A lot of what you need to do if you are involved in an auto accident in Hope Hills, NC seems pretty common sense. You should stop as soon as possible after an accident, or pull off at the closest safe place. You may need to move your vehicle out of a travel lane, but you should try to stay where you are if the area is safe. As soon as you are able, see if anyone is injured and needs help.

Even if you are not required to call the police, you may want to do so as a precautionary measure. North Carolina law requires you to make a report if there was significant property damage or if anyone was injured. However, what looks like a small amount of damage may be expensive to repair, and someone who seemed fine could have a serious head or back injury.

At Cross Creek Insurance, we encourage our clients to call the police so there will be an unbiased witness. The officer will help collect all the information for the report, including the drivers’ information, their vehicle information, and the condition of the vehicles. The officer can also look for other important evidence like skid marks and witnesses.

Drivers in Hope Hills, NC are required to carry a certain amount of insurance, and you will need to provide your name, contact information and insurance for even minor accidents. You should take your own notes, and keep a record of everything at the scene, such as the other driver’s information, any witnesses, and the officer’s name and badge number.

If you have any questions about what to do after an accident, or if you want to discuss whether your current policy provides enough protection, please call Cross Creek Insurance today for a free quote.

People in Hope Hills, NC are like everyone else, wanting and needing to drive. North Carolina has some rules about how much insurance drivers are required to carry in case they are in an accident. Every driver will need to be able to prove liability coverage totaling up to $30,000 to cover any bodily injuries, such as broken bones or whiplash, with a total of $60,000 for the accident. Drivers also need at least $25,000 to cover the victim’s vehicle.

Any policy you obtain through Cross Creek Insurance will be sure to meet those minimal requirements. If you are caught driving and it is discovered that you are not carrying the minimum amount of coverage, there are serious possible repercussions. 

Civil Penalties 

Your possible penalty for driving without insurance in North Carolina depends on how many times this has happened, and punishments get progressively worse. You can even have your vehicle registration suspended if you have not verified the vehicle is insured.

The first fine is $50, with an extra  $50 fee for license reinstatement. The next penalty is $100, and the third is $150. All of these carry the extra fee for license reinstatement and a 30-day registration suspension. 

Criminal Penalties 

The state of North Carolina takes driving without insurance very seriously, and you can also receive criminal charges if you are caught driving without proof of financial responsibility. Operating a vehicle without insurance is a Class 1 Misdemeanor, meaning it is punishable by up to 120 days in jail. The Court may also issue a fine, and you could get probation.

Clearly, it is better to have a solid insurance policy from a company you can trust when driving in Hope Hills, NC. If you want to make sure you have coverage that makes you comfortable, or if you just have questions, feel free to call one of the friendly agents at Cross Creek Insurance today.

Teens who are approaching the age where they are allowed to legally drive a vehicle usually get very excited. Their parents get terrified and naturally so. One of the greatest killers of young people is a fatal car accident, especially one that involves distracted driving (talking or texting on the phone while driving), and the use of drugs or alcohol.

The highest crash rates for drivers of any age are those caused by 16-year-olds. About one-third of all deaths of 13 to 19-year-olds come from auto accidents.

Most teens can be taught to drive responsibly. Many do take care when first learning how to drive. Unfortunately, many others do not and the rate for auto insurance premiums, to cover teenage drivers, reflects this greater risk.

For parents considering allowing their teen to drive, it is important to consult with your insurance agent at Cross Creek Insurance serving Hope Hills, NC and the surrounding area. Your agent can help you understand the impact on your auto insurance premiums from adding a teen driver to the policy.

Be sure to consult with your agent before you allow your teenager to drive the car. If the family has more than one vehicle, it may be a good idea to restrict the teen driver to the vehicle that is less valuable.

It is very helpful for teens to take a defensive driving course. Parents can encourage a teen to do this by attending a course themselves. We all get rusty in our driving skills and taking a refresher course in defensive driving is good for everyone. Most teens would not be comfortable taking a course along with their parents; however, taking the same course at different times gives parents and teens something of shared relevance that they can talk about together. Otherwise, a parent may find a new teen driver finding fault (and correctly doing so) with the bad habits of the parent driver.

To get an updated insurance quote, reach out to your insurance agent at Cross Creek Insurance in Hope Hills, NC if you are considering allowing your teen to drive. Having the teen as a listed driver on the vehicle’s insurance policy is critical before you allow them to drive the family car.

Hurricane season stretches from June through November each year, and recent years have brought some dangerous and damaging storms to the Southeast region of the United States and beyond. It is truly staggering to see the extent of destruction caused by hurricanes and tropical storms, no matter what level of severity and intensity they are. That impact can include damage to automobiles. You might be wondering what your auto insurance covers during and after a hurricane. At Cross Creek Insurance serving the Hope Hills, NC area, we are happy to help answer questions like that.

Collision insurance coverage as part of auto insurance may or may not come into play when hurricane damage occurs, just depending on the individual circumstances. This type of coverage pertains to a vehicle hitting or being hit by something. So if an automobile accident happens because of a hurricane, collision insurance could address that.

Then there is comprehensive coverage as part of auto insurance. It covers many different circumstances. In a hurricane, some of the types of situations that would be handled under comprehensive coverage would be the wind that causes damage to a car, flooding that affects a car, hail damage, auto damage related to hurricane-force winds or glass breakage.

Just as you need to complete a variety of preparation steps before a hurricane, make sure you also obtain the proper auto insurance coverage in advance of any storms. Often it is not possible to get coverage right before a hurricane is about to hit and after watches and warnings are issued. If you need advice on the insurance that makes the most sense for your unique needs, contact us at Cross Creek Insurance serving the Hope Hills, NC area.

If you are loaning out your car in Hope Hills, NC, you may think it’s no big deal. However, there are certain insurance aspects you should know about first.

Car insurance will cover the vehicle, not the individual driver, so if you lend your car to your friend and he or she gets into an accident, then your liability coverage pays for the damages. You are also responsible for filing the claim, paying the deductible, and suffering any rate hikes. The only exception is if you never gave permission to your friend. Express permission is important. If a friend takes your car without permission, then their insurance could be used first and yours second.

You should check to see if your friend is insured before handing over the keys. Your insurance is going to be the primary coverage if an accident occurs, but if your policy maxes out, your friend’s insurance could supplement and be the secondary coverage.

You should ask what your friend is planning to do with your car, because it could invalidate your insurance coverage. For example, if your friend is planning on driving with Uber or another ride sharing service while their car is in the shop, your policy likely won’t cover an accident because the car was being used for commercial purposes.

If you are going to be frequently lending out your car to a certain friend, it may be worth it to add them to your own policy. Adding new drivers can affect your rate, depending on their driving record. Those with bad records might hurt your rates, but a good driver could actually help. Speak with an agent at Cross Creek Insurance about adding new drivers to see how it affects your rates.

Contact an agent at Cross Creek Insurance serving Hope Hills, NC to get a quote on auto insurance.

Learning how to drive is an exciting rite of passage in our country, and the team at Cross Creek Insurance is here to help you ensure that your family has the coverage that you need to keep your family protected in the greater Hope Hills, NC area. While all insurance coverage is important, when you have a new driver in the family, it makes sense to take another look and make sure your policy is adequate.

Special Insurance Considerations for New and Teenage Drivers

Remember when you were starting out as a new driver? It can sometimes be difficult to remember the feelings of nervousness that can occur for new drivers. As you are looking for the appropriate car insurance policy for your teen, keep these points in mind:

• Roadside assistance coverage is always a great add-feature to have
• Fender benders and small dings and dents are a lot more common for new teen drivers than experienced adults
• Teenagers tend to travel in packs, and it is not unusual for your young driver to have several friends in the car, warranting the need for sufficient passenger coverage

Learning how to drive and mastering this important skill can be a nerve-wracking experience, both for the driver and for you as a parent. Knowing that you have the appropriate car insurance policy in place for your teen driver can help to increase your peace of mind and help you sleep better at night!

Are you looking for the right car insurance policy for your family’s new teenaged driver? Contact Cross Creek Insurance today to set up a consultation; we are proud to work with the many fine people in the greater Hope Hills, NC area!

Choosing the best auto insurance policy can sometimes be a tough mountain to climb. With so many options to consider, choosing the right policy can be stressful.

To ensure you’re making the right decisions when it comes to choosing an auto insurance policy, it’s important to understand what coverages are involved. If you’re in the market for a new policy, it’s very beneficial to understand the following coverages:

Liability

Liability involves the damage made to both the property and individuals involved in the accident. If you’re at fault for an accident and there are bodily or property damages, you’ll be covered by the amount you choose. 

Collision and Comprehensive

If you’re involved in an accident, collision coverage pays for the damage caused by the impact of another vehicle or object. Comprehensive coverage covers just about anything else that can happen to your vehicle, including falling objects, fire, theft, hail, flood damage, and more. 

Medical Payments

Medical payments coverage will pay for medical bills and funeral expenses caused by an accident. These costs can be extremely high so it’s beneficial to be protected with this important coverage option. 

Uninsured/Underinsured Motorists

This coverage is important when dealing with motorists that don’t have auto insurance or who are underinsured. With so many of these types of drivers out there, this coverage option is a great one to have. 

If you live in the Hope Hills, NC area and have questions about auto insurance, then Cross Creek Insurance is the company to call. We’re the experts when it comes to choosing the right auto insurance policy in Hope Hills, NC, and customer satisfaction is our number one priority. Contact Cross Creek Insurance today to learn more! 

 

 

When floods occur or simply leaks in your car from the rain, water damage can majorly damage the interior of your vehicle. If the flooding is severe enough, it can damage major components like the engine or battery. If you have a comprehensive car insurance plan, you may be covered for water damage. If you live in Hope Hills, NC, consult with Cross Creek Insurance to see if they have comprehensive plans to cover water damage.

Preventing Water Damage

Even though your comprehensive insurance plan may cover water damage to your car, you should still be diligent enough to take precautions to secure your vehicle. If you are too negligent, you may find yourself having your claim contested in some instances. Make sure that any sunroofs, windows, or doors are adequately sealed and it should be replaced periodically. Also get in the habit of rolling up your windows when you leave your car.

You should also keep in mind that many comprehensive plans don’t want to cover any external or unattached equipment in your vehicle. This may include things like sound equipment, GPS devices, or electronic equipment stored in the vehile. Plans may also require you to pay out of pocket before contributing to the cost of damages. There are also limits to comprehensive plans that cover water damage, so make sure that you take care of your vehicle to prevent grave damage.

Considering the natural disasters that may occur living near the ocean, it is a good idea to have an insurance plan that includes water damage. Consult with an agent at Cross Creek Insurance if you live in the Hope Hills, NC area. Coverage may vary depending on your type of vehicle, its age, and your current auto insurance plan.