National Impaired Driving Prevention Month

National Impaired Driving Prevention Month

by | Dec 21, 2022 | Personal Insurance

National Driving Impaired Prevention Month

In the month of December, a handful of organizations have banded together to bring social awareness to impaired driving in the United States. The organizations that have deemed this month: “National Impaired Driving Prevention Month”

The Organizations involved in this alliance include:

  • National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
  • U.S. Department of Transportation
  • White House’s Office of National Drug Control Policy
  • U.S. Department of Health
  • Human Service’s Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration

More vehicular related deaths occur during the holiday season than any other time of year making it the clear choice that December was chosen as the awareness month to prevent impaired driving on American roadways and especially within the State of Florida.

Drunk driving, one of many possible impairments while behind the wheel of a car, contributes to a third of traffic fatalities. According to data collected in 2018, the last week of the year drunk driving fatalities increased to half of all traffic fatalities in the United States and almost laterally to the statistics in the State of Florida.

In 2021 there were over 10,000 deaths due to impaired driving across the United States; out of those 799 deaths occurred on Florida roadways.

The most dangerous cities on Florida Roadways are two of our top travel destinations: Orlando and Daytona. In 2016 Orlando was ranked as the 6th most dangerous city in Florida and Daytona ranked the 9th, according to data published by FLHSMV.

If you’re caught, or worse, involved in an accident while driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol in Florida you are subject to some strict penalties including fines, fees and possible jail time. You’re also, as always, responsible for your third-party Bodily Injury Liability that could arise from an incident on a Florida roadway which could directly translate to a lawsuit. The average amount spent on the costs associated with a DWI/DUI in the State of Florida in 2022 is $14,000 for one driver caught driving under the influence without considering the possibility of an injury or accident. 

In addition to the costs, your license would most likely become suspended or revoked and you’d end up needing to take specific advanced driver education within Florida and be forced to carry a Florida FR44 for 3 years from the date of the conviction. 

What is a Florida FR-44?

An FR-44 certificate is a notice to the State of Florida’s FLHSMV that you’ve obtained the proper coverage to be legal to drive on the roadways, with insurance supervision from the state officials. The FR44 is a requirement for people with severe driving offences, such as a DUI/DWI conviction occuring on a Florida roadway. An FR-44 requires higher liability coverage than a SR-22 which is only a $10,000 per person liability requirement to the Florida DMV or FLHSMV. The cost range is typically $600-$2000 every 6 months for a non-owner policy (like if you need the Florida FR-44 Filing but you don’t own a vehicle) and can range in cost between $700-5000 (sometimes more if your car needs physical damage coverage) every 6 months for the required $100,000 per person liability on the Florida FR44 as a vehicle owner. If your license has been suspended and you then become convicted of a DWI in Florida, an FR44 certificate is required in order to reinstate your license and must be maintained continuously without lapse for 3 years.

In the month of December you can display a blue ribbon to bring awareness to impaired driving on the Florida roadways. 

Are you interested in more information on how to prevent impaired driving and what you can do as a consumer and citizens?

Do you need assistance with your Florida FR-44 Insurance filing? If you’re in the market for new FR44 quotes, rates, a new policy or information, call 321-218-3880, extension 6 to speak with Allie Horblitt. 

Allie Horblitt, Insurance Agent with Barefoot Insurance Brokers, works out of both the South Florida and Central Florida offices and can write Florida FR44 Insurance across the state, but specializing in Car insurance coverage in Duval County, Nassau County, Jacksonville, St Johns County, St Augustine, Yulee, all through the Space Coast and the Greater Tampa Area. 

Holiday Shopping & Comprehensive Insurance

Holiday Shopping & Comprehensive Insurance

by | Dec 6, 2022 | Personal Insurance

The winter holidays are here and our shopping has commenced! While gift shopping for your loved ones this winter season, your Insurance agent at Barefoot Insurance Brokers wants to make sure to take extra precautions to protect your valuables and yourself from all of the perils of the holiday season.

 

Some safety tips to keep in mind this holiday season are:

 

– Keep your shopping bags out of plain sight and in your trunk if possible. Take the “out of sight, out of mind” approach to protecting your holiday purchases and keep thieves from breaking into your car in crowded parking lots. Did you know that your comprehensive insurance on your Florida auto insurance policy doesn’t cover the cost of replacement for your side windows if broken, unless you exceed your deductible amount?

– Lock your vehicle. Locking your car can prevent unnecessary theft of your vehicle and it’s contents during the shopping rush. Many criminals will walk through rows of cars in shopping mall parking lots checking door handles to steal your belongings without forceful entry. 

– Park your vehicle in well-lit areas. The more well-lit the parking lot is while shopping at night, the more you’d deter unwanted entrance in your vehicle or even people approaching you while you’re in public.

– Have your keys in hand when approaching your car. Many victims of theft aren’t paying attention to their surroundings. Your prospectus in a parking lot should be to enter your vehicle and safely pull away as quickly as possible and not to loiter around. You don’t want to attract any unnecessary attention when you exit a store alone with expensive merchandise.

 

When and if an incident does happen, it’s important to know that there are car insurance coverages that protect and help ease the financial burden of a loss. Comprehensive auto insurance coverage is an optional coverage on your Florida auto insurance policy that protects you against non-collision damage to your vehicle: theft, vandalism, glass (exceeding the deductible) and windshield damage, weather related damages and other acts of nature. Your comprehensive auto insurance can be included on your existing state required PIP and Property Damage Liability coverage and you likely carry this portion of physical damage coverage if you’re currently financing or leasing your vehicle. In the State of Florida when you have comprehensive insurance coverage and your windshield has a crack, your insurance will cover a replacement, unlike your side windows and rear windshield that may be subject to your deductible.

 

In the event of theft of your personal belongings or purchased merchandise from your vehicle, your existing renter’s insurance, Florida Condo Insurance or homeowner’s insurance could couple with the auto insurance company to provide financial relief. Comprehensive will cover components and features that are permanent in your car but not the merchandise.

 

Your major credit card company like Visa, Mastercard, American Express and Discover may also have sublimits within the user agreement that help to reimburse you for expenses or costs related to lost or stolen merchandise. If you’re a victim of a  burglary related crime in Florida this holiday season, you may have several options available to recuperate the expenses related to your circumstance.

 

A licensed insurance broker with Barefoot Insurance Brokers of Florida can better help you understand what’s covered on your existing auto insurance as well as help you find more affordable and efficient insurance products. We recommend that you reach out to Julia Dourvetakis via call or text at 954-866-5723 this holiday season for helpful insurance insight, advice and quotes to protect you and your loved ones.

 

Julia Dourvetakis can service your property insurance needs across the State of Florida with a focus on the coastal regions of Central and South Florida including Titusville, Merritt Island, Cocoa Beach and Indialantic Florida and an emphasis on high-risk regions in Palm Beach, Broward, Dade and Monroe Counties.

Time to insure your Awesome RV!

Time to insure your Awesome RV!

by | Sep 27, 2019 | Personal Insurance

 

Thinking about quitting your job and buying an RV and traveling the country?

If so, you’ll be delighted to know that RV insurance coverage is very affordable and comprehensive!

Our brokerage, Barefoot Insurance Brokers, offers RV coverage all over Florida through Progressive, Foremost and several surplus carriers. We can tailor the coverage to your needs: whether you’re financing your land-yacht or you own her outright.

A study commissioned by the RV Industry Association through the University of Michigan decided that approximately 10 million households in the United States now own RVs! The average owner spends 3-4 weeks in their RV each year.

We can offer several unique RV Insurance coverage features on your Florida RV insurance policy:

  • Total Loss Replacement offers the ability for us to replace your motorhome with a brand new one!
  • Replacement Cost for your Personal Effects inside your RV in the event of a loss
  • Emergency Expense coverage of up to $750 for transportation and hotel and meals if you’re on vacation and your RV becomes disabled away from your home.
  • Bodily Injury Liability Limits of up to $1 million in coverage

Whether you’re unhappy with the current cost of your RV insurance or you’re looking into a new RV Venture to start a life-long adventure, Barefoot Insurance Brokers can work with you to provide an excellent quote for your needs.

 

Call me today at 954-368-0060, x 2 or email me at allie@barefootins.com to discuss all of your insurance needs in Florida – Homeowner’s, auto insurance, motorcycle insurance, RV coverage and more. I’m a Mini Winnie girl, myself…and can’t wait to ride out in my own little RV one day.

 

 

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Get out there on Jax Beach in your 4×4!

Get out there on Jax Beach in your 4×4!

by | Jul 25, 2019 | Personal Insurance

Even being a Floridian and although it sounds very touristic, I love the concept of driving on the beach. We’re so lucky to not only be surrounded by such beautiful landscapes, but have such unique outdoor opportunities at our fingertips.

Especially in Huguenot Memorial Park right on the coast of Duval County! Break out your 4×4 automobile and head out to this gorgeous and remote park on the Timucan Ecological and Historic Preserve. A small admission fee of $5 can get you out onto the sand to kite surf, picnic or simply to lounge in the sun with all of your gear right there with you. This eliminates all of the hassle of schlepping your beach equipment from the parking lot and really allows you to immerse yourself in the opportunity.

 

Check out this photo I took in October, 2018 on a windy day at Huguenot!

 

Not every car can handle driving on the beach in Florida, though. It’s best to stick to your trucks and 4-wheel-drive jeeps and SUVs when hitting the sand as to not get stuck and mess up a beautiful day out. The park will have ample signage when you arrive designating whether it’s safe for other vehicles to take it off-road.

 

It’s simple to insure your 4×4 or off-road vehicle in Duval County, too. Barefoot Insurance Brokers offers insurance coverage for all types of vehicles, recreational vehicles, dune buggies and RVs all over the Jacksonville area by phone (954)368-0060 or email (allie@barefootins.com). While our main office is in South Florida, our competent agents can help you save money in every corner of Florida…from San Marco, to Five points, to Arlington…and to the beaches. My name is Allie Horblitt and me and my staff  can’t wait to save you money on your auto insurance.

 

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