Home Insurance Solutions Of Texas - HISOT

What to do after an accident

The number of accidents are on the rise due to texting and driving so if you are involved in an auto accident, here are some reminders:

1. Know What Your Insurance Covers. The whole process will be easier if you know what your coverages are before anything happens so contact us if you would like to discuss and understand more about your coverages and options.

The most important coverage on your auto insurance policy is third party bodily injury liability and property damage coverage because these damages are unknown and can be unexpectedly high if someone is injured and needs life support or there are multiple vehicles involved.

To help manage your risk, you will want higher liability coverage limits. Third party bodily injury liability coverage pays for someone else's bodily injuries such as medical payments, hospitalization, emergency services, life support, etc.

If you cause an accident: Third party property damage coverage pays for someone's vehicle or vehicles or building that may have been damaged. These are the two largest exposures you have while driving.

2. Determine If You Are Okay and that you or your vehicle are not in imminent danger of becoming struck by any vehicles or objects. If necessary, move your vehicle to safe place if you can safely do so. Turn on your vehicle's hazard lights.

3. Call 911 If Necessary. Check if anyone has been injured and be able to describe the location of the accident, what vehicles are involved and whether the accident is blocking the flow of traffic but mostly importantly, report severe injuries first.

4. Avoid Moving Seriously Injured People. Under Texas Law, reasonable assistance must be given to injured people including arrangements for transportation to medical assistance if necessary. However, do not move anyone whom you suspect may have a serious injury to avoid further injury.

5. File An Accident Report.

Contact the police. They will let you know if an officer needs to be present. If an officer does not come out, you should file a Crash Report with the Texas Dept. of Transportation.

6. Exchange Information With All Parties, and Record:

• Name of the other drivers
• License numbers
• Mailing Addresses
• Phone numbers
• Email addresses
• Insurance carriers
• Insurance policy number of all drivers involved
• Other vehicle's license plate number and year, make and model and color of the vehicles
• Take a picture of the license and/or insurance card with your camera phone because you'll have a picture of the drivers or in case you can't find a pen.

7. Take A Picture Of The Scene With Your Camera Phone or draw a sketch. Take a picture of the damage to other's vehicle(s).

8. Get Witnesses Contact Information (name, address, phone number, email number, etc.) This reminder is very very important as sometimes the other party changes their story and having witnesses provides an unbiased third party statement that could help you.

9. Call Your Insurance Agent Or Carrier to get assistance and report your claim.

Report the accident to your agent so we can help you, 281-293-7744 Toll Free 1-877-260-0808.

10. Call a Towing Company to move your vehicle if disabled to your body shop.

11. Consider Calling A Rental Car Company like Enterprise 1-800-261-7331 for a rental car if you need one. Enterprise will pick you at your location and take you back to the rental car company if necessary.

If you get into an auto accident, it will help if you have the following items on hand. Make sure to always have these in your vehicle:

• Your insurance ID card
• Your vehicle registration
• A list of emergency contacts
• A medical card listing allergies to any medication, or special conditions
• Pens or pencils
• A note pad
• LED Flashlight
• Flares
• First-aid kit
• Blanket
• Jumper cables
• Rags or paper towels
• Trash bags
• Cell phone
• Disposable camera (if your cell phone does not have one.)

Property - Burglaries

There were 777,739 property crimes reported in 2015 within Texas. If you have been burglarized, take these steps immediately.

• Call the police. You know this, but it bears repeating. And if you sense there's any chance the intruders are still inside your home, leave promptly.

Get back in your car or go to a trusted neighbor's house. "Nothing is worth dying over. ... Don't play hero."

You also shouldn't touch anything, just in case the police want to dust for fingerprints.

• Call your insurance agent. After the police have arrived and things are under control, call your insurance agent.

Have a list, as detailed as possible, of any items that were stolen, in addition to items inside or outside of your home that may have been damaged in the course of the burglary.

It's OK if you don't yet have a copy of the police report, but any details about the report, such as the police report number, the law enforcement agency that took the report, the name of the officer that took the report and the date the report was filed.

