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When you take your car out for a spin, you always leave plenty of room between you and the car in front of you.  You brake slowly and deliberately. You rarely speed, and you never use your phone.  But the driver behind you may not be so safe.  He may have a lead foot.  She may be trying to send a quick text. He may be weaving in and out of traffic recklessly.  Next thing you know… SLAM!  You’re rear-ended causing you both to lose control and spin off the highway into a field of trees.  You’ve just had your first crash, and it wasn’t even your fault!  Do you know what to do after a car accident?

It’s something we’ve all thought about at one time or another before getting behind the wheel.  How would I react, and what would I do if I were involved in an auto accident? What if there are injuries? What should I say to the police or people at the scene?  When it comes to car accident law, am I at fault? What’s the deal with car accident insurance claims? The questions are endless and so is the number of motor vehicle accidents that happen every single day. Will you be prepared if it happens to you? 

What to Do After a Car Accident

The 5 Critical “Must Do’s” When in An Auto Accident:

1. Remain calm. Be sure no one is injured and needs care. If so, call 911.
2. Always call the police and have them fill out a report.  Do not give your personal information, including your insurance info, to anyone other than the police officer.  Do not leave the accident scene.
3. Get witnesses and leave the cars where they are.  Photos may be helpful, but they’re easily doctored so opinions differ on how useful they might be.
   Limit discussion of the accident. Speak only to the police officer or your insurance agent. Do not discuss fault or liability at scene of accident.
4. Report even minor accidents to your insurance agent.   You’ll want to review coverages, next steps, whether it’s in your best interest to file a claim and  if so, with whom.

Are You Prepared?

Even if you’ve never been in a car accident, you’ll save yourself worlds of hassle with just a little preparation.  Knowing what actions to take and not take is a crucial part of protecting yourself in case that unlucky day ever comes.  And equipping yourself with up-to-date insurance papers, a pen, paper and even a handy Auto Accident Report Folder for your vehicle can put you miles ahead when it comes to accident awareness.  Contact our agency for your Auto Accident Report Folder.

 

Jeff and Ling Murray were the proud parents of Calli, who at age two already spoke English and Chinese.

Kaitlyn Dunaway's parents also had reason to be proud. Dunaway, 18, was a freshman at Sonoma State University and a star volleyball player.

But on Dec. 1, 2010, according to the Sonoma County District Attorney, Dunaway did something stupid, reckless and illegal that countless people do every year. The teen attempted to text while she was driving.

According to authorities, Dunaway was so distracted by her cell phone, she didn’t see Calli walking hand in hand with her mother in a crosswalk. Dunaway's Honda plowed into the toddler and her mother. Two-year-old Calli was killed. Ling Murray suffered major bone fractures and was unconscious for five days. She continues to undergo rehabilitation. 1

. . .

David and Linda Kubert remember everything about that beautiful September day. They’d been out together on their Harley motorcycle, riding along a winding road in Morris County, NJ.

They can still envision the curve of the road ahead and the pickup truck heading toward them. They can still see the young driver heading toward them from the opposite direction.  His elbows on the steering wheel, his face angled down toward what police would later determine was his cell phone. And they will never forget what happened next. In the blink of an eye, both of them were on the ground.

The Kuberts, of Dover, NJ, each lost a leg when their motorcycle was struck by that pickup truck driven by a teen driver they say was texting. 2.  

 

DON’T BE A STATISTIC

Sadly, Kaitlyn Dunaway and the young driver who injured the Kuberts are among a large of group of people who text and drive despite the consequences.  In fact, a Fairleigh Dickinson-PublicMind poll on New Jersey driving habits found the number of motorists who admit to texting while driving jumped 40 percent from 2008 to 2009. The poll, co-sponsored by the New Jersey Division of Highway Safety, also found one out of five drivers has sent a text while operating a vehicle.

A recent scientific study based on NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) and the FCC (Federal Communications Commission) data showed that about 16,000 people died in the U.S. between 2001 and 2007 as a result of distractions from mobile phone use whether through driving or texting. Released in September 2010, the study was one of the first attempts to quantify the number of road fatalities that can be directly linked to mobile phone use. More recently, the U.S. Department of Transportation reported that nearly 5,500 people died in crashes involving a distracted driver in 2009. And the National Safety Council estimates that each year, 100,000 car crashes have been tied to texting and driving while an additional 1.2 million annual accidents involve cell phone use.

