Driving Safety Tips for Fall & Winter

As your local Allstate Burbank agent, whenever the fall season begins, I see a whole new exciting time of the year starting. Summer is long gone and the heat slowly disappears and the much needed breeze and cooler weather feels like a gift for those of us in Southern California. With children back in school and holidays approaching, there will be far more frequent driving and traveling.

More importantly, the weather starts to get cooler and we see rainfall become more frequent. This makes the dangers on the road drastically increase putting you and your loved ones’ lives at risk. Winter is the season that makes most drivers become extremely cautious on the road. However, these risks begin in the fall and the earlier you prepare for these dangers the safer you’ll be when conditions start to escalate. 

At Allstate Burbank, I don’t just provide protection with Allstate auto insurance coverage. I also provide guidance to help you avoid events that require you to have such insurance, and I am fully aware of the rise of accidents that come with the change in the weather.

New Dangers on the Road in the Fall

Autumn is the precursor for the upcoming dangers that you will see more often on the road as the weather becomes wetter every day. The following are hazards you should monitor:

Pedestrians

With school in session and the holiday season approaching, the streets will be filled with more people in both residential and commercial areas. Students are crossing the streets around schools and bus drop off zones, and adults are out and about doing their seasonal shopping making both the street and traffic far denser. The Halloween holiday is especially heavy with many trick-or-treaters that require special attention as well as each week of Thanksgiving and Christmas for last minute shoppers.

Fallen Leaves

Roads can become slippery as the fallen leaves of the season begin to covet the roads. It is crucial that you proceed carefully this season to prevent any danger of losing control of your vehicle as well as avoid hidden hazards camouflaged by the numerous leaves such as potholes.  Even if it isn’t raining in your area, dry leaves still serve a danger. It is possible that piles of dry leaves accumulated on your car could spark a fire with the car’s catalytic converter. Therefore make sure you’re not parked near large piles of dry leaves.

Wet Conditions

Although Southern California is known for its warm and dry climate, it still faces impulsive weather and can deal with heavy rain that starts in the fall. It is highly advised that you make sure your windshield wipers are functioning properly or check if they are in need of replacement. If you’re ever in a situation where the rain is too heavy such as the middle of a storm, it is always the best decision to pull over and wait for conditions to improve. Your safety is more important than anything.

Tire Pressure

As we mentioned about Southern California’s weather, temperature is consistently erratic. The temperature unpredictably rises and falls which can cause the rubber of car tires to expand and contract resulting in air pressure loss. This will provide a danger for you on the road so make sure you’re regularly checking your tires for any sign of deflation.

Sunlight Glare

Days start to become shorter in the fall, and you may find yourself commuting during the sunrise on your way to work and during the sunset on your drive home. The glare from the sun will drastically impair your vision, putting you and other drivers around you in danger. Make sure you own a pair of sunglasses to keep in your car that will protect your eyes from any glare helping your own safety on the highway as well as prevent damage to your eyes. Your commute will also become noticeably darker sooner even before daylight savings time which means your car light’s need to be checked for maintenance and replacements as well.

Animals

Drivers in the city often may come across rodents and stray pets on the road, and your initial reaction would be to immediately swerve to avoid them. If you are farther away from the cities whether you’re closer to the mountains or driving in the countryside, bigger animals are more likely to be crossing roads due to seasonal migration or to find shelter during bad weather. The initial reaction drivers commonly have is to swerve out of the way. However, this is a dangerous reaction since you can hit another car or lose control of your own vehicle. If it is possible, come to a controlled stop and let the animal pass. These kind of situations can never be predicted and each case varies, but remaining calm is always the best answer.

Fog

The warmer mornings are slowly disappearing, and the fog and chilly weather will bring in slower starts to you day. Fog can greatly limit your visibility as you drive and can alter your perception of distance. You are most likely to experience fog in low altitude areas or areas surrounded by hills, water or mountains. A common mistake many drivers make is to turn on their high beams which only make visibility worse by creating glare. The best option is to make sure you drive slowly and create more distance between you and the car in front of you to give yourself enough time to come to a calm and complete stop.

