From a safety standpoint, your brakes are likely the most important part of your vehicle. Sudden brake failure while on the road can result in a catastrophic accident that can cause thousands of dollars in damage and possible horrific injuries and even death to you or your passengers. How can you tell if your brakes need repairing? Hart Insurance, serving Federal Way, WA is pleased to explain.

Clearly, if your check brake light comes on brake failure is likely imminent. The safest thing to do in that case is to pull over to the side of the road and call an auto club like AAA to give you a tow to the nearest service center.

Noises that occur when you brake are also a sign of brake trouble. A grinding noise, for instance, is a sign of worn brake pads. You might also have low brake fluid. If your vehicle pulls to one side when you brake, you may have a stuck caliper. The caliber is the part of your brake assembly to which the brake pad is attached.

Warped rotors can cause unusual vibrations when you brake. Brake rotors are the part that your brake pads clamp down on when you apply the brake.

If you brake pedal goes all the way to the floor before your vehicle begins to slow down, you likely have a problem with the brake line, such as a leak.

If any of these situations occur, you need to take your vehicle in to have the brakes repaired as soon as possible. One way to prevent brake problems on the road is to have them checked during scheduled maintenance.

For any questions concerning auto insurance, feel free to contact Hart Insurance, serving Federal Way, WA.

What is an RV?

A recreational vehicle or RV is a class of vehicle used for recreational activities. This can include trailers, campers, and motorhomes. There are three classes. Class A are vehicles up to 75-feet long similar to a luxury bus or motor coach. Class B vehicles are camper vans and travel trailers. Class C vehicles have an extended camper over the driving cab.

Finding the right insurance to go with your specific RV is what the Hart Insurance agents in Federal Way, WA do. Contact them for additional information to have your RV insured.

What Does RV Insurance Cover?

• Collision – helps pay to repair or replace your vehicle regardless of who is at fault in an accident.

• Comprehensive – if your RV is involved in an incident that causes damage to the vehicle, but it has not been in an accident, comprehensive insurance will cover it. For example, if your RV is damaged by vandalism, fire, or theft, you’ll be covered.

Liability Insurance Coverage

• Bodily injury – if you cause injuries to someone and they have medical bills as a result, you would have to pay the bills. With bodily liability coverage, your insurance would take over.

• Property damage – if you are deemed to be at fault when there is an accident involving your RV, you could be protected from paying out large amounts of money out-of-pocket.

• Lawsuits – if you are sued by a driver from an accident you caused, the cost for legal expenses could be covered.

Enjoy your time in your RV while you travel around the world. It will be easier than you think once you have the right kind of insurance coverage. Call the independent insurance agents in Federal Way, WA at Hart Insurance to get you started with your RV insurance coverage.

For people in the Federal Way, WA area, nothing is quite as nice as spending an afternoon on their very own boat. When you own a boat, you can have many great experiences, but also need to make sure that you are properly protecting your asset. One of the best ways to do this today is through a boat insurance policy. If you do not have boat insurance, a number of different things could occur. 

No Coverage for Losses

One of the biggest issues with not having boat insurance is that you will not receive any coverage for losses that you incur. When you have a boat insurance policy, you will receive coverage for a variety of losses including theft, boat accident damage, weather damage, or even vandalism. Since replacing or repairing a boat can be very expensive, having this type of coverage in place could prove to be quite advantageous. 

Lack of Liability Protection

An added benefit of having boat insurance is that you will receive liability protection. While boating is a generally safe activity, mistakes and accidents do happen from time to time. If you are at fault during one of these accidents, you could be held liable. Since the costs of a liability lawsuit and judgment can be significant, it is important that you have boat insurance in place to protect you from liability. 

If you have a boat in the Federal Way, WA area, it is very important that you keep it properly covered by insurance. When you are shopping for a new boat insurance policy, you should contact the team at Hart Insurance. The professionals at Hart Insurance are aware of the importance of carrying boat insurance and can ensure that you have the right coverage for your situation. 

Certainly, everyone has different needs when it comes to insurance. But you don’t want to find out when it’s too late that a certain kind of policy could have prevented a disaster in your life. 

Insurance is about protecting yourself based on the individual risks you face. If you live in Federal Way, WA, you probably have basic insurance for where you live and for your automobile through Hart Insurance. Most people don’t think twice about the limits on their policies, because even the minimum sounds like a lot.

A $1 Million Umbrella Policy Could Actually Benefit Almost Anyone

You might be thinking that you don’t own $1 million worth of assets, even if you pooled everything together and auctioned it off to the highest bidders. But if you end up on the wrong end of a lawsuit, whoever wins against you can get more than that.

As long as you still have the potential to earn money, you may end up being required to pay a very large judgment until it is paid off. You may be able to file bankruptcy at some point or discharge the judgment through another means, but that would mean destroying your own credit in order to get ours from under the judgment. A judgment can get large quickly, especially when there are not just damages but legal fees attached.

An Umbrella Policy Is Surprisingly Affordable

Your umbrella policy will not kick in until your other policies are exhausted. Because of that, umbrella policies are surprisingly inexpensive. You can get a large amount of coverage for a comparatively small amount of money.

If you are in Federal Way, WA and are considering whether you have enough protection, don’t hesitate to call Hart Insurance for a free quote.

Whether your pet enjoys the winter or they would rather curl up under a cozy blanket, the cold Federal Way, WA winters can be as rough on pets as it is on humans. When it comes to your pets, winter can be a dangerous time of the year. Here are three tips to keep your pet safe and healthy this winter.

Visit the Vet

It is especially important to take your pet to the vet for a checkup before the cold sets in. Having an exam before the temperatures drop will ensure your pet is healthy as well as give you an opportunity to talk with the vet about health and safety precautions for your pet during the winter, especially senior pets. At the same time, you schedule the vet appointment, be sure to contact Hart Insurance to update your pet insurance.

Avoid Long Exposure to the Cold

You’ll have to take your dog out for daily exercise and to use the bathroom, but it is important to not leave them exposed to the cold for long periods of time. Just like humans, exposure to freezing temperatures can lead to hyperthermia in pets as well. Be sure to cover your pet’s pads with socks to protect them from the ice and salt and if possible consider putting a sweater on your pet before going outside.

Protect Against Harmful Chemicals

With winter comes a higher risk of coming in contact with harmful toxins, including antifreeze. Be sure to keep pets off the driveway and out of the garage where there may be spots of antifreeze and/or other chemicals that may be fatal for your pet. A good tip to protect their paws from salt and ice melt products on the sidewalks is to apply petroleum jelly on their paws before going out. If you suspect your pet may have ingested harmful toxins, such as antifreeze, it is important to seek emergency treatment for the vet.

Pets need protection from extreme temperatures, which includes providing them with a warm, dry and draft-free shelter, plenty of food and a lot of clean water. Be sure to take precautions any time the temperature drops below freezing and keep in mind that if it’s too cold for you to go out, it’s probably too cold for your pet as well.

Residents of Federal Way, WA interested in learning more information about pet insurance should contact Hart Insurance.