You’re a busy person, always on the go, so it seems almost inevitable that one day you’ll be in an automobile accident. The time immediately following an accident can be very trying, with emotions running from panic, to anger, to sadness. Staying in control is very important, though, and you’ll find that easier to do if you know what steps to take.
1. Check for injuries. Hopefully everyone is okay but take a few moments to check yourself and your passengers over. Don’t try to move anyone who is obviously injured, including yourself. If there are injuries, call an ambulance.
2. Call the police. Let them know if there are injuries.
3. Inspect the damage. Assuming the other party isn’t injured, inspect the damage to your vehicles. Take pictures if you have a camera. Laws vary from state-to-state about whether you can move your car (it may even be required if not moving it is a danger to other drivers).
4. Exchange information. Get the other driver’s name, driver’s license number, address, phone number, and insurance card, as well as the make, model and year of their car. Don’t discuss the accident until the police arrive, and do not admit fault.
5. Call your insurance company. Let your insurance company know as soon as you can about what happened. You don’t want them to be blindsided with a call from the other party’s insurance company.
If you keep these steps in mind, you’re sure to find it easier to stay cool and collected in a potentially stressful situation.

Cheap car insurance in Virginia, North Carolina, or just about anywhere else starts with safe driving. But even if you haven’t had a speeding ticket in years, and you always merge carefully, how you actually drive your automobile is only part of the safety equation. Automobile maintenance is another big part, and tire safety…

There are lots of little known – and helpful – facts about tires. For example, did you know that the typical tread depth of a new tire is 10/32 of an inch? And that the wear bars (horizontal bars connecting the treads that appear when the tire becomes worn) show at 2/32 of an inch? That means 80% of your tread is gone, which causes a couple of issues. First, your car is much more susceptible to hydroplaning on wet roads. Second, on dry roads there is less air space between treads, which means greater heat build up on the tires. Not a good thing. Also, remember, at 2/32 of an inch, your car tires will not pass state safety inspections.

If your tires are wearing unevenly due to poor alignment or some other issue, this presents another safety concern. Uneven wear means that the tire is not contacting the road across the entire surface of the tire, and that means less grip. Finally, maintaining recommended air pressure provides benefits, too.  We even wrote a blog about it.

So in review, driving safely and maintaining a safe vehicle are both great ways to move toward the cheapest car insurance. Oh, and if you’re in North Carolina or Virginia, don’t forget to contact us at the Insurance Doctor for all your auto insurance and motorcycle insurance needs.

Lots of motorcyclists in Virginia and North Carolina wait anxiously through the winter months for exactly the type of weather we have now: warm and sunny.  And when the weather turns, thoughts also turn to road trips and vacations. Of course, it’s not only motorcycle riders that are thinking about hitting the road, but lots of other drivers too.  Increased road traffic holds a special importance for cyclists because of increased risk. For your protection, here are is a list of essential safety apparel:

• A Good Helmet. Choose one that’s DOT approved (there should be a sticker) and fits well, neither too tight nor too loose.  Most importantly, be sure to wear it. North Carolina and Virginia both have mandatory helmet laws, as do many other states.
• Riding Jacket. Leather is almost always a good choice because of its built-in durability. Some synthetic materials have been proven just as durable, and you may find that they better suit your personal style. For even greater protection, choose a jacket with strategically-placed pads. Finally, many jackets also come in vented versions to help keep you cool.
• Gloves. In the event of a mishap, you definitely want your hands protected. And even though it’s warm during the day this time of year, you may find yourself somewhere that is cooler in the evenings, and you won’t regret having some good gloves.
• Boots. Don’t boots and bikes just go together? Boots that come up over the ankles provide the best protection, while lugged soles (as opposed to smooth ones) will help you keep your grip when you’re on an incline or a wet surface.

Of course another great way to protect yourself is with motorcycle insurance from Insurance Doctor. We offer cyclists in Virginia and North Carolina motorcycle insurance at great rates. Contact us today for a free quote.

Carpooling or ridesharing has many benefits for both you and the environment. Carpool with friends, family, co-workers and neighbors to share transportation. Carpooling saves you and others money on gas, car care and maintenance. Carpooling also cuts down on the amount of cars on the road. Sharing transportation and carpooling is a great idea that you can benefit from.

More benefits of carpooling are listed below:

–          Fewer cars, fewer crashes, safer driving

–          Less traffic congestion and less road rage

–          Fewer cars on the road means less car emissions and less impact on the environment

–          Shared cost of transportation

–          Travel with people you know and trust

–          No need to use public transportation

–          Creates community among the people who share a car or carpool together

–          Save money on the cost of transportation and car expenses

–          When it’s not your turn to drive, you can relax and enjoy not having to deal with the stress of driving

–          You can also take advantage of the carpool lane (HOV) offered in many large cities

–          Save money on parking fees

–          Meet new people and socialize

Consider some of the environmental impact factors driving your car has:

–          It is expected that the number of cars and trucks on already crowded highways will double in the next 30 years

–          The Average American spends 434 hours – 18 days – in his/her car each year

–          Driving your car 20,800 miles a year emits 23,600 lbs of CO2

–          Every car annually emits its own weight in carbon dioxide (CO2)

–          Cut 25 miles a week from your driving and save 1,500 lbs of CO2

–          The US could save 33 million gallons of gas – each day – if the average vehicle carried one additional person

Driving in the rain requires a certain amount of caution because it can be very dangerous.

Here are some helpful tips for rainy day driving:

• When driving on the freeway, drive in the center lanes as water tends to pool in the outside lanes.
• Turn on your headlights. It will help you see better on foggy or rainy days and it will help other drivers see you.
• Increase your following distance and watch for brake lights ahead. Never follow too close.
• Slow down, it takes longer to stop in wet weather.  Plus the faster you drive, the greater the chances of hydroplaning.
• Drive slowly through any puddle of uncertain depth.  That way if it’s deeper than you thought, you can still back out.
• Never drive through moving water if you can’t see the ground through it.
• Turn on your wipers at a good speed to keep up with the rain that is falling.
• Use Rain-X on your car and rain will begin to bead on your car making it easier to see out of your car and allowing rain to more easily drop off of your car.
• Turn up the heat or AC to your defrosters if your windows are fogging up.
• If you lose control and hydroplane, remember to steer into the direction of the skid which is the direction in which you are moving, not away from. This will help control the skidding. Also, remember to brake before going around a curve.
• If you do drive through very deep water you run the risk of stalling your car. In the event that your car stalls you will want to have someone pull your vehicle out. If you drive into a flooded area your car could potentially be swept away.
• Check your tires regularly so that they are in good shape to handle driving in the rain and on slick surfaces. If you do not have any tread on your tires then you will skid easier and you could end up hydroplaning, so it’s very important that you check your tires tread regularly.
• Use your emergency blinkers if the rain is so heavy that people may have difficulty seeing you.
• If possible stay off the road during thunderstorms and other violent storms. If you are caught in a heavy downpour, a thunderstorm or violent weather, pull over to the side of the road, put on your emergency blinkers and wait out the storm. Listen to the radio for emergency broadcast information.