Filing an insurance claim may seem straightforward but certain mistakes or misunderstandings can result in your claim being denied.

​Avoiding these pitfalls is essential to ensure your claim is processed smoothly. Here are 3 of the most common reasons why claims get denied:

Bow season for deer hunting has opened in Georgia and is deer hunting season is already open to firearms in South Carolina so that means deer movement is increasing.

Because this region of the country has a high deer population, that also means deer vehicle collisions will rise during the fall and winter seasons.

If you're driving through these regions, it’s important to understand what auto insurance coverage you'll need if you hit a deer, as it's not included as part of a minimum auto policy.  Here's more about what you need to know and have:

Comprehensive Coverage is Key
To protect yourself financially from a deer collision, comprehensive coverage is the most important part of your auto insurance policy. Unlike liability or collision coverage, which covers accidents involving other vehicles, comprehensive insurance is designed for damage from other events like fire, theft, vandalism, and—most importantly in this case--animal strikes.

If you have comprehensive coverage and hit a deer, you can expect your insurance will cover the cost of repairs to your vehicle, minus your deductible. Without it, you'll have to pay for damages out of pocket.

What About Personal Injury?
If you or your passengers are injured during a deer collision, your medical payments coverage or personal injury protection (PIP) will kick in to cover medical expenses, depending on what state you're in and what type of coverage you’ve selected.

What to Do If You Hit a Deer in Georgia or South Carolina
Deer collisions can be scary, but knowing what to do after the fact is crucial. Follow these steps:

1. Pull Over Safely: If you hit a deer, pull over to a safe location, preferably away from traffic.
2. Check for Injuries: Ensure that no one in your vehicle is injured. If anyone is hurt, call 911 for medical assistance immediately.
3. Contact Law Enforcement: In both Georgia and South Carolina, it’s a good idea to contact the local police or highway patrol. This can be helpful for insurance claims, as having a police report on file can validate your claim. Also, if the deer is blocking traffic, law enforcement can help with removal.
4. Document the Scene: Take photos of the damage to your vehicle, the road, and the deer (if it's safe). This evidence can be useful when filing your insurance claim.
5. Avoid the Deer: Don’t approach the animal, even if it seems lifeless. Injured deer can be unpredictable and may react aggressively.
6. Call Your Insurance Agent: Once you're safe and have all the necessary information, contact your insurance agent for guidance on next steps. Since deer collisions fall under comprehensive coverage, insurance companies may not raise your rates—unless you have a history of claims.

Deer Collision Prevention Tips
To reduce the chances of hitting a deer, try these driving tips:

• Stay Alert Especially at Dusk and Dawn: Deer are most active during these times.
• Use High Beams: When driving at night in darker/rural areas, use your high beams to better spot deer.
• Watch for Deer Crossing Signs: These signs are placed in high-risk areas because deer are known to by nearby and cross the road there. Slow down and stay alert in these zones.
• Brake, Don’t Swerve: If a deer jumps into your path, brake firmly but don’t swerve. Swerving can lead to more serious accidents with oncoming vehicles or roadside obstacles.

As an experienced independent insurance agent in Georgia and South Carolina, I can help you review your policy to ensure you have the right coverage to protect you in the event of a deer collision.

​Contact me for more personalized advice or a free insurance review: 706-726-1446.
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This is the perfect time of year to make sure your house and property are in top shape for the upcoming fall and winter seasons.

Seasonal maintenance inside and outside your house can help you avoid not only costly repairs, but also prevent insurance claims and keep your premiums in check.
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Here are 5 insurance-related tips to protect your property as this fall season approaches:

Navigating the complexities of insurance coverage can feel overwhelming for individuals and businesses alike in the current hard insurance market because:
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• insurance underwriting becomes stricter
• carriers reduce coverage offerings due to increased losses or economic pressures, and
• insurance premiums rise.

