If you live in Bethlehem, PA, most of the laws and regulations governing the insurance industry and drivers aren’t so different than those found in every other state, but there are a few things you’ll want to know when you get behind the wheel in Pennsylvania.

The main thing to know is that Pennsylvania is a no-fault state. What this means is that each driver will be expected to pay for their injuries in the event of an accident. Whoever may be at fault in any given accident, each driver involved will typically be expected to seek compensation through their insurer.

No-fault laws were first enacted to reduce the burden on the courts and, by proxy, the taxpayer. With so many traffic-related lawsuits clogging up the courts, no-fault laws came through as a swift, efficient, and seemingly reasonable solution to the problem.

Rear end laws are an interesting area of Pennsylvania regulation to look into. In Florida, the person in the rear in a rear-end collision is automatically found to be at fault, and the charge is difficult to fight. In other states, the rear-ender is typically found to be at fault, but it’s not by default. In Pennsylvania, a whole series of laws are set aside to determine fault. Your best bet to navigate these laws is to start making notes immediately after a collision so that you can make sure that you have your facts straight if you need to make your case in a courtroom.

With adequate insurance and safe driving, Pennsylvania is a great place to go for a drive. Call us for some free quotes and get exploring.

For some people, home insurance is not a requirement. In fact, in Pennsylvania, you are not required to have it by law. However, if you have a mortgage, you may be required to have home insurance according to the terms of your agreement. Whether you are required to purchase home insurance or not in Bethlehem, PA, do you know when you should purchase it?

Purchase Home Insurance As Soon As You Purchase the Home

The absolute best time to purchase home insurance is when you purchase a home. Once you put an offer on a home and it is accepted, you need to call us to get a great policy for your home. You want to have the insurance in place immediately, so you are protected no matter what happens.

Why Purchase Before Closing?

You may be wondering why you should purchase before closing. While you do not yet own the home, setting up the policy to begin on closing day is best practice. You do not have to ensure the policy goes into effect before closing but you want it to begin the day you officially own the home. If for any reason your agreement falls through, you will still be able to cancel the policy since it has not yet started.

What If You Do Not Purchase Before Closing?

If you failed to purchase home insurance before you closed on the home, you have not missed your window. You should, however, make the purchase as soon as possible so you can gain coverage immediately. Do not wait until something happens. Instead, protect yourself and your investment with a great home insurance policy.

We can help you find the ideal home insurance policy for your home in the Bethlehem, PA, area by calling us today.

Let’s face it, owning an RV is expensive; particularly for those who enjoy putting their RV’s on Pennsylvania’s open road at any point throughout the year. As more people have adapted to the RV lifestyle, it has become increasingly important that RV owners enjoy their RVs in a safe manner by employing regular safety tips that will save them money all year long, such as the three tips indicated below:

1. Propane Safety Tips

Do not paint propane tanks with a dark color because it absorbs the sun’s rays a lot easier, which causes an explosion due to overheating. The stove, oven or heater burners should not be lit while traveling or refuel while using propane based appliances (or while the engine, is running.)

Have a certified dealer check your propane tank an on-going regular basis – particularly before long road trips to identify broken or leaking lines.  Lastly, have a propane gas detector installed

2. Take Caution When Using the Brakes

Since RVs trailers use air brakes as opposed to hydraulic brakes used in automobiles, they feel different from automobiles, which causes a slight delay when the brakes are hit. Some RV drivers believe the solution is to hit the breaks hard and fast.  However, this causes an abrupt stop, putting everyone’s safety at risk.

3. Familiarize Yourself with Your RV’s Height

Some of the more common RV related accidents are due to RV drivers running into bridges and overpasses because they simply forget the height of their RVs while driving. To prevent this from happening, make note of your RV’s height and exact clearance and leave it in view at all times to void such occurrences.

For these and other related RV safety tips that will save you money all year long, please visit Saucon Insurance Agency online today.

There are many different kinds of boats. Fishing boats are mainly used to fish and are not necessarily built to carry more than two or three people. Pontoons boats are not designed for speed. Instead, they are normally the first choice for people who want to spend a lazy day relaxing on the lake. Speed boats are used for skiing, tubing and cruising the lake. With each boat having its own unique purpose, they also have a specific level of liability that must be considered when purchasing an insurance policy.

