A note to all of our Bieritz Agency clients and friends:
During the months of November and December our local populations of deer are migrating and mating, resulting in a dramatic increase of movement. More deer collisions occur during these months than at any other time of year, so we urge drivers to be especially careful, particularly in the early morning and evening hours (times when many people are commuting to and from work).
Deer collisions can cause a great deal of damage and can also be lethal. A “heavy” deer might weigh over 200 pounds, but even an eighty-pound yearling is capable of totaling a vehicle traveling at high speed. According to New York Outdoor News, motorists hit over 80,000 white-tailed deer on New York roadways each year (the third highest rate of reported incidents in the U.S.), almost 20% of which happen during the month of November.
Deer tend to stick to certain major travel corridors, which they adjust seasonally to match their movements to food availability and other habitat needs. Deer warning road signs often indicate areas where deer are often sighted or where multiple collisions have occurred. A collision can be a car hitting a deer or a deer hitting a car. Most people are aware that when you see one deer, there is usually another. This holds up not only when there are young fawns in early summer, but also during breeding season where bucks follow does or in later winter months when groups of males form “bachelor groups”.
Traveling at slower speeds increases your reaction time if a deer leaps out in front of your vehicle. Scan the roadsides and watch for eyeshine in your headlights (only visible if the deer looks directly at your car). Use high beams if there is no oncoming traffic and low beams if it is foggy or snowing. If you see and successfully avoid deer, flash your lights at oncoming vehicles to warn them of a hazard ahead, and watch the behavior of cars around you as well – a car slowing suddenly could indicate a deer in the area. Make sure your headlights, brakes and tires are all in good shape. It is recommended to hit your brakes to try to stop and not swerve to try to avoid a collision. Swerving out of the travel lane increases the risk of hitting another vehicle or losing control of the car.
Because most of our local country roads intersect with wildlife habitat, our drivers have a greater chance of collision, so please keep in mind the above tips to help minimize your risk. Damage caused by an accident with deer or other animals is covered under the optional comprehensive portion (not the collision portion) of an automobile insurance policy. If you would like to check your coverage, please give us a call at our Cooperstown, NY office at (607) 547-2951 and our Bieritz Insurance Agency staff will be happy to help you. Safe driving to all from the Bieritz Team!
COOPERSTOWN, NY (10/03/14): Bieritz Insurance Agency, a local business providing full spectrum insurance products and services, is reminding area residents to replace their batteries on smoke detection devices in their home.
Bieritz Insurance Agency Inc. is a local Independent insurance agency that represents over 20 companies. Bieritz Agency has served the community as the only locally-owned and operated, independent agency for over 24 years. Bieritz provides quality service, excellent prices and products that are in the client’s best interest! Free quotes are available through both Cooperstown and Morris offices. Contact Bieritz at (607)547-2951.
Buying a new home or looking into changes in your homeowners insurance? Watch the video for a great overview of Homeowners Insurance from the Insurance Information Institute. Please call us if you have any questions or if you would like a free quote!
Until recently. On the heels of another gentle reminder (never a high pressure push), I decided to just go ahead and send our current policies over for a comparable quote. I am very glad I did! To begin with, we ended up saving close to $250 on our auto insurance policy with the same coverage – so we are already ahead.
After a long winter, we bet you are more than ready for summer and all of the things you can do to take advantage of the warmer weather. The pool is open and your boat or jetski is in the water, all ready to enjoy for the season. Think for a moment and consider your insurance. Are you prepared for the possibility of an accident?
For property damage, estimate the value of each item and how much you would lose without insurance. For items like an RV or a boat, this can be a considerable loss. You can choose a high liability limit and add an umbrella policy to your coverage. For liability, you can add extra coverage to your homeowner’s policy or include summer items on an umbrella policy to extend your liability coverage. Each carrier is different with what summer toys can be included, so be sure to check to make sure each addition is allowed.
For items that carry significant risks, like trampolines, check with your carrier to make sure this coverage is allowed or included on your homeowner’s policy. Some carriers prefer not to absorb the risks associated with trampolines and may cancel or decline to renew your policy if they learn you have one on your property.
June is National Safety Month, so our team has decided to provide resources from the National Safety Council to help improve some general safety practices for all our friends and clients.
In recognition of May as Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month, Bieritz Insurance Agency would like to reach out to all of our Otsego County motorists and motorcyclists alike, encouraging them to “share the road” in order to reduce motorcycle deaths and injuries. Motorcycles are among the smallest and most vulnerable vehicles on the road, putting riders at greater risk of death and serious injury in a crash. In fact, according to the Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), motorcyclists are 30 times more likely than occupants of cars to die in a crash, and 5 times more likely to be injured.
Night Vision System
Yes, of course we mean insurance!