OMG!  UR TXTS R Not That Important!

Some drivers steer with their pinkies while their thumbs do the typing. Others use their knees to guide them on the road, freeing their hands to tap out a quick message. What kind of texting driver are you?  You should be the non-existent one! No text is worth risking your life or the lives of others.  And if the message is that important, pull over, park and text your heart out. 

Just think about this. Imagine closing your eyes for five seconds while driving.  Pretty scary, huh?  Well, guess what? Reading or sending a text takes your eyes off the road for an average of five seconds.  And when you’re driving 50-60mph, that’s like driving the length of a football field with your eyes shut!

And surprisingly, driving while drinking is not much worse than driving while texting.  Yep, it’s true.  Texting is like driving after having four bottles of beer. A recent study, A Comparison of the Cell Phone Driver and the Drunk Driver, shows that the risk of crash for driving while using a cell phone is four times that of a non-impaired driver. This turns out to be the same risk of crash for driving with a Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) of .08%. For a driver who is texting, the risk of crash is eight times that of a non-impaired driver.

SOME PRECAUTIONS

New Jersey is amongst 34 states in which text messaging while driving is banned. And New Jersey also is one of 10 states in which talking on a hand-held cell phone while driving is banned._­­ But here are a few things to keep in mind before you put your phone in hand while in the driving seat:

• Avoid all non-driving related tasks while operating your vehicle. Driving is a visual task and non-driving activities that draw the driver’s eyes away from the roadway, such as texting and dialing, should always be avoided.
• Using a headset with your cell phone isn’t really safer than operating a hand-held –you’re still answering and dialing, causing your eyes to be off the road. Try to limit use.
• Even if you’re running late, avoid anything that takes your eyes off the road.  If you must text or call into work, pull over at a rest stop.

 

1.  http://www.sonomastatestar.com/news/child-killed-mother-hospitalized-after-ssu-student-crashes-1.1822977

2.  http://www.flickr.com/photos/focusdriven/4322401895/

 

 

 

The temperatures have been climbing and so has your eagerness to feel the wind against your face.  To feel the rubber on the road.  Or the crash of the waves.  Winter is finally behind us, and your motorcycle, boat or watercraft has been stuck in storage long enough.  But, before you start shining your bike or backing your trailer down the boat ramp, you’ll want make sure your “toys” ready for spring.

Get Ready to Ride

First things first… mind the maintenance.  Before you even think about twisting the throttle, make sure your bike is covered with quality New Jersey motorcycle insurance. Nobody plans on a crash or theft, but if you find yourself in unlucky circumstances, you'll want the comfort of knowing you have the best motorcycle insurance coverage.  Plans cover everything from Collision, Comprehensive, Medical Payments, Property Damage, Bodily Injury Liability, Pedestrian PIP/ Guest Liability and Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Bodily Injury.  Are you covered?

Next, assuming your bike has spent a long winter’s night out of service, it’s time to think about preparing it for the road. The following tips will help you get on the road faster and stay there longer.

Battery:  Give it a regular service (fluid level and slow charge).  Replace it if it looks sickly. Make sure the vent tube is connected and properly routed.

Valves: Adjust them when the engine is cold. Give the cam lobes a shot of oil. Torque the cylinder head.

Oil: If you didn't change oil before storage, replace it now. Change the filter unless it was fresh. And use a torque wrench on your drain plug.

Fuel: Disconnect the fuel line and drain the tank completely.  Clean your fuel filter and check tank for rust. If you didn't drain your carb float bowl(s) before storage, pull them off and check for clogged jets

Engine: A shot of oil in each spark plug hole and some spins of the engine with the plugs removed will protect the cylinder walls and rings during the first few revolutions. When you pull the plugs, check the gaps. Air filter, carb synch, drive-line fluids, etc., should be checked.

Brakes: Install fresh fluid. Check the pads or shoes too. If thin, get new ones.

Suspension & Steering: Prop the front wheel off the ground, sit in front of the bike and grasp the fork lowers. Move them forward and back to feel for steering-head looseness. Tighten.

Finish protection: Pull things apart and thoroughly wax everything. Add a nice thick layer of leather dressing for leather saddlebags.

