“It came out of nowhere!” That’s what a friend said after he hit a deer as he drove to our house last year. The impact tore off his grill and front bumper; who knows if the animal survived. My friend was lucky; he was shaken up after the accident but unhurt. Little did he know that he was one of hundreds of thousands who have an unfortunate meeting with deer every year.
Deer-vehicle collisions can happen any time of year but fall is particularly bad. Crashes with them spike October through December as they seek new habitats to breed and forage for food.
Be especially careful if you live in a rural area or one that is near deer habitat; the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety estimates more than 1.5 million deer collisions take place every year in the U.S., causing over $1 billion in vehicle damage. The top five states for deer-auto crashes are:
West Virginia
Montana
Iowa
Pennsylvania
South Dakota
These are things you can do to reduce your risk of hitting deer or other wildlife while driving:
Don’t drive distracted
Slow down
Use high beams at night when there is no oncoming traffic
Stay especially alert at dusk and dawn when deer tend to be most active
Watch for road signs warning about wildlife
Honk your horn to scare any deer you encounter off the road
Break firmly and don’t swerve
If all these fail and you collide with a deer:
Attempt to move your vehicle to the side of the road and use your hazard lights
Call local law enforcement or the state patrol
Don’t attempt to move injured animals
Take photos of the animal, the damage to your vehicle, and the roadway where the crash occurred
Contact your insurance company as soon as possible
Damage from striking deer and other wildlife is one of the things comprehensive auto insurance coverage helps pay for. Make sure you have adequate protection if you encounter a deer, contact a California Casualty advisor today for a free policy comparison and review at 1.800.800.9410, or visit www.calcas.com.
I couldn’t believe it (well, then again nothing is that surprising these days) – the guy in the car ahead of me was shaving. It was early morning as we drove on a narrow two-lane road. He swerved numerous times as he continued grooming behind the wheel. It could have ended badly since there were school buses and elementary school children on the side of the road; luckily nobody was hit or hurt. The sad part is that he was oblivious to how dangerous his antics were.
Then, on a recent trip to visit our daughter, my wife and I witnessed drivers passing on the far right on the interstate, wildly veering across three lanes and then back to the left lane. Others were tailgating at such a high speed that there was no way they would avoid slamming into the car ahead if traffic suddenly came to a stop.
We’ve all seen it; people with angry faces, often gesturing, as the careen through our thoroughfares as if they were the only one who mattered. As we encounter the growing number of distracted and aggressive drivers, it got me thinking about how we all need to be hyper-aware and drive with extra precaution.
Don’t challenge them by speeding up or trying to block them
Follow the speed limit
Avoid eye contact
Report them to authorities providing vehicle description, license plate number, location and direction of travel
Gesturing back or making eye contact can often lead to road rage.
And here are some defensive driving tips that can help you avoid confrontations with aggressive drivers:
Keep scanning the area ahead and behind you
Drive with both hands on the wheel to better respond to dangers
Wear your seatbelt
Slow down in bad weather
Have an escape plan
Don’t follow too close
Avoid driving when tired or drowsy
Experts recommend that you take a defensive driving course to learn these techniques; besides it can also qualify you for a discount on your auto insurance.
California Casualty is dedicated to preventing this type of driving behavior. That’s why we are proud to be a major sponsor of Impact Teen Drivers, a nonprofit formed with the law enforcement and education groups that uses peer-to-peer tactics to educate teen and young adults about the dangers of distracted and reckless driving. Learn more at https://www.calcas.com/web/ccmc/impact-teen-drivers.
Before you hit the road, make sure you have adequate protection in case you encounter a distracted or aggressive driver. Call a California Casualty advisor today for an auto policy review or comparison at 1.800.800.9410 or visit www.calcas.com.
As Hurricane Joaquin strengthens and barrels across the Atlantic taking aim at the Eastern Seaboard of the United States, experts are warning people to be prepared. Even if it doesn’t make landfall, the storm could drench coastal areas from Geo rgia north to Virginia, Maryland, Delaware and New Jersey. Some areas could get as much as 20 inches of rain this weekend. Are you ready?