When this happens, having an independent insurance agent by your side becomes more than just a convenience—it’s a necessity. Here’s why:

When shopping for auto insurance, many factors influence the rate you’ll pay, including gender.  Here are a couple of general things to know about gender and auto rates:

1. A few states don't allow gender to be considered when calculating auto rates, but Georgia and South Carolina aren't among those few.
2. While insurance companies consider gender, it’s not a static factor—its impact on rates often changes with age.

​Here's how you can expect gender to impact your auto insurance rates with age:

Have you ever thought about how many people drive vehicles without having insurance coverage?
 
It's not something at the forefront of your mind until you're the victim of an auto accident where the at-fault party has no insurance coverage.
 
Unfortunately, this is a reality for many drivers, ​making it all the more important to have adequate coverage for your own financial protection. Here are 5 reasons why:

In Parts 1 and 2 of this series, I described a range of valuable auto insurance discounts, from multi-car and loyalty discounts to checking rates before buying a vehicle.

​In this final installment, I’ll highlight 4 more discounts that can further reduce your premiums and help you save.

In Part 1, I shared 4 potential valuable auto insurance discounts including: paying in bulk, loyalty, low mileage, and having a paid-off auto loan.
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In Part 2, I dive into 4 more discounts that could further reduce your auto insurance premiums.

When it comes to auto insurance, every dollar saved counts. Many drivers aren’t aware of the potential discounts available to them.
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This is Part 1 of a 3 part series on potential auto insurance discounts you could be eligible for that you might be missing.  Here are the first 4 that could help you keep more money in your pocket.

A DUI (Driving Under the Influence) conviction can have significant consequences on your life, including your auto insurance.

​Here's how a DUI affects your auto insurance and what you can do to navigate the situation.

When it comes to auto insurance, it's important to make sure your policy provides the right coverage for everyone who might be behind the wheel of your vehicle.

​But who exactly should you include on your policy? Let's break it down.

In my last post, I shared some must-know facts about driving in the summer heat to take care of your vehicle and avoid insurance claims. 

If you read it you know the answer to this question:  can summer heat break your vehicle's windshield or windows?

Yes, especially with the high summer temperatures we've had this year.  One of my client's car windows had shatter cracks throughout the window, and had to be replaced.

How does this happen?

Vehicle glass can break when it's been under big differences in temperature over time. 

"Weather whiplash" can cause repeated stress on the glass and create cracks when the glass expands from the heat and then shrinks when cooled rapidly. 

Heat from direct sunlight can also cause glass to crack or break.  It heats up not only the glass but also the car metal around the glass.
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To help prevent your vehicle's glass from breaking in the summer heat:

Fact or fiction:  Car tires melt in extreme heat?     ....      If you said fiction, give yourself a star.

And what about this one:  Very high temperatures can cause tire pressure to increase so much it can cause your tire to explode?    ....    That's a fact.

We're used to having long hot summers in the South, so August and September can still be very hot, especially when combined with the high humidity.   Also remember that pavement temperatures are significantly higher than the air temperatures.

And that brings up potential situations you should be aware of regarding driving in extreme heat that you haven't really had reason to be concerned about in the past.
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Here are 4 must-know facts to help you remain safe while driving in this summer's sweltering sun:

Water damage is the 3rd most common home insurance claim, behind wind/hail and fire/lightning claims (ref:  Insurance Information Institute).

Of all water damage claims, the root cause is damaged pipes.  So, while indoor plumbing has been one of the greatest conveniences of homeownership, it has been one of the greatest sources of losses of home insurers.

Do you know which water damage is covered vs. not covered by homeowners insurance?
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Here are 5 major considerations to help you identify which side of the fence water damage may fall on regarding homeowners insurance coverage:

Weather forecasts for the Central Savannah River Area (CSRA) have projected significant rain amounts due to tropical storm Debby.  For those in Savannah and Charleston, which can flood even with regular rainfall amounts, warnings have been issued for possible historic flooding events.

