Winter brings all sorts of driving headaches: snow, freezing rain and slush, which all make the roads more hazardous. To handle the hassle of winter driving follow these 6 important Winter Driving Tips:
BE PREPARED: Keep important items in your car’s glove box such as paper and a pencil for taking notes, a card that lists local law enforcement agency contact numbers and your medical allergies or conditions that first responders should know about.
MAKE IT EASY: The Nationwide Mobile app is available for free from the iTunes or Google Play store. It can guide you through the steps to take after an accident, helps you notify law enforcement, find a Nationwide Blue RibbonSM Repair Facility and towing services, and start the claims process.
Make sure you are adequately covered in the case of an accident. Call us a call at 401-846-9629 for a FREE Auto Policy Review; We’re Always Here to Help!
And remember SAFE DRIVERS are often eligible for premium discounts!
Content: ©2020 Nationwide®
A car accident can be a very traumatic and stressful event in your life especially if you are the victim of a hit-and-run. As with any accident, the first rule is to stay on the scene in a safe location. After that it is vital to gather information to help police locate the other driver and ensure that you don’t get stuck paying for damages.
In a hit-and-run accident scenario, having the minimum car insurance coverage may not offer the protection you need. To avoid being held financially responsible for potential costs, consider an uninsured motorist insurance policy. This coverage may protect you against drivers who don’t have liability insurance or the money to pay for injuries and damages they cause.
Contact us to learn more about how uninsured motorist coverage can protect you, your passengers and your car in the event of a hit-and-run accident.
Stay tuned for part 4 of our SAFE DRIVER SERIES next month with steps to take If You Are Pulled Over.
BE PREPARED: Keep important items in your car’s glove box such as paper and a pencil for taking notes, a card that lists local law enforcement agency contact numbers and your medical allergies or conditions that first responders should know about.
MAKE IT EASY: The Nationwide Mobile app is available for free from the iTunes or Google Play store. It can guide you through the steps to take after an accident, helps you notify law enforcement, find a Nationwide Blue RibbonSM Repair Facility and towing services, and start the claims process.
Make sure you’re adequately covered in the case of an accident. Call us a call at 401-846-9629 for a FREE Auto Policy Review; We’re Always Here to Help!
And remember SAFE DRIVERS are often eligible for premium discounts!
Content: ©2020 Nationwide®
It’s not just a nice notion to buy from local businesses, it actually pays to shop local. According to the Retail Merchants Association, for every $1 spent at a big box store only $.15 stays in the community, while $.45 of the same dollar spent at an independent merchant is reinvested locally. This not only results in a heartier local economy and job creation, shopping small also bolsters community involvement and support for nonprofits.
Ben Schiller, Managing Editor at CoinDesk points out: “The extra dollars in the local economy produce more jobs for residents, extra tax revenues for local governments, more investment in commercial and residential districts, and enhanced support for local nonprofits. In short, independent businesses create better places.”
As consumers our actions matter now more than ever; below are eight key benefits of patronizing our local businesses:
By making conscious decisions to support local merchants, food growers and service providers, we are embracing our local economies and empowering our cities, our neighbors and ourselves to grow and thrive. Our actions matter now more than ever. As you plan your next purchase, ask yourself if you can find what you’re seeking at a locally owned establishment rather than online or at a major chain. Now that we know the powerful impact our buying habits can make in our community, let’s vote with our wallets and challenge others to do the same!
Sources: SustainableConnections.org, Wisebread.com, Localism.com
Accidents can happen quickly, and it can be hard to remember everything you should do after one occurs. If you’re like most people, you studied it in driver’s education class in high school, then drove off with your freshly minted license and promptly forgot. To complicate matters, things have changed since the days when most of us took Drivers Ed. There are more cars on the road, traffic is heavier and there’s no telling how the other person involved in an accident may respond. So even if you always practice safe driving it never hurts to go over what to do after an accident, and how you can be prepared.
Don’t get into an argument or a fight with the other driver. Resist the urge to apologize for the accident even if you think it might be your fault, or to keep it between you and the other parties. Law enforcement officers will determine the degree to which each driver may have contributed to the collision.
Stay tuned for part 3 of our SAFE DRIVER SERIES next month with steps to take If You Are Involved In A Hit & Run
BE PREPARED: Keep important items in your car’s glove box such as paper and a pencil for taking notes, a card that lists local law enforcement agency contact numbers and your medical allergies or conditions that first responders should know about.
MAKE IT EASY: The Nationwide Mobile app is available for free from the iTunes or Google Play store. It can guide you through the steps to take after an accident, helps you notify law enforcement, find a Nationwide Blue RibbonSM Repair Facility and towing services, and start the claims process.