While hurricanes are associated with extreme winds, the National Hurricane Center warns that storm surge actually causes the most damage and loss of life. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has developed new maps to show the danger. They also have a list of hurricane preparedness tips that include:
Understand your insurance – know whether you have actual cash value or replacement cost coverage, know how much living expenses coverage you have and make sure you have flood insurance (not covered with most home or renters insurance)
Store copies of your inventory and insurance information in a safe location away from home
Get an annual insurance review to make sure you have enough coverage for the dwelling and possessions
Contact your insurance company as soon as possible
Secure the property from further damage or theft
Keep or document receipts and other expenses if you are evacuated or forced to find another place to live because of damage to your home or apartment
Be wary of unscrupulous contractors following a natural disaster
California Casualty is ready to help before or after the storm. Contact an advisor today for a policy review, to arrange for flood insurance or upgrade coverages at 1.800.800.9410 or visit www.calcas.com. It’s also our policy to call customers in a disaster area to make sure you are okay and help start a claim, and our Claims department is available 24 hours a day, even on holidays if you have an emergency.
Nothing is more precious than our children. We try and protect them as long as possible, including when they get their first car.
When it comes time for that purchase we want the safest one possible at a good price, but buying solely on price could compromise their safety. Researching safety and price can be an arduous process but Consumer Reports has done the work for you. After looking at vehicles that have electronic stabilization control, good handling and stopping in emergency maneuver tests, and have blue tooth features to discourage using the phone while driving, they came up with this list of the 10 best used cars for teens under $10,000.
2009-2012 Chevy Malibu – described as solid, comfortable and safe, starting around $8,100
2009-2011 Ford Focus – which they call fun to drive with a good view of the road, starting around $6,000
2010-2012 Ford Fusion – bigger and more sophisticated than its smaller cousin with better handling, starting around $8,000
2006-2014 Hyundai Sonata – which they described as comfortable and almost luxurious with good gas mileage, starting around $5,200
2010-2011 Kia Soul – a boxy vehicle that has lots of room and is considered “hip,” starting around $8,600
2011-2013 Mazda3 – safe, fuel efficient and fun to drive, starting around $9,800
2009-2013 Mazda6 – a sporty midsized sedan that parents may want to borrow, starting around $8,300
2004-2012 Toyota Rav4 – plenty of cargo space and all-wheel drive for inclement weather, starting around $7,300
2009-2010 VW Jetta – a sophisticated small car that handles well with good stability, starting around $7,200
2009-2014 VW Rabbit/Golf – some of the best selling cars that are still catching on in America with great room and secure handling, starting around $7,700
Most of these vehicles come with a 4 cylinder option, which the Insurance Institute for Highway safety recommends for younger, less skilled drivers.
Here is why safety is such a concern: the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of injury and death for U.S. teens. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has found the risk of these crashes is highest among 16-to-19 year olds than any other age group.
California Casualty also has a commitment to the safety of teen drivers. We’ve partnered with law enforcement agencies, safety groups, educators and concerned parents to create and fund Impact Teen Drivers, an intensive campaign to inform young drivers about the dangers of distracted or reckless driving. The nonprofit provides training and powerful tools to help engage teen drivers and change their attitudes behind the wheel.
California Casualty can also make sure your teen drivers are protected with quality auto insurance. Contact an advisor today to learn about some of the best auto insurance rates for teen drivers, 1.800.800.9410 or visit www.calcas.com.
As if texting and driving wasn’t bad enough, a new survey finds drivers are distracted by modern technology in numerous other ways: surfing the Internet, tweeting or taking and sharing a “selfie.”
AT&T talked with more than 2,000 people aged 16-25 across the U.S. who have a smartphone and drive at least once per day. Seventy percent acknowledged using their phone while behind the wheel. While texting and emailing were the most prevalent activities, four-in-ten were tapping into social media while driving and almost three-in-ten said the surf the net. Here is the breakdown of things people admitted they do as drivers:
61 percent text
33 percent email
28 percent surf the net
27 percent look at Facebook
17 percent snap a selfie
14 percent check Twitter or Instagram
Around one-in-ten said they conduct video chats, have shot a video or viewed a Snapchat behind the wheel.
