Ice Dam Prevention

Claims are no fun.

One of the most common and repetitive causes of property damage to building interiors is water damage resulting from the formation of ice dams on roofs.

An ice dam is a ridge of ice that forms at the edge of a roof and prevents the water produced by melting snow from draining off the roof.

The water that backs up behind the dam can leak into a home causing damage to walls, ceilings, and insulation.

While ice dams can develop as a result of multiple factors, the most fundamental causes are:

  • Heat leakage from the interior of the building into attic or loft areas that warms the middle and upper areas of roof decks (see causes of heat leakage below).
  • Snow accumulation on the roof surface which provides the potential for snow melt and re-freezing in the form of an ice dam. This problem can be amplified by lower pitched roofs.
  • Sustained exterior temperatures below 32 degrees which creates conditions under which snow melt water will re-freeze at the eave level of the roof.

Heat leakage can result from any number of factors common to residential properties:

  • An insufficient layer of insulation in the ceiling assembly below the attic or loft area as well as un-insulated or poorly insulated exterior walls.
  • Improperly insulated recessed ceiling lighting fixtures.
  • Improperly sealed and insulated ventilation fans, heating and air conditioning ducts and plumbing vent stacks.

Strategies for avoiding water damage from ice dams take two forms; those that are intended to prevent the formation of ice dams and those that are designed to provide a reliable means for roof surface snow melt water to drain off the roof to prevent water accumulation behind the ice dam.

Prevent the Formation of Ice Dams
  • Provide soffit and ridge ventilation to create and sustain a flow of cold air along the bottom surface of the roof deck.
  • Increase the thickness of insulation in the ceiling assembly below the attic or loft area.

Winter Driving Tips

Massachusetts Driving Tips

Driving during winter here in Massachusetts can be one of the most difficult and hazardous situations for both new and experienced drivers.

Johnson & Rohan Insurance offers some winter driving tips:

  • Reduce your speed according to road conditions. Drive cautiously and accelerate gently.
  • Never lock your brakes on icy roads. You will lose steering control. If you do skid, try to remember to turn into the direction of the skid.
  • Increase the space between your vehicle and others. You need more distance to stop safely on slippery surfaces.
  • Make sure your windshield washer has sufficient fluid and that your wipers and defroster are in good condition.
  • Before driving, completely remove ice and snow from your vehicle. Clear all windows, wipers, headlights, and brake lights.
  • Keep your fuel tank at least half full to prevent the fuel line from freezing.
  • Keep a sleeping bad or blanket, flashlight, water, high calorie food that will not spoil, and a shovel in your trunk for emergencies.
  • Best tip of all: Don’t Drive!

From all of us at Johnson & Rohan Insurance: Stay Safe Massachusetts!

What To Do …if in an Auto Accident

What to do if in an Auto Accident

Getting in an auto accident can be a very scary thing.

Johnson & Rohan Insurance has some suggestions …

What to Do if you get in an Accident:

  • Stop.
  • Be Courteous.
  • Stay Calm.
  • Your interest will be served best if you are courteous and engage in no controversy at the scene of the accident.
  • If there is significant damage to any of the vehicles or any potential injuries call 9-1-1 immediately.
  • Get the names of the owners and drivers involved.
  • Get license numbers, telephone numbers, and registration numbers.
  • Get the names, addresses, and telephone numbers of witnesses.
  • Express no opinion as to who was at fault.
  • Give no information except for as required by the authorities.
  • Do not sign any statements unless required by authorities.
  • For prompt claims call or e-mail Johnson & Rohan Insurance!

For more information about Johnson & Rohan Insurance services please give us a call or a click!

What to do if in an auto accident

Knowing what to do if you are involved in a car accident will help you to remain calm.

Knowing what is expected can help make a stressful and unpleasant situation more bearable and help you avoid unnecessary liability, time and expense …

Johnson & Rohan Insurance What to do if in an accident

Lynnfield, MA – March 5, 2015  Johnson & Rohan Insurance Web Log

Did you know that if you are involved in a minor fender bender and leave the scene of the accident without contacting the police, you may be breaking the law?

Knowing what to do if you are involved in a car accident will help you to remain calm. Knowing what is expected can help make a stressful and unpleasant situation more bearable and help you avoid unnecessary liability, time and expense.

1. Call the police. If you are involved in an auto accident, either you or someone who is with you needs to call 9-1-1 immediately. Even if you have not sustained injuries or property damage that you are aware of, you must still wait for the police to arrive so that you can report the accident.

2. Do not talk about the incident to anyone. Speak only to the responding police officer. And call your insurance agent right away.

3. Be polite, even if you are really upset. When people get in car accidents, they are often more reactive than normal. Don’t start blaming the other driver. And if the other driver is rude to you, get in your car, lock the door, and wait for the police to come.

If there is a question about who was at fault in your accident, being overly emotional may potentially bias the reporting police officer against you to the point that he or she could give the other driver the benefit of the doubt.

4. Get all contact information from all drivers:

  • Full name
  • Address
  • Phone number and email
  • Insurance company’s name (and phone number if possible)
  • Insurance policy number

5. Be respectful to the police officer completing the accident report. You don’t need to go into great detail about what happened. It is probably better not to, because you may not be thinking straight and these reports are very hard to change after the fact. They will, however, be used as evidence by the insurance companies. Be cooperative and calm.

