Weather

Don’t Fall into an Accident this Autumn

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The leaves are turning, and many of us have begrudgingly turned up the thermostat for the first time since April or May. Every Fall, our Maine insurance agency sees an increase in car accidents. Many of those are caused by the angle of the early morning and late afternoon sun, which coincide with commuting hours this time of year. 

Avoid “Driving Blind” by:
  • Slowing down and increasing your following distance; 
  • Wearing polarized sunglasses to reduce glare;
  • Keeping your windshield and wiper blades clean, and your washer fluid full;
  • Lowering your visor to help block reflected light;
  • Keeping your headlights on to make your vehicle more visible to others;
  • Taking an alternate route or delaying your trip to avoid driving into the sun;
  • Looking carefully for pedestrians and bicyclists in the roadway.

Keep in mind that other drivers may not see you when the sun’s angle is low. Be extra careful when pulling out of side streets or taking off from a stop sign. Drive safely!

If you have questions about your car insurance, or would like a Maine auto insurance quote online, contact Noyes Hall & Allen at 207-799-5541.

Kyle Causes Suspension of Binding Authority

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Insurance companies suspend agents’ authority to bind any new coverage or to increase coverage on buildings, vehicles or other property when an area is under a “severe storm warning”. This includes

  • Gale Warnings
  • Tropical Storm Watch or Warning 
  • Hurricane Watch or Warning. 

 As a result, we expect to  be unable to bind coverage for most of the weekend.  

Our 24/7 claim service will be available as usual. Call our office at 207.799.5541 for instructions. 
For instructions on how to protect your property in the event of a storm, visit the Insurance Information Institute’s Disaster Preparedness page. 
Be safe this weekend!

Do You Need Flood Insurance in Maine if You’re Not in a Flood Zone?

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2008 was one of the wettest summers in Maine in 20 years. Several storms dumped more than an inch of rain each, causing flash flooding and washing out roads. This caused traffic accidents and property damage. This followed one of Maine’s snowiest winters, which caused massive flooding in Aroostook County.

Unfortunately, many people find out the hard way that Maine homeowners insurance, business property insurance and condo insurance policies do not cover flood damage. The most common provider for flood coverage in the U.S. is The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). The product is sold by nearly every Maine insurance agency.

As many Mainers learned this summer, you don’t have to live next to a body of water to suffer from flooding. NFIP says that 25% of flood claims come from “low to moderate risk areas.”

Take a look at this video taken on Stevens Avenue in Portland taken earlier this month.

Note: Stevens Avenue in Portland is 100’ above sea level, flat, and miles from a body of water.

For those in special hazard zones, flood coverage can be expensive – often more than homeowners policies. Lenders usually require homeowners to purchase this coverage. Outside of these special hazard zones, the cost of flood coverage is much less – often as little as $200 per year.

For more information, contact your agent at Noyes Hall & Allen Insurance at 207-799-5541.