Massachusetts Auto Surcharge Appeal Plus Pro-Tip

Posted on April 24, 2023April 3, 2023 by cvargas

Every location has its own practices when it comes to insurance premiums and what affects them. In this case, I’m talking about the insurance surcharge you could face after an accident in Massachusetts. Today, I break down the steps for the appeal process and why it’s important.

What is an Insurance Surcharge?

A surcharge on your insurance is a fee that is added to your premiums. This usually happens if you’re regularly involved in at-fault accidents, pay your premiums late, or have a lapse in coverage.

However, a surcharge can also affect your insurance if you’re simply adding another vehicle to the policy. In those cases, though, you can work with the insurer to see if there are discounts available for multiple-car policies.

In this article, I’m focusing on appealing the insurance surcharge that comes after an accident.

Steps to Appeal the Insurance Surcharge

The insurance surcharge will kick in if the insurer deems that you are more than 50% at fault. According to Massachusetts law, you have up to 30 days from the notice of the surcharge to file an appeal with the Division of Insurance Board of Appeal.

1. Complete and submit the Appeal Form that is located on the backside of the Notice of At-Fault Accident Determination. You’ll need to enclose the $50 filing fee made payable to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The address is located on the Appeal Form.

2. You will receive a notice in the mail acknowledging the receipt of your appeal.

3. In approximately three weeks, you’ll receive a hearing notice. At this hearing, you can attend yourself, submit a statement at least five days before the hearing, or have a representative appear on your behalf.

4. The hearing will last around 15 to 20 minutes to determine the justification of the surcharge.

5. About two to four weeks after the hearing, you’ll receive a decision from the Board of Appeals as to whether the insurance surcharge will remain.

Note: If the surcharge is added to your insurance premiums, you’ll still have to pay the additional amount. Otherwise, the insurer can cancel your policy.

How Much Will Rates Increase if You Don’t Appeal?

The increased amount of your insurance premiums will depend on a lot of factors. It’s not exactly a one-size-fits-all answer, to be honest.

For example, rate increases are subject to:

your previous driving record.
how many years you drive that are accident-free.
how often you file insurance claims.

Essentially, it all comes down to how much of a risk the insurer deems you for coverage. If you have a spotless driving record and make your payments on time, the increase might be nominal.

Use the Appeals Process Correctly

The appeals process is meant to help the innocent avoid paying out when accidents were clearly not their fault. As long as you explain your position to the magistrate, and are not at fault, you may avoid these extra fees.

At Vargas & Vargas Insurance, we can help you further understand the process and what you need after an accident. Contact us today to understand your options and what you can do to avoid issues like this in the future.

How Filing An Out Of State Car Accident Different Than One In Your State

Posted on March 13, 2023March 31, 2023 by cvargas

Experiencing a car crash in an unfamiliar place can be frightening. Not only must you cope with the emotional and physical effects of the accident, but you’re in unfamiliar surroundings. You may have many queries at once, but the first one is likely to be “Do I still have insurance coverage when I’m not home?”. Let’s look into this matter further.

Where Does My Policy Cover?

You don’t have to be concerned if your auto insurance doesn’t seem to apply in other states; most policies cover all 50 states, and the U.S. territories such as Puerto Rico, and even the Canadian provinces. To make sure you understand exactly what your policy covers before traveling with your vehicle to another state or country, you should speak with an insured attorney. Note that going into Mexico or other South American countries may not be included in your insurance coverage.

What is included in my insurance coverage?

If you are involved in an accident out of state, your car insurance will adjust to meet the requirements of the state where the accident occurred. For example, if you are from Massachusetts, your car insurance will have minimum liability limits of 20/40/20 for property damage and personal injury protection (PIP). If you are involved in an accident in Georgia, their state requires minimum liability limits of 25/50/25 for bodily injury and property damage liability.

If you are in an accident in Georgia, your insurance policy’s limit for liability will automatically increase to the state’s minimum.

If you’re driving in a state with a lower liability limit than your home state, your insurance policy will provide the maximum coverage on your policy, even if it’s more than what the state you’re visiting requires.

What if the state does not have a “no-fault” policy?

In states that have a no-fault system, drivers must carry at least $10,000 in personal injury protection (PIP) coverage. This means that if an accident happens in one of these states, the PIP coverage will be used to cover any injuries regardless of who was at fault. In contrast, tort states do not use a no-fault system and the negligent driver is held responsible for any injuries resulting from an accident.