Frost

It is likely you’ll start finding your car with frost on the windows. Usually your defroster can help clear your windows, so you’ll have to get ready a little earlier in order to make sure you car is prepared for a safe drive. If the frost is thicker, you will need to scrape it off of your windows with the proper tools otherwise you will not be able to see whatsoever. Make sure you are reducing your speed in the road as well maintain more distance between your vehicle and other vehicles as you travel like in foggy conditions.

Follow these Tips to Save Lives

With all of the hazards we stated above, driving in the colder and wetter weather can be intimidating. It’s natural to feel so, because as aware as you may be to these dangers, not every driver may be just as responsible. There also may be tips that slip your mind. Make sure to go through the following necessary and easy steps with updating your car to keep you and other drivers safe:

1) Replace Your Wiper Blades

Your car’s wiper blades are consistently facing all kinds of conditions on your windshield. The rain will slowly get harder, and the wind will blow leaves and other light objects on your windshield. So, your car’s wiper blades need to be checked to see if you need to buy new blades to keep your vision as clear as possible.

2) Slow Down

This cannot be emphasized enough. As confident and competent of a driver as you may be, the same cannot be said about many other drivers and you should never assume so. The speed limits are based on ideal conditions when whether is fair. Even the lightest of rain can cause deadly accidents, and it is guaranteed that it will cause heavy traffic. So make sure you give yourself more time to get to your destination because you will need to drive more carefully as well as face much more traffic.

3) Increase Distance Between Cars

As we stated before, allow more space with the vehicle in front of you. Usually, the 3-4 second rule applies in normal weather however it should become around 10 seconds in any kind of wet weather. This gives you plenty of time to stop especially with the slippery streets that may cause you to skid and cause an accident.

4) Always Have Your Headlights on During Rain

It is required by law to have your headlights on during any level of rainfall. However, no matter how hard it rains or even possibly snow, your high beams should NOT be used. As we mentioned during foggy conditions, this will cause a glare that actually reflects off of the rain or snow making it far more difficult for both you and other drivers to see. The high beams are used for momentary use to signal other drivers in case of emergencies.

5) Never Slam on Your Brakes

As discussed earlier when animals run in the road, try your best to resist slamming on your brakes during rainy weather. A sudden stop may cause your car to skid on the slippery road and make you lose control. When your tires come to an immediate stop, it will cause your car to act like a sled, losing all traction and make it far more difficult to control. If you ever need to make a stop or you feel your car start to skid, ease off the accelerator first. Your vehicle will slow down on its own.

6) Avoid Driving at Night

You are 3 times more likely to be in a fatal auto accident during the nighttime in comparison to daylight hours. However, so many hard working people hardly see the day time since their drive to work and back home is during the dark. So if you cannot avoid driving at dark regularly practice everything we’ve mentioned above to reduce your risk of being in a collision.
                             

                         

7) Approach Traffic Lights With Care

The weather conditions, whether sun glare or rainfall, will make it harder for your see traffic lights clearly. Therefore approach traffic lights and all intersections with much more care than usual.

8) Avoid High-gloss Cleaning Products

When you’re washing or waxing your vehicle, these kind of products will actually magnify the sun’s glare which puts both you and other drivers on the road at risk.

Be a Smart Driver on the Road

Driving can be a daily ritual, and each one of us is guilty of allowing it to become a monotonous chore. Safety habits then become in danger of slipping to the back of our mind, and it’s not until you just experienced a collision that you are reminded to pay more attention. Our team at Allstate Burbank highly encourages you to be smart and take the time to examine yourself and the environment around you. These seemingly simple tips usually are dismissed, because almost every driver thinks it won’t happen to them. However, it can and it will if you neglect this guidance.

Put your Cell Phone Away

Everyone multi-tasks and our busy lives require us to be in consistent connection with our loved ones, friends or coworkers. Despite California having strict cell phone safety laws, many people are still using their phone while driving. If you absolutely have to use your phone if you are driving and you do not have a passenger who can help you then the best option is to pull over. There is no text or call more important than your safety. Your destination will still be there if you take a minute to stop. If you choose to use your phone when you are driving your car then you are deliberately choosing to put other people's’ lives in danger.

Avoid having too many Passengers in your Car

You risk everyone’s safety when you have a full vehicle. It is said to be just as dangerous as using a cell phone, because too many passengers can distract you as a driver. If you absolutely need to have a full car then you will have to focus far more closely on the road. Every single passenger in that car is your responsibility.

Drive Safe and Be Insured!

Allstate Burbank can help keep you on your feet if you ever have to deal with any of the dangers and hazards that come with the fall and winters seasons. However, we want every one of our customers to do their best to avoid these situations in the first place. Getting Burbank auto insurance acts as your safety net and encourages you to be the safest driver on the road. If you want to know more about the details of our Burbank  auto insurance policy contact me, Gino Mattunts, today to set up an appointment. As your local Allstate Burbank agent, I can help get you onto the road to protection. Like me on Facebook and follow me on Google+ and Twitter to stay updated on all the latest news from Allstate Burbank. Remember: drive safe and drive smart this fall and winter!

Take a Look at One of My Recent Blogs:

Allstate Renters Insurance for College Students

Making a Life Claim

Help Your Pets Live A Full Life With A Simple Solution: Pet Insurance!

Allstate’s Renters Insurance for College Students

Getting renters insurance for your dorm room or apartment may be one of last thoughts on your mind after moving into your new place for this college year. Your thoughts are on your schedule, making friends or reuniting with them, and on-campus activities or organizations. However, all of the new adventures on a great campus can be put in the shadow of the responsibilities of studying, bills and food, but more importantly the chaos of emergencies. Obstacles are inevitable in college, but you can make sure you are covered with renter’s insurance if any of your important belongings are stolen or ruined by accident such as an electrical fire or flooding from a plumbing incident.

For the parent, the experience is completely different. This is where you worry most about your children. Has your son or daughter eaten? Do they have enough clothes? And are they safe in case something bad happens? Although your child is now an adult and is learning to live on his or her own, you can still have a solid foundation for them with renters insurance. It will help you sleep a little better knowing they are in good hands in case they have to deal with an emergency. You can think of it as a life lesson for them, which can then lead them to understand the details of insurance when they start their future careers and their own families.

For the students, you may be covered under your parents’ homeowners or renters insurance policy if you are younger than 26 years old and living in the dorms or any other on-campus housing. It is best to understand the details of your parents’ coverage to know the limits for personal property and if your belongings are affected by being “off-premises.” If you know that your parents’ policy limits will not cover everything you need to take with you to school you can add scheduled personal property coverage, also called a “floater,” to their current policy.

If you are living off-campus, you may need your own renters insurance policy because your parents’ insurance will probably not be able to cover any items that are stolen or damaged. You may also be provided with liability coverage that will help prevent you paying out of pocket in case there are any situations where you are responsible for an injury or damage to someone else’s property. 

You don’t want to deal with any of these situations, but keeping an inventory of your belongings and having coverage for each item will definitely help ease your worries when you already have such a busy schedule. As your agent, I will help you keep order and remain calm when you are faced with the inevitable emergency. College is the first time you are faced with the real world, meaning things never go according to plan. Contact me to help you get started on your future.

Making a Life Claim

The topic of Life Insurance can be difficult to bring up to your family, but mainly to accept it for yourself. No matter how healthy you may be, it is always best to be safe and make sure if anything were to happen to you or a loved one your family would not have to worry about finances when they would already be emotionally distraught. Allstate can help make this process easy to understand and handle, saving your family from confusion and emotional stress.

              

Allstate will help you plan ahead to protect your family with financial security, so in the unfortunate case of the loss of you or your family member there will be resources to help cover your family’s medical bills, funeral costs, mortgage or rent, college tuition and many more expenses. There is a variety of solutions that are made to best suit you and your family’s budget such as term life insurance, universal life insurance or whole life insurance, all the details of which you can find here.

After making sure you have life insurance plan, your family may lose someone in the future and will go through an emotional time. Our easy steps will help relieve you have any more trauma you could already be going through. The following are the steps you will need to take to make your claim in the case of an untimely death:

  1)  Acquire a copy of the death certificate as well as the life insurance policy. You will have to submit the copy of the death certificate to Allstate, and make sure you have your policy with you to help with any questions you may have.

2) Report your claim to Allstate. You will be given information and directions of what you will have to do next. You will then receive a claim form to you.

3) You will have to determine which option is best for you to receive your funds once you claim is approved.

  4) It will take time to process your claim once all the necessary documents are submitted. After the process, make sure you keep track of your claim be filing every piece of paperwork or keeping it saved in a digital device if received electronically.

