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Storm Damage Tips From Vargas & Vargas Insurance

Posted on by cvargas

This weekend’s Nor’easter, which is not a storm named by the National Weather Service, produced widespread damage including downed trees, sump pump failures, and power outages. The Vargas & Vargas Insurance team handled dozens of calls throughout the entire weekend and remains available at this time to assist you.

We understand there is great difficulty locating tree removal services and roofers to patch or tarp roof openings. We also note that finding generators and or sump pumps to remove water from basements is a challenge at this time.

Below are some tips should you have suffered any damage:

Tree damage: If there is tree damage to a building or home the first order of business is to ensure everyone’s physical safety. Once that has been completed, contact a licensed tree removal company. Currently, tree removal companies are focusing on calls involving severe damage. We suggest a number of companies be contacted to secure competitive quotes and, if necessary, to get on waiting lists for assistance.

Sump pump failure: Be extremely mindful of entering a flooded basement as water that has risen to certain levels may have caused an electrical short creating a dangerous situation. Elevating personal belongings and removing the water as soon as possible is important. Pumps and generators are in high demand currently and most local hardware and big box home improvement stores are out of stock. Contacting stores within a reasonable driving distance may be good option.

Roof damage: Much like tree removal services, licensed roofers are in high demand after a storm of this size. While likely well-meaning, this will cause individuals without the necessary level of expertise to offer assistance. As we have suggested in the past, please do not let anyone on your roof that you did not contact directly, and please be sure those that do provide help are appropriately licensed and insured.While these are the most common types of losses after a storm of this nature, we recognize these are not the only issues currently being experienced. Please contact Vargas & Vargas Insurance with any questions or concerns you may have.

To report a loss, you can contact us by telephone (617-298-0655), email(customerservice@vargasinsurance.com)
or text (617-409-0329).

If you suffer an emergency that cannot wait until we are open for business, please contact our after-hours claim telephone number  617-322-5289. 

Also, you may find our blog titled, “Home insurance, should you file a claim”, interesting to read, can read it by clicking here.

Sincerely,Carlos

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New Cars Causing an Increase in Distracted Driving

Posted on by cvargas

Cars used to be a tool that would get you from one place to another. Now a car is so much more than a mode of transportation. In fact, a majority of new cars come with an ‘infotainment’ system standard – a far cry from the AM/FM radio and CD player that most drivers were excited about just a decade ago. While they may seem like an upgrade, the features available in new cars are causing an alarming increase in the number of distracted drivers on the road.

In a 2017 study by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, researchers evaluated the infotainment systems in 30 model-year 2017 vehicles. Of these 30 vehicles, all generated at least moderate demand for drivers’ attention. In fact, 12 of the 30 systems generated a very high level of distraction.

It was found that the most distracting activity performed on the car’s infotainment systems was programming navigation, which takes an average of forty seconds to complete. In the time necessary to complete this task, a car moving at 25 mph would travel the length of four football fields!

Thankfully, there are steps that you can make to ensure that you (and the other drivers in your life) are safe despite all the bells and whistles in your new cars. Simply ensure that you program navigation when the car is not in motion, and that texting and social media are also disabled while the car is moving, in accordance with the voluntary guidelines proposed in 2012 by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Don’t forget that Vargas and Vargas Insurance Agency is here to help with your car insurance needs. Whether you have a cassette player or a new-fangled ‘infotainment’ system, we can get your vehicle protected with the best Massachusetts auto insurance. Just call us at 617-298-0655.

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Stay Merry and Bright: Winter Safety Tips

Posted on by cvargas

Can you believe that it’s December already? It feels like 2017 just started, but we’re getting ready to close the books on this wonderful year. This winter, we want to make sure that you and your loved ones stay safe so that you can enjoy the festivities of the holiday season. Here are just a few tips to help you avoid needing to file an insurance claim this winter:

  • Driving in the Massachusetts winter weather can be a hazard. Always be vigilant when on the road, and make sure to never get behind the wheel if you’ve had too much to drink. Check out our blog all about driving in the winter for more tips!
  • When there’s a fresh coating of snow on the ground, it’s a blast to play outside with the little ones. Make snow angels and build a snowman, but make sure that you take plenty of breaks from the cold, and know the signs of frostbite. Remember – children get cold faster than adults!
  • If you use a fireplace or candles, make sure that you never leave them lit unsupervised. Always make sure that fires are completely extinguished before you leave the room, and keep a vigilant eye on children and pets around flames.

Don’t forget to share these tips with your friends and family! Simply send them a link to this blog post – remember, sharing is caring… especially when it comes to safety. And stay on the lookout for many more holiday themed blogs this month from your friends here at Vargas and Vargas Insurance Agency.

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The Truth About Seat Belts

Posted on by cvargas

For most of us, there is a routine when getting in the car to go somewhere. Typically, it involves arranging your stuff, possibly getting kids settled in, putting on a seat belt, and then hitting the road. You might be surprised to find out, however, how many people skip the crucial step of putting on a seat belt. Check out these seat belt statistics:

  • According to a study from 2012, only 73% of drivers and front seat passengers wear a seat belt in Massachusetts. The reported national average is 86%.
  • Car accidents are a leading cause of death of people aged 1-54 in the US.
  • Over 21,000 people died in crashes in 2014 – over half of those aged 13-44 in those accidents were unrestrained at the time of the crash.
  • The use of seat belts reduces serious injuries and deaths by about half.

In the state of Massachusetts, drivers and all passengers aged 13 and over must be wearing a seat belt when a vehicle is in operation. There are also additional child restraint laws for children 12 and under.

If you want to prevent serious injury to yourself and your passengers when you are driving, make sure that every person is properly restrained before the vehicle begins to move. This should be done for all car trips, no matter how short. While it is unrelated to seat belt laws, it is also important to remember that texting while driving is illegal in Massachusetts.

Having a top-notch auto insurance policy is another important part of owning a car. If you want a free car insurance quote or review, just call Vargas and Vargas Insurance Agency at 617-298-0655.

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Were You Affected by the Equifax Breach?

Posted on by cvargas

By now, I’m sure that you have heard about the data breach that happened at Equifax, one of the largest credit reporting agencies in the US. It turns out that my wife Kathy and I were affected, and I have since signed up for the free credit monitoring offered by Equifax. This got me thinking about what other precautions I should be taking to protect my identity. Here are just a few ideas:

  • Shred everything that has personal information on it. Get a cross-cutting shredder and put it in a central location in your home – it will easily pay for itself in peace of mind.
  • When paying for something, try to always use either cash or a credit card. Debit cards don’t offer liability protection, and checks are easy to duplicate.
  • Consider hiring a service to monitor your credit. There are plenty out there, both paid and free – just make sure that you are familiar with the level of service offered before you pick one.

If you were affected, it’s important to remember that the hackers are likely to keep your information for several years before they attempt to use it, so it’s crucial that you stay diligent and always be on the lookout for suspicious activity in your financial accounts as well as on your credit reports.

Now there are rumors that Equifax may have been hacked a second time. This just goes to show how important it is to protect your personal information in this digital age. Make sure that you stay safe, and that you take your safety seriously. Call Vargas and Vargas Insurance if you have any questions that we can answer for you. Our office number is 617-298-0655.

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Tips and “Tricks” for Handing Out Halloween Candy

Posted on by cvargas

There’s no doubt about it – Halloween is right around the corner. No doubt you’ve noticed the huge displays of decorations, costumes, and candy in your favorite stores. If you’re planning to get in the spooky spirit and pass out candy to trick-or-treaters this year, here are some tips to make sure that you are one of the ‘cool houses’ on the block:

  • Let trick-or-treaters know that they should come to your home for candy on Halloween night. This should be done by decorating your home (it doesn’t have to be extravagant) and by leaving the porch light on.
  • Kids love when they are recognized, so do yourself a favor and brush up on this year’s most popular costumes, including Marvel and DC superheroes, Disney princesses, and more.
  • Only give out candy that is sealed in its original packaging. While it is a nice thought to give kids homemade treats, most parents won’t allow their kids to eat these kinds of treats from strangers.
  • Your trick-or-treaters will be looking for sugar, so don’t disappoint by handing out pencils (or worse – toothbrushes). If you want to give something like a pencil or small toy, do so alongside a piece of candy.
  • If you don’t want to be bothered by your doorbell all night long (and you don’t mind missing all the cute costumes), you may choose to put out a small bowl of candy. It’s best to put out less and refill often so that latecomers aren’t disappointed by an empty bowl.

Before the big day, make sure that your home is ready for any ‘trick’ with the right Massachusetts home insurance policy from Vargas and Vargas Insurance Agency. One quick call to 617-298-0655 will help you ensure that no ghouls, goblins, or poltergeists get the best of you this Halloween.

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Everyone lives in a Flood Zone!

Posted on by cvargas

Hurricane season is upon us, and based on the devastation that Houston is going through (and with another hurricane on the way) this season may not turn out to be a walk in the park for homeowners and renters.

I am not sure if you are aware, but flood damage (and earthquake damage) are excluded under all homeowners, condominium, and renter’s insurance policies. If you are in a Federally Mandated Flood Hazard area, you are required to purchase flood insurance to satisfy your Mortgage Company or bank.  But there is a misconception that if you are not in a Federally Mandated Flood Hazard area, you are not able to purchase flood insurance – that is incorrect.

Everyone who owns a home or condominium or rents an apartment is able to purchase flood insurance, and if you are NOT in a Federally Mandated Flood Hazard area, you could receive a “preferred rate.”

As an example, the flood insurance policy that Kathy and I carry on our home costs us $1389 per year for $50K on contents and $50K on the building because we are in a Federally Mandated Flood Hazard area. If we were NOT in a Federally Mandated Flood Hazard area our rate would be around $499.00 per year for up to $250K on the building and $100K on contents, a big difference.

Here is the second misconception to flood insurance: many people think that they will purchase a flood policy when they need it or a hurricane is heading in their direction. It does not work this way, as there is a 30-day waiting period on all new flood insurance policies (unless you are purchasing the coverage for a closing or refinance).

Here are some statistics for homeowners:

1. In the past several years, 60% of all declared disasters involved flooding
2. 25% of all insurance claims paid by FEMA involved losses outside Federally Mandated Flood Hazard areas.
3. 51% of all homeowner insurance claims are related to weather or flooding

And it gets worse for business owners. Here are 3 statistics that every business owner should know:

1. Almost 40% of small businesses never reopen their doors after a flood disaster.
2. Floods happen everywhere. 25% of all flood damage occurs in low to moderate flood risk areas. Business owners should not rely on a line of credit at their bank for protection.
3. Business insurance policies exclude flood damage. Only flood insurance pays qualified claims quickly so a business owner can get back to business

I strongly urge you to call Vargas & Vargas Insurance (your Lolocal independent insurance agent) and request a FREE flood insurance quote. Or click here.

If you are inclined to make a donation to help the wonderful people of Houston Texas, my mortgage friend, Richard Smith, recommends making a donation on this site, click here.

Thank you!