Generally, most of the CSRA isn't considered a typically flood-prone area.  But as we recently saw in our local area, sudden heavy rain storms created flash floods in areas that weren't at all known for flooding.

Unusual events like this have homeowners questioning whether their homeowners insurance covers flooding from heavy rains.

What do you think - does a typical homeowners insurance policy cover water damage from storm flooding?

If you said "no," you're right.

Homeowners must have a specific flood insurance policy to cover water damage from flooding, even if their homes are not considered to be in a flood plain.
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Wondering if you should look into getting a flood policy?  Here are the key points you need to know:

As the 2024 Summer Olympic Games get underway, millions will be actively watching the events and purchasing Olympic swag.

Unfortunately, too many will become the victims of online scams run by unscrupulous deceivers.  They set up very sharp and slick-looking e-commerce sites with the sole purpose of absconding with your money or even your identity.

According to Gen Digital's Threat Labs, scam attacks increased over 280% during the last summer Olympics and 238% during the last winter games. 
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Even if you and your family members take precautions vetting these sites to prevent falling for these fakes, you might consider investing in the following types of insurance coverage:

Flash floods have already struck the CSRA this summer and caused unexpected property and vehicle damage.

Even though you may not live in a flood-prone area, there are plenty of low-lying and flood prone areas in the region where you may park your vehicle.  Here's what you need to know about auto insurance coverage for flash floods:

Basically, yes. 

Although white cars get the greatest number of  tickets, there are many more white cars on the road, so relatively speaking, the percentage of red car traffic tickets is highest.  (Red cars also rank highest in accidents, by the way.)

But is it due to law enforcement bias, driver behavior, or something else?

Have you heard of "Operation Slow Down?"

Hopefully you have because it's currently under way in a number of southern states, including Georgia and South Carolina.

Both highway patrol and local law enforcement agencies are looking out for drivers who are speeding or driving recklessly.

Just for the record, do you know what would happen to your auto insurance premium if you did get ticketed for speeding?
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Here are 4 frequently asked questions (and answers) I get about speeding tickets:

Hardly a day goes by that I don't hear comments bemoaning the rise of homeowners insurance - or worse - the receipt of a non-renewal notice from an insurance company.

Why are these actions happening and affecting even those who haven't filed a claim on their homeowners insurance?
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Recent reports shed a spotlight on the data found, including these  4 eye-opening facts that help answer that question:

Even though meteorologists' technology resources allow us to anticipate some upcoming severe weather events, others can crop up with little warning.

Since these events can leave behind significant damage and disruption, policyholders should be prepared well ahead of time for such occurrences to ensure your safety and protect your property.
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Here are 5 key tips to help you stay prepared for a potential claim from a weather-related event:

Did you know July 4th consistently ranks as one of the biggest days for insurance claims?

​So as you gear up to celebrate Independence Day, be very aware of the potential risks that come with the fun and festivities.

Here's what you need to know to protect yourself and your property:

As insurance rates have climbed over the past several years, it has insureds hard pruning coverages to offset those increases.

It's understandable why they're doing that, but it's like gambling with their money.
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Many become significantly under-insured when they do that and take on huge financial risk.  It takes just one event to financially destroy them, as the following examples illustrate:

Filing a homeowners insurance claim is a necessary step when disaster strikes, but many homeowners are concerned about the potential impact of a claim on their insurance rates.

Does your insurance premium go up after filing a claim?
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Here's the answer, along with some clarification:

Owning or using a watercraft - whether a speedboat, jet ski, or pontoon - can be a source of great enjoyment but it comes with its own set of risks and responsibilities.

It should go without saying that understanding and having the right insurance coverage to protect yourself, your passengers, and your investment is a given.

There are various types of watercraft coverage to consider including:

• liability
• physical damage
• medical pay
• uninsured/underinsured boater
• towing and assistance

​Then there are some key insurance considerations depending on whether you're a watercraft owner or a user: