Carriers see an increased number of insurance claims in winter, which is largely due to the dangers of cold temperatures and the impacts of harsh winter storms. Whether the claim is prompted by an accident from a car sliding in the ice and snow or a falling tree, it is important to know how to avoid winter insurance claims.
With the winter home insurance tips and auto advice in this article, you can save money and keep yourself protected in what could otherwise be a costly situation.
During the winter, houses and vehicles face increased danger due to the impacts of weather and related factors. The following disasters are the most common causes for insurance claims made throughout this time of year by homeowners and motorists.
Some of the most common issues to arise in residential homes during winter are problems with plumbing. When the weather gets cold, the water that flows into a home can become frozen if the faucets are shut off for several hours or more. The problems can be compounded in cold houses where indoor temperatures are not maintained at hospitable levels.
In some cases where water pipes freeze, the ice can cause the pumps to crack — especially if the steel is aged as well as frozen. Once the water loosens up and runs again, these cracked pipes can cause interior damage and possible flooding.
Next time you plan on leaving your house for an extended period of time, remember to turn off your water, drain your pipes by going to the lowest sourced sink and let the water out. This will help in preventing your pipes to freeze.
Neighborhood trees can become a danger to houses, garages, vehicles, pets and people during wintertime. If a tree is structurally weak along its trunk or stems, it could possibly fall onto property and even household members, guests or neighbors who happen to be standing in its path. Falling trees can also knock down power lines and leave neighborhoods without electricity during some of the coldest days of the year. There are several conditions common to winter that can cause a tree to partially break or outright fall:
In the last scenario, the weakened tree might fall at a later time, which often makes the problem unexpected and even more dangerous. Comprehensive insurance coverage covers your property from events that are out of your control like natural disasters or falling trees. Learn more about tree damage and claims here.
Residential infernos are most common during the holidays because houses tend to be decorated with lights and greenery — a lot of which could be deemed fire hazards. Christmas trees are usually the main culprit. If the chain of lighting on a tree is of poor quality, one or more of the transparent caps can come undone and expose the branches and pine to light filament. A similar danger-factor could exist with lighting around wreaths, curtains and wall hangings. Having home coverage for the winter months is important, though the best protection is prevention.
In houses equipped with fireplaces, the chance of fire is also greater around Christmastime, especially if children are allowed to fuel the fire with used gift wrap, boxes, napkins and other disposables of the holiday season.
Traffic accidents are likelier to occur during winter weather than in any other season. In subzero temperatures, a typical accident will involve a car sliding on ice or sleet. A lot of collisions are also due to the decreased ability of many drivers to adequately see the road ahead — or their immediate surroundings — in times of heavy rain, snow and fog. Preparing your car for winter weather can help prevent these collisions and other accidents.
In any case, auto collisions and personal injuries spike in number and frequency during wintertime. Being prepared with insurance coverage for the winter is of the utmost importance. With not knowing the exact moment it is going to snow, or having to drive in the snow when there is an emergency, the last thing you want to worry about is whether your car is insured. Collision insurance will let you drive with ease in the winter months.
With the decreased ability of motorists to operate their vehicles comes an increased danger for pedestrians. During winter, pedestrians are more frequently hit by passing motorists. In most instances where motorists hit pedestrians between November and January, the accidents are due to one of the following factors:
Another reason why pedestrians are more likely to get hit by vehicles during winter is due to the limited number of daylight hours, which leaves people with less time in the day to perform their necessary tasks. Consequently, more people are on foot running errands after dark.
The factors that cause a spike in collisions with pedestrians and other vehicles during winter also puts public and private property at risk. For instance, a car sliding on ice could pose a danger to any nearby wall, window, street pole, fire hydrant or parked vehicle. In some cases, the vehicle incurs more damage than the stationary structure that sustains the impact. Having liability insurance is vital during the winter months to make sure you are covered for property damage.
When roads are covered with ice, sleet and wet leaves, it is generally more difficult for tires to hold sufficient traction — especially during sharp turns. The vehicles that are most vulnerable are those that are ill-equipped for hazardous driving conditions. Worn tires and insufficient lighting for foggy environments are two of the biggest liabilities for a wintertime motorist.
The common winter causes for home insurance and car insurance claims can largely be avoided if you enact the following steps:
In order to prevent your water pipes from freezing, keep the faucets slightly dripping during the colder weeks of winter. While it is generally safe to turn off the faucets for 30 to 45 minutes at a time, the pipes can freeze in as little as a few hours. Therefore, the faucets in your kitchen and bathroom should be left running on low each time you go to bed or leave home.
During this fall or October, inspect all trees of significant height and girth along your property. Ideally, you should perform this inspection as you rake away the autumn leaves in the middle of fall. Inspect each tree for the following issues and remedy the problem accordingly:
Winter storms often strike down otherwise safe and upright trees. While the problem of falling trees cannot be entirely prevented, you can reduce the possibility by trimming and perhaps removing any tree that is structurally unsound or overextended along any branch.
Only use high-quality Christmas lighting on your holiday tree and decorations and keep the following precautions in mind:
If you hang lights on trees in your backyard or on your front lawn, make sure the trees in question have no physical contact with power lines.
A lot of motorists assume high beams will help whenever the road ahead becomes engulfed in fog. The trouble is, the whiteness emitted by high beams will generally cause the fog to appear brighter, but no less thick.
The most effective way to visually cut through fog as you navigate cloudy roads is with the use of yellow fog lights. Some vehicles are equipped with fog lights, but if you don’t have them on your car, consider having them installed. Fog lights allow you to see road obstructions, pedestrians, nearby vehicles and any potential dangers that might otherwise be missed when driving through intense fog.
Insurance claims in winter are often the result of accidents that occur when vehicles spin out of control. A typical example would be a car sliding on ice. While some wintery roads can be hazardous for even the most heavy-duty vehicles, some of the more common dangers associated with slush, snow and foliage can be overcome with proper tires.
Studded tires are only road-legal for a limited window in the cold season, but they are an essential add-on for anyone who does a lot of driving in the winter — especially during weeks when the forecast calls for snow or hail.
Given the limited number of daylight hours during winter, it is preferable to consolidate your daytime errands. So, instead of going out grocery shopping every two or three days, try to stock up for a week or longer with each trip to the supermarket. Also, try to curb any recreational driving habits during the winter months. The less you drive during the harshest weeks of winter, the safer you and your family will be throughout the holiday season.
Some of the most tragic holiday memories are those that occur right after parties. Truth be told, a lot of partygoers get carried away with the festivities and lose sight of how much they’ve consumed by the time they reach for the keys.
If you go to any bars, clubs or parties during the winter, make sure the designated driver — whether it’s you, a friend or a loved one — does not consume more than one drink and only does so on a full stomach. This same principle should be applied at any other time, day or night.
As a business owner, it is also important to have your own liquor liability insurance to keep yourself covered during these winter months and ensure your business’s financial stability.
Preventative actions before the winter months may cost you a little bit of time, but it will truly save you time and money in the future.
While it’s important to know about the winter-typical accidents that lead to insurance claims — as well as things that you can do to reduce the possibility of such accidents — it is also wise to know what to consider before filing a claim and the ways insurance can help you cover the costs if accidents happen anyway:
Missouri residents have lived through plenty of challenging winters. For more than 15 years, David Pope Insurance Services, LLC has provided insurance coverage to residents and motorists who live in or near the communities of Union and St. Clair, MO. To learn more about the coverage we offer, contact David Pope Insurance today.