Monthly Archives: June 2021
Motorcycle Rider Safety
There are over 314 million people living in the United States and they own over 9 million motorcycles. Let’s talk about motorcycle rider safety.
What causes most motorcycle accidents? There are many possible causes.
The most frequent cause is the inability of vehicular motorists to see motorcyclists. Motorcycles are smaller than cars and drivers tend to look for other cars, not bikes. As a result, estimating the distance and oncoming speed becomes more difficult. Those who primarily drive cars are also not used to the driving patterns of motorcyclists and so this also becomes harder to judge.
Over 40% of all accidents occur at intersections where a car driver is making a left turn in front of a motorcycle. Another common scenario is a driver is making a left turn on a four lane road. The car in the closest oncoming lane stops, but the motorcycle in the oncoming far lane decides to run the yellow light. Other common situations are when an oncoming driver rear ends a motorcycle or if the motorcyclist runs into the back end of a vehicle.
Another thing to keep in mind is the blind spot. Cyclists riding alongside a lane of cars may be out of the view of the drivers. This could lead to an unsuspecting driver colliding with the motorcycle as they try to change lanes.
Road conditions can affect a motorcycle rider far more than cars. Road obstructions such as potholes, fallen tree limbs or railroad tracks can be challenging. An icy or wet road or a road with sand on it can also present a perilous situation for riders. Larger vehicles such as vans or trucks that can block a rider’s view or view of the rider from other motorists are another major consideration for riders.
Riding a motorcycle is a lot of fun and the freedom of the open road is very inviting. But you need to be safe and aware out there. Take a class and get a motorcycle license, to begin with. Wear a helmet! Be safe, have fun, and call us for Motorcycle Insurance!
Posted: Cynthia
Categories: Insurance, Motorcycle Insurance, New Jersey, New York, New York Insurance, Personal Insurance, Safety, Uncategorized
Boat Insurance Keeps you Afloat!
When you think about Boat Insurance, what’s the first type of loss that comes to mind? Sinking, of course. And this happens more often than people realize.
I was once told by an Ocean Marine rep at one of my companies that one cargo ship goes down, on average, every day somewhere in the world. I also have a close friend whose 28 foot Thompson sank AT THE DOCK. And this occurred because of a faulty .75 cent hose clamp.
The sea is a wild and wooly place. In February of 2010, a friend from our local firehouse was on board the S.V. Concordia when a sudden vertical wind blast capsized this beautiful ship. Luckily all those on board survived, but not before having to spend 40 hours in life boats.
After a hurricane blew through our area a number of years ago, we happened to head down to a Beach in Norwalk, Connecticut for a car show. The show had been cancelled, but we took the photo, above, of a boat that had suffered from another peril that many boat owners might not take into consideration: fire.
It’s pretty obvious that this was a total loss by fire. Boat fires can happen on land or on the water. We don’t know where this one occurred.
I think the wind got hold of this sailboat, and not in the positive, life affirming way its owner 
was planning on.
We’ve insured some of our customers boats for many years, with no incident. However, some of the claims we have seen include a dinghy floating out to sea, a $150,000 boat washed away by a storm and found later on the shoreline of an island, and something as simple as a sea tow.
These crafts often are a big investment, financially. They can also be a very important part of a lifestyle and the source of much enjoyment for their owners. When things go awry, I want to be able to tell someone they are covered. Give us a call today for a boat or yacht insurance quote!
Summer is Almost Here!
Summer is almost here and with it vacation season! We are all due some rest and relaxation on a major scale after the winter (and the year) we’ve had.
So book those flights, gas those cars, pack your bags, and hit the road.
Summer is almost here!
But what exactly are you packing? Some clothes, of course. Shoes? Your iPod? iPad? Laptop? Golf clubs? Is that expensive mountain bike you love getting strapped onto the back of the car?
These items are important to us, and they are not inexpensive to buy. They are also very popular among thieves, especially the small electronics. They are easily concealed and all it takes is one brief moment for an observant criminal to steal them.
Avoiding the loss in the first place is your first course of action. This article on holidayextras.com gives some great hints protecting your belongings while on your vacation. The last item on the list? Check your insurance before you leave home.
Why check my insurance?
There are a number of ways you can protect yourself before you leave on that much needed vacation so that, if the worst does happen, you can replace those important items. One way is to add an endorsement to your Homeowner’s Insurance policy called “Off Premises Theft”. You have to ask to make sure it’s on there. Many companies leave it off so they can offer you a nice low quote when you first call them. It does add cost to your policy, but it should be your choice as to whether or not you have it. This endorsement offers you 10% of your personal property (your property at your home) as a coverage limit for theft. Payment is subject to your policy deductible, but it is an option you should look into.
The method I recommend to my clients to cover important items like jewelry, furs, electronics and golf clubs and bikes is to list them on what is called a Personal Article Floater. This is often a separate insurance policy. Some companies will add these items to a home policy.
But I have property coverage on my homeowner’s insurance…
The difference between a floater and the personal property coverage on your homeowner’s policy is the floater offers WORLDWIDE coverage with no deductible. You have to show a bill of sale or appraisal at the time of coverage, but after that you have the full amount agreed upon as coverage anywhere in the world.
Coverage for the items I’ve just mentioned are severely limited under the homeowner’s policy, so scheduling them is the best way to assure you can replace them. The cost is not high. The most expensive class is jewelry, but considering how easily jewelry items are to lose, it is money well spent.
We write Personal Article Floater insurance policies all the time for our customers. It’s one less thing to worry about while you are away, trying to relax and have a good time. Call us for a quote 914-234-5678. Usually your homeowner’s company will be the one to offer you a floater, and we’d be happy to quote that for you as well. Write both with the same carrier and you save even more money!
Enjoy the Summer! It’s almost here!
Avalon Agency Insurance
Posted: Cynthia
Categories: Cars, Connecticut, Home Insurance, Insurance, New Jersey, New York, New York Insurance, Personal Insurance, Summer, Uncategorized
