules of the road, and, because teens don’t have much experience, it’s important to have regular conversations about safe driving. How teens drive doesn’t just depend on them. It depends on you, too! 
 
ALINK Insurance Services wants you and your teen(s) to stay safe on the roads! Give us a call today to discuss the effects of having a teen on your auto insurance and to make sure you have the coverage you need. We're your link to security!

Denver Metro/Parker: 303-752-6479
Colorado Springs: 719-473-6262
Greeley: 970-475-0900
Surrounding States:
877-643-6148

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Protect Your Car From Hail

7/9/2015

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Hail.  We've all been there.  We know all too well of that car-denting, roof-damaging, huge, pounding HAIL that our Colorado summers bring.  According to the Rocky Mountain Insurance Information Association, hailstorms have caused more than $3 billion in insured damage over the last ten years in Colorado alone.

So, what can you do to help protect your car from hail and avoid those costly repairs when the next storm strikes? Here are a few ideas.

  1. Get covered parking.  If hail is predicted, and covered parking is available, USE IT.  Consider setting up weather alerts on your phone and loading the locations of nearby parking garages into your GPS. When a hail storm is on the forefront, head for the closest parking garage to ride out it out.  If you can't reach it in time, look for something like an overpass or gas station canopy to help minimize the impact.
  2. Bring on the linens.  If your home doesn't have a garage, or if you will be somewhere where covered parking isn't available, get something over your car. Cover the car with thick blankets, comforters, large towels, or anything you have on hand when a hail warning is issued.
  3. Grab the floor mats.  Don't have blankets? Use the floor mats.  If you are caught in a hailstorm and can't find cover, pull over in a safe location, take out the floor mats, and put them on the roof and hood of your car.  This solution isn't foolproof; the mats won't cover the entire car, but they could help you avoid excessive damage.
  4. Buy a car cover designed to protect against hail.  If you want to pull out the big guns and have a reliable form of protection readily accessible in your vehicle, investing in an anti-hail car cover may be the ideal solution.
  5. Ask us about Comprehensive coverage.  Comprehensive coverage helps pay for damage caused by things like weather or fire, and in most cases, will cover hail damage too. Give us a call here at ALINK Insurance Services and we can discuss what coverage will be right for you.

Denver Metro/Parker: 303-752-6479
Colorado Springs: 719-473-6262
Greeley: 970-475-0900
Surrounding States:
877-643-6148

Don't let hail get the best of you!  Check back to this post about Hail Damage for tips if you ever find yourself and/or your property caught in severe weather.

Enjoy the rest of your summer and stay safe out there!
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Source: Gerber Collision & Glass 
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Understanding Auto Coverage

5/14/2015

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Cars, cars, cars.  We all drive them, and if you're anything like my family you drive them A LOT. Add a few kids with driver's licenses into the mix and you start to feel like you're running a parking garage in your driveway.

No matter how many cars you own, or what kind of car you drive, auto insurance coverage is a necessity. Some types are required, others are optional, but it's important to understand them all because they provide protection against several types of risk.

This info-graphic from the Insurance Information Institute covers the basics.

Infographic: Types of Auto Coverage | III.
Have questions about auto insurance coverage? Give us a call at ALINK Insurance Services! 

Denver Metro/Parker: 303-752-6479
Colorado Springs: 719-473-6262
Greeley: 970-475-0900
Surrounding States:
877-643-6148

We're your link to security!
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Borrowing a Car

3/11/2015

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I’m borrowing my friend’s car … am I covered?  

Most people have an idea of what’s covered and not covered under their various insurance policies. But at ALINK Insurance Services, we get a lot of questions about borrowing or loaning a car.

Now that spring is drawing near, you might be looking to borrow your neighbor’s truck for a home-improvement project or a trip to the local donation center or landfill after a deep spring cleaning (my favorite). So let us provide you with a little more information!
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With five kids, you collect STUFF over the years (as I'm sure anyone with children can relate). A routine Goodwill haul after a good deep clean helps keep things in order.
Generally, insurance coverage follows the vehicle rather than the driver. So in most instances, as long as the owner of the car has insurance, it’s covered even if someone other than the owner is driving it — as long as they have the owner’s permission.

The borrower’s insurance is considered secondary, meaning that in the event of an accident, it could apply if the owner’s insurance is insufficient to fully cover the damage.

It’s important to note that there are some exceptions to what is called “permissive use” coverage. For example, permission must be given by the owner, unless the borrower has a reasonable belief that they are allowed to use the car. However, the borrower cannot give permission to someone else. So if your teenager allows one of his or her friends to drive your car to lunch one day, your coverage likely won’t apply. 

Coverage might also be denied if the borrower operates the vehicle in a negligent or criminal manner. And if the borrower is using your car for business purposes, your personal auto policy likely won’t cover that.

If you have a regular long-term arrangement to either borrow or lend a car, the borrower should probably be added to the owner’s personal auto policy. Those who don’t own a car, but often borrow one, might also consider “named non-owner coverage,” an endorsement that provides bodily injury and property damage liability, uninsured motorists coverage and more.

Ultimately, it’s usually safe to loan your friend your car for occasional errands or projects. And the same goes for borrowing a car. Just make sure it’s for “normal” use. You’ll want to confirm that the car has coverage and that your insurance, whether you’re the owner or borrower, will apply. 


Feel free to give us a call here at ALINK Insurance Services if you have any questions — after all, you don’t want to wait until after an accident to get answers! 

Denver Metro/Parker: 303-752-6479
Colorado Springs: 719-473-6262
Greeley: 970-475-0900
Surrounding States: 877-643-6148

We’re your link to security!
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