Do you know if your vehicle is affected by GM’s massive recall?

Lately, it seems like there are news stories regarding automobile recalls on a weekly basis. Unfortunately, many are only discovered once an accident or fatality occurs.

General Motors recently issued a recall of 3.6 million vehicles in the United States as a result of a software defect that could prevent front air bags from deploying in the event of an accident. Additionally, this problem may also affect the normal function of the vehicle’s seat belt.

As a result of this impairment, several accidents have occurred resulting in one death and numerous injuries. At Hunter Insurance, we are committed to keeping you and your loved ones safe. To see if your vehicle if affected by the recall, please click here. http://www.cbsnews.com/news/is-your-vehicle-affected-by-gms-big-recall/

For more information on how Hunter Insurance can help you safeguard what matters most, call us today at 769.9500.

Insuring your College Student

The college school year is about to begin, and there are probably many last minute items you are checking of your to-do list to help prepare your child for academic success. In addition to purchasing the necessities such as books and electronics, Hunter Insurance would like to remind you to complete one of the most important tasks - insuring their personal belongings.

College students own a long list of expensive items – computers, printers, iPods, TVs, etc.  The overall value of all their items can add up pretty quickly. But living in a dorm or university community allows for ample opportunity for theft or damage. According to a survey conducted by the Independent Insurance Agents of America, Inc., (IIAA) more than 100,000 property crimes on college campuses are reported to police each year, and thieves steal an average of $1,250 in student property per theft.

At Hunter Insurance, we want to inform you of two insurance options available to you to protect your student for the upcoming school year:

1. Utilize Your Homeowners Policy: If your child lives in a dorm or other college-owned property, their possessions are typically covered automatically against loss, theft, and damage under your homeowners policy. However, coverage is often limited to approximately 10 percent of the policy's coverage for contents.
2. Renters Insurance: If your child does not live in college-owned housing, your homeowner’s policy won't provide coverage. Fortunately, however, there is the option to purchase a renter’s insurance policy for about $15 to $30 a month. Similar to homeowners insurance, these types of policies are available in two basic forms: Actual cash-value policies cover the value of the item at the time of loss, taking depreciation into account, and replacement-value policies cover the cost of replacing the lost item with a new one. Replacement-value policies cost more, though both types are subject to the coverage limits.

Protecting what matters most to you is our biggest priority at Hunter Insurance, and we know that the safety of your children is your number one concern. Before your child settles into their college residence, call us at 769-9500 to discuss your options.

Summertime Pool Safety

Summertime Pool Safety from Hunter Insurance 

Having a pool in your backyard is refreshing for those hot weekends and summer block parties. If you have recently installed a pool at your home and are ready to enjoy the water, remember to consider the insurance ramifications and general water safety. 

Fortunately, a pool is considered separate from your dwelling and is therefore covered under the “other structures” section of your homeowner’s policy, similarly to sheds, detached garages and gazebos.  However, if you have a number of detached structures, or if your pool was on the expensive side, the standard coverage may not be enough. If this is the case, you may want to consider adding a higher amount of coverage for your specific structures.

While evaluating your insurance coverage, you should keep in mind that, no matter the type of policy, insurance will not cover damage done to your pool by freezing, thawing, pressure, or weight of ice or water. This is why it is so important to “winterize” your pool, especially around here.

Not only should you think about the insurance coverage for your pool, but also take a moment to consider liability coverage. Installing a pool increases your chances of liability if someone is injured or killed as a result of using your pool. If you are a homeowner with a pool, we strongly recommend you consider increasing your liability coverage or purchasing a personal umbrella liability policy.  

Remember, it is always best to set up some general pool safety rules to decrease your potential liability exposure. If you have any additional questions regarding the insurance coverage for your pool, please contact Hunter Insurance at 401-769-9500.

Enjoy Rewards from Our Referral Program

Enjoy Rewards for Your Referrals

As a Thank You for Your Support

At Hunter Insurance, we are proud to be part of this great community. Since 1989, we have helped generations of families protect what matters most and have formed lasting friendships throughout the years. A large part of our business is derived from current clients recommending us to others, and we want to thank you for your referrals.

Introducing Our Referral Rewards Program

The Hunter Insurance Referral Rewards Program is simple. Refer a friend or family member to Hunter Insurance. When they receive a policy quote from us, they simply need to provide your full name to our agent. To show our gratitude, you will receive:

• $10 gift card to Dunkin Donuts for every referral
• Entry into the monthly $100 Dinner On Us gift card contest

By referring your friends and family to Hunter Insurance you will be helping them secure quality insurance coverage, affordable rates and the high-level of customer service you have come to expect.

We thank you for your continued business and look forward to helping you, your family and your friends for many years to come.

IIHS Headlight Test Signals Need for Improvement

According to a recently released automobile headlight test, administered by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), your vehicle may not be up to speed. Upon evaluation of 31 vehicles based on headlight factors such as visibility and glare measurements, only the Toyota Prius earned a ‘good’ rating. The remainder of the vehicles graded ranged from ‘acceptable’ to ‘poor’, demonstrating a drastic need for improvement. With about half of all traffic deaths occurring outside of daylight, advancements in headlight technology could greatly reduce the amount of fatalities.

Why is there such a large gap in headlight safety?

One of the main reasons stems from current government headlight standards that allow for a huge variation in the amount of illumination headlights provide. With the invention of HID and LED powered headlights, the regulations do not favor one over the other. As a result, these headlights are given a “pass” provided they produce an “acceptable” form of illumination.

While the IIHS tested only 31 vehicles, 82 headlight ratings were given due to the various headlight and vehicle combinations available to consumers. The Toyota Prius V, which was the only ‘good’ rated vehicle, included LED lights and high beam assist. With standard issue halogen headlights and no high beam assist, the rating was ‘poor.’ It is clear that much more needs to be done to ensure universal headlight safety for all vehicles.

If you own a midsize vehicle and would like to see how your car rated, visit http://www.iihs.org/iihs/news/desktopnews/first-ever-iihs-headlight-ratings-show-most-need-improvement. For more information on how to best protect you and your loved ones on the open road, call Hunter Insurance at 769.9500.

*Information for this blog provided by The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety

Fiat Chrysler Vehicles Recalled Due to Safety Issues

In an announcement on Friday, Fiat Chrysler issued a recall of more than one million vehicles. The recall stems from regulators discovering that despite alert messages displaying when car doors were ajar, drivers exited their cars without selecting “park.” As a result, the vehicles would roll away, resulting in more than 40 reported injuries. 

Although details have been minimal, this recall primarily affects cars with electronic shift levers that return to the same position after each move. Vehicle models with these levers include:

• 2012-2014 Dodge Charger

• Chrysler 300 Sedans

• 2014-2015 Jeep Grand Cherokees

In addition to this voluntary recall, the company also stated that it would work to improve vehicle safety by augmenting the warnings and adding a transmission-shift strategy to automatically prevent a vehicle from moving even if the driver does not shift into “park.” If you own one of the vehicle models listed above or would like more information, call your local dealer to find out more.

 In light of this recall, Hunter Insurance would like to take a moment to remind you of the importance of auto insurance. Having an auto insurance policy in place will keep you protected on the open road.  Working with us, our auto insurance customers can save money for a variety of reasons, including driving vehicles with anti-theft devices or completing a driver’s education course.

If you are interested in purchasing auto insurance from Hunter Insurance or would like additional information, call us today at 401-769-9500 or recieve a free online quote at www.hunterinsuranceonline.net. 

Airbag Defect Leads to Largest Auto Recall in US History

Hunter Insurance is committed to keeping policyholders informed on the latest news that could affect your safety. 

If you remember, last year the Japanese company Takata Corporation issued a recall of approximately 34 million vehicles due to faulty air bags. This is the largest auto recall in our country's history, with Takata airbags already linked to 10 known deaths in the U.S. and 11 worldwide, with over 100 injuries.

The issue is that the chemical that inflates the air bags can explode with too much force, blowing apart a metal inflator and sending shrapnel into the vehicle. Eleven automakers, including Honda Motor Co. and Toyota Motor Corp., have recalled 17 million vehicles in the U.S. and more than 36 million worldwide because of the problem.

According to SafeCar.gov, the manufacturers include:

• BMW 
• Chrysler 
• Daimler Trucks 
• Ford 
• General Motors 
• Honda 
• Mazda 
• Mitsubishi 
• Nissan 
• Subaru 
• Toyota 

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has created some online resources to help consumers whose vehicle may have a defective air bag made by Takata. 

The list of affected vehicles by priority group for repairs can be found: here.

How to Check

The NHTSA recommends people enter their Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) at this website: https://vinrcl.safercar.gov/vin/.

Should you have any additional questions please call Hunter Insurance at 769.9500.