Is your Sleep Disorder affecting your Car Insurance?

If you suffer from a sleep disorder, it can affect every facet of your life. Most people don't give driving much thought, but if you haven't had a restful night's sleep due to sleep apnea, restless leg syndrome, insomnia or sleep deprivation, you could be putting yourself and others in danger.

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), sleep disorders are one of the major risk groups when it comes to driving drowsy. Every year there are 5,000 to 6,000 fatal motor vehicle accidents that can be contributed to driving while tired. These numbers are probably conservative, and there are just as many accidents that are not fatal.

If you would never consider driving while intoxicated, driving while drowsy has surprisingly similar consequences. The CDC found that if you haven't slept in 18 hours, your impairment level is about the same as a person with a blood alcohol content (BAC) of 0.05. Those that haven't slept in 24 hours have the same judgment and reaction time of a person with a BAC of 0.10, which is illegal in all states.

If you're driving down the road and find yourself yawning a lot, it's time to take action. If you are hitting rumble strips or are drifting into another lane, pull over. Take a rest or let someone else drive. At the very least, take a brisk walk and get some coffee.

Sleep disorders are difficult to deal with during the night, but the consequences of these issues have to be dealt with during the daytime too. If you have a sleep disorder, consider whether you should be driving a car, because you could be putting yourself or somebody else at risk.

Stay safe on the road. Call Security First Insurance Agency at (810) 732-5800 for more information on Flint auto insurance.

Auto Insurance in Flint Michigan

Auto insurance protects you against financial loss if you have an accident. It is a contract between you and the insurance company. You agree to pay the premium and the insurance company agrees to pay your losses as defined in your policy.

We offer competitive premiums and complete coverage for all your vehicles. Coverages include:

• Preferred and standard auto
• High risk auto
• Motorcycle
• Motor homes
• Camping trailers, travel trailers, utility trailers
• Recreational vehicles: all-terrain vehicles, trail bikes, snowmobiles, golf carts, mini bikes, dune buggies, jet skis and wet bikes antique, classic or special-interest cars

Why you should insure your vehicle Michigan has the most comprehensive no-fault auto insurance system in the nation. If your vehicle is insured in Michigan, you and your family will be provided with unlimited medical and rehabilitation benefits, wage loss benefits and $20 per day for replacement services for up to three years if you are injured in an auto accident, regardless of fault. This security is one of the most important reasons to purchase insurance. 

In addition to the security that insurance provides to you and your family, Michigan law requires no-fault insurance. Every registered vehicle must be insured. If you own a car and you drive it, or allow someone else to drive it without basic no-fault insurance, you can be sued and held personally liable. You may also be convicted of a misdemeanor and fined from $200 to $500, or put in jail for up to one year, or both. The court may also order your license suspended for 30 days or until you are able to provide such proof. In addition, if you are uninsured you may be held liable for all damages that result from an accident while uninsured, including your own. 

What auto insurance coverage you have to purchase There are three basic parts to a no-fault policy that must be purchased and carried on every vehicle. They are:

• Personal Injury Protection (PIP) - Personal injury protection (PIP) pays all necessary medical costs if you are hurt in an auto accident.
• Property Protection (PPI) - Property protection (PPI) pays up to $1 million for damage your car does in Michigan to other people's property, such as buildings and fences.
• Residual Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability Insurance (BI/PD) - Residual bodily injury and property damage liability (BI/PD) pays your defense costs and any damages you are found liable for as the result of an auto accident, up to the limits of the policy. The minimum limits of coverage that everyone must purchase are $20,000 for a person who is hurt or killed in an accident, $40,000 for each accident if several people are hurt or killed, and up to $10,000 for property damage in another state. These minimum limits are often referred to as 20/40/10. You can also purchase additional limits of BI/PD coverage, which will be explained in the next section. (Source: http://www.michigan.gov/difs)

Contact us for a Flint Michigan auto insurance at 810-732-5800.