Fall is (Almost) HERE!

Did you know that along with the warm-colored foliage and cooler breezes, Fall also brings a higher chance of filing certain insurance claims? Yes, statistics show that this is something common amongst certain forms of collision, snow and water, and fire and smoke claims. They’re more prevalent in the Fall months. But it’s not all bad, because the season brings with it the kick-off of the holiday season. Which is a time of coverage wonder we’ll discuss in a few weeks.

Auto Claims

Automobile claims are something that can happen at any point, but for our northern friends their newly mobile nature pals are ready to meet them up close and personal. Animal collisions tend to be on the rise as deer and moose are no longer confined to their tree-lined country roads and rustic forest lifestyles. As the cooler air begins to whip around their flowery Spring and Summer homes, and food begins to be found more scarcely, they move toward the roadways that are naturally avoided when there’s abundance in the warmer months. The peak time for collisions with animals is the months of October to December. The times of day where you need to be most alert are dawn and dusk. This is not the only auto claim that becomes more common.

One such claim is rear-end collisions. Yearly in the United States there are more than 1.6 million rear-end collisions. The fourth quarter of the year is when the largest chunk of these claims occur. More than 85% of these collisions are attributed to drivers who aren’t paying attention. It’s of the utmost importance to drive with little distraction and ensure that you are paying attention to the flow of traffic you’re in. Having your phone blue-toothed or usable from an application within your vehicle, or handsfree, is the best idea. Another point of contention for this sort of accident is that people are distracted and not using the three second distance rule, which is leaving enough space between you and the car in front of you to avoid a collision. After 45 mph the distance should grow 5-6 seconds of distance for every 10 additional mph. It’s another thing all together in parking lots.

In parking lot claims, happening more-so in this time because the holidays are inching closer and closer with each passing day, shoppers are flocking to stores in order to avoid last-minute shopping disasters. Due to the higher influx of people swarming to stores, and higher traffic within parking lots, the odds of having a claim grow when you’re also factoring in thefts, damage from run-away shopping carts, and all of the un-factorable things along with people taking advantage of the hustle and the bustle to commit theft or destruction of property.

Another key point is that you should ensure that you’re not irresponsible with purchases you make. It may be enticing to a criminal if they find your vehicle full of gifts and holiday cheer. Making an effort to ensure that your vehicle is not tempting to thieves is a huge deal and will keep you out of the 25% of auto theft claims that happen in the Fall of 2022.

Nature’s Claims

This is going to sound like I’m talking about Earth, Wind and Fire, but it’s not musical when nature’s putting on a show. October to December bring about 35% of all snow claims. Before the chilliest of the weather in the Winter you should ensure that your vehicle is ready for the slicker and snowier streets, using decreased speeds so that you don’t hydroplane into another vehicle or someone else’s property is key. Also ensuring that your tires are properly inflated and have no loss of tread.

While there’s a higher risk of an auto theft in these months, did you know there’s also a higher threat of home theft. Home robberies tend to increase a bit more than 25% in the fall. There are ways to make sure that your property does not become a target to thieves, using lights that are on a timer, motion detectors and automatic outdoor lights are some of the most cost-effective ways of helping your home seem less attractive to those looking to steal some of your fall cheer. Having a home monitoring system and video doorbell are other ways that you can make your property much less attractive to potential thieves.

Speaking of keeping your castle nice and safe, you’ll also want to watch out for the heightened possibility that spending so much time in your warm and toasty home isn’t causing you smoke and fire damages. Summer is a time for grilling and chilling, but the cooler months are a time to hang out indoors, with the fireplace on, your candles and woodburning stoves become the culprits of house fires, which approximately 2,500 people fall victim to every year, with another 12,500 suffering injuries. The property loss from fires comes out to more than $7 billion yearly, and these losses come rapidly, as a small flame can grow into a huge regret in a matter of seconds. The smoke and heat that radiate from fires are something that you need to be careful with, and so is the cleanliness of your fireplace.

Another natural disaster in the fall that needs to be observed is that water is still falling from the sky. It’s colder, icier and more inconvenient than it should be, but none-the-less, it needs to be paid attention to. In the Fall and Winter, the most common claims are water damage claims, at 1.2 million claims being the average. Why? Cold air freezes pipes, those same pipes have the ability to burst and you’re using water heaters, dishwashers and clothing washers, as well as refrigerators more this time of year, because you are more likely to be at home now that it’s freezing outside. The best tip here is to turn off water valves if you’re going to travel away from your home for any substantial amount of time, and keeping your pipes and all maintenance in your home up to date. Water damage and freezing claims are the most common loss reported in the fourth quarter. Mitigating your property’s damages by updating outdated materials and products that are in place throughout your home are deeply important at this time of year.

Gables Insurance Recovery is always working to help in your time of need, whether that means coming to help you document a claim, or aiding you in understanding what your policy states about your claim and if it is worth filing one, and negotiating your settlement.