TEEN DRIVING

Once they get behind the wheel of a car, or ride along with a friend, it’s important that your teen knows the risks as well as the rewards of the open road. Making sure your teen is safe during these times requires understanding, involvement and firmly set limits. Teens are at a greater risk for accidents and fatalities than any other group of drivers. There are a number of reasons for this sobering statistic but they fall into four factors:

• Inexperience
• Risk-taking behaviors
• Immaturity
• Greater risk exposure

It’s always a good idea to make sure you have adequate insurance to cover any exposure, but with a teen driver in the house, the risk becomes even bigger. The hard truth is, when you add a teen driver to your auto insurance policy, you are assuming responsibility for their actions. If your child is a minor and gets into a serious accident where property and lives are at stake, the ramifications are not just emotional. An injured party or property owner could go after your assets and the costs are often staggering. That’s the last thing any of us wants to happen, but it could.

So parents, before you hand over the keys… Contact BIS to discuss auto insurance for your teen driver. Or better yet, have your teen make an appointment with our agent to discuss insurance coverage. Stop worrying, and read our tips on keeping young drivers safe.

To File a Claim, Follow These Steps:

• Call your insurance agent as soon as possible, regardless of who is at fault. Find out whether you're covered for this loss. Even if the accident appears minor, it is important that you let your insurance company know about the incident.
• Ask your agent or company representative how to proceed and what forms or documents are needed to support your claim. Your insurance company will require a “proof of claim” form and, if there is one, a copy of the police report. Increasingly, companies allow you to monitor the progress of your claim on their web site.
• Supply the information your insurer requests. Fill out the claim form carefully. Keep good records. Get the names and phone numbers of everyone you speak with and copies of any bills related to the accident.
  
  Knowing what to do if you are involved in an accident can save lives and also make the claims process easier.