Insurance is often bought as a financial risk precaution in regards to accidents. Whether it be in your car, in your home, in your boat, or in your business – there will always be risks around that could potentially lead to an insurance claim. Therefore, by applying some additional safety measures you can drastically lower the chances of having to submit a claim. Please read below on some great general safety tips that can help you avoid having to deal with insurance.
Auto Safety Tips
Car insurance is often the first kind of insurance most people purchase in their lifetime. Yet, auto accidents and auto insurance claims are frequent. Here are some safety reminders to help you stay away from having to submit auto insurance claims in the future.
Don’t Drive While Distracted – Stay Focused
Texting, phone calls, and eating are common distracting factors when we drive, which is why there are even laws around not texting while driving. Still, according to ICBC there are more deaths due to driving-and-texting than there is from impaired driving! However, other forms of distraction while we are driving can also be emotional distress, fatigue, medication, and even distracting passengers. Always ensure your focus is top-of-mind when driving.
Drive Defensively, NOT Aggressively
There is no excuse to drive aggressively on the road. Even if you are running late, always ensure you are driving passively with a strong consideration for others on the road. Follow road rules like speed limits, traffic lights/signs, and watch out for other vehicles and passengers. Do not drive too close to others, and always be aware of what others are doing around you while driving. Many times auto accidents are caused by another person’s mistake, and if we are driving defensively, we might be able to avoid being tangled in with these circumstances.
Home Safety Tips
Home insurance is another major type of insurance that many people will purchase in their lifetime. Whether it be for a place that you own yourself, or insurance on a place you are renting; there are always risks of accidents that could lead to insurance claims, so it is important to keep safety in mind at home too. Below are some great home safety tips that will help you stay away from home insurance claims.
Upgrade Your Security System & Habits
Upgrading your home’s security system can really please home insurance providers, but there are extra ways to increase the security of your home outside of the alarm system. Mainly in regards to lighting and your security habits. Adding some extra outside lights around your house can keep burglars away as they will have a harder time finding dark corners around your house. Also, habits like always locking the door, setting your alarm (if you have one), and even keeping some lights on if you’re going to be away from home for a while are all great extra home security tips. If you are going to be away from your home for a long time (days or weeks) you may want to ask your neighbour to check-in on things occasionally, and you could even ask your mail provider to pause delivering mail to your empty home so it is not so obvious that someone is not home.
Improve Your Storm Safety Standards
Although not everyone’s home will be in a hazardous region when it comes to natural disasters and storms, many people do live in these areas. There are a few things one can do to decrease the risks of insurance claims during a storm. Removing valuable items that stay outside like patio furniture or gardening equipment is a great first step. Many storms can also cause power surges, so it is also a good idea to unplug major electronics during large storms in order to avoid any issues during a possible blackout. Protecting your home with extra precautions like sandbags and water pumps can also be very effective against wet weather events like hurricanes and tropical storms.
Maintain Safe Fire Precautions
Another way to please home insurance providers is by ensuring your fire safety is up-to-par by upgrading and maintaining your smoke detectors. However, fire safety can go much further than just keeping your smoke detectors up-to-date. This includes being more cautious whenever handling fire and heat. That means being very careful with candles and other open fires around the house. Also, being careful when cooking is another way to keep fire risks at bay.
Avoid Water Damage
Water damage can be extremely costly for homeowners. Even a small water leak can cause major damage to a home, and some areas of the home may not even be covered by regular home insurance. Always ensure your plumbing is maintained in strong standards, and always keep an eye out for any possible water damage so that you can resolve the issue as quickly as possible if it occurs. Water outside of the home can also be a risk, so it is important to keep an eye out on exterior gutters etc. as well.
The Bottom Line
We live in a world surrounded by risks everyday, which is why having the proper insurance is important. However, there are many actions we can take to further minimize these risks, and minimize the risks of having to go through claims.
We hope the tips above will help you stay safe in your everyday lives.
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