6. Take photographs of both vehicles and the scene of the accident. If one or both cars were totaled and you have no camera or cell phone, you can find out from the reporting officer where the cars are going to be towed and go to the lot later and take photographs of both the inside and outside of the cars. Pictures can help either prove damage or disprove damage.

7. Call Us and report the accident as soon as possible with detailed specifics. You will need to tell your insurance company the following:

  • How the accident happened
  • Time and location of accident
  • Motor vehicles in the accident – cars, trucks, bikes, etc. Include the make and model of each car involved
  • Contact information for those in the accident
  • Injuries sustained in the accident
  • Witness contact information
  • Police report number, police jurisdiction in which the accident occurred; your insurance company will need the police report number to investigate any claim

8. See a physician immediately or as soon as possible after the accident. Even if you believe you have only a few bruises, it is important to document all injuries, no matter how minor.

If you have sustained serious injuries, documenting the injuries, including taking photographs of the injuries, can play a significant role in any insurance settlement.

The above information will help you streamline what can be a complicated, scary and confusing process.

We Are Here for You Before, During and a Car Accident

Johnson & Rohan Insurance is with you every step of the way. We help make sure you have the proper auto insurance coverage and help you through the claims process if you’re involved in an accident.

RMV Online

The Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles’ website might save you a visit to a branch location: MassRMV.com.

Some of the services offered include: cancel your plates, change your address, renew your license, and renew your registration.

Johnson & Rohan online RMV links

The Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles’ website might save you a visit to a branch location:  MassRMV.com.

Some of the services offered include: cancel your plates, change your address, renew your license, and renew your registration.

Johnson & Rohan Insurance’s links and listings of the RMV’s online services:

License/ID –

Registration/Title-

Renewal

Duplicates

Plates

Check My Status

Other-

Safe Driving Tips

Safe Driving at all times is the best way to keep yourself and those around you safe on the road …

Safe Driving Tips

Safe Driving at all times is the best way to keep yourself and those around you safe on the road. In addition, having a perfect driving record can help you keep your insurance premiums low.

Johnson & Rohan Insurance offers the following Safe Driving Tips:

  • Do not talk on your cell phone while driving.
  • Do not text and drive.
  • Always turn on your headlights.
  • Obey the posted speed limit.
  • Stay focused on the road and minimize distractions.
  • Inexperienced drivers should keep passengers to a minimum.
  • Keep your vehicle in good condition.
  • Keep a safe distance behind other vehicles.
  • Be alert for other drivers who are tailgating, signaling inconsistently, turning abruptly, swerving and speeding.
  • Don’t be an aggressive driver.
  • Be aware of your surroundings and potentially dangerous situations.
  • Stay focused on driving and avoid distractions.
  • Never make assumptions about other drivers’ intentions.
  • Use your directional signals when you are going to turn, stop or change lanes.
  • Always try to brake smoothly and gradually; do not slam on your brakes.
  • Keep pace with the traffic around you.
  • Be on the lookout for animals at dusk and at dawn when they are most active.
  • Always adjust your speed for conditions, even if those around you do not.

A Special Note About Texting and Driving …

Texting and driving is perhaps the most dangerous form of distracted driving. Texting while driving places teens and adults alike—and others on the road with them—in serious danger. In fact, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, driver distraction causes 18% of all fatal auto crashes, and text messaging creates a crash risk 23 times worse than driving while not distracted.

Please feel free to forward these Safe Driver Tips to a friend.

Disappearing Deductible and Accident Forgiveness

If you have Accident Forgiveness, your insurance premium won’t increase because of an at-fault accident. This will save you thousands of dollars over the term of the surcharge …

Johnson & Rohan Insurance

There are two terrific endorsements that some insurance companies in Massachusetts offer: Disappearing Deductible and Accident Forgiveness.

Safety Insurance, for example, offers a nifty endorsement called the “Shield Plus” endorsement.

It’s only available if you’re a “99” or “98” driver (violation and accident free for at least 5 years) and costs $35 annually, per vehicle.

The endorsement includes:

  • -$500 Disappearing Collision Deductible Credit
  • Accident Forgiveness (If in an accident during the policy term, Safety Insurance will not apply additional accident surcharge points to your driving record!)
  • Air Bag Coverage
  • Personal Effects Coverage
  • Rental vehicle Loss of Income
  • Emergency Road Travel Expenses
  • Supplemental Towing & Labor
  • Extended Substitute Transportation
  • Seat Belt Coverage
  • Pet Coverage
  • Extended Substitute Transportation

Often we recommend this endorsement. If you presently carry a $500 Collision deductible, you can typically save between $100 – $400 annually by carrying a $1,000 Collision deductible.

The Safety Shield Plus endorsement, with it’s -$500 disappearing deductible feature, lowers the $1,000 deductible to $500.

Even better than the deductible is Accident Forgiveness.

If you have Accident Forgiveness, your insurance premium won’t increase because of an at-fault accident. This will save you thousands of dollars over the term of the surcharge.

Give us a call or click to find out more.

Thank you for insuring with Johnson & Rohan Insurance.