Routine stuff: Check tire pressure and condition, wheel true, spoke tension, wheel bearing condition, control function, lubrication and adjustment, lights, sprocket and chain condition. Look for leaks. Tighten every fastener.

BEFORE YOU HIT THE HELM

Whether you’re the sole sailor taking seas to alleviate the stress of everyday life or you round up the whole “fam damily“ to go tubing at the sandbar, the water is calling you and your boat. 

Sailboat or yacht, motorboat or dinghy, no matter your boat of choice, you’ll want to be sure you have the right boat insurance policy before you hit the water this spring.  You never know when an accident is around the bend, so it’s best to insure yourself and your boat for safety. You’ll want the best New Jersey boat insurance agency to protect you against liability and damage with affordable boat insurance. With the right guidance, you can have a policy that covers Damage to other boats or docks, Bodily Injury or Death, and Medical Payments. 

With insurance in place, it’s time to wake you boat from its winter sleep.  After all, what fun will you have if it’s plagued with mechanical failures throughout the season?  Here are a few quick and easy tips to consider before taking the plunge:

Mechanical Maintenance: Replace the fuel filter, change the engine oil and oil filter, lubricate fittings, top off gas tanks and use an additive that will absorb moisture that developed while the boat was in storage.

Inspect the Exterior:  Inspect propellers looking for cracks, dings, warping or misalignment, which could cause damage to the drive train. Check the hull for any chipping, blistering and peeling.  Wash with an environmentally safe cleanser.

Prep your Gear:  Ensure your stock of boating supplies is full and ready for action. That includes water safety gear like personal floatation devices (PFDs), water sports supplies like tow ropes for waterskiing or tubing, and a safety kit.

Up-to-date documentation: Every watercraft needs to be registered. Ensure your boat license is current.

WAKING UP YOUR WATERCRAFT

Jet ski, WaveRunner or Sea-Doo, your personal watercraft lets you feel the freedom of a motorcycle and the speed of a boat.  While you may feel like king or queen of the waves, these sporty water rides can throw you right into an unlucky situation if you make the wrong turn. 

Before you hit the waves this spring, take a moment and get a solid watercraft insurance policy.  Whether you ride it alone or loan it to a family member, New Jersey jet ski insurance will protect you and your watercraft from accidents, vandalism and liability. You won’t be up a creek when you encounter damage to other crafts or docks, Bodily Injury or Death or require towing assistance.

Before the fun, make sure your watercraft is in tip-top condition by following these simple steps:

Fuel: If stored with fuel in the engine and no fuel stabilizer, add a fuel cleaner and stabilizer before starting it up.

Oil: Change the engine oil and filter. Drain the pump oil and replace it with new oil.

Lubrication: Add grease to all seals and bearing fittings.

Wiring:  Inspect all the wires, including trim and throttle cables for loose or damaged parts. Replace if necessary.

Exterior:  Clean the exterior, seat, windshield and entire body of the watercraft. Do so every time you take it out of the water to prevent corrosion or staining.

 

It’s not something you think about all the time, but are you prepared and know what to do if you’re involved in an auto accident? How would you react? What if you or someone else injured? What’s going to happen, and what should you say to the police?

The 5 “Must Do’s” if you’re in an auto accident:

1. Remain calm – If anyone is injured get medical assistance. Control your reactions and behavior even if you feel the other party is at fault and you’ll be in a better position to deal with the situation.
    
2. Call the Police to file an accident report – Wait for the police to arrive as they will get the information they need for the accident report. The accident report is the permanent record of the incident. Typically it’s available in a few days, but may take up to several weeks depending on the circumstances and location of the accident.
    
3. Never leave the scene or move your vehicle – The police will assess the circumstances, so it’s important that they be able to see the location of the vehicles and talk with anyone involved.
    
4. Limit your discussion of the accident – Discuss the accident only with the police and your insurance agent. Never discuss fault or liability at the scene or at any time.
    
5. Call your insurance agent and report the accident. Even if it is a minor accident report it to your agent. If you can, take photos at the scene. Follow up with your agent who will discuss the status of your claim and also explain the other auto policy features you may have that will help, such as towing assistance, rental car coverage and what to do about repairs.

Understanding these 5 Must Do’s will keep you prepared and help protect your rights if you’re involved in an auto accident.