You want to make sure you family is your number one priority in your life. We can help make sure you get all the help you need with these steps to put you on the right path. Visit Allstate’s website here to get details on everything else Allstate has to offer and see how we can make the process of taking care of your family easy for you. 

Help Your Pets Live A Full Life With A Simple Solution: Pet Insurance!

For all those pet owners out there, how many times have you wished you had a little bit of help when your pet was going through some difficult times? To enforce better pet health, you are going to want to begin with a plan. Pet health coverage may seem unnecessary but, it would help you plan for those difficult times, I just mentioned.

What is pet health insurance, you might ask. Just like car or home insurance, pet health insurance provides the pet owners with a bit of help when your pet needs routine checkups with the vet, or faces a serious health problem or has an injury. These costs for veterinary medicine can quickly add up especially with scans and modern treatment. You want the best care for your pet so, it will be helpful to have a pet health care policy that can won’t make it so costly. As a pet owner, you can provide the best possible care your pet.

Here is what pet health insurance covers:

1.    Accidents and illness treatments

2.    Cancer and chemotherapy services

3.    Surgery and hospital care

4.    Lab work, scans and tests

5.    Medications

6.    Alternative therapy like holistic or homeopathic medicine

7.    Chronic conditions like allergies

There are also coverage plans for routine care like checkups, vaccinations and more. Just make sure to talk to your Allstate insurance agent about it. Some procedures or treatments are not covered like cosmetic procedures, orthodontic procedures, vitamins, pregnancy/breeding vet fees, and a couple more. Be sure to check the full list on the website given below.

If you want to sign up for pet insurance right away, make sure your pet is eligible for the policy. As long as your pet is under the age of 14, he or she can sign onto a new health insurance policy. For pets older than 14 or have received a diagnosis of a specific disease, it will be best to get an accident-only plan. This plan will cover doctor/nurse/specialist exams, lab tests, emergency care and hospitalization, scans and ultrasounds, alternative therapy, physical therapy and surgeries.

Pets can be like children to their owners and wouldn’t you want your child to healthy all the time? Or at least, well taken care of when something health wise goes wrong? I’m sure you do. Allstate provides its customers with a variety of insurance policies, but pet owners, this is the one you want! To ensure a hearty and full life for your pet, give them the best care they deserve. To find out more information about pet insurance at Allstate, go to their website, https://www.allstate.com/pet-insurance.aspx

Protect Your Small Business Today With Allstate Insurance

We all know what insurance is right? Well it’s the act, system or business of insuring property, life, etc against any type of loss or harm in consideration of a payment proportionate to the risk involved, according to the dictionary. Now let’s apply this term to businesses.

Business insurance is so important. After putting blood, sweat and tears into building a successful business, it would be devastating if one small thing ruined it all. Having insurance is like a back up plan. A business owner can protect his or herself from liabilities or losses. More specifically, small business owners face issues that can be more catastrophic than big corporate companies because they haves something they can fall back on.

The first step is to find a certified business agent, which Allstate can provide you with. You are in good hands if you decide to hand your business to them. Your business agent will help with funding for your business, navigating government regulations and healthcare reforms, improving the advent of technology in all aspects of your company, recruiting and training the best staff and finally, retaining your best customers. As a business owner, the agent is like your right hand man with everything you do. His or her valuable input will likely protect you from future harm and advise you the best way to take your business to the next level. Allstate defines their agents as a friend to small businesses which is completely accurate. These industry trained agents will run a custom risk assessment and will be ready to start this journey in a moment’s time.

Allstate provides its customers with a valuable tool called The Small Business Connection. This tool provides small business owners, anyone from a new owner to seasoned owner, access to an extensive base of both knowledge and advice. Some topics include legal, technology, insurance, employee benefits, online marketing and more, all of which can be found in one place. Small Business Connection was created through the collaboration between Allstate, Capital One, Legal Zoom, Microsoft, Office Depot and Web.com to further the advancement of small businesses. The leadership aspect of this web portal can assist business owners with impactful decisions regarding their business.