Carlos

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Create a Family Emergency Plan

Posted on by cvargas

Hurricane season is in full swing here in New England – are you prepared? One of the best ways to make sure that you and your family are ready in case of an emergency is with a family emergency plan. If you don’t have one, here are some things that you should think about and decide:

  • Designate one out-of-town family member or friend that each person in your family can contact if there is an emergency. This person will be in charge of making sure that everyone is safe and act as a liaison between family members if needed.
  • Every person in the family should know the out-of-town contact’s phone number, as well as one phone number for each member of the family. “It’s in my phone” doesn’t count – these numbers should be memorized so that they can be accessed from anywhere.
  • Designate two meeting places in case of an emergency. One should be local – somewhere within a few miles of your home. The other should be further away in case of a more widespread disaster. Also make sure family members know the location of the closest shelter in the area.
  • All family members should know the locations of family emergency kits – including those in the home and in vehicles. Make sure everyone knows what is in the kits and how each item should be used.

Make sure that you are doubly prepared by keeping the Vargas and Vargas Insurance numbers among your emergency contacts. By having our office number (617-298-0655) and our after-hours line (617-322-5289) with your other numbers, you will be sure that you are able to get a claim going right away on your home, auto, or flood insurance policy if you need to do so.

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Massachusetts Traffic Safety Initiatives

Posted on by cvargas

 

We are all so lucky to live in the great state of Massachusetts. But I think there’s one other thing we can all agree on – traffic is sometimes (if not often) a mess. If you’ve ever encountered a traffic jam and thought you may never make it to your destination – fear not… you’re not alone. Thankfully, there are many traffic programs here in Massachusetts that are aimed at making the roads better for all drivers. Here are three examples of these traffic safety initiatives:

Click It or Ticket

Did you know that the national average for seatbelt use is 90%? However, Massachusetts has one of the worst seatbelt use cases – 78%. In order to raise the state’s seatbelt use to be closer to the national average, the Highway Safety Division has been using the Click It or Ticket campaign since 2002. It has worked wonders, and has greatly increased seatbelt use and the number of serious injuries and fatalities associated with vehicle accidents.

Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over

In 2014, 40% of Massachusetts traffic deaths were a result of impaired driving. In order to lower the number of intoxicated drivers, Massachusetts began the “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” education and enforcement campaign, targeted at men aged 21-34 – the most likely group to drink and drive.

Move Over Law

First responders and police officers are hurt and killed every year while providing aid in emergency situations. In 2009, the state of Massachusetts aimed to keep these people safe by implementing the “Move Over Law,” which requires drivers to move into the next available lane (or, if no other lane exists, to reduce their speed) when emergency vehicles or personnel are present.

For more traffic safety tips, make sure that you follow the Vargas and Vargas Insurance blog. We love to post articles that will help to keep you and your loved ones safe while out on the road. And the next time you’re looking for a fair and honest auto insurance review, call our agency at 617-298-0655. We can help you save money while ensuring that you and your vehicle are protected in case of an accident

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Back to School Tips for Busy Families

Posted on by cvargas

Summer has flown by, and it may be hard to believe, but Boston Public Schools start on September 7th! If you’re like most parents, you want to make the transition from summer vacation to “Back to School” as seamless as possible. Here are some tips on preparing your kids (and yourself) for the new school year:

  • Start easing into new bedtimes and wake up times gradually – preferably over the course of a week or more. Nothing will throw a child off more than an abrupt schedule change.
  • If needed, make sure to schedule your child’s yearly physical ahead of time. This will help you beat the hoard of people that wait until the last minute to update vaccinations or get athletics physicals.
  • Before you go “Back to School” clothes shopping, go through your child’s existing wardrobe and donate or sell what doesn’t fit.
  • Make sure that young children have positive anticipation about the first day of school by setting expectations that include seeing and making friends and learning about fun subjects.
  • Discuss with your child the importance of homework, and create a distraction-free workspace together. Ideally, this is somewhere quiet and well-lit. Older students may need access to a computer. Younger students that don’t have homework on a particular night can be encouraged to read, or self-study about a topic that interests them.

If you want to continue to prepare your family for the year ahead, call Vargas and Vargas Insurance Agency for a review of your Massachusetts home and auto insurance policies. A few minutes of your time and you will be able to update your policies and maybe even find a new discount – so call 617-298-0655 today!

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