Keep in mind that the average text takes the driver’s eyes off the road for five seconds – if they were driving 55 miles per hour that would equal driving the length of a football field blindfolded.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that every day nine people are killed and more than 1,100 are injured in crashes that involve a distracted driver. Unfortunately, teen drivers are more likely to be distracted and were involved in a disproportionate amount of fatal crashes.
These are more than statistics; they involve real people and impact real families. Sydnee W. was an Ohio teen who died in a crash just shy of her 18th birthday. She was driving distracted and not wearing her seatbelt. Fourteen year old Hunter C. was the victim of a crash where the 17 year old driver was distracted. Connor L. was just 16 when he was hit and killed by a distracted, unlicensed 18 year old driver. None of the families or friends of these teens ever thought their loved one would never come home again.
Many states have now banned the use of a hand-held device behind the wheel, but much more needs to be done. That’s why California Casualty has teamed up with law enforcement agencies and education groups to form Impact Teen Drivers, a non-profit that educates young drivers about the dangers of distracted and careless driving. Much of the effort involves peer-to-peer messages about the problem, including the Create Real Impact contest, awarding prizes to the individuals and schools who produce the most creative video, music, art or essay to prevent distracted driving.
Here are other ways Impact Teen Drivers battles inattentive driving:
Providing resources to help student leaders fine-tune traffic safety messages they can spread to others
Developing curriculum for elementary and middle school students focusing on seat belt safety, being a non-distracting passenger and speaking up in unsafe driving situations
Leading Train the Trainers programs to empower first responders, educators, health professionals and community members so they can deliver high energy, fact based presentations to teens in school and community settings
Holding parent-teen workshops to discuss graduated drivers licensing laws and sharing the “What Do You Consider Lethal?” campaign
California Casualty urges everyone to put the phone down while driving and talk to their teens about the danger of inattentive driving. Learn more about our commitment at www.calcas.com/impact-teen-drivers.
There’s nothing like a cool dip in a pool on a hot summer day, but calm waters can be dangerous for children. The Consumer Protection Safety Commission (CPSC) reports that nearly 400 children under the age of fifteen drown every year in a pool or spa. Unfortunately, the 4th of July traditionally sees an increase in the number of pool and spa drownings.
Teaching kids to swim and maintaining proper supervision are essential in preventing water tragedies. The CPSC has teamed up with USA Swimming for a concerted pool safety campaign. “Pool Safely” offers these top 10 stay safe tips around pools and spas:
Never leave children unattended near a pool or spa and watch them at all times
Teach children basic water safety
If a child is missing look for him or her in the pool or spa first
Keep kids away from pool drains, pipes and other openings that could trap them
Make sure any pool or spa you use has drain covers that comply with federal standards
Lean how to swim and teach your children to swim
Learn CPR for children and adults
Install a four-foot or taller fence around the perimeter of pools and spas and use self-closing and self-latching gates – ask your neighbors to do the same if they have pools
Install and use a locking safety cover on your spa
Have lifesaving equipment such as life rings, floats and a reaching pole available and easily accessible
Keep in mind that air filled or foam toys are not water safety devices.
There are insurance implications for those with pools. Having one is considered an “attractive nuisance,” increasing liability risk. Most companies will require it be completely fenced with a locking gate. Many companies will not cover liability from diving boards or slides, and some companies may disqualify you for homeowner insurance. Because of the increased danger, the Insurance Information Institute says pool owners may want to increase their liability coverage to at least $300,000 or $500,000.
If you have a pool, make sure you have sufficient liability coverage from your homeowner’s insurance. Call a California Casualty advisor today for a policy review, 1.800.800.9410 or visit www.calcas.com.
While hurricanes are associated with extreme winds, the National Hurricane Center warns that 
