Before You Take a Roadtrip…

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Many of us at Arizona Capital Insurance like to hit the road. We visit Sedona, go camping near Pinetop, hike parts of the Grand Canyon, and frequently take trips to Southern California. Sometimes a good road trip is exactly what the doctor ordered. But how often do you take a road trip and see cars stranded on the freeway?

Having good auto insurance is important. When your car breaks down or the windshield cracks, your insurance is going to cover the costs, that’s why you have it. Experiencing car trouble close to home is a lot different than breaking down 300 miles away.

The best auto insurance for a road trip is the kind you don’t have to use. With the summer winding down, you probably have just enough time for one more road trip. When preparing to take off, be sure to follow these standard inspection steps:

-Check the tires. Keeping your tires at the right pressure can help prevent blowouts, which is actually important when driving around your city. The last thing you want to do is call your insurance company to help you find a towing service. Additionally, your tire treads are important to watch. Did you know the State of Arizona requires your tread to be at least 1/32 of an inch deep?

-Check the windshield wipers. An associate of ours took a trip to Utah in early May. For us, the weather was already warm. But this associate entered the Salt Lake Valley in the middle of the night and ran into a snow storm. Unfortunately, she hadn’t checked her windshield wipers. Turning them on smudged wet snow across the whole windshield. Yes, you live in Arizona, but that doesn’t mean you can neglect your wipers.

-Check the oil. As someone who takes good care of your possessions, you routinely get your oil changed. But check it before you leave on your trip, just in case. Be sure to take extra oil with you. In one incident, a client of ours got an oil leak 45 miles away from home. Rather than calling a tow truck, she filled up her car with extra oil and was able to make it to the auto care center near her home. This saved her from making a claim as the leak was a simple, inexpensive fix.

-Check the A/C. This is not something most of us know how to do. But if you haven’t had your AC checked in a while, stop somewhere and get it looked at. Because we live in Arizona, we know how important a powerful AC system is.

If you’ve taken a road trip before, this might all sound like information you already knew. But there are a few things that your auto insurance won’t cover if you find yourself without, like: water, food, sunscreen, or a hat. So in addition to checking your car before your road trip, don’t forget to stock your car with emergency items that will keep you protected from the elements.

You’ve only got a few weeks of summer left. If you’re looking for something to do, consider a road trip. Just be sure to check the expiration date on your insurance card (so it’s up to date), properly maintain your card, and be ready for anything to happen.

Enjoy your trip!

Interesting Items that Have Been Insured

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How do you determine value? Some people determine value based on how much they paid for an object. Some determine value based on how much personal meaning they attach to the object, and others determine value based on how much an insurance company is willing to cover the object for.

You have undoubtedly heard that Mariah Carey has her legs (yes, her legs) insured for $1 billion. Now, most of us would think that was crazy. What kind of premiums have to be paid to get an amount that high? But are a pair of legs the only random items to be insured for large amounts of money?

No way. Celebrities have been insuring their body parts for years. But that’s not all. Check out some of these other insured items from around the world:

  • Betty Davis had her waistline insured for $28,000 in the 30’s
  • Jimmy Durante’s nose was insured for $442,000
  • Lloyd’s of London has insured a cigar that is over 12 feet long
  • A whisky company offered $1.5 million for catching the Loch Ness Monster, then took out insurance for paying the prize (just in case)
  • You can take out insurance against being abducted by aliens
  • Wedding insurance coverage is a new trend
  • Pet insurance is also a new trend

Most of us would never insure our body parts, or seek coverage against alien abduction. Even if we wanted to, most of us wouldn’t want to pay the premiums. But do you ever think about the things you already own?

How much did you pay for you tv? Your furniture? Your computer? What would it cost you to replace those items?

If you have not done so recently, we would highly suggest that you take the time to study your home owner’s insurance policy. What is included in that policy? If you were to be robbed or your belongings destroyed in a fire or flood, would your insurance policy cover those items?

Insurance is great for protecting you, your family, and your belongings. Unfortunately, not enough people take interest in their policies. They end up paying high premiums and not covering everything they own.

Don’t go crazy, insuring your fingernails or earwax. But do take some time to make sure everything you consider valuable is adequately covered by your policies. Not sure? Give us a call at Arizona Capital Insurance today and see if we can get you great coverage at a great rate.

Insure Yourself Against the World

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Remember last week when we shared stories about people who were glad they had insurance? Well, this blog post was inspired by one of the stories we mentioned.

Maybe you remember the details. One woman has had her car stolen twice, her car stereo stolen once, and recently became the victim of a hit and run. So what does her story have to do with insurance? And how does any of this relate to you?

As it turns out, this woman has a $500 deductible on her car. This was the third time she’s had to shell out $500 for other people’s actions. But, without her auto insurance, she would have ended up purchasing two new cars, a stereo system, and a new bumper and tail light.

When most of us purchase insurance, we think in terms of, “In case I ever get myself in an accident.” But the truth of the matter is, auto insurance and home insurance work both ways. Your insurance policies are there to protect you from mistakes you might make. They are also there to protect you against the world.

Consider this: 22% of Arizona drivers are uninsured. In a car accident you’ll likely end up paying for your repairs, even if you’re not the one to cause the accident.

Home insurance is important to help you recover from fires, floods, storm damage, and of course, burglaries.

Life is full of unexpected and unfair events. Although you may be fully prepared to take responsibility for your actions, you need to be prepared to take responsibility for the actions of others.

Do you know what your auto and home insurance policies cover? What can you expect if someone else’s actions affect your property? Maybe now would be a good time to read your policies and make sure you’re ready for anything.

Not sure what’s included in your policies? Maybe it’s time to talk to the best agents by calling Arizona Capital Insurance.

How Insurance Provides Peace of Mind

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Take a minute to imagine how you would feel if your car were stolen. You come out of a store, head out to work in the morning, or hear a strange sound in your driveway one night. What kinds of thoughts would run through your mind if you headed out to your car and it simply wasn’t there? Well, these things happen. But, if you have auto insurance, especially if you have auto insurance through Arizona Capital Insurance, you can sigh a breath of relief.

The same thing holds true with home insurance. How would you feel if you came home from vacation and found your home had been burglarized? No matter what, you’re not going to be happy about what happened. But as long as you have  insurance, you’ll have some peace of mind.

What about your business, your boat, or even your life? Image how you would feel if something were to happen.

In many cases, you’re required by law to have coverage. So it’s not like you’re sitting around thinking, “I wonder if getting car insurance or home insurance will provide me with peace of mind.” But it’s always nice to appreciate what you have – even when you’re forced to get it.

Here are some recent stories we heard about where the insured individual was grateful they had coverage:

  • One woman has had her car stolen twice in the last 3 years, the stereo stolen from her car once, and just this weekend her parked car was damaged in a hit and run incident. Her auto insurance company is getting to know her on a first name basis.
  • Another woman lost the 1.5 carat diamond out of her wedding ring. Fortunately, her ring was covered under the terms of her home owners insurance and she was able to have the diamond replaced at absolutely no charge to her.
  • A couple’s young daughter wanted to “help mommy” by giving her sister a bath. She turned on the bathtub faucets and left them running, unnoticed by anyone in the house, for several hours. Their home owners insurance is paying for the new floor, moldy wall replacement, and clean up.

The best case scenario is that you never need your insurance, but it’s nice to know it’s there. Can you image what life would be like if we didn’t have good coverage? One devastating incident could leave you in serious financial trouble.

One of the reasons the employees of Arizona Capital Insurance  love their jobs is because they know they are offering a much needed service, and they love to find great rates and the perfect coverage for each of their clients.

Now, because we like to get your feedback, we’re hoping you’ll tell us about any incidents you may have had where your insurance policy allowed you to sigh a deep breath of relief. Let’s see how many times insurance policies saved the day. Just post your comments below.

Defensive Driving Could Save Your Life

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Yesterday, a black pick-up truck cruised down one of the roads in San Tan Valley. He was going fast… too fast. And it soon became apparent why. Following close on his heels were 6 police cars. Yep, San Tan Valley may have experienced its very first high speed chase last night.

Reports of the incident have not been posted yet. But it doesn’t appear as though any other cars or drivers were affected by the chase. That’s pretty lucky when you consider the narrower streets of San Tan Valley. It caused us to think about how important it is to be a defensive driver.

When you have car insurance, it makes you feel a little bit more comfortable about getting out on the road. But the very best car insurance is the kind you never have to use. Unfortunately, it’s not just you that needs to be careful. All around you, other people are putting you at risk. Surely you know how to drive defensively, but below are some tips to refresh your memory and keep you safe.

1)      Be aware of your surroundings. It’s easy to get lost in a daydream or become so captivated by the radio that you almost forget you’re driving. Be sure to pay attention. Look in your rearview mirror every couple of seconds. Look at the cars on either side of you. Pay attention to the road and always know who’s around you, how fast their approaching, and where your easiest “escape” is.

2)      Let the crazy drivers go around you. We all suffer from a little bit of road rage. When someone comes up close behind you, trying to make you move, you might be tempted to stay where you are. It serves them right after all. But is it worth risking your life and the life of your passengers to “teach that other guy a lesson?”

3)      Keep a safe distance. How often do you see near misses from a blind spot being overlooked? If you ever notice yourself driving in a blind spot, back up a little bit. Stay a few seconds behind the driver in front of you. That way they can see you. And when it comes to distance, remember this: rear ending someone is nearly always your fault, even if they stop suddenly. So keep some space between you and the person ahead of you.

4)      Proceed when you’re comfortable. When pulling out of parking lots or crossing traffic, some drivers try to be generous and let you go. But more often than not, you’re dealing with multiple lanes of traffic and the generous driver may not see everyone. Don’t feel like you have to go because they’re waving you on. Proceed when you feel ready.

Defensive driving doesn’t sound fun. Why should you have to worry about what other drivers are doing? But let’s put it this way, best case scenario, you get in an accident and your rates go up. Worst case scenario, you get in an accident and someone loses their life. We guarantee you the man in the black truck yesterday did not have your life on his mind, and he presented a real danger to everyone around him.

At Arizona Capital Insurance, we’re not just here to get you the best insurance policies in Arizona, we’re here to keep you protected. We’d love to chauffeur you all around and keep you all safe, but that part is up to you.

Does Anyone Read Their Insurance Policy?

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You walk to the mailbox, sort through envelopes, and realize “Oh, my new insurance card has arrived.” Along with your insurance card, you get a copy of your policy. But, if you’re like most people, you put your insurance card in a safe place and disregard the rest of the information.

Well, that’s a lot of trust to be putting in your insurance underwriters. Especially if your policy is a renewal. How do you know that what you needed was really included in your new policy? Do you have a minimal policy or are you paying for all the coverage you need and deserve? If a catastrophe were to happen, are you going to feel secure that you’re taken care of, or, are you going to worry that maybe things aren’t as great as you hoped they would be?

Whether you’re looking at a home, auto, or life insurance policy, you ought to read it. Sometimes the insurance terms can be difficult to understand. That’s why we’re here.

At Arizona Capital Insurance, we do our best to provide you with the company and policies that work best for you. Once you get your policy, read through it. If you don’t understand it, or want clarification, give us a call. That’s what we’re here for.

With all the fires that have resulted in lost homes, we’re more concerned than ever that you know what to expect from your policies. So, read your policies and make sure you have the coverage you think you do.

How to Deal With Fire Damage Part III: When and How to Get Help

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From everything we’ve heard on the news, the Wallow Fire is starting to get under control. Hopefully, you were one of those allowed to return to your home, and with any luck, you will return to a perfect situation.

However, many folks will not. Even though your home may not have been touched by fire, the smoky air undoubtedly left smells and greasy substances on your possessions. So let’s talk about when and how to get the help you need to restore your home and furnishings to perfect order.

Call restoration companies immediately. You’re going to need them. If nothing else, you need them to check your ducts, plumbing, air and heating units, and any other hidden potential sources of damage. Get someone in immediately to survey the damage and give you quotes on how much the repairs may cost.

Talk to your insurance company. They will likely recommend restorations companies to you. But beware, the restoration companies they suggest may have a previously established relationship with the insurance company, so they are likely to offer a quote in favor of the insurance company, not you.

Ask others for their opinion. The saddest thing about this fire is that so many lives have been affected by it. You and all your neighbors will be looking for help right now. Ask around. Find out which companies your friends are getting quotes from. They may be able to point you in the right direction.

Even if fire damage is something you understand or have experienced before, don’t think you can bypass this important step. Get some help. Your insurance company will foot the bill if you need someone to come in and look for things you may not have noticed.

That being said, you can get a start on restoring your home. Open the windows and get some air circulating. Look for furnishings that appear to be untouched and don’t smell. Cover those with plastic so that the restoration process will not affect those things that are in perfect condition. Let anything that is wet dry before you touch it.

This will be a lengthy process, but you don’t want to permanently damage things that can be restored.

As always, if you need help or have questions, please give us a call at Arizona Capital Insurance We are hopeful that you can soon put this whole experience behind you.

How to Deal with Fire and Smoke Damage Part II: Insurance

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At Arizona Capital Insurance we were so pleased to hear that the Wallow fire has become a little more contained. We’ve also been happy to hear from our clients, letting us know they are alright and asking questions about their insurance.

So let’s focus on that topic today: how to deal with your insurance when you have fire and smoke damage.

First of all, we are here to help our clients. We’re going to work with you to make sure you are able to recover from this devastation as easily as possible. But, as you know, we are not your direct source of insurance. We’re an insurance broker. You will need to work with your insurance company directly to make sure you get the benefits you’re entitled to. We will help you file the claim and walk with you through the process step by step.

Here are some tips for making this a smooth, beneficial process:

-Call your insurance company now. Obviously the country is aware of the damage being done by the Wallow Fire. But, more than likely, insurance companies are not seeking out which of their clients have been affected.

Give them a call and let them know you’ve been displaced. Then, review your policy with them. Many policies will pay the expenses you’re incurring by being evacuated (subjected to your deductible). Find out what your policy covers and what the process will be for submitting your claim once you are allowed to return home. Give us a call if you would like help with this.

-Keep all receipts. Whether your policy covers your evacuation expenses or not, it’s a good idea to keep all your receipts from gas, lodging, and food. At this point, you are building a case for yourself (in case you need it) and receipts will come in handy. If you don’t have receipts, get copies of your bank statements showing your expenses.

-Document everything. From the moment you walk in your door, start taking pictures, videotaping, and writing down all the damage you notice. You may need that documentation as proof for what you should be compensated for.

-Get a restoration specialist (or 2) to come in as soon as possible. Unless you are an expert in housing and construction, you really won’t have any idea how much damage has been done to your property. Smoke and soot can get into vents, a/c units, behind walls, into the pluming, and all kinds of places you wouldn’t think to look. Nor will you be able to see the damage in these areas on your own. As the specialist comes through, they will write down their observations and give you an idea of what will need to be replaced or cleaned.

And if one specialist is good, two are better. You may need to submit more than one estimate to your insurance company.

-Write down the cost of your damaged property. Since the insurance company will be replacing your irreparable things, be sure to write down what they cost. Odds are, you will not get 100% of the purchase price for all your items, but that’s what you’ve got to build your case for. If you have receipts from recent purchases, find them and add them to your collection of documents. Pull information from your bank statements. Do your best to find evidence of what your personal property costs.

-Stay logical. Again, we will do everything in our power to assist you. But insurance companies never like to pay out on claims, so you’ve got to present them with the facts. By documenting, getting assessments, and creating a case for yourself, you are approaching this situation wisely. You’re going through a horrible tragedy, but tears are not going to sway the claims department. Knowing what you’re entitled to (because you read through your policy and we can help you) and presenting your evidence should get you a reparation check. So stay calm and don’t move, repair, or trash anything until you’ve got evidence.

I think we’ve said it twice in this post, but I think it’s worth mentioning again: we are here to assist you. It’s what we do and it’s why you come to us for your insurance needs, so reach out if you need us.

If anyone reading this post has been through fire damage before and has thoughts about how to build your case for an insurance company, please include your comments below. We hope to hear about what helped you, and what mistakes to avoid.

How to Deal with Fire and Smoke Damage: Part I

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First of all, our thoughts and sympathy go out to all those who have been evacuated from their homes due to the Wallow Fire. Many of our clients live in Greer, Springville, and the surrounding areas that have been evacuated by fire. It breaks our hearts to think about  it, and we’re doing what we can to help you as neighbors and insurance agents.

We want to give you some advice about how to deal with fire damage once you are allowed to return to your homes. Now, even though we are hopeful that your homes have not been touched by flames, you may likely deal with smoke damage from the proximity of the flame.

In today’s post we’re going to focus on the first steps you should take when returning home. In later posts, we’ll help you with how to effectively get your home insurance to cover damages, and when it’s time to call in experts for some help. But for now, let’s focus on first things first.

Step #1: Open your windows and doors to clear out the smoke. Chances are, smoke has settled into every crevice of your home – the carpets, the walls, your furniture, and even your clothes. That smoke can be damaging to your health, so get the air flow back into your home as quickly as possible.

Step #2: Walk through your home and assess the damage. Smell everything from the curtains to the floors. If it smells like smoke, it needs to be restored. Make a list of all your belongings and note what damage each has experienced. Do they smell like smoke? Are they covered in soot? Write it down. Keep strong notes. You may even want to film your walk through.

Step #3: Decide what needs to be cleaned or aired out, but don’t start cleaning until you know what you are doing. Soot is a greasy, sticky substance and typical cleaning processes can actually cause more damage. Carpets need to be vacuumed with a special vacuum cleaner to get the soot out. Special chemical cleaners should be used on furniture and carpets. Even your clothes may need special chemical treatments. Scrubbing and water use can spread the mess.

Step #4: Throw out what food you can. Smoke damage can affect even the food in your refrigerator. If you have any question about contamination, throw it out. Consuming smoke damage can affect your health, so go through your cupboards and fridge and get rid of open containers.

Step #5: Call in a restoration specialist. Even if everything looks okay, there may be damage in your walls, ducts, and other areas you don’t see. We highly recommend you have a specialist come in to check your home. We’ll give you more details about that tomorrow, but realize that when it comes to keeping your home safe for you and your family (and sellable in the future), you will want to have someone come in for a professional inspection.

This is good information for anyone to know. After all, no one can predict when a catastrophe like a fire may hit. Our clients whose homes are at risk naturally have questions. Please feel free to give us a call and talk to your agent about any concerns or questions you may have.

If you know of any other steps that homeowners should take when returning to fire or smoke damaged homes, please let us know by leaving comments below.

How Roadside Distractions Lead to Car Accidents

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In a recent internet news article (okay, if you’re a fan of this blog, you know we read a lot of articles) the police chief of a California beach town was being interviewed. During the interview he revealed that the number of rear-ending accidents increased significantly in the summer months, and he blamed it on the bikinis.

According to this police chief, drivers are more distracted in the summer. As they look out over the beaches, take a minute to watch the beautiful sunset, or watch scantily-clad girls walking down the sidewalks, they lose focus on the road and wham! Car accident.

Now, here in Arizona, we don’t have beaches. And you’re not likely to see random girls running around in bikinis. But that doesn’t mean we don’t have our fair share of distractions. Distractions that could end up affecting your insurance.

Here are just a few we’ve noticed:

Sunsplash in Mesa AZ – this waterpark is located right next to the freeway and heads often turn to watch people zipping down the waterslides.

Castles N Coasters in Phoenix – again, attractions right beside a major freeway. Eyes are watching the roller coasters zip around instead of staying focused on the road.

Winter Visitors – we’ve all complained a time or two about older drivers slowly making their way down the road. But as drivers pass by glaring at these older drivers, they may miss something in the road ahead of them.

The Sidewalk Statues in Mesa – Mesa has dozens of beautiful bronze statues scattered down a mile stretch of Main street. They’re fun to see, for sure, but only if you’re not the one trying to drive through busy intersections.

The Giant Baby Poster Off of I-10 – have you seen this thing? The image of a giant baby possibly more than 20 feet tall sits on the side of I-10 just past Litchfield. It’s startling to see it there, but be sure to keep your eyes on the road.

University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale – as we write this, we’re beginning to notice a trend in “next to the freeway” distractions. But this building is so unique, it’s difficult to stay focused.

Car Washes – we may not have a beach, but Arizona has more than their fair share of clubs and groups hosting car wash fundraisers. And who do they put on the street corners to draw in customers? You guessed it – the girls in bikinis.

And then, of course, we all tend to look when passing a car accident. We just can’t help ourselves.

Distractions are everywhere. You can’t escape from seeing things that naturally catch your eye. Remember, your first priority is to get you and your passengers to a location safely. You owe it to those around you to be alert and attentive.

Sure, text messaging and cell phone use seem to be the major culprits in creating distractions right now, but almost anything can take your eyes off the road just long enough to create a collision.

Drive carefully. Even with car insurance it’s not worth the price you may pay to be a distracted driver.

By the way, we only mentioned distractions around the Phoenix Valley. If you have seen some major roadside distractions in our state, we want to know about them. What should we be prepared to ignore as we safely make our way down the road? Please leave your comments below.