Travel Insurance 24

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It costs a lot more to drive a car today than it did just last year.  Not only is the cost of gas putting a huge dent in our pockets, but when you compare car insurance rates with last year some companies have increased their premiums.  According to the Standard-Examiner’s article “Gas prices, insurance increases to make driving more expensive this summer,” author Kristy Eppley Rupon says that the average driver is paying $825 more this year to drive.  The cost of purchasing your car has been increasing steadily as well, so drivers are being hit on all fronts.

Even though prices seem to be rising across the board, it still is not too expensive to drive compared to the alternatives.  You should definitely be evaluating your car and driving habits though to see what you can do to make the most of your money.  Many Americans are driving their cars longer instead of purchasing a new car when they thought they would.  Finding cheap car insurance is still possible, but you have to do your research and make adjustments like increasing your deductible.   There are even people moving so that their commute to work is shorter or joining carpools to save on gas and mileage.

While gas prices are seemingly out of control, they are not likely to go down below $3/gallon anytime soon based on the troubles in the Middle East, oil futures investing, and increased summer driving habits.  The article says that the best way for us to get gas prices down is to consume less oil from foreign countries both by driving less and investing in alternative fuels.  Insurers like Estrella Insurance are affected by high gas prices just like us and watch closely to see what changes can be made.  If people decide to drive less or cut down the number of cars in their family, it could increase insurance costs for everyone as companies lose members.  Regardless of why it costs more to drive now, everyone has to make personal changes and sacrifices to adjust to our new economic normal.

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Many different question and answer sites have people asking what to do when a basketball hoop falls down and damages their car.  Whether the hoop was attached to the garage or freestanding in the driveway, many people are not sure if the damage will be covered by car insurance or homeowners insurance.  According to multiple sources, it is most likely that your car insurance will cover damage from a falling basketball hoop whether it is attached to a building or freestanding.  Most car insurance companies would include that with your comprehensive coverage.  Damage from falling objects such as tree branches or basketball hoops falls under that category of insurance.

One of the responders on Yahoo!’s question and answer site said that their State Farm auto quote covered their car’s basketball hoop damage.  It sounds like this problem is very common.  Whether high winds, storms, or rough play on the hoop is making them fall down, many cars are getting damaged from basketball hoops.  It’s important to get repair quotes from a few different insurance companies before making a claim for your basketball hoop damage though.  If you have a higher deductible, it is possible that you would be better off just paying for the damage to your car instead of filing an insurance claim.

The world has become a very unsafe place. Many people are involved in car accidents every day in the United States. This is because Americans are always in a hurry and often are running late so they drive over the speed limit and end up causing car accidents to occur. Often drivers become distracted by ringing cell phones, songs on the radio, and people talking to them in the passenger seat which leads to serious accidents.

Many states now have laws that ban texting or talking on the phone while driving. However, many drivers now use Bluetooth devices which free up their hands and are legal but can still distract the driver. Cars are made safer now than they were forty or fifty years ago.

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Car seat guidelines have been updated for the first time since 2002 and many parents are less than thrilled with the new strict guidelines.  According to Keith McCord of the Deseret News, “Parents (are) confused, upset over new car seat guidelines.”  Car insurance companies have a vested interest in these new guidelines because if they really do keep kids safer in crashes, that could lower the medical bills being paid out after car accidents.  The guidelines are a joint effort between the American Academy of Pediatrics and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.  They are based more on height and weight now and less on age.

It is now recommended that children’s car seats remain rear-facing until at least the age of 2, an increase from the age of 1.  They pair this age 2 guideline with a weight of 35 pounds.  Many parents argue that their smaller children did not weigh that much until well over age 3 and say that their legs were way too long to be in a rear-facing car seat.  Insurers like Infinity auto insurance could then have to worry about broken legs in an accident, according to some parents.  But a manager at the Primary Children’s Medical Center says that there is no record of a child breaking their legs because they were rear-facing.  She also points out that a study in 2007 showed that children are five times safer when they are rear-facing than when they are forward-facing.

The other guideline ruffling some feathers is the recommendation that children remain in booster seats until they are at least 80 pounds, 4 foot 9 inches, and between 8 and 12 years old.  It is said that that is when they will best fit into regular seatbelts.  While many parents are up in arms about these new guidelines, they are meant with their children’s safety in mind and they are not law.  Each child grows differently and could be lighter or heavier than others their size.  It is best to go to an inspection station if you have any question about the safety of your children.