If you suffer an injury caused by a careless driver while travelling in the state of Georgia, which is a “fault” state, the driver would be held accountable for your injury and related costs. The law of Georgia will decide how to settle the incident and the insurance policy held by the responsible driver will determine how medical expenses and lost wages are dealt with.

In a no-fault state, the minimum PIP coverage required by law is the same for both Georgia residents and Massachusetts drivers.
The governing law in a no-fault state will be based on the state in which the accident occurred.

What is the best way to deal with a car accident occurring in another state?

Always follow the standard auto accident checklist when involved in a crash, which includes checking for injuries and the safety of passengers, calling the police and emergency services, assessing and documenting damage, and contacting your insurance company.
Depending on your insurance policy, your insurance may also cover additional expenses such as towing or repair costs.
When speaking with your insurance company, be sure to let them know that you are in a different state so they can determine what coverage is available to you..
Auto accidents can be confusing, so make sure to discuss your accident with your local independent insurance agent

Local Independent Insurance Agency

Vargas & Vargas Insurance is a local independent insurance broker, we work for you, the customer, and not any one insurance company, and we always have time for you. We shop around with many local and national insurance companies to offer you a tailored fit insurance policy for your specific needs. We have been helping first-time home buyers for over 40 years and teaching them about the significance of their homeowner’s insurance, call us today.

What Happens if Two People Involved in an Accident Have the Same Insurer?

Posted on June 6, 2022May 30, 2022 by cvargas

When an accident occurs, it is often customary to contact an insurance agent. But what happens when two people in an accident have the same insurance company? Well, it’s often handled the same but with a few minor adjustments.

In the end, it usually falls under who is to blame to pay for damages regardless of his or her insurance company. Having the same insurer doesn’t change the bottom line. However, the insurer may take steps to avoid issues among clients.

No Bias in Decisions

In many cases, the insurance company will assign two different adjusters to the separate claims. They may also make adjustments to the claims to avoid a conflict of interest.

It comes down to legally being required to handle claims in an efficient manner regardless of whether both parties have the same insurer or not. This also means that you can expect claims to take roughly the same amount of time.

In some cases, the insurance company can waive any deductibles should both parties use the same vendor. But that is often on a case-by-case basis and greatly depends on the insurer.

In every case, though, the process should be relatively the same. Simply contact your agent and process the claim as you normally would.

Who is Cited for Blame?

To ensure one party is at fault over another, a police report can be filed. In most cases, the officer will attest to which driver is to blame, which can ultimately change how the claims are processed.

While not every accident may require the assistance of a police officer, it can help things move along smoothly. Otherwise, it could be a painstaking process should neither party admit to being at fault.

In the event of both parties agreeing to be at fault, the insurance company may assign percentages of claims to both parties depending on the damages suffered. This will be up to the insurer and usually based on the total damages of both vehicles.

An example of this is in the event of one driver tailgating another. This is when a driver is following a vehicle much too closely. If the front driver immediately slams on his or her breaks, it could cause a rear-end collision. After an investigation and the officer deems both parties as negligent, then both could be at fault.

Of course, in this scenario, it really depends on why the front driver had to slam on the breaks in the first place.

Not Much Really Changes

In the grand scheme of things, not many changes if both parties have the same insurer. Though, a few minor things may change to avoid a conflict of interest or prevent the feeling of “favoritism.” For instance, what if the same agent handles both clients prior to an accident? That’s when a newly assigned adjuster would assist one of the parties.

But generally speaking, the claims are handled in the same fashion as if two different insurance companies were involved.

At Vargas & Vargas Insurance, you can rest easy knowing that we take a fair stance with all of our clients in the event of an accident. If you need auto insurance, contact us today and let us help protect you and your family.

Winter Driving And Car Accidents

Posted on February 15, 2022February 15, 2022 by cvargas

Winter is a good and delightful time of the year. It brings snow to make a cute snowman and enjoy a snowball fight with our friends and family. However, these attractive aspects can make winters dangerous for drivers. As the days get colder, the risk of road accidents increases. Therefore, taking precautionary measures and driving with complete focus is important to save your life. The NHTSA mentions many tips on their website, and here are some tips and tricks to drive your vehicle during cold weather safely.

Winter Driving Tips

Drive Slowly and Super Smoothly

The trick to safe winter driving in snow is being smooth with your accelerator, steering wheel, and brakes. Every push of the brakes, turn off the wheels, or throttle movement needs to be gentle, deliberate, and gradual. It would help if you tried to be as slow as you could while driving the car.