In case you don't know everything that was stolen yet, remember: There will be a number of opportunities to update their claim. That is why communication throughout this process with your insurer is key.

If your losses weren't substantial, you may be able to manage your claims online or on the phone. But if you did lose a lot, your insurer may send a claims representative to visit – an especially good idea if there was damage to your home.

For example, if a door was pried open, it could be damaged along with the door frame. Similarly, items inside the home may have been damaged.

• Get better security for your home. Once the police and insurance calls have been made, you may want to consider buying a security system, or replacing or upgrading your existing service. Because while lightning may not strike twice, burglars will.

Once you've been the victim of a burglary, you're likely to become a victim a second time within two years. Burglars know you'll replace all that stuff they stole with the insurance money. So they wait six months to a year, or less, for you to get the money and replace stuff so they can hit you up a second or third time.

Even if your burglars never return – maybe they were caught, for instance – you'll want to improve your security. It will likely lower your insurance rates, in some cases by more than 10 percent.

What to do after a Weather Event - Flood

As soon as floodwater levels have dropped, it's time to start the recovery process. Here's what you can do to begin restoring your home.

• If your home has suffered damage, call your insurance agent to file a claim.
• Check for structural damage before re-entering your home to avoid being trapped in a building collapse.
• Take photos of any floodwater in your home and save any damaged personal property.
• Make a list of damaged or lost items and include their purchase date and value with receipts, and place with the inventory you took prior to the flood. Some damaged items may require disposal, so keep photographs of these items.
• Keep power off until an electrician has inspected your system for safety.
• Boil water for drinking and food preparation until authorities tell you that your water supply is safe.
• Prevent mold by removing wet contents immediately.
• Wear gloves and boots to clean and disinfect. Wet items should be cleaned with a pine-oil cleanser and bleach, completely dried, and monitored for several days for any fungal growth and odors.

What to do after a Weather Event - High Winds - Tornado

In a house with no basement, a dorm, or an apartment: Avoid windows. Go to the lowest floor, small center room (like a bathroom or closet), under a stairwell, or in an interior hallway with no windows. Crouch as low as possible to the floor, facing down; and cover your head with your hands.

It is critical to be sure that a storm has truly passed before going outside. Check for updates on your NOAA Weather Radio, local broadcasts and/or The Weather Channel for the latest weather information related to a storm in your area.

Helping the Injured

• Check those with you for injuries, and administer first aid for minor injuries as needed
• Do not attempt to move a seriously injured person unless they are in immediate danger of additional injury. Get medical assistance as soon as possible by calling 911
• If someone has stopped breathing, administer CPR if you have been trained to do so
• Stop any bleeding by applying direct pressure, and have puncture wounds evaluated by a physician or emergency medical personnel

Beware of Hazards

• Keep away from downed power lines and report them to your utility company
• Stay out of damaged buildings and homes until local emergency management officials have indicated it is safe to go inside them
• Watch for snakes or other animals that have been forced into your home by rising waters or flooding. Leave immediately if you smell fumes or gas, and notify emergency personnel
• If your home has not been damaged, keep children and pets inside, away from any damage or debris outside. If you must take your pets outside, keep them on a leash to prevent them from running away and being injured by debris
• If your home is without power, use battery-powered flashlights and lanterns rather than candles to prevent accidental fires
• If you suspect any damage to your home, shut off electrical power, natural gas and propane tanks to avoid fire, electrocution or explosions
• If you see frayed electrical wiring or sparks, or smell something burning, shut off your home's electrical system at the main circuit breaker, if you have not done so already

Safety During Cleanup

• Wear sturdy shoes or boots, long sleeves and gloves whenever you handle, walk around or near debris. Many of the injuries caused by tornadoes result from stepping on nails in and around damaged homes and buildings
• Clean up any dangerous spills immediately, including medicines, bleaches, chemicals, gasoline or other flammable liquids

Report the incident to your agent so we can help you, 281-293-7744 Toll Free 1-877-260-0808.