What you should know about Hit and Run Auto Accident Claims

No one wants to be on the receiving end of a hit and run accident. It's especially frustrating when the driver who hits your car flees the scene. In this case, defensive driving courses teach you to remain calm after an accident and to get out of the car with the intention of obtaining details from the other driver in order to expedite your claim. But, what do you do if the driver doesn't stick around?

Tip #1: Get as much information as possible.

Call the police as soon as possible after an accident.  While you are on the phone, write down as much information as you can about the other driver's vehicle. You should also note the street the accident happened on and any mile markers. If you have a portable camera or a camera phone, you can get even better evidence. Take a snapshot of the other driver's car and zoom in as much as possible to try to capture the driver's image. If the driver takes off while you're on the phone with the 911 operator, make sure to immediately let them know what direction the car is driving in and down what road. For your personal safety, don't try to pursue the driver yourself; let the police handle it so that you don't risk becoming the victim of violence.

Tip #2: Call your insurance company immediately.

You can still file a claim even if the other driver fled the scene. Share whatever information you managed to get in order to maximize your chances of a successful claim. Since leaving the scene of an accident is against the law, you may want to consult an attorney about filing a lawsuit. Provide your attorney with as much information as possible.

When a driver flees the scene of an accident, your insurance company presumes he or she does not have insurance. Thus, you have to depend on your insurance company to handle the claim. If you have to pay out of pocket for any damages, you can recover your payments via a personal injury lawsuit.

Tip #3: Make sure you have adequate insurance before you get behind the wheel.
If you don't carry full coverage and don't have any details about the other driver or his or her insurance, you may be out of luck as far as filing a claim. If no witnesses were present or you didn't get any statements from witnesses, there's really nothing you can do to recover any money.

Hit and run accidents are complicated situations that not all insurance companies are equipped to handle. If you'd like more information on hit and run Tampa Auto Insurance claims, please call an Adcock-Adcock Insurance Agency at 866-933-6691.

5 Common Auto Insurance Exclusions

One thing that must be purchased at the time of buying, leasing or renting a car is auto insurance.  Oftentimes, the excitement of driving takes over and you may not read your auto insurance policy handbook as closely as you should. This may not cause immediate problems, but it usually does when  there's an accident or you need to claim on your policy and discover that what you're claiming for is excluded from cover.

What is an Auto Insurance Exclusion?
An auto insurance exclusion is something that isn't covered on your policy either without an endorsement (being added on for an extra fee) or it isn't covered at all.  Auto insurance exclusions are not just items, they can also be other drivers or actions.

Auto insurance companies may have several exclusions, and although many companies will recite these exclusions to you at the time of purchase, there are just too many for some companies to make you aware of, so they almost always refer you to the manual for these exclusions.

Common Car Insurance Exclusions
Below is a list of five auto insurance exclusions, which most insurance companies can write into the policy:

• Overlapping insurance policies - Although it isn't a common practice for the average driver to have dual coverage, some drivers do choose to have their car ensured through more than one company. This is usually due one company offering better liability coverage, while the other offers more in the ways of endorsements. Either way, both auto insurance companies will write exclusions into your policy. This will cover how much they will insure you for and what type of insurance they will provide.
• Bodily injury - Although medical is almost always covered in an auto insurance policy, bodily injury caused to yourself while carrying passengers or hauling materials for compensation (such as a limo driver, deliveryman or cabdriver) is normally excluded. This usually falls under the term livery.
• Intentional damage - Part of this exclusion is rather new to most auto insurance policies. This involves acts of rage such as using your car as a weapon. This also includes setting your own car on fire or kicking your car to blow off steam.
• Acts of nature - Hail damage, damage caused by flying degrees or a tree falling on your car are all considered acts of nature.  You may think that all insurance policies cover these acts, but they don't. Unless you have comprehensive cover, your car will not be insured from damage caused by acts of nature.
• Drag racing - Injury caused to yourself or your vehicle while drag racing will be excluded from collision coverage.

Before getting behind the wheel of your car, read your insurance policy closely to look for any specific exclusions from cover. Some things may not written in your policy, so if you don't see it there, don't assume that it's covered.  For additional information on insuring your car and Tampa auto insurance exclusions, call an Adcock-Adcock Insurance agent at 866-933-6691 today.

5 Reasons to Change Your Auto Insurance Policy and How to Do It

The necessity of owning auto insurance is a fact of life. Perhaps because it’s such a constant in life, people often make the mistake of doing some initial research before they get their auto insurance but then not thinking about it again for years. However, there are plenty of reasons you should reassess your Tampa Auto Insurance policy on a regular basis. Here are just a few:

1. A couple years has passed since you last shopped around
If it’s been 2 or 3 years since you got your auto insurance policy, you should at least spend some time shopping around and comparing the price of your policy with others on the market. Over 2-3 years, the market can change drastically. However, if you’re locked into a current plan you may not even notice there are better offers out there. There are also constantly new insurance companies entering into the market, and they are frequently willing to offer tantalizing deals to lure you away from your current company. To not at least explore these options regularly is unsound financial logic.

