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Car accidents are never fun, in fact, they can be a huge headache. Just imagine... you’re on your way to the lake, the park, out to eat, or perhaps somewhere like work or home, and all of a sudden BAM! Either because of your own fault or someone else’s, your day just got interrupted.
It’s safe to say that the situation is more frustrating when the accident is the fault of the other driver. Because, of course, you were doing what you were supposed to be doing and since someone else wasn’t you are now being inconvenienced. But, you try to stay positive. This is what you have insurance for, right? As you start to calm yourself down, you hear the other driver say, “I don’t have insurance.”
Yes, something that once was considering driving no-no is now becoming more and more common. With the rate of unemployment and the troubled economy more people are driving uninsured. A recent study concluded that each time the unemployment rate goes up 1 percent, the number of uninsured motorists also increases by an estimated 1 percent. In Tennessee, it is estimated that 1 in 5 drivers are uninsured or underinsured!
So if you ever looked at your policy and thought — “Uninsured motorist coverage? Why would I need that, insurance is required and I don't want to be responsible for someone else? What a waste of money!” Hopefully you now see the light. Clearly, there are ways of getting around the required proof of insurance protocol. And the Uninsured Motorist coverage is what can help you sleep at night when there are so many irresponsible people out there!
An important thing to know about underinsured is that the other driver does carry insurance; they are just carrying less insurance that you have. For example, they might be carrying the state minimums of 25,000/50,000, so by you carrying higher limits of Uninsured Motorist, you are better protected from the difference!
CL Butcher Insurance Agency has two dedicated agents who can answer all of your insurance questions and concerns. Not only that, we’re the best at saving you money! Our agents will shop your policy through a supermarket of insurance carriers in order to find you the best coverage for the best price.
For questions or a quote stop by our office, visit our website, or give us a call at (865) 689-5482
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Posted Monday, October 17 2011 11:31 AM
Tags : Claim Prevention, Auto Insurance, Tips, Myths
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Let’s face it; there is always a possibility of an emergency. Whether it is a fire, earthquake or some other natural disaster it is important to be prepared and have an emergency kit. At CL Butcher, we want you and your family to be as prepared as possible!
When disaster hits, you will most likely not have access to services such as electricity, gas and water. Relief workers and aid will be on the scene immediately after a disaster; however they can’t get to everyone right away. This means you could go hours or even days without help.
According to FEMA you should have an emergency kit for your home, work and car as you do not know exactly where you will be when disaster strikes. They recommend you plan for at least 3 days; however it’s always a good idea to be over prepared.
FEMA’s recommends you include the following in your basic disaster kit:
- Three-day supply of non-perishable food
- Three-day supply of water – one gallon of water per person, per day
- Portable, battery-powered radio or television and extra batteries
- Flashlight and extra batteries
- First aid kit and manual
- Sanitation and hygiene items (moist towelettes and toilet paper)
- Matches and waterproof container
- Whistle
- Extra clothing
- Kitchen accessories and cooking utensils, including a can opener
- Photocopies of credit and identification cards
- Cash and coins
- Special needs items, such as prescription medications, eye glasses, contact lens solutions, and hearing aid batteries
- Items for infants, such as formula, diapers, bottles, and pacifiers
- Other items to meet your unique family needs
If you live in a cold climate, you must think about warmth. It is possible that you will not have heat. Think about your clothing and bedding supplies. Be sure to include one complete change of clothing and shoes per person, including:
- Jacket or coat
- Long pants
- Long sleeve shirt
- Sturdy shoes
- Hat, mittens, and scarf
- Sleeping bag or warm blanket (per person)
You can find more detailed information on the FEMA website by clicking here.Have you ever thought about putting together an emergency kit? Do you currently have one?
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Posted Monday, September 26 2011 11:17 AM
Tags : Inventory, Tips
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 At CL Butcher, we understand that when you child turns 16 there are a multitude of thoughts that go through your mind. We want to make the process as simple as possible for you, so you can focus on more important matters!
According to the GMAC National Drivers Test, there are some restrictions that parents put on their teenage drivers that help them drive safer.
- Sixty-four percent of parents impose the "no mobile devices operated while driving" rule.
- About 50% of parents implement a driving curfew.
- About 35% of parents allow their teenagers to drive only locally and restrict them from driving on highways.
- Thirty-two percent of parents allow their teenagers to drive only if a parent or guardian is with them.
- Only nine percent of parents don't impost any driving restrictions on their teen drivers.
Many of our companies offer great assets, like Parent-Teen Driving Contracts, Good Student Discounts, Driver's Education Discounts, Teensurance Program with Safeco, etc.
It's also worth noting that the "Top Five Distracted Driving Habits" are:
- Using a Smartphone
- Eating
- Adjusting the GPS
- Selecting Songs on an iPod or mp3 Player
- Driving Barefoot
At CL Butcher Insurance, we want to make sure you and your child are safe. And remember, you can encourage safe driving by setting a good example and following safety rules yourself.
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Posted Tuesday, September 13 2011 11:11 AM
Tags : Auto Insurance, Tips, Claim Prevention, Teen Driving
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 If you're like many people, you might have a portable GPS in your vehicle. A new trend with thieves is to break in to your vehicle, steal your GPS and your Garage Door Opener. Then if your GPS is like most, you have your Home address programed into the GPS, so the thief selects home, drives to your house, uses your garage door opener to gain access to your home, and then proceeds to steal from you.
What can you do to protect yourself? Make sure that you do not have your GPS on your dash/windshield when you are not in your vehicle. Lock it in your glove box, your trunk, or take it with you. If you are out of town on vacation, be sure and hide your garage door opener by either locking it in your glove box/trunk. A thief doesn’t want to spend a lot of time, so they will look for the vehicles that present the quickest and easiest opportunities. Don’t invite them to your vehicle. Keep your glove box locked so they can’t get an insurance card that has your home address & remove any papers from your vehicle that would have that kind of personal data.
If you happen to be a victim of this type of crime, here are the steps that I feel you should take.
- Call the police to notify them and ask that they drive by your house.
- If possible, have someone go to your home and unplug your garage door opener.
- If you have comprehensive coverage, you can report the damage to your vehicle to your insurance company. Your contents in your car would fall under your homeowner or renter policy.
- When you get home, get a new garage door opener or change the code so your old opener does not work.
Do you have a portable GPS in your vehicle? If so, is it programed with your home address?
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 Unfortunately, most of the time, if your tree falls on your neighbor's property, then your insurance will not cover their damages.
The reason is that, most of the time, you are not held responsible for a falling tree.
So, who will pay for the damages?
Your neighbor's homeowners' insurance will need to pay the claim and not the property owner of the tree.
There are situations that could turn out differently than the above. Such as, if your neighbor had warned you about a potential problem with your tree. Like, if they had told you that your tree was overhanging, dead, dying, etc. If this is the case, then you could be held liable for the damages.
One of the most common causes of a "Neighbor War" is a result of this unpredictable tree issue, according to Consumer Reports.
At CL Butcher, we try to encourage our customers to maintain their property to the best of their ability. If you have an issue with an overgrown or dying tree, please have this taken care of to avoid a potential claim. If you choose to do nothing, the insurance company could possibly deny your claim because of negligence.
Now if you are on the other side of the fence and you have a neighbor that has a problem tree the best thing to do is to write them a certified letter that you are concerned about their tree and you feel that it is a potential threat to you and your property, then ask them to take action. If they they choose to not take care of their property, then you have documentation that you send notice and you have a better chance of recovering the damages from their insurance company.
As always, if you have questions about this issue or any other issue relating to insurance, please contact us!
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Posted Wednesday, June 08 2011 9:28 AM
Tags : Claim Assistance, Home Insurance, Tips, Claim Prevention
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