New Jersey Auto Insurance: Car Accident Overview

Being involved in a car accident can leave you shaken and mentally impaired. But there are several steps you need to take at the accident.

Often drivers involved in an auto accident simply pull over, check for injuries and gather contact information. But post car accident procedures are specific and may contain legal ramifications many drivers are unaware of. Below you will find an overview of what to do and what not to do if involved in an accident in the state of New Jersey.

Can I leave the scene of a minor car accident?
New Jersey laws state that all parties involved in the car accident needs to remain at the scene of the car accident.
(1) Situation 1: Car accident results in an injury or death
Consequences:

Fined $2,500-$5,000
And/or imprisoned for a period of 180 days
License suspension for one year for the first offense and permanently forfeited for a subsequent offense

(2) Situation 2: Car accident only results in property damage
Consequences:

Fined $200-$400 for the first offense and $400-$600 for a subsequent offense
And/or imprisoned for a period of 30 days for the first offense and 30-90 days for a subsequent offense
License suspension for six months for the first offense and one year for a subsequent offense

What should I do if I damage an unattended vehicle?
You must immediately stop and
(1) Locate and notify the vehicle owner
(2) If you are not able to locate the owner, you must leave a written note with your contact information
(3) Notify the local police department

Do I need to call the police?
(1) You must report any car accident that results in injury, death or property damage in excess of $500.
(2) You must also notify your local New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission Agency within 10 days of an auto accident.
Provide the following information:

Cause of auto accident
Conditions then existing
Persons and vehicles involved

What information should I reveal if I am involved in an auto accident?

Name
Address

*You must also show your license and vehicle’s registration to the following:

Owner of damaged property
Drivers involved
Anyone injured as a result of the auto accident
Police office
Witnesses

For more information, visit New Jersey’s Department of Transportation

Vreeland Insurance is your community’s New Jersey insurance solution. We provide a wide array of insurance programs, including individual auto insurance, to the Rockaway area — or just about anywhere in Northern New Jersey. One of our specialties is in helping our clients insure their personal automobiles against unforeseen damages and injuries. What’s more, as independent agents, we have access to many insurance companies to get you the best New Jersey auto insurance plan at the most competitive Auto insurance rates in New Jersey.

Our local insurance professionals are standing by, so contact us today. (877) 755-3767

Morris County Home Insurance: Creating a Disaster Home Inventory List

In Morris County, it seems like the weather is constantly changing and often, a disaster strikes. Although it is time consuming, creating a home inventory list is easy and worthwhile. The time expended into a creating a list is returned if a disaster were to strike.

New Jersey has a history of several moderate or major hurricanes. The most recent Nor ‘Easter, Hurricane Sandy swept along the country’s eastern shore line this past October. Hurricane Sandy left a considerable mark in New York and New Jersey; high rise buildings, small shops and homes were severely damaged.

As a result of Hurricane Sandy, many didn’t have a business or a home to get back to. A home inventory list protects your possessions from damage caused by a fire, flood or burglary. In addition, this list speeds up an insurance claim process.

Home Inventory List is easily dismissed by the average homeowner’s insurance buyer. According to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC), only 59% of consumers have written a list of their possessions. And of those individuals, only a slight majority has created a proper home inventory; 48% don’t have receipts, 27% don’t have photos and 28% don’t have a backup copy.

Below you will find our simple guide to creating a home inventory list.

Set aside a day dedicated to listing your possessions. Insure that you thoroughly inspected and documented both the inside and outside of your home.

Create a spreadsheet

Check with your homeowners insurance agency for the specifics of your plan.

Stay organized

Collect any sales receipts, purchase contracts and appraisals you may have kept.
Categorize your spreadsheet by room.
Create columns for item description, quantity, model/serial number, year/place purchased and cost.
For clothing, create secondary categories for type of clothing (ie. coats)
If you possess any big ticket items, ask your agent whether or not you need to purchase a separate policy. (ie. jewelry, art work, wine, high end designer clothing and collectibles)

Visuals

Take pictures of all rooms and belongings.
Videotape a walk thru of your home. Don’t forget to list and describe items!

Storage

Store your home inventory list in different formats. This includes the following:
Computer server
CD
USB drive
Written list
Online backup service
Store the list in a safety box or emergency kit

Let us put together the best possible solution for you at the most competitive price we can find. We work with some of the most respected insurance companies in the country, and once we have your information and the features you want to be included, we can start putting together the right Morris County Home Insurance plan for you. Call us today (877) 755-3767

New Jersey Auto Insurance: Texting While Driving Increases

A large public service campaign has been underway lately to stop people from texting and driving behind the wheel. Celebrities and nonprofits have gotten behind the cause, not to mention it is outright banned. Yet the latest study shows that it’s been increasing, and the laws don’t seem to have had much impact.

A new report from researchers at the West Virginia University School of Public Health asserts the laws probably aren’t having much impact on the number of injuries caused by distracted driving. In 2003, using a phone while driving is estimated to cause over 300,000 injuries annually. Those numbers increased 22 percent in the following four years, and the problem is only expected to worsen.

New Jersey prohibits texting and the use of handheld cell phones for all drivers. New drivers are prohibited from all cell phone use entirely. The only exception is if there is an emergency. Speaker phones, and using a blue tooth or wired headset are legally acceptable alternatives, although studies have made it clear that even using a Bluetooth set can be highly distracting on the road.

The smartphone and app industry is trying to outsmart themselves to avoid the temptation of texting while driving. There are several apps that individuals can use when they are driving that actually restrict them from texting when the vehicle is moving at a certain speed. Only when the vehicle slows down will the app unlock the phone.

Efforts to spread awareness about the dangers of texting and driving are continuing as more and more research highlights the trend’s acute danger.

At the end of the day, safety is your top concern. No one provides New Jersey auto insurance like we do at Vreeland. We specialized in helping our clients protect themselves, their families, and their homes against unforeseen losses. Contact us today for more information. (877) 755-3767

3 Things to consider before opening a social service organization

Many Americans are struggling and are in need of help. Fortunately there are also many individuals and groups who have a genuine interest in assisting those in need of unattainable resources and services. The New Jersey Department of Human Services (DHS) serves about 1.5 million residents of New Jersey. With a budget of about 11 billion dollars and over 15,000 employees, DHS continues to dedicate valuable services to ensure a better life for those in need. Social service organizations help all persons; from mental illnesses to low incomes. Since there are many components involved with social service organizations, if you are considering opening a New Jersey social service organization, there are 3 important things to consider.

Type of Services: Due to the broad range of persons in need of services, organizations focus on a specific field.

Mental Illness
Addiction Treatment
Therapy (ie. Anger management and marriage counseling)
Financial Aid
Developmental Disabilities
Child Care
Veteran Services
Legal Assistance
Late On-Set Disabilities
Catastrophic Illness

Many organization also veer their services towards a specific group of individuals

Religion
Ethnicity
Employment
Age

Non-Profit Versus Profit: The decision to be non-profit or for profit heavily relies on how an organization wants to be structured. Due to the nature of social services many are non-profit, as their major focus is improving the daily quality of life for individuals. However for those non-profit organizations, funding is a constant problem. Their funding depends on donations from individuals and government grants. With limited funding, non-profits utilize the money they have available strictly for those individuals in need of their services. For profit organizations are able to utilize their money with more freedom. Unlike non-profit organizations, for profits are able to have paid employees instead of an almost entirely volunteer workforce.

License and Insurance: The state of New Jersey requires a license from all social service organizations. There are also different regulations for each field of specialty. Social service organizations also need to have the proper New Jersey Social Service insurance. New Jersey based company, Vreeland Insurance will be able to provide a comprehensive insurance program.

Our professionals understand your needs, the challenges you face, and are committed to providing you with an insurance program that is designed to meet the special concerns of nonprofit organizations. Contact us for more information about how we can serve your business insurance needs. Call us at 877.755.3767, email us, or return the convenient form on this page.

New Jersey Daycare Insurance: Daycare Children More Likely to be Obese

Daycare is a crucial time in children’s’ lives. Now, some researchers are highlighting the daycare years as a good platform in the fight against obesity.

According to Medical News Today, kids who are placed in daycare are 50 percent more likely to become obese than children who stay at home. The study came from researchers at the University of Montreal and the CHU Sainte-Justine-Hospital Research Center. Children ages 4-10 years who were in a daycare center or with an extended family member were more likely to be overweight or obese.

