Avoid Deadly Distractions Behind the Wheel

Posted on February 22, 2023December 29, 2022 by Alexa Steffes

Many people have a limited definition of “distracted driving”: They think it only means texting behind the wheel.

There’s good reason for that, because texting requires visual, manual and cognitive attention – the same attention required for safe driving. But although texting is perhaps the most dangerous distraction, there are many others that can impact how you drive, whether you realize it or not. And they can be just as deadly.

How deadly? According to the CDC, in 2019 more than 420,000 people were injured in crashes caused by distracted drivers – with more than 3,100 killed.

There are three main categories of distraction when it comes to driving:

Visual: Taking your eyes off the road
Manual: taking your hands off the wheel
Cognitive: taking your mind off driving

Here are just a few of the things that can distract drivers on the road:

Talking on the phone, even with a hands-free device.
Eating or drinking.
Talking to passengers.
Grooming (yes, there really are people who apply makeup or shave on their way to work).
Reading, including maps.
Adjusting the stereo.

Younger drivers are the most distracted of all – according to the government’s distraction.gov website, people in their 20s make up 38% of drivers who were using cell phones before a fatal crash, and 10% of teen drivers involved in fatal crashes were distracted, too.

With distractions more prevalent than ever – more than 150 billion text messages are sent in the U.S. every month, for example – how can you, and those you love, be safer behind the wheel? Here are a few tips:

Don’t use the phone: This includes texting as well as talking, unless it’s an emergency. Even hands-free conversations can take your attention off the road.
Eat before you leave, or after you get there: Scarfing down that burger with one hand on the wheel means your focus is divided – and you probably don’t have as much control over your car as you should. Bonus benefit: Keeping your meals and your driving separate means you’re much less likely to get ketchup on your pants.
Know where you’re going: Nobody likes to be lost. But messing around with your car’s GPS (or the maps app on your smartphone) while you’re moving can lead to something you’ll hate even more – an accident.
Talk to your family about safe driving: Having a conversation with your spouse as they’re driving home? That’s a perfect opportunity to say, “I’ll let you focus on the road; we can talk when you get here.” And if you have young drivers in the household, be sure to have a conversation about their phones and other potential issues, such as their passengers – a key distraction for teens.
Watch for other distracted drivers: Just because you aren’t distracted doesn’t mean that other drivers are focused on safe driving. Stay in control and be vigilant – you’ll be ready to react when someone else makes the wrong move.

Distracted driving isn’t just “one of those things” that happens, like a tire blowout or mechanical failure that isn’t anyone’s fault. It’s 100% preventable – and by committing to avoiding distractions while you drive, you’ll help make the road safer for everyone.

Reposted with permission from the original author, Safeco Insurance®.

Top image by Flickr user Government of Alberta used under Public domain. Image cropped and modified from original.

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Does motorcycle insurance cover my helmet and safety equipment if it is damaged in an accident?

Posted on February 21, 2023February 28, 2023 by admin

As a motorcycle rider, knowing what your insurance policy covers is important if you are involved in an accident. In Colorado, motorcycle riders must carry liability insurance that meets the minimum requirements set by the state. But what about your helmet and other safety equipment like helmets, jackets, boots, and gloves? Integrity First Insurance explains how motorcycle insurance coverage works.

Comprehensive Coverage for Your Gear

If you want protection for yourself and your gear in the event of an accident, then you should consider purchasing comprehensive coverage as part of your motorcycle insurance policy. Comprehensive coverage can help pay for damages related to theft, vandalism, fire, floods, hail storms, or other weather-related events and accidents, such as falling objects or animals running into the road.

It may also cover any safety gear you have purchased, such as helmets and riding suits damaged or destroyed during an accident.

Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Coverage

Another type of coverage that may be beneficial is uninsured/underinsured motorist (UIM) coverage. This type of coverage helps protect you financially if another driver causes an accident but doesn’t have adequate insurance or any to cover the repairs and medical bills resulting from the accident. UIM provides additional protection above and beyond basic liability coverage, so it’s worth considering if you don’t already have it included in your policy.

Reach Out To Us

Protect yourself and your gear on the roads of Colorado with comprehensive coverage for your motorcycle. At Integrity First Insurance, we can help tailor a policy to suit your needs – so contact us now! Our customized policies give you peace of mind during any ride, allowing you to hit the open road worry-free.

Insurance Tips for Millennials

Posted on February 8, 2023December 22, 2022 by Alexa Steffes

You keep your car filled up with gas so you don’t get stranded on the side of the road. And, your phone charged so your loved ones can reach you. But, what kind of safety measures do you have in place for more extreme scenarios?