Make sure you’re adequately covered in the case of an accident. Call us a call at 401-846-9629 for a FREE Auto Policy Review; We’re Always Here to Help!
And remember SAFE DRIVERS are often eligible for premium discounts!
Content: ©2020 Nationwide®
When you’re behind the wheel of a car – whether alone or with passengers – driving safely should always be your top concern. We’re more distracted than ever, so it’s crucial to know the basics of safe driving and practice them every time you’re on the road.
1. FOCUS ON DRIVING:
• Keep 100% of your attention on driving at all times – no multi-tasking.
• Don’t use your phone or any other electronic device while driving
• Slow down. Speeding gives you less time to react and increases the severity of an accident.
2. DRIVE DEFENSIVELY:
• Be aware of what other drivers around you are doing, and expect the unexpected.
• Assume other motorists will do something crazy, and always be prepared to avoid it.
• Keep a 2-second cushion between you and the car in front of you.
• Make that 4 seconds if the weather is bad.
3. MAKE A SAFE DRIVING PLAN:
• Build time into your trip schedule to stop for food, rest breaks, phone calls or other business.
• Adjust your seat, mirrors and climate controls before putting the car in gear.
• Pull over to eat or drink. It takes only a few minutes.
4. PRACTICE SAFETY:
• Secure cargo that may move around while the vehicle is in motion.
• Don’t attempt to retrieve items that fall to the floor.
• Have items needed within easy reach – such as toll fees, toll cards and garage passes.
• Always wear your seat belt and drive sober and drug-free.
+4 MORE DRIVING SAFETY TIPS:
• Don’t allow children to fight or climb around in your car – they should be buckled in their seats at all times. Too much noise can easily distract you from focus on the road.
• Avoid driving when you’re tired. Be aware that some medications cause drowsiness and make operating a vehicle very dangerous.
• Always use caution when changing lanes. Cutting in front of someone, changing lanes too fast or not using your signals may cause an accident or upset other drivers.
• Be extra careful while driving during deer season.
Stay tuned for part 2 of our SAFE DRIVER SERIES next month with steps to take if you are in an accident or hit and run.
SAFE DRIVERS are often eligible for premium discounts…
Call us a call at 401-846-9629 for a FREE Auto Policy Review; We’re Always Here to Help!
Content: ©2020 Nationwide®
Did you know that cooking is the #1 cause of home fires and home fire injuries? Unattended cooking is the leading cause of kitchen fires and scald burns are the second leading cause of all burn injuries.
This year our kitchens have become a true beehive of family activity, in addition to cooking, many are serving extra-duty as remote offices and classrooms. With more eating-in and holiday cooking ahead, the most dangerous room of the house will be busier than ever this fall! Appropriately, Serve Up Fire Safety in the Kitchen™ was selected as the 2020 theme for National Fire Prevention Week. Follow the recommendations below to keep your family safe at home this season and all year round!
Some content: National Fire Protection Association
In the event of a fire or other disaster, would you be able to remember all your possessions? Having an up-to-date home inventory will help you get your insurance claim settled faster, verify losses for your income tax return and help you purchase the correct amount of insurance.
While spending more time at home and preparing for the change of season, September is a perfect month to take stock of what you’ve got!
Once you’ve started your inventory, keep going even if you can’t get it all done immediately. It’s better to have an incomplete inventory than nothing at all! A simple pencil and paper will suffice, but technology can make creating a home inventory much easier.
Your home inventory is only useful if it’s accurate and you can access it to provide information to your insurance company in case of fire, theft or other destructive disaster. Regardless of the medium you’ve used to create your list, keep it backed up and in a safe place.
This year Rhode Islanders were warned of one of the busiest hurricane and tropical storm seasons in recent history. Experts note that due to significant sea level rise and coastal development, tropical storms need not make a direct hit to wreak havoc on our region with storm surge and flooding.
Now, during the ongoing COVID-19 health crisis, emergency planning presents additional challenges for everyone which makes it more important than ever to have a solid plan. Public health and emergency response professionals have advice to help you safely prepare, evacuate, and shelter for severe storms while protecting yourself and others from COVID-19.
PREPARE FOR HURRICANE SEASON:
PREPARE TO EVACUATE:
STAYING WITH FRIENDS OR FAMILY:
POST STORM SAFETY
Whether caused by lighting, high winds or an overloaded power grid, extreme summer weather can trigger power outages— will you be ready when the lights go out? A lengthy power outage that affects your home can also threaten your family’s safety or damage your property.
Source: Nationwide Insurance ©2020