This summer, as millions and millions of Americans set out for their summer family vacations, it’s important for all of us to remember that more and more traffic on the road brings with it greater risks for traffic accidents. Many Pennsylvanians choose to vacation right here in our own state, which means that thousands of Pennsylvanians will ascend and descend the hills and mountains of our great state.
Before heading out on your summer trek this year, you might want to take some to time to be sure you have adequate auto insurance coverage and that you are aware of Pennsylvania’s state insurance laws. And if you are an avid traveler on the move with your family, you may want to consider adding to your coverage.
Before leaving on your vacation, review your Pa auto insurance policy and all of your coverage. First and foremost, be sure that your coverage meets Pennsylvania’s mandatory minimums. Next review your coverage limits. Ask your agent to provide you with various quotes on upping your coverage limits.
A lot of driving on hot mountain roads can put quite a strain on your vehicle, especially if it’s an older vehicle. Summer driving on mountain roads can certainly increase your risk for breaking down. And when you do break down, it’s Murphy’s Law. You’ll probably find yourself in the most inaccessible location.
With this in mind, you may want to discuss with your agent adding a towing and repair supplement to your auto insurance policy. A towing and labor addition to your policy will pay for any towing costs should your car become disabled while stuck on some rural mountain road in the middle of the Poconos.
Another optional and additional type of coverage you may want to consider is the Rental Reimbursement Coverage. This optional Pennsylvania coverage will allow you a specific value of reimbursement when you need to rent a vehicle due to damage from a crash. This coverage will also pay you a value if you need to rent a vehicle due to theft.
An inherent risk with regard to driving on mountain roads can be dangers associated with falling objects and natural disaster such as rock slides or road washouts. Adding Comprehensive coverage to your policy will provide you protection against these kinds of events. Comprehensive Pennsylvania coverage will give you the following:
- Protection against damage from falling objects, fire, and certain natural disasters
- Damage to vehicles from vandalism or theft
- Damage from a collision with an animal
An unfortunate aspect of summer vacation driving is that alcohol related accidents jump significantly. Many more teens are on the road during summer and this group has a high incident rate of alcohol related accidents. Additional collision coverage may be worth looking into.
So before loading up the SUV and strapping the kids in, check with your local Pennsylvania insurance agent to be sure you’re covered.
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