Since small businesses have the disadvantage of not having something to fall back on when times are difficult, it is extremely important to have a friend in Allstate. Your decisions as a business owner do not have to be made alone but, instead with an industry trained agent. Apply for Allstate insurance today and create a community to fall back on if things do not go in the right direction. Learn more at https://www.allstate.com/business-insurance.aspx

New Rider Motorcycle Safety Guide

New Rider Motorcycle Safety Guide

               

                Getting a motorcycle can be a fun and exciting experience, but people should take certain precautions to stay safe. New riders will benefit from these safety tips:

1)      Make sure the bike fits you, your feet can rest flat on the ground comfortably when the bike is stopped. Another tip is don’t buy too much bike. 250-300cc is enough power for a beginner and handles better compared to bikes with bigger displacement.

2)      Get a bike with ABS. An Anti-lock braking system consists of valves from brake lines connected to the brake pump. The controller and master brake cylinder measure the rotational speed of each tire. The slower tire indicates that the wheel is locking up. As a result, the controller shifts the braking power onto the other wheel. The controller opens and closes the valves from the wheel that is locking up: that’s why it feels like the wheel that is locking up is pulsating. That’s the controller applying the brakes on and off in rapid succession. An ABS system allows for the rider to have more control under extreme braking situations.

3)      Taking a Motorcycle Safety Foundation riding course will help improve your operation of the motorcycle. The Basic “Ridercourse” also allows eligible new riders a waiver for the motorcycle license skills test and in most cases an insurance discount is applied.

4)      Invest in protective gear. A 55mph accident will take about an inch of skin off of you if unprotected. DOT or ECE R22-05 certifications are the newer helmet certifications issued to helmets. The EE R22-05 helmets use more impact-absorbent material in the helmet. The debate between full-face helmets versus half-face helmets is often full of misinformation. Full-face helmets do not impair peripheral vision. Most full face helmets provide 105-degree field of vision in either direction. Riders only utilize 90 degrees at most.

5)      Other areas to consider padding are elbows and forearm areas, these areas are protected with any quality riding jacket. Most motorcycle gloves armor the knuckles; higher-end ones are equipped with palm sliders. Boots are integral for your safety. It will provide grip when riding on the bike and if you fall off support the ankle.

6)      Riding in the rain is a challenge for some experienced riders: newer riders are highly advised against it. When it starts raining, the leftover oils and residue makes the road slippery. This only reduces your margin of ear as a rider.

7)      Avoid road hazards if you can. Potholes are nasty obstacles for riders. New riders should also watch out for leaves and loose gravel: they can your motorcycle to lose traction. 

Should I Replace or Repair my Windshield?

During the lifetime of your vehicle, this question will arise. Whether it is better to repair that quarter-sized chip or crack, or replace the whole windshield? Many motorists worry if dime or quarter-sized chips in the middle of the windshield are serious? Normally, they do not compromise the windshield’s structural integrity. Cracks near the edges of the windshield: that is a different story.

Stress cracks form from the edges of the windshield and are caused by weaknesses/defects in the glass itself.  Coming out of the factory, the windshield glass is heated up and cooled down very rapidly to form the shape necessary for that windshield. There may be defects in the manufacturing process: improperly heating and cooling of the glass greatly reduces its durability. This is the number one cause for the windshield displaying stress cracks early on.

From the factory, the windshield is held in place by a strong adhesive. Turbulent wind pressure could trigger small pressure changes along the glass causing stress cracks. Another common cause for windshield stress cracks are changes in temperature. Extreme changes in temperature can cause the glass to crack, such as washing your car with cold water after it has been outside on a hot day.

These stress cracks normally start out small and expand along the length of the windshield. If caught early enough, most windshield repair companies can repair a crack up to three to four inches in length. The repair usually involves injecting industrial-grade resin into the chipped or damaged sections. After the resin bonds to the chips and cracks, it is polished to remove any visual imperfections in the windshield.   While windshield repair companies try their best to make everything look perfect, sometimes the damaged areas are left with blemishes.

The other alternative is replacing the windshield. Depending on the extent and position of the crack, a new windshield may be the better alternative. When looking at windshield replacements, the first thing to consider is using an OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) Windshield or a Non-OEM Windshield that is compatible with your car. The OEM Windshield will cost more but in most cases fit perfectly. Non-OEM Windshields should adequately fit your vehicle. With the right amount of sealant, it will work for your car at a fraction of the OEM cost.

Some insurance plans offer one complimentary windshield replacement per year, other plans require you pay the deductible.  Contact us at AllState when you need your windshield replaced, we’ll help you fix the problem.