Avoid Involving in Distractions

Most accidents happen when the driver is distracted doing other things while driving. Therefore, avoid talking to the passengers when driving in extremely cold weather, never use your phone, eat food, or listen to music at high volume. You need to avoid every type of distraction if you want to avoid an accident.

Turn On Your Lights

Turning your lights on will help other drivers on the road to see you from far. Headlights can also make your vehicle visible on extreme fog days. This way, whenever other drivers notice you on the road, they will drive carefully around you.

Avoid Driving in Harsh Weather

This is another very important winter driving tip. Driving in winters can be extremely challenging. So, if you find yourself not having to drive in dangerous weather conditions, don’t push yourself to drive in these circumstances. Cancel your journey as soon as possible and head back to your house. If the weather is too harsh to get back to the house, go to the nearest place to relax until the condition becomes appropriate for driving.

Do You Need to Report Accidents?

Many people don’t report accidents if they are not serious. But this is a wrong approach. Not only do you reduce your chances of getting insurance coverage, but you can also save others. Wondering how? Well, report accidents to the authorities in your area to find ways to solve the problem. They first try to find the cause of your accident and then opt for different ways to resolve the issue. So, even if you had a bad experience, you can save others from going through the same trauma.

Wrapping Up

Besides the mentioned winter driving tips, you also need to install high-quality tires in your vehicle. It’s also vital to check the weather conditions before stepping out of your house. If you can, keep some important things on you while traveling long distances at night. This includes extra batteries, a torch, water bottles, and snacks. So, if you have to spend the night in your car on the roadside, you will have all the essentials to pass the night. Click here to read more.

Vargas & Vargas Insurance understands that sometimes you may not be able to stay off the roads and things happen. That’s why, as a premier local independent insurance agency, we strive to build the relationships necessary to customize your insurance coverage to your needs at the right price. Contact us today.

Flashback Blog: Boston is No Stranger to Fire

Posted on November 19, 2019November 16, 2019 by cvargas

The city of Boston has been destroyed by large blazes multiple times. The first devastation of fire occurred in 1631; just one year after Boston was officially established.

Here are a few tips to keep you from having to file a fire damage claim on your home insurance.

The first thing you should cement in your mind is to never leave a flame burning where it cannot be seen. Enjoying an aromatherapy session with some scented candles? Even if you need to leave the room for just a moment, blow them out. You never know if something will delay or distract you from returning immediately.

Keep pets, especially agile cats, away from lit candles, scented oil burners, and other open flames. They could bump or knock over the materials, causing a fire that could have been avoided. On the same train of thought, teach your children proper fire safety. Flames and the resulting smoke can be very dangerous.

In case a fire does occur, despite your best efforts to handle flames safely, make sure you have up to date insurance in Boston, MA. Boston boasts median home values above $100,000.

Without coverage, how would you repair or rebuild your home after a fire ravaged your property? Avoid this potential financial burden by requesting a free insurance estimate today and putting your coverage in place.

With Vargas & Vargas Insurance, you can get the coverage you need for your home. Click here to contact us today for more information!

Flashback: Fallen Leaves in Autumn Leave You Liable!

Posted on October 22, 2019October 17, 2019 by cvargas

There is no doubt that the beauty of the autumnal leaves is a highlight of the season. But such splendor can mask danger.

Those same beautiful leaves can be dangerous once they hit the ground! Fallen leaves can cause slippery conditions because they contain a large amount of water.

Fall is also a time when we experience the first frost,which can add to the slippery surfaces. As the temperature drops, the wet leaves can freeze with a thin layer of ice creating hazardous conditions.

In addition, during the fall, the sun rises later, sets earlier, and often brings foggy days. This limited exposure to sunshine does not allow for wet/frozen leaves to dry out and pathways and walkways are now dim. All can contribute to a greater potential for accidents.

School is in session and children are walking out and about, your postal worker delivering your mail, and of course come Halloween “trick or treaters” will be traversing your property.

These are all potential liability claims should they slip and fall on your property. It only takes one false step to become the victim of a “slip-and-fall”accident.

Avoid any chance of injury to yourself or others by clearing walkways and driveways of all fallen leaves, and ensure that they are well lit. If you currently use landscape lighting on a timer, be sure to reprogram your timers in anticipation of the end of daylight savings time.

Protect your family and yourself against these all too often occurring accidents by reviewing your Massachusetts homeowner’s insurance coverage with your agent today. Call us at 877.550.0025.

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