What if you lost everything you owned in a fire at your house or your apartment? What if your car were stolen? These situations are scary, but your insurance can help you through them, and much more, so long as you have the right coverage in place.

So, what’s right for you? Whether you’re starting out on your own or starting a family, these tips can help you begin to understand the level of insurance you may need.

Consider What You Own – And What It’s All Worth
Could you imagine having to replace all of your personal belongings at once? What about having to do so from memory and on your own dime? It would be both a difficult and a costly task. So, make an inventory of your belongings and their value to minimize the former – the free Safeco Home Inventory app can help. And, be sure you have enough insurance coverage, whether you rent or own a home, to minimize the latter. It’s known as “personal property coverage,” and you want enough of it to replace all of your belongings if it were to come to that.

Learn more about personal property coverage in our blog Do You Have Enough Coverage For Your Belongings?

Take Your Lifestyle Into Account
Drive an expensive car? Repairs are likely costly, so be sure to carry comprehensive and collision coverage. Consider any customizations in the car and whether you want original manufactured parts in repairs are needed or if you’re okay with aftermarket. We’re happy to go over your auto coverage options to ensure you have the kind of protection you expect.

Own a home with a lot of custom features? Be sure your homeowners policy takes them into account. The amount of insurance you have on your home should directly reflect the unique features of your home. Your agent should complete a detailed Replacement Cost Estimator to determine the insurance limits needed.

Read more about how your insurance limits are calculated: If Your Home Burned Down, Would You Have Enough Coverage?

The way you live can help you save, too. For example, if you take public transportation to and from work even though you own a car, you may pay less for your insurance.

Talk to Your Independent Agent for Ease, Choice and Advice
As an independent agency, Integrity First Insurance offers a choice of carriers and options, plus personalized advice to help make sense of it all. And, we make it easy by doing the research and the work for you.

5 Reasons You Should Work with Integrity First

Remember, we’re here to help. Contact us today with your insurance questions and needs.

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Why is the Estimated Replacement Cost of my Home Different Than the Home’s Value?

Posted on February 1, 2023January 30, 2023 by Alexa Steffes

The cost to rebuild a home is often very different than the market value of the home. A home’s value is based on what someone is willing to spend to buy that home, and largely depends on the area the home is located. A home in a desirable neighborhood may cost the same amount to build as an identical house in a less desirable neighborhood, even though it would sell for more.

Insurance doesn’t cover the the price you paid for your home, the taxable value, or even the potential sale price. The purpose of homeowners insurance is to indemnify you in the event of a loss. In other words, insurance is designed to make you whole again. When it comes to your home, that means insurance will pay to rebuild your home with like-quality materials.

Over the course of your homeownership, both the replacement cost and the market value of your home can fluctuate. At some point, they might be similar values, and other times the replacement cost could be higher or lower than the market value. It all depends on what is happening with the economy and housing market.

Here’s a breakdown of some important factors that can impact the replacement cost and/or market value of your home:

Impactful Factors	Replacement Cost	Market Value
Age of Home	X	X
Size of Home	X	X
Home Features and Finishes	X	X
Labor Costs	X
Cost of Materials	X
Houses on the Market		X
Land Value		X
Desirability of Area (Schools, Safety, Etc.)		X

As you can see, things like cost of labor and materials impacts the replacement cost of your home, but not the market value. That’s because when someone is looking for a house to buy, the amount it would cost to build the home isn’t a huge factor since the house is already constructed. Once you own the house, the cost of building materials and labor matters more because you have to insure the house for what it would cost to rebuild it if you suffered a total loss.

While the quality of the schools, parks, and safety of your neighborhood certainly impact the price you could sell your house for, it doesn’t effect the cost to repair or rebuild your home if you had a loss. The same goes for the number of houses on the market and the land value. Whether there are 100 or 1000 houses for sale in your area, it would cost the same amount to rebuild it. Insurance doesn’t cover the value of the land since the land would still exist even if the house was destroyed, so the land value doesn’t factor into the estimated rebuilding costs.

There are some factors that impact both the reconstruction cost and the market value of a home. Specifically, the age, size and features of the home. A home that is 1000 square feet would cost less to build and sell for less than a comparable home with 2000 square feet. Similarly, if you update your kitchen to have custom finishes, that increases the cost to rebuild as well as the resale value of the home. That’s why it’s important to talk to your agent and make sure your home has adequate insurance anytime you make improvements or additions.

If you have questions about how the replacement cost of your home was determined, give us a call. We’re happy to help you decide if the coverage you have is appropriate for your home.

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