While policies for designed for boats in storage are written to cover the replacement value of the craft, insurance policies for other types of watercraft, including jet skis, must also account for certain levels of public liability and damage. Your insurance agent can help you go over all of your options and advise you on what types of insurance are available to adequately protect your type of watercraft. They may also help you receive discounts by finding ways to bundle all of your insurance policies into one. This can save you money and allow you to remain fully protected against financial loss.

The residents of Bethlehem, PA can turn to the agents of the Saucon Insurance Agency when it comes insuring their home, car and boat. Different types of boats require different kinds of insurance. Fishing boats, ski boats and pontoons all serve unique purposes and may carry different levels of liabilities. Your insurance agent can help you determine how much insurance your need depending on the amount of money you owe on the boat and the amount of liability that is generally associated with your type of boat.

The sky can fall or the ground can rise at any moment, leaving your company in tatters in the wake of a natural disaster. Get your business ready for the possibility of tornados, hurricanes, earthquakes, and more with these disaster prep steps.

1. Prepare an Emergency Supply Kit

If a disaster hits unexpectedly, the lives of your employees and customers can depend on how close vital supplies are. Keep an emergency supply kit in stock according to the Red Cross guidelines, calculating the number of people as your typical number of employees and an average number of guests.

2. Develop and Implement Disaster Plans

Panic is dangerous in already tense situations. Keep people calm by having a clear plan of action for every type of disaster, eliminating the question of what to do from their minds.

3. Look for Disaster Readiness Resources

Our country does its best to look out for others, especially when circumstances veer out of control and into chaos. For example, small business owners may be eligible for disaster relief loans in the wake of an incident, but you’ll need to apply in order to take advantage of them. Check on the local, state, and federal levels for resources, and keep their contact information in your disaster prep kit from step one.

4. Seek an Outside Readiness Assessment

It can be hard to see where your disaster plans are lacking, especially if you don’t have any experience in managing similar situations. Once you’ve taken your first steps towards preparedness, call in an outside viewpoint like the Red Cross’s Ready Rating service to see how your company does.

5. Cover Your Business Assets with Commercial Property Insurance

The quickest way to recover from a disaster is to have the appropriate insurance plans in place. To give your business coverage against the overzealous winds of change, ask Saucon Insurance Agency for a quote on acquiring property insurance for your assets.

Riding with a motorcycle passenger is legal in all 50 states and can be done safely on larger bikes with a passenger seat. However, there are several things that a passenger and driver need to do to make the trip as safe as possible. Here are a few tips to make the ride safer for everyone involved.

1. Sit Still

Let the rider get on the bike first. Then, when they are ready, the passenger can get on. Once they are on, both should find the most comfortable position they can safely have and stick to that. Moving around while the bike is in motion can cause the bike’s balance to shift, which in turn can make it fall.

2. Take a Safety Course

If there is a nearby Motorcycle Safety Foundation course, or other type of bike course, take a ride together and go through the beginner training course. It will help both parties understand exactly what to do when riding up and down the roads, and will give both the confidence to ride together.

3. Helmets

Both the rider and the passenger should have good, protective clothing and proper helmets. Loose clothes, open-toed shoes, and short sleeve shirts can cause further injury in an accident. Riding without a helmet makes either person 40% more likely to be killed in case of an accident. Safety always takes precedent over comfort.

If you plan on heading out with someone else on your bike, make sure your coverage includes your passenger as well. Contact the experienced agents at Saucon Insurance Agency today to help get you on the road safely with the right coverage today.

Congratulations on the promotion! All y of work is finally paying off.  You’ve moved into the home you always dreamed of and this year, you leased a slip at the marina for your new boat.  Life is good. However, living the high life comes with its own risks.  When you own more, there is more to lose.

You may know the price paid for the five bedroom home with three car garage, but what of all the other investments that went into making it the perfect paradise away from the office? Pools, security systems, lawn tractors, cleaning services and even the personal chef hired for special occasions all come with a price tag.  How do you intend to protect your way of life that you sacrificed for years to achieve.

Regular homeowners insurance fit the bill while you were driving a leased econobox and bought your furniture at the discount store. With possibly a $100,000 limit on medical payments, you felt reasonably protected. But now should a disaster happen to a guest visiting your home, and their long-term prognosis is grim and expensive, your deep pockets provide an attractive and lucrative source to cover all their expenses after your insurance policy maxes out.

