Are you preparing for a New Year's Eve celebration?  Make sure you take these 7 key tips to avoid any unforeseen insurance claims:

​- This is obvious, but needs to be emphasized:  if you or those you're with have too much to drink, do not drive.  Either designate a driver ahead of time or tap local transportation resources to get to your destination.
- If you're a host, have non-alcoholic beverage choices available, and stop serving alcohol several hours before the party is over.
- Make sure your phone is charged, and be very aware of your surroundings if you're celebrating out in public.
- Refrain from posting your location on social media so you don't alert potential thieves from visiting your residence while you're away.
- If you plan to set off fireworks, observe local ordinances about them and ensure you do that in an open area.
-  Avoid setting off fireworks in a neighborhood to avoid conflict escalation regarding noise and property safety issues.
- When you set off fireworks, make sure adults handling them take appropriate safety steps, and there is adequate supervision of children.

Be proactive in safeguarding your assets.  Make sure you have the coverage you need by reviewing your policies with an experienced independent insurance agent.  Call me today:  706-726-1446.
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 Wishing you an enjoyable and claim-free New Year's Eve!

Are you planning a road trip this winter?  If so, you need to be ready for wintery road conditions.
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In addition to preparing your vehicle ahead of time for the cold temps, it's important to apply the following tips when navigating winter weather conditions once you're on the road:

If you received an expensive gift for Christmas, do you know if you need to insure it or if it's covered by your existing insurance policy?
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As usual, my answer is It depends - in this case, on the kind of gift it is and what its value is.  

Happy first day of winter!

With cold weather's entrance to our southern states comes an increased incidence of home insurance claims from things like:

• house fires
• frozen pipes
• fallen trees and limbs

​If you experience some type of winter damage, take the following immediate steps:

​According to the Insurance Information Institute, nearly 13% of drivers countrywide are uninsured (12.9% in Georgia and 10.4% in South Carolina).
 
Many MORE drivers are UNDER-insured, meaning if they're found at fault in an accident, their policies aren't enough to cover accident-related losses.
 
What recourse do you have if your car is hit and the person at fault doesn't have insurance?

Did you know hit-and-run accidents - those in which someone causes an accident and then leaves the scene without providing their information - are more common than you might think?

And, Georgia ranks 4th according to Ride Safe Georgia for fatal hit-and-run accidents.
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So, if you're a victim of a hit-and-run does insurance cover the accident?

​It may seem logical to remove your RV insurance during off-season times, but there are still risks that your RV could be damaged while not in use.
 
Here are 6 reasons it's wise to maintain your RV insurance throughout the year:

​Winter is officially only a few weeks away, so now is the time to avoid a home insurance claim from frozen water pipes bursting by taking these preventive tips now:

Have you turned on your heater only to find out it isn't working?

You call a repair service and they tell you your system isn't repairable and needs to be replaced.  Does your homeowner's insurance policy cover your HVAC system?

It depends on the reason for a malfunction.

You'll need to review your policy to see what it covers specifically.  For example:  

What do you think has been the brand of car most pulled over by law enforcement this year for speeding?

Logically, a great guess would be a brand that makes a compact, sporty, high-end horsepower vehicle whose drivers tend to drive faster than the speed limit.
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According to a recent report by Insurify, 

Cleaning gutters is a thankless chore that peaks in the late fall.
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Here are 10 safety  tips that can literally save you from physical injury and property damage: