2011JanFeb

 Check your tires for adequate tread life and that they are

properly inflated.

 Make sure your spare is ready to use. 1320 28th Street West, Billings, Montana, 59102

Phone: (406) 652-4180 Fax: (406) 652-0025

 Carry an ice scraper and snow brush – make time to Email: newsletter@darnielle.com

properly clear your windows.

January/February 2011 Issue 2

 Check for proper antifreeze level.

 What condition are your windshield wiper blades in? Do

they need to be replaced?

 You may choose to carry a small snow shovel and a bag of

cat litter in your trunk to use for traction if you get stuck.

 If you are traveling be sure to take “comfort items” in the

event you are stranded in your car – blanket, hat, gloves, Now that the snow has officially

snacks for example. flown, Billings and the

surrounding areas have seen their fair Inside This Issue

The Montana Department of Transportation offers a vast share of accidents. Hazardous driving

amount of information regarding safe winter driving. Visit their conditions can lead to fender benders Your winter auto

website at www.mdt.mt.gov to download their Montana involving even the most careful and coverage questions

Disaster & Emergency Survival Guide. Here are some of the seasoned drivers. Now is a perfect time answered:

items they suggest that you pack in your emergency travel kit to review your automobile insurance  Towing and

for winter driving. with your agent to ensure that there are Roadside

NOAA Weather Radio Tow chain no insurance coverage surprises if you  Comprehensive

should need it this winter. To help you and Collision

Flashlight Spare tire

 Uninsured and

Extra batteries Wire and/or rope get started, here are descriptions of some

Underinsured

First aid kit Starter fluid, extra oil, and of the coverages that you might want to

Motorist

Blankets de-icer look for on your policy declaration page.

Season-appropriate Flares Winter Driving

clothing Cat litter or sand Towing and Roadside Assistance Statistics

Darnielle Insurance Agency









Whistle (to signal for help) Booster cables Most insurance companies offer some

Dust mask Water optional coverage for towing or roadside Tire Safety Tips

1320 28th Street West









Moist towelettes, garbage Non-perishable, high

Billings, MT 59102









assistance. Some companies will even

bags & plastic ties energy food Cold Weather

add this coverage if you only carry

Basic tool kit Local maps Driving Safety

liability coverage on your vehicle.

Axe or saw Matches/Lighter Check your policy or call your agent to What to put in your

see if you have this coverage, or if not, Emergency Travel

Information taken from: http://www.mdt.mt.gov/publications/ what it would cost to add it to your Kit

docs/brochures/winter_maint/winter_survival.pdf policy if you are interested. (Continued…)

Roadside assistance services typically include fuel or fluid underinsured motorist. Remember that uninsured/

delivery, battery boost/jump-start, flat tire service and lockout underinsured motorist coverages benefit you and passengers

service. in your vehicle.

Comprehensive and Collision Coverages Make sure you understand these coverage options and review

your policy to see what limits you have elected to purchase,

Some clients add Comprehensive and Collision coverage to

or if you rejected the coverage. Get a quote, increase your

their policies during the difficult winter driving months.

limits, or take comfort in the knowledge that you have

Remember that collision coverage is the coverage that will pay

included these important coverages at limits that are equal to

to fix your vehicle if you are involved in an accident that has

the liability limits you have chosen.

been caused by an uninsured motorist. It will also repair your

vehicle if you have a single vehicle accident, such as sliding

 Do you have additional questions about these

into a curb or pole, that causes damage to your vehicle. These

coverages? Poor visibility is one of the

coverages require that you select a deductible amount that you

 Do you have questions about auto coverages that were leading contributors to weather

must pay if repairs are necessary. -related traffic accidents. Take

not mentioned here?

the time to thoroughly clean

Comprehensive coverage is coverage for things other than Email your questions/comments to: your windows before heading

collision or upset. It covers such hazards as fire, theft, newsletter@darnielle.com out on the treacherous roads!

windstorm, flood and vandalism. This is the coverage that will

repair or replace your vehicle’s glass if it is damaged by a rock Did you know that 24% of all reported vehicle crashes in the

that has flown up from the roadway. U.S. are the result of adverse road/weather conditions, not

Collision coverage is coverage for damages to your vehicle due including the 57% of all weather related crashes that the

to colliding with another vehicle or object or for damages National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates go

unreported? It’s important to remember that roadways can

caused by the overturn of the automobile. Harry Staley with Staley’s Tire &

remain hazardous long after the storm has cleared. Be

Uninsured or Underinsured Motorist Coverage especially aware of possible slick pavement conditions when Automotive says check the air pressure in

snow thaws and then freezes again. your vehicle’s tires regularly during the

Auto liability insurance covers bodily injury and property winter months. Your tires will lose

damage that you are legally liable for causing to some third Percentage of Average Crashes in the U.S. due to pressure as they warm in the garage, and cool in the outside

party if you have caused an auto accident. Liability coverage is Adverse Weather/Road Conditions weather. Tires that lose pressure will rob you of fuel economy,

required by the State of Montana at specified minimum limits. Dry Pavement &

Adverse Weather and when the roads clear and the potholes appear, they can

In contrast, Uninsured and Underinsured motorist coverages are 2% sustain sidewall breaks when you hit one.

optional and are not included in the minimum limits of liability

required by law, but must always be considered by the policy Slick Pavement

Keep your tire gauge handy. Resist the urge to say it’s too cold

holder. & Clear Weather and check your tires when you fuel up.

35%

As reported by Jeff Brady with NPR, “The Insurance Research In newer vehicles, pay attention to the “TPMS,” or Tire

Council estimates that as the national unemployment rate rises, Pressure Monitoring System. You can pick up a nail or screw

so will the number of drivers without auto insurance. By 2010, Slick Pavement & and not lose pressure immediately until the nail works its way

the group expects that more than sixteen percent of motorists Adverse Weather

63%

out. Probably 90% or more of what we believe to be tire

will be uninsured.” Slick Pavement &

blowouts are actually tires that have simply lost air due to some

Other/Unknown undiscovered tire problem.

Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist Coverages provide Weather

BODILY INJURY coverage for you and your passengers if you 1% For optimum safe vehicle handling and fuel efficiency,

Statistics taken from: U.S. Highway Crashes In Adverse Road Weather Conditions, by Paul

are involved in an accident that is caused by an uninsured or A. Pisano, U.S. DOT Federal Highway Administration; Washington, D.C. regularly check the air pressure in your tires!