The house, cars, boat, and all the extra perks could vanish while you are still earning enough to fund a well-earned lifestyle.

Umbrella insurance is designed to cover the gap between the customary limits of your home and auto insurance and protect your home, savings and way of life due to unfortunate circumstances.

Your new found wealth should coincide with a visit to your insurance agent to discuss your existing coverage and how umbrella insurance would add peace of mind.  Visit the folks at Saucon Insurance Agency to find out more today.

Now that summer is here a lot of people will be taking their boats out on to Idaho lakes and rivers. Just like being out in an automobile, it is a good idea to take precautions to stay safe.

Idaho has a boater safety course that is offered free by law enforcement and wildlife department officials. The course is not required, but many insurance companies give discounts to boaters who have taken the course and passed the test at the end.

Anyone 14 or under must wear an approved life jacket at all times on a boat. People over that age must have one readily accessible, which does not include stored under a seat if the boat is 19 feet long or less. Larger boats must have a flotation ring that can be thrown to someone in the water. Life jackets must say "coast guard approved" on the label to be considered a legal personal flotation device.

There are different minimum ages for operating a boat or jet ski, and that differs by county in Pennsylvania.

It is a good idea also to avoid alcohol while boating, or at least have a designated driver who does not drink. The laws for operating a boat while intoxicated are about the same as those for operating an automobile.

Stay inside the boat. Some people do what is called "bow riding" which is hanging over the edge of the boat.

Another tip is to pay attention to other boats.  Power boats should stay to the right of each other, and power boats should give right of way to sail boats.

Contact the Saucon Insurance Agency in Bethlehem, PA, to find out how to get your boat insured, and to make sure you have all you need if you are an existing customer.

Flood insurance is something that you should definitely consider as a homeowner. Unfortunately, it is not something that many homeowners consider for their home. There are many different reasons to explore getting a flood insurance policy, even if the bottom line is just to protect your home for any potential flood damage. Continue reading for some basic reasons why flood insurance should be something that you have. 

• Twenty percent of all home flooding happens in areas that are at low to moderate risk. That is a big percentage of floods happening in areas where it is not expected to occur. 
• Flooding is more likely to occur when you live in an area of new construction. This is because the area has less soil that can absorb the rain as it falls. With more roads and sidewalks, the rain has to go somewhere and it may end up in your home. 
• Flooding can happen in other ways besides rain. Flooding can happen from a burst pipe in your home or even from an above ground pool giving way. There are many possibilities and it is something to consider so that you are not surprised by random flooding. 
• Flood insurance is not always included in your homeowners insurance policy. In fact, more often than not, it is not included in a homeowners insurance policy and you have to purchase it separately. Before you assume that you are covered, take a good look at your homeowners insurance policy to see if you currently have flood insurance. 

Contact us today for more information on flood insurance. Here at Saucon Insurance Agency, we can take a look at your current policy or even explore options for a new flood insurance policy for your home and we will be happy to help.

Consider this – you are only a few years away from being able to finally retire.  You have amassed a nice sized retirement account and you have finally managed to pay off both your home and your car.  Added all together, you might have assets that amount to near a million.  You have done well for yourself.

One day, as you are driving along, you get into an accident.  Thank goodness you aren’t hurt badly and the damage that your vehicle sustained is within the coverage limits of your auto insurance.  However, the other vehicle was carrying execs from a rather large company.  The damage to their vehicle and their bodies is a bit more serious.

The ruling of the court is that you are the responsible party and have to pay for the damages to the other party’s vehicle along with their medical expenses and lost wages.  The total comes to about a million dollars.  Your vehicle insurance will cover around $250,000 but you are left on the hook for the difference. 

If you are like most people, this could financially ruin you. Unless you happen to have an umbrella insurance policy.  This is a type of insurance that will take over when you hit the overage limits of your other insurance policies.  In cases like this, it could handle the balance as well as any legal costs.  This will save you from losing all of your assets, including your retirement, just because of an accident. 

Remember that coverages and policies will vary by state so make sure that you know what you are getting and what it covers.  If you are in the Bethlehem, PA area, come on into Saucon Insurance Agency where are friendly and knowledgeable agents are standing by and ready to assist you.