Perhaps the cruelest and most frustrating of all surcharge points on the MA personal auto policy is the one for an ”expired inspection sticker.”

A ticket for an expired vehicle inspection sticker is the equivalent, in auto insurance surcharge points, to a moving violation.

According to the MA Department of Insurance:

Surcharge points are incurred if you:

• cause an at-fault accident
• are convicted of or pay a fine for a traffic law violation
• are assigned to an alcohol education program

An expired inspection sticker is considered “pay(ing) a fine for a traffic law violation.”

A $40 ticket results in increased insurance costs for 6 years! About 20% increase the first three years, diminshing the following three .

So remember:  Check your MA Inspection Sticker & don’t let it lapse!

Johnson & Rohan Insurance is thankful for having you as a client.

Our goal, as independent agency owners is to provide added value to our clients. We understand there are many places to buy your insurance.

So everyday we ask ourselves: “where do we add value?”

Value is saving you money and maximizing different companies’ discount programs.

Value is at claim time when you understand the coverage you’ve spent all this money on over the years.

Value is when you call our office and get a friendly & responsive voice.

Value is having an independent, insurance professional reviewing your coverage, shopping your insurance, and offering your trusted advice at claim time.

At Johnson & Rohan Insurance: we appreciate your business.

Thank you for insuring with us.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Massachusetts Department of Transportation, Safe Winter Driving Tips:

• Clear snow and ice from all windows and lights – even the hood and roof- before driving
• Leave plenty of room for stopping.
• Pay attention don’t try to out drive the conditions. Remember the posted speed limits are for dry pavement.
• Know the current road conditions. Call 511 from your cell phone or any of the following from either your cell phone or landline phone.
  • Metro Boston: (617) 986-5511
  • Central Mass: (508) 499-5511
  • Western Mass: (413) 754-5511
• Use brakes carefully. Brake early. Brake correctly. It takes more time and distance to stop in adverse conditions.
• Bridge decks freeze first. Due to the difference in the exposure to air, the surface condition can be worse on a bridge than on the approach road.
• Exit ramps are an even greater challenge during the winter since they may have received less anti-icing material than the main line. Be aware of this when exiting the highway.
• Don’t use the “cruise control” option driving in wintry conditions. Even roads that appear clear can have sudden slippery spots and the slightest touch of your brakes to deactivate the cruise control can cause you to lose control of your vehicle.
• Don’t get overconfident in your 4×4 vehicle. Remember that, if you are driving a four wheel drive vehicle, the vehicle may help you get going quicker but it won’t help you stop any quicker. Many 4×4 vehicles are heavier than passenger vehicles and actually may take longer to stop. Don’t get overconfident in your 4×4 vehicle’s traction.
• Look further ahead in traffic than you normally do. Actions by cars and trucks will alert you quicker to problems and give you a split-second extra time to react safely.
• Remember that trucks are heavier than cars. Trucks take longer to safely respond and come to a complete stop, so avoid cutting quickly in front of them.
• Leave room for maintenance vehicles and plows – stay back at least 200 feet and don’t pass on the right. (See additional information below.)
• Most importantly please remember to SLOW DOWN! Also, seat belts should be worn at all times – it’s the law.

The cleanup and phone calls continue:  Do we have coverage for damage done by Hurricane Sandy?

The short answer is: yes.

You have coverage done to your home by wind driven winds, rain, and falling objects.

The longer answer is: coverage is subject to your policy’s deductible.

Some policy’s have special wind & hurricane deductibles which can be 1%, 2%, 5% or up to 10% of your Coverage A, Dwelling, amount.

For tree removal, typically, there is coverage only when the tree hits a covered item, such as your house, or other structure.

Some companies have special endorsements which allow some, limited tree removal coverage.

If your auto insurance includes comprehensive coverage, then your auto has coverage for any damage done to it, besides collisions (for this you have collision coverage), including damage done to your vehicle by a hurricane.

To review your coverage, call or give us a click.

Summer is over and as fall sets in, we’re reminded of the dreaded insurance peril: Frozen Pipes!

Frozen pipes can lead to disasterous messes and expensive insurance losses.

Here are a couple of ideas to help prevent frozen pipes from happening to you: 

• Keep the house heated to a minimum of 65 degrees. The temperature inside the walls where the pipes are located is substantially colder than the walls themselves. A temperature lower than 65 degrees will not keep the pipes inside the walls from freezing.
• Open hot & cold faucets enough to let them drip slowly. Keeping water moving within the pipes will prevent freezing.

For Choosing Johnson & Rohan Insurance 

• #10. We will save you money!
• #9. Low or no down payment!
• #8. As brokers, we work on your side when you have a loss!
• #7. Strong referrals from existing customers!
• #6. Family owned, 50+ years experience!
• #5. We will improve your coverage!
• #4. 24 hour a day, 7 days a week auto claim service!
• #3. Prompt, courteous service!
• #2. Free Registry of Motor Vehicles Service!
• #1. We make house calls!

 Johnson & Rohan Insurance: A Good Place To Do Business!

Johnson & Rohan Insurance wants families to stay safe on Halloween.

Here are some tips to keep kids safe: 

• Avoid masks that obstruct vision, particularly the periphery.  Face paint or make-up is a better option than restrictive masks.  
• Use hypo-allergenic make-up. Make up runs, so bring a cloth when trick-or-treating to wipe any make-up that gets near the eye.
• Carry a flashlight at all times.  Once the sun goes down, keep it on.
• Don’t use any sharp props with a costume.
• Use reflective tape.  It helps others see trick-or-treaters.
• Be careful of candles used in pumpkins or other decorations.

Happy Halloween from your friends at Johnson & Rohan Insurance.

Fall in New England can be a mesmerizing time of of year. However, after the leaves’ colors have burst, we are left with raking and gutter cleaning.

With this in mind, we offer the following OSHA ladder safety tips:

Ladder Setup

1. Place ladder feet firmly and evenly on the ground or floor. Make sure the ladder is sitting straight and secure before climbing it. If one foot sits in a low spot, build up the surface with firm material.
2. Do not try to make a ladder reach farther by setting it on boxes, barrels, bricks, blocks or other unstable bases.
3. Do not allow ladders to lean sideways. Level them before using.
4. Brace the foot of the ladder with stakes or place stout boards against the feet if there is any danger of slipping.
5. Never set up or use a ladder in a high wind, especially a lightweight metal or fiberglass type. Wait until the air is calm enough to insure safety.
6. Never set up a ladder in front of a door unless the door is locked or a guard is posted.
7. Do not use ladders on ice or snow unless absolutely necessary. If they must be used on ice or snow, use spike or spur-type safety shoes on the ladder feet and be sure they are gripping properly before climbing.
8. Use Safety shoes on ladder feet whenever there is any possibility of slipping.

Ladder Climbing and Standing

1. Keep the steps and rungs of ladders free of grease, oil, wet paint, mud, snow, ice, paper and other slippery materials. Also clean such debris off your shoes before climbing a ladder.
2. Always face a ladder when climbing up or down. Use both hands and maintain a secure grip on the rails or rungs.
3. Never carry heavy or bulky loads up a ladder. Climb up yourself first, and then pull up the material with a rope.
4. Climb and stand on a ladder with your feet in the center of the steps or rungs.
5. Do not overreach from a ladder, or lean too far to one side. Overreaching is probably the most common cause of falls from ladders. A good rule is to always keep your belt buckle inside the rails of a ladder. Work as far as you can reach comfortably and safely, then move the ladder to a new position.
6. Never climb onto a ladder from the side, from above the top or from one ladder to another.
7. Never slide down a ladder.