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PRESORTED
Dear Policyholder,
At Plymouth Rock, we do all that we
can to protect our customers, but
sometimes accidents happen. In this
issue, there are two articles geared to
helping you recover swiftly and safely in
the unfortunate event you are involved
in an accident. The first article outlines what
you’ll need to file a claim. Knowing in advance
what the process is vastly improves your claims
experience.
The second article deals with an insurance
trend that can leave injured accident victims
with excessive bills for painful and unnecessary
treatments. I strongly encourage you to read,
How to Avoid Insurance Fraud
for full details, but I’ll reiterate its main advice:
the best thing you can do to avoid negative
physical and/or financial consequences after
an accident in which you are injured, is to
consult your own doctor first!
This summer...
Take a drive down New Jersey's
"Ocean Avenues” and take in
beautiful views of sand and sea!
Inside Stories —
After an Accident
See Your Own Doctor
to Avoid Insurance Fraud
Nice Drives
New Drivers Licensing
Regulations
Drive safely,
Ed Fernandez
We proudly support:
Contact your agent with any questions
about your policy or your coverages.
PO Box 617
Berkeley Heights, NJ 07922
Represented by our Independent Agent
My hope is that you never need the
information in the claims-related articles,
but if you do, trust that Plymouth
Rock will do all we can to get
you back on the road as quickly
and efficiently as possible.
Spring/Summer Issue
Vol.9/Issue No. 1
President,
Palisades Companies
Hot Air Balloon Festival
Insurance 101:
Navigating Coverages
These articles have been provided for
educational purposes only and are based on
the most reliable information available at the
date of publication.
©2012 Plymouth Rock Management Company of New Jersey. All rights reserved.
After an Accident:
1
23
Take The Right Steps to Reduce Hassle
Now that summer is here, motorists will be on the
road in full force. With all those drivers interacting
on all those roadways, there’s bound to be mishaps.
Having a car accident can be a stressful experience
— just a minor one can shake up even an experienced
driver! If you get involved in an auto accident, don’t
miss capturing important information. Taking the
right steps at the scene will make the entire claims
process run faster and smoother, and get you back on
the road to enjoy New Jersey in summer.
So, what should you do if you are
ever involved in a traffic accident?
• Stay calm and remain at the scene.
• Contact police and, if necessary, medical
services; ask a passing motorist to call if
you're unable to.
• After you call the police, write down the
following information:
• Exact location, date and time.
• Names, addresses and drivers’ license
numbers of all the other drivers and
passengers.
• Any injuries to you or others involved.
• License plate numbers, vehicle
identification numbers, the name and
address of all owners of all vehicles and
a description of the vehicles involved.
• The names and contact information of
any witnesses.
If possible, take photos of the damage to all of the
vehicles involved in the accident with a cell phone.
Contact your insurance company as soon as possible.
Plymouth Rock has 24-hour claim support by phone
and the telephone number will be right on your
insurance ID card. Whoever takes your claim will
walk you through the initial filing process. As soon
as possible, an adjuster
will come out to take
a look at the damage
to your vehicle and
estimate what it will
take to restore it (or
replace it, if it's totaled).
Then, Plymouth Rock
will reimburse you for
the amount of the repair,
sometimes the same day.
Taking the
right steps
at the scene
will make the
entire claims
process run
faster and
smoother
To learn more about our extraordinary Claims
Service, visit www.plymouthrocknj.com
The information provided here is not a replacement for,
or an addedum to, your policy contract. For a complete
description of your coverages and definitions, please refer
to your Palisades policy.
Electronic Funds
Transfer (EFT).
Save Time.
Payments made
automatically.
Relax.
You'll never miss
a payment again!
Valet Claim
Service
SM
Here’s how it works
Had an accident? Call us at 877.725.6423 as soon as possible.
We give you a list of repair shops that provide our Door to Door service.
We have your damaged vehicle towed to the Door to Door shop you select.
Next, we coordinate delivery of a rental car to you (provided you have rental coverage).
When your vehicle is repaired, it will be brought anywhere you are in NJ.
Palisades guarantees the repairs for as long as you own your car.
Finally, we arrange the return of the rental car.
It’s all taken care of for you, from start to finish!
Automatic Bill Payment
Secure.
Door to Door
Fast & easy way to make your payments
Just log into Manage My Policy on our
secure customer website, and set future
payments to be automatically withdrawn
from your checking or savings account.
Go to PlymouthRockNJ.com/MyPolicy.
That's it!
Thank you for helping us go paperless!
Applies toward Personal Auto coverage and private passenger autos on Commercial policies.
Must have Collision or Comprehensive coverage to qualify for Door to Door Service.
Plymouth Rock Assurance is a marketing name used by a group of separate companies that write
and manage property and casualty insurance in multiple states. Insurance in New Jersey is offered
by Plymouth Rock Management Company of New Jersey on behalf of Palisades Safety and Insurance
Association, and their affiliates. Each company is financially responsible only for its own insurance
products. Actual coverage is subject to the language of the policies as issued by each company.
Emergency Contact Information
We wish to share our planned response in the event of an emergency or natural catastrophe. If general telephone
service remains uninterrupted, when you contact our office, you will receive a recorded message advising you an
emergency condition exists, when you can expect to be able to reach us by telephone, and instructions for obtaining
service through our website or your agent. Your agent can assist you with most of your policy needs. Please contact
your agent if you are unable to reach Plymouth Rock. Your agent’s address and telephone number are located on your
ID Card and policy declarations. If you are unable to reach Plymouth Rock by telephone and need to report a claim, you
can call your agent, or visit our website for a list of auto body repair shops authorized to inspect your vehicle and begin
the repair process. Plymouth Rock will not cancel your policy for non-payment of premium during an emergency that
prevents your payment from reaching our offices, or that prevents us from processing your payment once received. If
you have any questions, please contact Customer Care at 877. 725 .6423.
Nice Drives
Fortunate enough to live in a state that
boasts 130 miles of Atlantic coastline,
New Jerseyeans can drive down various
“Ocean Avenues” and take in beautiful views
of sand and sea. Centrally located, Route 36 or
Ocean Avenue in Monmouth County provides
miles of oceanfront driving from Sea Bright to
Sea Girt. With charming towns, great people
watching and fun things to do along the way,
this route can provide for a great drive.
Long Branch. Shop Pier Village or catch a free
concert – Sunday evening blues or Thursday
evening rock bands will get you swinging– or
you can just hang on the beach.
www.visitlongbranch.com/
Asbury Park. Take Ocean Avenue to Asbury
Park's great little downtown where fine dining,
shopping, theatre, and nightlife are all within
one small area.
http://apboardwalk.com/
Ocean Grove. This quaint town provides
visitors with the highest concentration of
Victorian architecture in the US. Take in arts
and craft shows, flea markets, guided historical
walking tours, house tours, and performances
at the historic Great Auditorium.
www.oceangrovenj.com/
Spring Lake. The “Jewel of the Jersey Shore”
(voted best beaches by the Asbury Park Press)
also boasts a pristine lake (stocked with trout),
distinctive shopping district, and one of the
best boardwalks to stroll.
www.springlakeboro.org/
NJ Festival of Ballooning
Making its debut in France in 1783, Hot Air
Ballooning began as a promotional stunt to
market wallpaper patterns. It made its way to
the United States in 1793 through the efforts of
Benjamin Franklin. The first American balloon
flight launched from Philadelphia, which at
the time was the nation’s Capital. That balloon
landed in Deptford, New Jersey and marked the
beginning of New Jersey’s long history with hot
air ballooning.
See Your Doctor to
Avoid Insurance Fraud
At Plymouth Rock, we do all that we can to protect our
customers, but sometimes accidents happen. In the unfortunate
event you need medical attention due to an accident, you should
be aware of a recent trend leaving unsuspecting victims with
excessive bills for painful and
unnecessary treatments.
While the vast
majority of
the vast majority of health
healthcare While
care providers are hardworking,
providers honest professionals who have
are honest your best interests in mind, there are others who put profits ahead
professionals of patients. Some unethical providers even pay third parties to
...there are solicit accident victims to obtain medical treatment. In many instances,
others who the money-making tactics they use can constitute insurance fraud.
put profits The damage can go beyond excessive treatments to include:
ahead of • Depletion or exhaustion of available insurance benefits
patients for the care you may really need
• Significantly higher car insurance premiums
In fact, fraud has increased the average cost of car
insurance in NJ by more than 25% in only a few years
Since the 1950s, ballooning began evolving
into the recreation it is today — it has become
a tradition filled spectacle.
• Promises of money you likely will never see
If participating (not watching) is your idea of
fun, take a balloon ride yourself using one
of the many balloon ride companies in New
Jersey. Be prepared for an adventure filled with
beautiful landscapes and vistas and don’t forget
the champagne! As has become tradition, upon
landing, a champagne toast is offered between
those on board and those whose
property you have landed on. Legend
has it that the early French balloonists
carried champagne with them to
appease and reassure property owners,
most of whom were wary of these flying
machines landing on their property!
How can you avoid this dangerous pitfall?
Be alert and consult your own doctor first!
30th Anniversary
NJ Festival of Ballooning
July 27–29
Solberg Airport, Readington
www.balloonfestival.com/
• Treatment, often painful and inconvenient,
that you may not need
Your personal doctor has your best interests at
heart and can help guide you to similarly
motivated health care professionals. Your doctor
knows you and can help you chart the best
course to recovery.
To learn more about why it’s important to consult with
your own doctor, visit www.plymouthrocknj.com
Insurance
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Al
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101:
Lesson 1. Important Coverage Definitions
Bodily injury coverage. If you are at fault for an automobile accident, bodily
injury coverage on an auto insurance policy pays the medical expenses and
additional damages for which you are liable for other individuals injured in
the accident.
Comprehensive coverage. Coverage that pays for damages to your vehicle
resulting from a covered loss other than a collision, such as fire, theft, vandalism
or contact with persons, animals, birds or falling objects
Collison Coverage. Coverage pays for damage to your car only, and is designed
to pay for the repair or replacement of your car in the event of an accident,
no matter who is at fault.
Liability coverage. Coverage for damages your auto causes to others and their
property.
Underinsured motorist bodily injury coverage. Coverage that pays for your bodily
injury and related medical expenses when you’re injured in an automobile
accident and the responsible party (other than yourself) doesn’t have adequate
auto insurance.
Uninsured motorist bodily injury coverage. Coverage that pays for your bodily
injury and related medical expenses when you’re injured in an automobile
accident and the responsible party (other than yourself) doesn’t have auto
insurance or can’t be located (hit-and-run).
Lesson 2. Personal Injury Protection Coverage
Pays basic expenses for an insured and his or her family in states with
no-fault auto insurance. No-fault laws generally require drivers to carry both
liability insurance and personal injury protection coverage to pay for basic
needs of the insured, such as medical expenses, in the event of an accident.
Sources: (Terminology) http://www.ambest.com/; (TruID) www.nj.gov/mvc
Lesson 3. Do You Need Commercial Auto Coverage?
Many of our customers who are also small business owners wonder,
"What is commercial auto insurance, and do I need it?"
For a small business owner, figuring out what kind of auto insurance —
and how much — you need can be confusing.
Personal auto insurance policies can provide enough auto insurance
coverage for some businesses, especially if you're also driving your
vehicle for personal use. However, if you require specific Commercial
auto insurance coverages, high liability insurance limits, operate an
unusual vehicle or haul special equipment, transport goods or people,
or have other special needs, then you'll need insurance for commercial
cars, trucks and so forth.
If you are a small business owner, ask your independent agent about
whether your mixed-use vehicle requires commercial auto coverage.
After a mishap, the last thing you want to do is find out your personal
auto policy won’t cover the damages!
Lesson 4. New NJ Drivers Licensing Regulations
New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission Replaces 6-point ID Program
The new program, Tru-ID, began in May
and is designed to meet new federal
requirements. The new federal “Real ID Act”
requires individuals who board commercial
NEW JERSEY
flights or enter federal facilities to present a
compliant identification card. For those born after December 1, 1964 the new
requirements go into effect 12/1/2014 — and 12/1/2017 for everyone else.
TRUêID
Good news for those born before December 1, 1964, you will be able to
renew your license by mail up until 12/1/2017. You will be required to
show your social security number either on the card itself, pay stub, or tax
documents. Also, for those who use birth certificates as proof of identification,
if the name on the birth certificate does not match a married name, you
must present a marriage or civil union certificate, divorce decree, or court
order. Residents must now present two proofs of residence. Expired passports
will no longer be accepted. Visit www.nj.gov/mvc for all the details.
Lesson 5. Don't Forget Homeowners Coverage
Homeowners insurance does not have to be confusing.
Contact your independent agent who will recommend the best solution and
walk you through your options to make sure you are taking advantage of all
the discounts for which you may be eligible.
Did you know, you can get an extra discount on your car insurance when you
package it with homeowners insurance through Plymouth Rock?
The information provided here is not a replacement for, or an addedum to, your policy contract.
For a complete description of your coverages and definitions, please refer to your Palisades policy.