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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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:

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:

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:

We're well into severe storm season and have already seen some storms cause damage in our area. Before the next storm blows through,  there are things you can do quickly beforehand to minimize weather-related damage and prevent an insurance claim.
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In addition to tips I've mentioned before, here are 3 more tasks you can do now:

Whether you're moving across town or to a new state, one of the biggest decisions you'll need to make is how to transport your belongings.
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The method you choose - hiring professional movers, renting a truck yourself, or using your own vehicle - can have a major impact on what insurance coverage you'll need. Here's a quick rundown:

As insurers are tightening their criteria of their client portfolio due to the industry's hard market, the occurrences of cancellations and non-renewals are on the uptick.
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It's especially important in this climate that you understand the difference between these two actions, reasons insurers take them, and how to avoid being the recipient of either of them. 

As with other industries, the insurance market is cyclical, and we're currently in what's called a "hard market."

A hard market is when political, societal, climate, and other factors cause insurers' profits to fall.  Over the past several years, the impact of these factors have combined to a point where insurers have experienced greater losses and have had to make adjustments to maintain profitability.  Insurers have become more conservative in what they are underwriting causing their portfolios to shrink and clients' premiums to rise.

Historically, hard markets haven't lasted as long as "soft markets,"  which is when market conditions are just the opposite.  In soft markets, insurers' revenue reserves are higher and they are able to be less strict in the risk they underwrite.  This allows them to increase their client portfolios, there is more competition among companies, and premiums are very stable over time.

SO, what can you do while we're in a hard market to soften its impact? 

In my last post, I highlighted the advantages of bundling your home and auto insurance policies. However, it's essential to recognize that bundling isn't always the best approach.
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There are certain scenarios where keeping your home and auto insurance policies separate may prove more beneficial. Here are a few of these situations:

​Bundling your auto and home insurance policies with the same insurer can offer a range of advantages. Here are five compelling reasons to consider this approach:

Imagine this scenario: You're an employee of a company located far from its main office. You're on your way to a mandatory meeting at the main office, driving a rental vehicle provided for business purposes.
Suddenly, another driver runs a red light and crashes into your rental car, causing significant damage and injuring both you and the vehicle.
​In such a situation, determining whose insurance covers the damages and injuries can be complex. Here are 4 factors to consider:

I continue to get calls from people because their auto insurance premiums are rising at renewal time, and they're searching for lower rates.

Many of these potential clients haven't had any accidents, tickets, moving violations, etc. to directly cause their rates to rise, so why are they experiencing this?

​There are a number of factors that contribute to this, including these  5 reasons:

Renting a car for a spring road trip? When it comes to insurance coverage, things can get a bit tricky. Here are 4 items to consider before signing the rental agreement.

March is National Credit Education month so it's a great time to understand this.
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Here are 2 ways your credit score influences your insurance rate:

Check this out: a recent survey revealed that a staggering 65% of Americans are in the dark about the full extent of their home insurance coverage.

Even more surprising, 45% have faced the harsh reality of having their insurance claim denied due to insufficient coverage.

That's why it's crucial to engage in regular conversations with your local independent insurance agent. This ensures that you not only recall your existing coverage but also assess whether any adjustments are needed.
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To guide your discussion, ask these 8 essential questions: