Insurance Broker Serving Southern California Since 1994

Shopping for Auto Insurance

If you have your license, you probably already know how important it is for everyone who drives to have auto insurance. In fact, most states require it by law. Some states require licensed drivers to have a policy with specific coverage while other coverage is optional. Auto insurance policies are a package of different types of insurance coverage including:
1.Liability coverage pays for accidental bodily injury and property damages to others. Injury damages include medical costs, pain and lost wages while property damage includes damaged vehicles and property.
2.Collision coverage pays for damages to your vehicle caused by a collision with another vehicle or object.
3.Comprehensive coverage pays for damages that were not caused by an auto accident, such as floods, vandalism or theft.
4.Medical coverage pays medical expenses despite of fault in an auto accident.
5.Personal Injury Protection coverage pays for medical expenses for the insured driver, regardless of fault, due to an auto accident.
6.Limits and Deductibles apply to certain types of coverage and determine how much the policyholder will have and how much the insurance company will pay when a covered claim is made.

Insurance companies have different policies that combine a variety of the different types of coverage. Therefore, when you choose a policy, it’s important to know the laws of your state to know the minimum coverage required. Begin with the state’s requirements, then consider the other optional coverage that will fit best with your needs.

Also, before buying car insurance, it’s important to consider some basic factors that will affect the rate of your auto insurance.

For instance, the type of vehicle that is being insured will affect the cost. A person driving a sports car can expect a higher rate compared to someone who drives a sedan; or if the car has a high theft rate, then its insurance rate will be higher than a car with a low theft rate. Essentially, though, your coverage rate will be determined on the value of your car.

Another factor that affects the cost of auto insurance is the location of where the policyholder lives. If the person who is being insured lives in an area where there is a high occurrence of accidents, the cost of insurance is expected to be higher. Therefore, a driver who lives in the city, where there are more people and cars, he or she can expect their coverage rate to be higher than someone living in a rural area. Also, the cost depends on how often the policyholder drives their vehicle. The more they drive, the greater the chance of being in an accident and so their rate will probably be higher as well.

Insurance companies also determine the cost of auto insurance depending on who is being insured. Insurers consider the driver’s age, sex, marital status and driving record into account to determine the cost of auto insurance.

Thus, before purchasing car insurance, compare your insurance quote with different companies. Talk to different insurance companies about the types of coverage offered, the various policies and the different rates to find the best auto insurance policy for you.

The age group with the highest accident rate over all other groups is 16-year-olds. The leading cause of death for US teenagers is car accidents, which account for more than one in three deaths in this age group. Statistically, they are the most expensive to insure and as such, their premiums for automobile insurance are the highest. Here are tips on how to keep costs down for young drivers while keeping them safe.
There are regulations that drop premiums and keep drivers safer. Some state requirements include certified driver’s education courses for young drivers to get a license by 16 years old. If these are not completed they will need to wait until they are 18 years old. The classes help teens learn good driving habits and can reduce their automobile insurance rates by up to 15 percent. These certified classes are not required in all areas but they can be taken on a voluntary basis to get low-cost automobile insurance.
Most automobile insurance companies offer good student discounts up to 10 or 20 percent for students who maintain a minimal GPA. Teens can also obtain lower rates by maintaining a clean driving record. Speeding tickets, accidents and other violations increase premiums. By avoiding these, most companies will offer lower rates each year the teen has remained traffic violations and accidents free.
In addition to educating young drivers, there are also laws in various states that are intended to keep teens safe when behind the wheel. Besides the mandatory certified driver’s education classes, there are laws limiting time driving at night and a specific minimal amount of time driving with adult supervision. Parents and guardians can also give their young drivers rules to keep them safe. Studies have shown that accidents that involve young drivers are often caused by distracted driving. Examples of these rules while driving can include not using cell phones or not listening to music. They can also include a curfew to keep teens off roads during the high-risk times of weekend evenings and nights.

The California Air Resource Board has indicated that some clips on gas pump nozzles are to blame for 13 spraying incidents in the last few months. Those clips allow you to go sit in your car while your gas pumps itself. The spraying malfunctions can apparently cause fire hazards and pollute the air with gas vapor.

As a result, the Office of the State Fire Marshal has issued a mandate to thousands of gas stations, forcing them to remove the allegedly defective latches found on about one third of all pumps by October 15. The good news is that “safer” latches will be installed in the future.
Either way, preventing fire hazards sounds pretty reasonable, right? Daniel Berlant of Cal Fire explains: “Before the gas nozzle is actually inserted into the gas tank, gasoline is freely sprayed both onto the customer and onto the ground.”

As comedian Bill Engvall would say, “Here’s your sign.”

Let me get this straight: Some moron tries to set the cruise control on the gas pump before the nozzle is actually inserted into the car and now everyone else, including small business owners, has to suffer? That’s not a fire hazard, that’s an idiot hazard.

Everyone: stay off the road when members of the California Air Resource Board are driving!

Child Safety Seats

Keeping Kids Safe in the Car
Protecting your children in case of a car accident is a parent’s number one priority. The best way to accomplish this is by properly using child safety seats or seat belts. As a driver, child passengers are your responsibility — make sure you understand how to keep children safe while driving.

Proper Use of Seat Belts for Children
•Children 12 and under should be buckled up in the rear seats.
•Children should ride in an appropriate child safety seat until 8 years of age, unless they are 4 feet 9 inches tall and weigh 80 pounds.
•Never hold a child in your lap. An unrestrained 10-pound infant would instantly be ripped from an adult’s arms in a 30-mph collision.
•The lap belt should cross the child’s upper thighs and the diagonal belt should cross the upper chest and a point between the neck and the center of the shoulder.
•Children should continue to use a belt-positioning booster until the lap and shoulder belts fit properly and the child’s legs are long enough to bend at the edge of the seat.
Proper Use of Child, Infant and Toddler Safety Seats
•Infants —Birth to 1 year and less than 20 pounds, infants should be placed in rear-facing child safety seats in the back seat of the car. The harness straps should be at or below shoulder level.
•Toddlers —1 year and at least 20 to 40 pounds, toddlers should be placed in forward-facing child safety seats in the back seat of the car. The harness straps should be at or above the shoulders. Children who are less than 1 year but weigh more than 20 pounds should ride in restraint seats approved for higher rear-facing weights.
•Young Children — Children more than 40 pounds but less than 4 feet 9 inches tall should be placed in forward-facing booster seats in the back seat of the car. Lap belts should fit low and tight across the thighs, and shoulder belts should fit snugly across the chest and shoulder to prevent abdominal injuries.

New Cell Phone Laws in California

Don’t get distracted

A National Highway Transportation Safety Administration report states that: In 2008, 5,870 people lost their lives and an estimated 515,000 people were injured in police-reported crashes in which at least one form of driver distraction was reported on the crash report.

Safe Cell Phone Use

California laws prohibit all drivers from using a handheld wireless telephone while operating a motor vehicle,(Vehicle Code (VC) §23123). Motorists 18 and over may use a “hands-free device.” Drivers under the age of 18 may NOT use a wireless telephone or hands-free device while operating a motor vehicle (VC §23124).

Cell Phone Safety Tips:
• Learn to use the redial, speed dial or voice dial features.
• Keep your phone within easy reach.
• You can use the speaker phone if you do not have a “hands-free device”.
• Don’t use your cell phone while driving in bad weather.
• Select safe times to dial, like stopped at a light or in a parking lot.
More information on the new cell phone laws is available from the California Department of Motor Vehicles.

California Cell Phone Law

Effective July 1, 2008, there is NO grace period when California motorists will only get a warning. These hands-free or cell phone usage laws apply to out-of-state drivers and is only applicable to the person driving a motor vehicle.
A law enforcement officer can pull you over just for this infraction. The base fine for the FIRST offense is $20 and $50 for subsequent convictions. With the addition of penalty assessments, the fines can be more than triple the base fine amount. The violation is a reportable offense and a conviction will appear on your driving record, however, DMV will not assign a violation point.
The law allows a driver to use a wireless telephone to make emergency calls to a law enforcement agency, a medical provider, the fire department, or other emergency services agency.

We are proud to announce the opening of our 9th office in Murrieta, California. The new office located at 25021 Madison Ave #103 Murrieta, Ca. 92562 will be open effective May 3, 2010. We can be reached at 951-461-4404. We look forward to servicing your insurance needs at our new location.

First Aid Kit
Store your first aid supplies in a tool box or fishing tackle box so they will be easy to carry and protected from water. Inspect your kit regularly and keep it freshly stocked. NOTE: Important medical information and most prescriptions can be stored in the refrigerator, which also provides excellent protection from fires.

Drugs/Medications
•Hydrogen peroxide to wash and disinfect wounds
•Antibiotic ointment
•Individually wrapped alcohol swabs
•Aspirin and non-aspirin tablets
•Prescriptions and any long-term medications (keep these current)
•Diarrhea medicine
•Eye drops
Dressings
•Bandage strips
•Ace bandages
•Rolled gauze
•Cotton-tipped swabs
•Adhesive tape roll
Other First Aid Supplies
•First aid book
•Scissors
•Tweezers
•Thermometer
•Bar soap
•Tissues
•Sunscreen
•Paper cups
•Pocket knife
•Small plastic bags
•Safety pins
•Needle and thread
•Instant cold packs for sprains
•Sanitary napkins
•Splinting materials
Survival Kit for Your Home
Assemble a survival kit for your home with the following items:

Tools and supplies
•ax, shovel, broom
•screwdriver, pliers, hammer, adjustable wrench
•rope for towing or rescue
•plastic sheeting and tape
Items for safety and comfort
•sturdy shoes that can provide protection from broken glass, nails, and other debris
•gloves (heavy and durable for cleaning up debris)
•candles
•waterproof matches
•change of clothing
•knife
•garden hose (for siphoning and firefighting)
•tent
•recreational supplies for children and adults
•blankets or sleeping bags
•portable radio, flashlight, and extra batteries
•essential medications and eyeglasses
•fire extinguisher — multipurpose, dry chemical type
•food and water for pets
•toilet tissue
•cash
Survival Kit for Your Automobile
Assemble a survival kit for your automobile with the following items. Storing some of these supplies in a small bag or backpack will make them more convenient to carry if you need to walk.

•Blankets
•Bottled water
•Change of clothes
•Coins for telephone calls
•Fire extinguisher — multipurpose, dry chemical type
•First aid kit and manual
•Emergency signal device (light sticks, battery-type flasher, reflector, etc.)
•Flashlight with fresh batteries
•Food (nonperishable — nutrition bars, trail mix, etc.)
•Gloves
•Local map and compass
•Rope for towing, rescue, etc.
•Paper and pencils
•Premoistened towelettes
•Prescription medicines
•Battery-operated radio with fresh batteries
•Small mirror for signaling
•Toilet tissue
•Tools (pliers, adjustable wrench, screwdriver, etc.)
•Whistle for signaling
•Jumper cables
•Duct tape

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 1600 Clifton Rd. Atlanta, GA 30333, USA
800-CDC-INFO (800-232-4636) TTY: (888) 232-6348, 24 Hours/Every Day – cdcinfo@cdc.gov

Chatting on a cell phone while driving increases your risk of a collision fourfold. According to the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety (IIHS), it’s as dangerous as driving under the influence, even if you switch to a hands-free model. Distractions, including using cell phones or other electronic devices, applying makeup, eating and adjusting the radio or CD-player, worsen a driver’s ability to react to hazardous situations. The safest way to drive is to avoid distractions and keep your attention on the road.