As we get into the heart of the winter months one thing is for certain the increase in holiday activity coupled with less daylight hours to work and play, and further coupled with Mother Nature providing us a weather that can make roads slippery and visibility poor with snow and rain the opportunity for accidents are certainly elevated. Holiday parties will put more cars on the road at night and unfortunately there is a good probability that some of the drivers of these cars will be under the influence, shoppers will be at malls and walking one city streets looking for treasure and children will be home from school for Christmas break, anxious to play. This begs the question, is your insurance winter proof?
Understand your Policy:
Unfortunately, many of us operate with a false sense of security as we do not know what our insurance covers and what it doesn’t. Some policies have exclusions that can include guests at a holiday party that
may behave negligently or what might be considered reckless behavior such as bobsledding or skiing. The responsibility is on you to know what your policy will cover and what it won’t. If you can’t sort this out by reading the policy or have any question after studying it, contact your agent to make sure you’re clear on this. Knowledge is power and the absence of knowledge could cost you dearly.
Be responsible with your property:
You own it and if you can’t take care of it, don’t expect your insurer to be sympathetic and cough up the dough to fix negligent care. Make sure that all your belongings are in good conditions and winter ready. Even if you live in the southern part of Arizona and venture north, not having snow tires or chains in the mountains could be expensive or worse, deadly. Here are some high-level considerations as examples:
- If you live where it gets below freezing, make sure you’ve taken measures to protect against pipes freezing. Keep all of your pathways clear of obstructions and well-lit. If you have a known area where a slip and fall can happen, put up a sign.
- When driving, make sure to allow extra time when conditions are poor, there is an uptick in accidents in winter months as this is a fact you cannot ignore. Also, be sure that your car is in good working condition and that you always wear your seat belt and have proper safety restraints for young ones.
- If enjoying winters majesty, make sure you are taking safety precautions and that your equipment is in good operating condition and be aware of your surroundings. Don’t walk on ice that has any chance of being unsafe or take out a snowmobile that isn’t in good operational condition.
Apply common sense and do your homework on your insurance. If you don’t have coverage for the activities you might want to participate in, then you need to see if there are options with your insurance provider. If you “think” it might be dangerous, it probably is so please revert to common sense so you can have a safe and happy holiday and winter season.
If you or a loved one has been involved in an accident and injured, you have our deepest concern and sympathy. Contact us at Accident Law Group to get a complete assessment of your case. We built our firm to help you build fight and win your case and make sure the rights you have under the law are protected.
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