2. You’re getting married
If you’re getting married and will have two cars with two individual insurance plans, you should strongly consider canceling one of the plans. You can get a joint insurance plan to cover both cars and save yourself some money.

3. You’re getting a new car
Frequently car dealers will offer some sort of insurance deal to entice you to buy a new car. This might be something like free insurance for a year (or longer). This alone could be a reason to change policies. But even if there isn't an appealing offer that comes along with your car, insurance companies differ in the rates they offer for different brands and types of cars. You should shop around to see if you can find a better deal than what you’re currently getting.

4. You are retired and over 55
There are many insurance companies that offer discounts to those who are over 55. This is especially true if you have a good driving record. Thus, if you’re over 55 and your current company doesn't offer a discount, seek out someone who does.

5. You are going on a new budget
Don’t feel forced to accept your current insurance rate if you’re trying to cut costs. Shopping around may very well find you a new plan that fits in your budget, instead of one that forces you to form your budget around it.

Changing your insurance policy these days is pretty easy, and you can do most of the work over the internet or phone. To get started, contact an Adcock-Adcock Insurance agent today at 866-933-6691 and get a free quote on your new car insurance policy. You’ll wonder why you waited so long to shop around!

Who Needs Temporary Auto Insurance

Everybody understands the value of vehicle insurance, but few people understand how temporary auto insurance works. If you are like most motorists, then you have a standard auto insurance policy that covers you for an extended period of (e.g., six months or a year). What about if you are not a frequent driver, and you only want to drive your cousin’s car for a day or two?

Temporary auto insurance covers those who just need to drive for short periods. In most cases, it is available for 1 to 28 days, though there may be variations. Applicants usually get the coverage in a few minutes, so it is not something you have to plan for long in advance.

If you are borrowing a friend’s car, for example, you should not assume that his policy offers you coverage too, as that is not always the case. You should also look for temporary auto insurance when test driving a car or in any other situation where you need temporary use of a vehicle. Do not assume that the rental car is covered because it might not be.

This form of insurance is necessary because an accident can occur at any time, even in the driveway, and the consequences for the uninsured can be devastating. The temporary cover protects the driver, the car and any third parties who may incur losses in an accident involving your car.

However, temporary insurance is not all about protection in case of accidents. You should insure any car under your custody, even when it is not being driven. A car packed in the driveway or garage can be damaged by vandalism, fire or even stolen. If such a vehicle is not insured, then the owner will be left to bear the liabilities. Therefore, when you are in temporary custody of a vehicle, you should cover it even if it is just going to sit in your garage for a few days.

Short-term auto insurance policies can be expensive when you view them in an annualized basis. Since they are only required for short periods, they are not really expensive. In addition, you can use choose between liability coverage and full coverage. In most cases, it will just cost you a few dollars per day.

Tampa auto insurance regulations may not always be clear to you, so you should always check with your regular insurer first. If you have valid coverage in place, it may extend to any vehicle you drive. You should confirm, however, especially if you plan to drive out of state or in a foreign country. We are happy to answer all your temporary auto insurance queries. Contact us at Adcock-Adcock Insurance Agency for all temporary vehicle insurance coverage you may need. Since it is always best to err on the side of caution, you should contact us if you are in doubt.

What Would You Do Without an Income?

Have you ever tried to plan your budget around the possibility that you could lose your income? For most people, the loss of an income is unthinkable. They have financial obligations to meet, kids to feed, and a roof to keep over their heads. Unfortunately, after a non-work-related disability, many individuals see their capacity to earn an income ripped out from under them in the blink of an eye.

And while their income flow stops almost immediately, supposed resources for the disabled are slow in coming. Social Security has so many incoming applications that one must wait for months before payments are approved – and there is no guarantee that they will be. Social Security disability is notoriously difficult to qualify for and impossible for those with a short-term disability. For families who ultimately get approved there are still devastating financial consequences caused by delays in paperwork processing, paperwork errors, and Social Security disability’s waiting period.

So what's your plan? Do you have enough in your savings account to support your family while waiting for Social Security disability approval? And what if you are denied? Can you continue supporting them sooner savings until you are cleared for work again?

It's impractical for most families to self-insure their income during the whole of their disability which is why disability insurance exists. Disability insurance policies offer families an affordable premium in exchange for disability benefits paid out on their terms. The benefits can be for both short- and long-term disabilities, they can have a very short waiting periods before benefits begin in order to avoid forcing families to deplete their savings, and the payments can replace as much or as little of your income as you see fit.

With a disability insurance policy, you can ensure that your family never has to find out how to survive without an income after a disability forces you out of work. If you're ready to start shopping for disability insurance policies and comparing quotes, give us a call or stop by today. At Adcock-Adcock Insurance Agency, we can compare the quotes of many high-rated insurers and design a policy that fits your budget while still providing the protection your family needs.