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.

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:

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:

Golf carts have seen a rise in popularity for driving on neighborhood streets.

​If you're considering the practicality of using a golf cart for this type of family transportation, you need to be very clear about local laws and insurance essentials.

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? 

Have you noticed the severe thunderstorms including hundreds of  lightning strikes that have swept across large swaths of our country over the past several weeks?

Lightning is among the most prevalent natural hazards capable of inflicting damage upon residential properties.
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It's important to understand what aspects of lightning-related harm are covered by your homeowners insurance policy, what falls outside its scope, and the necessary steps to take should your home sustain a direct strike.

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:

In today's online world, it's possible to get insurance quotes without the involvement of an agent. But, the convenience of direct access to insurance companies or chatbots may come at a cost when you find yourself in a claim situation. Going solo could lead to headaches and financial hardships if you haven't chosen the right coverage.

An experienced insurance agent is invaluable when it comes to providing personalized guidance for this critical form of financial protection. Rather than navigating the complex world of insurance alone, an agent partners with you to ensure your needs are met.
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When choosing an insurance expert to entrust with your coverage, consider these seven factors: