Loudoun Insurance and South Riding Insurance, Northern Virginia Zip 201*-221*, Near 20152

Don't Float Your Boat Until You Know It's Protected

Americans love to take to the water because it provides a feeling of freedom and a sense of adventure. But boating can have a dark side, too. According to the U.S. Coast Guard, there were 5,191 boating accidents reported in 2007 and Fairfax & Loudoun Counties are not immune. However, this is probably only the tip of the iceberg. The Coast Guard believes that more than 80 percent of all boating accidents go unreported.

Given this level of risk for accidents, it would make sense that boat owners would look for a way to protect themselves, but that doesn’t seem to be the case. A study conducted by Progressive Insurance revealed that 29 percent of U.S. boat owners don’t own a separate watercraft policy. That’s probably because boat owners assume that their craft is covered by their personal auto policy or their homeowner’s policy. This is a mistake that can cost them big time. (Contact us at www.south-riding-insurance.com or www.loudoun-insurance.com for details on boat insurance)

The standard auto policy covers the boat trailer for liability with the option to add coverage for physical damage. The boat itself, however, is not covered for liability or damage.

Some homeowner's policies offer coverage for physical damage for boats, but only for smaller vessels. The typical homeowner’s policy in the Chantilly / South Riding areas contains a special property limit of $1,500 on watercraft, which doesn't begin to equal the dollar value of most boats. In addition, the covered perils specific to the boat are also greatly restricted.

There is also liability coverage available for boats under the majority of homeowner’s policies, but once again, it is only applicable to smaller watercraft. The only exception is a boat with an outboard motor. That means that any type of boat you own that is powered by an inboard or inboard-outboard motor is excluded from liability coverage under the homeowner's policy.

Because most boat owners are unaware how large a property and liability loss they expose themselves to without proper insurance, the Institutional Risk Management Institute (IRMI) has created a list of loss scenarios that demonstrate the need for specialized boat owners coverage:

· Your cruiser collides with a speedboat whose operator fails to yield the right of way, causing extensive damage to your boat. The owner of the speedboat does not have any insurance coverage.

· An expensive bass boat you just purchased is stolen from your home.

· Your 27-foot-long sailboat is damaged by a major hailstorm while docked at the marina.

· Your sport fishing boat is struck by lightning, incapacitating its electrical system.

· Your son's friend is water skiing behind your boat and he falls into the lake, injuring himself, due to the excessive speed of the boat.

· You negligently cause another boat to overturn to avoid a collision.

· Your outboard motor explodes, seriously injuring your next-door neighbor.

For more information please contact Khalid Umerani, NOVA Insurance Group, here in Chantilly / South Riding Va.

www.south-riding-insurance.com
www.loudoun-insurance.com

Labels: 20152 and 20105, boat insurance in 20151, Boat Insurance in Fairfax / Loudoun Counties, Boat Insurance in South Riding / Chantilly Areas

posted by Khalid Umerani @ 12:18 PM
NOVA Insurance (20152) Group - Loudoun Insurance

GMAC Survey Shows Drivers Unsure of Bus Safety Rules

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), school buses represent one of the safest modes of transportation, nearly eight times safer than passenger vehicles. That’s partly because school bus transportation is subject to both federal and state regulation especially here in the Fairfax / Loudoun County areas.

However, even though the operation of school transportation is closely monitored, school bus drivers cannot control the behavior of other vehicles on the road. According to a 2006 National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) report, titled Traffic Safety Facts, an average of 20 school-age children die in school transportation-related traffic crashes each year.

In an effort to keep school children safe, GMAC Insurance conducted a survey of 5,524 licensed drivers to find out what misconceptions they had about common laws relating to driving while in the vicinity of school transportation.

According to the survey results, many drivers know they must stop when approaching a school bus from either the front or the rear when the vehicle's red lights are flashing; however, they are unsure about the exact stopping distance. Only 30 percent of the drivers polled knew that the correct stopping distance is 20 feet from a bus.

The survey’s findings also revealed other gaps in many drivers’ knowledge about the proper procedures when driving near a school bus. To help keep students safe, GMAC developed the following five tips for drivers to remember and are helpful here in the South Riding / Chantilly areas:

1. Stay stopped. When a school bus stops and displays its red flashing lights, come to a stop until the ,lights are no longer flashing or until signaled to proceed by the bus driver or police officer.

2. Keep back. Drivers should stop at least 20 feet (or one and a half car lengths) from the back of the bus.

3. Don’t pass. It is illegal to pass on the right side of the bus, where children are loading and unloading. In many places, school bus drivers can report a passing vehicle.

4. Be attentive. Children may run out into the street when heading home or to the playground without realizing that there are drivers nearby.

5. Go slow. Obey the posted speed limits in school zones where children are often walking or playing and pay attention to crossing guards.

For more information please contact Khalid Umerani, NOVA Insurance Group, South Riding, VA

www.south-riding-insurance.com
www.loudoun-insurance.com

Labels: 20152, and 20105, Auto Insurance in 20151, Auto Insurance in South Riding / Chantilly, Car Insurance in 20151, School Bus Safety in South Riding / Chantilly areas

posted by Khalid Umerani @ 2:38 PM
NOVA Insurance (20152) Group - Loudoun Insurance