Fender Bender Fraud

Most people don’t realize that  often, injury claims occur weeks to months after the crash. Cross Creek Insurance offers several ways to protect yourself from fraud:

Notify the police. In the day of cell phones, it’s easy to call the police from the site. Even though police don’t always respond to minor accidents, you want to either wait for the police to arrive on the scene. If not, go to the station and file a report so that there is a public record.
Take plenty of pictures. Take pictures of all the vehicles involved, even if there is no visible damage. In a fraudulent claim, lack of damage can make a difference.
Get all the information. Name, addresses, phone numbers, license numbers of the individual and the car itself and insurance details of all the motorists involved are important. Take done similar information from any witnesses.
Be careful what you say. By admitting any fault on the scene, it could be used against you. Be cautious about what you say and don’t say, not only to police officers but to the other motorist and to the witness, and what you might say in a phone conversation that might be overheard.
Listen carefully to what the other motorist says.  Even if there is not evident damage, listen for the other motorist or their passenger if they complain of  discomfort or an injury. If the other motorist tries to blame or bully you, especially if he or she is at fault. Automatically insisting that they need an ambulance.These can be tipoffs that a fraudulent suit may happen.
Hire a lawyer. An auto accident attorney can investigate the crash, shift through the collected evidence and even request medical documents so they can dispute any legal action in the future.

 

 

 

Tips for North Carolina Drivers to Increase Gas Mileage

Getting the most miles per gallon while driving in North Carolina should be a priority. Not only will reducing gas mileage help save you money, but also lower your carbon footprint. Driving efficiently and keeping your vehicle up to date will make the most significant difference in fuel economy.

Drive Smarter

Avoid certain driver behaviors that decrease your car’s gas mileage. This includes excessive braking, rapid acceleration, and cruising over the speed limit. After a car reaches speeds above 50 miles per hour, fuel economy decreases. Cruise control helps you maintain a consistent speed to avoid these issues. Idling can also burn up gas and should be avoided when possible.

Lighten Loads

Pulling cargo or storing items on your roof can both have a detrimental effect on your vehicle’s gas mileage. Not only does the weight from the loads affect fuel economy, but also cargo stored on the roof makes your car less aerodynamic.

Maintain Your Car

Check your tire pressure at least once a week to ensure the pressure isn’t too low since this could hurt fuel economy. Always use the recommended grade oil for your car too when it’s time for an oil change. Changing the car’s air filter can keep the car running efficiently in order to avoid excessive fuel consumption.

Get a New (or Newer) Vehicle

Ditch your old gas guzzler for a more fuel efficient car. Within the past decade, car manufacturers have made tremendous strides in increasing vehicles’ gas mileage. Compare your current car’s average highway and city MPG to newer models on the market.

If you do decide to upgrade your car, make sure you have the right amount of insurance coverage. Contact the independent agents at Cross Creek Insurance to discuss either your current auto policy or make arrangements to take out a new policy on your vehicle. 

How You Can Help Following a Car Accident

Many people are traumatized following a car accident. The jarring movements from the accident can cause injuries and leave victims discombobulated. If you witness an accident, you play a critical role in ensuring that everyone is safe and emergency personnel are on their way. The following are a few steps you can take to make sure traffic accident victims are safe.

Remain at the Scene

After you’ve witnessed an accident, it’s important that you remain at the scene until the authorities arrive. Your perspective is important to everyone involved in the relationship. Without giving your statement to the police, the victims may have to pay for damages they incurred.

Make Sure You Are Safe

When you stop to check on those involved in an accident, you have to do so safely. Your safety should be your primary concern. To ensure that you are not in an accident from distracted onlookers, make sure you park a safe distance from the accident and always observe your surroundings to ensure you are not in danger.

Call 911

After ensuring you are safe, you have to contact 911. When you call emergency services, they will contact all necessary personnel. By making one phone call, you could potentially save the lives of individuals involved in an accident.

Ensure Victims Are Safe

There are a lot of things going on following an accident. As a result of this, you must make sure that everyone is safe. You can help people out of their cars and to the curb to ensure they are no longer in danger.

Give Victims Your Contact Information

After giving the authorities your statement, you should give the victims your contact information. Additionally, taking down their information will help you keep your statements straight. With their information, you can properly identify each driver involved in an accident. 

Witnessing an accident is a great time to ensure your car insurance policy is comprehensive. If you live in Fayetteville, NC or the surrounding area, Cross Creek Insurance is happy to assist you with finding the perfect insurance policy for your vehicles.

Ask an Insurance Agent: Does my Auto Insurance Cover All Damage After an Accident?

Living in the great Dunn, NC area gives residents here plenty to be grateful for. But accidents can happen in the blink of an eye on the road. Whether you love near Heritage Bible College or out near Plainview, disaster can pay a visit to even the safest driver. As your local independent agent, we want to help make the roads a safer place for all.

Are You Protected in the Event of an Accident?

When looking for auto insurance coverage many people tend to shop with a budget in mind. Often times this can leave them without a level of coverage that they feel comfortable with.

Because insurance laws vary from state to state, many residents also choose to follow the state minimums requirements without bothering to look at additional coverage options. If you are unable to name the coverage options for your current policy and what type of damage it covers, it may be time to look at an upgrade.

At Cross Creek Insurance, we can connect you with top national carriers to help you find a policy that gives you comprehensive coverage at an affordable price. And because we service the greater Dunn area, you can get a policy breakdown from your insurance agent at any time.

Go With a Local NC Insurance Agent and Save

No one wants to pay for vehicle damage out of pocket after an accident. With the right auto insurance policy you can ensure that you don’t have to worry about issues like that in the event of an accident.

Visit Cross Creek Insurance online to shop and compare quotes online in just minutes. Affordable and complete insurance coverage is just a few mouse clicks away.

3 Tips For Getting Car Insurance Quotes

Lumberton, NC is a small city of approximately 20,000 people. There’s the Lumber River that provides a lot of recreation as well as golf courses, batting cages, and more. Southern hospitality reigns supreme in this area and people from all over the country come to visit as a way of seeing the parks and other attractions.

When you want to get car insurance cheap, it pays to get quotes. However, there are some tips to follow to ensure you get the best possible quotes.

1. Work with agencies

When you work with insurance agencies, you get the help from independent agents. We will search for the cheap quotes in Lumberton for you so there’s no need to contact all of the insurance companies individually.

2. Look at the discounts

The insurance discounts can come in all shapes and sizes. This includes veteran status, homeowner and marital status as well as various organization affiliations. When you work with agencies, one of the perks is that they know all about the discounts and will ask question in order to maximize your savings.

3. Make apples-to-apples comparisons

You will want to decide on the coverage you want before actually receiving the quotes. As you start to get the car insurance quotes, make sure you are making comparisons equally on the level of coverage. You can always choose to add more coverage once you see what the quotes are coming in at, but they need to include the same levels of liability, collision, comprehensive, and other coverage options.

Take the time to contact our independent agents today so we can help you get the cheapest possible quote on car insurance in NC without sacrificing coverage. We can answer concerns you have and place several options in front of you.

Hope Mills Takes Care of Its Residents

The beginning of Hope Mills NC 28348 is all in the name. It began as a grist, lumber, and saw mill because of the abundance of water. The town developed with a “can do” attitude and the community spirit of taking care of everyone. Located in Cumberland County, the community has two corn mazes. If your family wants to experience country living then visit Gallberry Farms. Experience corn hole, corn box, and tube slide. Cumberland Road Fun lets you explore your active side with laser tag, a set of batting cages, and miniature golf. A historic downtown lets you and yours do plenty of shopping finding items unique to the regions. If a bit of urban you desire Fayetteville NC is within the hour. Hope Mills NC gives you the best of both worlds.

Neighborhoods in Hope Mills are close knit with neighbors knowing each other. The area is friendly with strangers as well. To get out and about a car is needed. I as your local agent can help you find the best rate. Check out other agents websites and get some car insurance quotes. Then come visit me. All sorts of discounts exist on policies depending on the choices you make. Consider combining your homeowner policy with your car insurance policy. Putting the two together opens up other possibilities and may make you eligible for an umbrella policy which has special options. If you have an older home renovating with certain materials or adding environmentally recommended items also give discounts with premiums and tax breaks.

Enjoy rural life, raise your kids, and know your neighbors. Once in a while stop into my office. We can discuss the options and find the best policy for you.

3 Things Everyone Should Know about Car Insurance Rates

No matter how long you've had car insurance, there might be a few aspects related to your policy that you are unaware about. Fortunately, though, we're here to share a few secrets with you to help you understand how to get the most out of your insurance coverage.

Your Credit Score Matters

Did you know that your credit score influences how high or low your insurance rates are? That's right, and this gives you just another reason to make sure you pay back all of your debts and make all debt payments on time. Insurance companies predict your driving behaviors on your credit, so the better your score, the better your rates.

Never Stop Payment

Just because you've decided that you want to switch car insurance companies, this doesn't mean you should simply switch and leave your old agency in the dark. You should always go through the formal hoops of canceling your policy. Otherwise, the agency may report you to credit bureaus for non-payment of your premiums.

It Pays to Shop Around

Sure, you may have been with the same auto insurance company for the past 15 years, but what you don't realize is that you can likely save money by switching. There are many factors that influence insurance rates — many of which were not considered 15 years ago. You very well might find that new influencing factors could save you a considerable amount of money if you switch agencies.

 

Whether you just received your learners permit or you've been a licensed driver for 20 years, it's wise to speak with on of our professional North Carolina insurance agents to compare policies and see how you can save money on your insurance premiums.

What is The Penalty for not Having Auto Insurance in Lexington, NC ?

All drivers in Lexington, NC are required to maintain the state’s minimum levels of coverage for bodily injury, property damage and uninsured motorists. Anyone who has a lapse in coverage, and therefore does not meet the state’s minimum standards for a period of time, is subject to a penalty. The penalty is determined by how many lapses there have been in the previous three years and the duration of the current lapse.

What Happens When You Have a Lapse in Coverage

When you have a lapse in coverage, your auto insurance provider is required to notify the department of motor vehicles (DMV) in North Carolina. The DMV will then send you Form FS 5-7, which you must complete and return within 10 days. When submitting this form, you will need to provide proof that you have a current insurance policy and pay the appropriate fine.

The Fines and Fees

In North Carolina, the fines assessed are primarily determined by the number of previous lapses you have had in recent years. In any given three-year window, the first fine is $50. After your first lapse, the fines increase to $100 and then $150 for the second and third offense. Failure to submit this payment within 10 days results in increased fines.

Should you fail to return Form FS 5-7 with the appropriate documentation and payment within 30 days, the DMV will revoke your license plates. When you apply for new ones, you will have to pay the original fine, any late fees, a $50 service fee and the fee for new license plates.

Find Insurance Immediately

The first step to recovering from a lapse in insurance coverage is to immediately find new insurance. You can use our online tool to shop around and find a new policy today. If you need help with the DMV’s paperwork, call our agents for assistance.

Compare Cheap Car Insurance Quotes in Huntersville, NC

A car is a necessity in many parts of North Carolina, especially Huntersville, NC. You don’t have a lot in the way of public transportation, so you need rock solid insurance that isn’t going to let you down when you need it most. One of the most important features to look at with car insurance is to confirm that the monthly premium is at a rate you can afford consistently on a long term basis.

There are a few ways to get cheaper car insurance. One of the first ways is to look at comparative quotes from several insurance providers. While you can get this information on your own by contacting each carrier individually, but you won’t get the best deal. Instead, contact our independent agents so we can get in touch with the carrier for you. We have worked with the major carriers before, and they know that we talk with multiple companies before we write an insurance policy. Therefore, we get more competitive quotes than an individual talking to each company.

You can also adjust the level of coverage you get to the minimum instead of holding as much coverage as possible. Liability is the required insurance level in North Carolina, and if you cut out collision and comprehensive coverage you cut down the amount you pay monthly. However, this does mean that if you are in an at fault accident, that you aren’t going to have financial coverage for your repairs.

Deductible adjustment is another way to cut down the amount that you pay for insurance. The higher you set your deductible, the less you pay per month. Talk to our independent insurance agents in Huntersville, NC to get your free online insurance quotes.

Get Raeford, NC Car Insurance from Cross Creek

If, by any chance, you are not old enough to have experienced this yourself, ask your parents to tell you about what it took to buy an insurance policy a decade ago. If you were new to town you would frequently find yourself calling agency after agency, looking for coverage and a price that would fit your needs. If you were lucky enough to have a strong relationship with an insurance agent, you would sit in his office or he would come to your home, review your options (which were somewhat limited) and before the meeting ended you would commit yourself to a policy that may, or may not, be right for your family.

Boy, how times have changed. People buying home and auto insurance in Raeford, NC these days have it relatively easy. You can simply go on our website, answer a few simple questions, and receive a number of comparable quotes, each designed to give you options.

No one wants to need insurance, but we all do. We can’t go through life unprotected, given the number of things that can go south. A storm blowing through can take the shingles off the roof of your house or blow a tree over on your garage. A simple fender bender can cost thousands to repair, far more than you might guess by simply inspecting the damage.

We’re here to make sure that you are never alone when trouble finds you. Although our home and auto quotes are online, we are still only a phone call away when you have questions or a problem arises. We can also help you find the best coverage for your RV, motorcycle or boat. In other words, we help protect any material items that are of value to you.

For more information, give us a call.