Children were categorized based on what kind of care they had and where they spent the majority of your time. The top care choices were nanny (5%), extended family member (11%), with their parents (19%), a daycare center (30%), and family daycare (35%).

It was not clear on exactly what factors are behind obesity. The study did focus, however, on the opportunity daycare facilities present in shaping children’s habits.

With a significant portion of children ages 2-6 spending large parts of each day in daycare, what they eat becomes crucially important. A study of childcare programs in Washington and Minnesota found that many children learn food and nutrition habits early, according to USA Today. By educating children on healthy lifestyle habits and teaching them about nutrition helps them to develop the proper habits early on.

Nearly a quarter of U.S. children between the ages of two and five are overweight or obese. The rate is seventeen percent for all children and adolescents in the country.

Let Vreeland Insurance take care of you while you take care of the little ones. Give us a call to discuss your individual New Jersey health insurance needs. For more information about our New Jersey day care insurance programs. Call us at 877.755.3767

Employee Benefits Increases Retention

Employee benefits plans offer great resources not only to the employee, but can hugely benefit the company as well.

According to Employee Benefit News, employers that provide and market comprehensive benefits packages improve employee performance and productivity, attract new workers, and boost worker job satisfaction.

According to a research survey by a national insurer, top HR business challenges were controlling healthcare costs, increasing worker productivity, and retaining employees. Healthcare and retirement benefits give employees peace of mind knowing they are taken care of.

Overall, the workplace feels underprepared. Only 29% of employees feel their goals and dreams are financially protected, 28% feel prepared for retirement, and 46% don’t feel prepared to pay out-of-pocket expenses. Only 44% felt protected by their current insurance coverage.

If employees don’t feel secure, they will find employers who can offer that sense of security. 49% of employees said they are likely to look for another job. On the flip side, 61% were more likely to accept a job with less pay but better benefits. Furthermore, of employees who were “extremely” satisfied with their benefit package, 73% reported job satisfaction.

The driving force behind reaping the rewards of a strong employee benefits plan? Communication. Only 38% of employees believe that HR communicates effectively about benefits (there is a clear disconnect- a whopping 92% of employers think their company communicates effectively). Employers can offer great plans, but lose out on the benefits simply because employees are not aware of them.

As a business, you want to give your New Jersey employees the peace of mind that only comes with new jersey group health and life insurance. Such coverage can be a large expense, but the alternative (low retention, employee suffering, absenteeism, etc.) can be even costlier. Group health policies are major factors in increasing employee morale and retention. At Vreeland, we can offer you a plan that fits your needs. Because we’re independent agents, we can offer you a choice of the best, most affordable plans around that fits both your needs and your budget. Contact us today for more information about our New Jersey Employee Benefits programs - (877) 755-3767

Day Care Insurance: Choosing a Daycare Center

When choosing a day care many parents have a difficult time finding that “right” day care for their child. After all, they are giving someone else the responsibility of ensuring that their child is safe and happy. There are many types of day care; in-home, pre-school and center-based care. Before choosing a type of care, sort out your family and child’s individual needs.

Write down a list of priorities and ask yourself these questions:

What type of person would you trust to care for your child?
Do you want individualized care or would you prefer them to interact with other children?
Does your child have any special health needs?

What to look for in a day care:

Reputation: When shopping around for the right day care, observe the environment, is it nurturing, and are they generally welcoming and adhere to providing a friendly atmosphere. If possible approach current parents whose child is in that day care and ask them for advice. You may also ask trusted friends and family for any recommendations.

Established rules: Ask them for a written policies document and be sure they are organized.

What is their illness policy? Do they require the children to get immunization shots before day care enrollment?
Have they constructed a safety plan for emergencies? Are they stocked up with bandages, ointments, etc?
Do they encourage their staff to be sanitary and wear gloves? Are the toys sanitized? If so, how often?
Consider their open door policy, good day care centers encourage parents to visit and help with activities or attend field trips.

Curriculum: Look for day cares with a structured schedule plan that include a wide range of activities such as physical activities, nap time, and craft time. Ensure that they encourage creativity, development, and imagination. Day cares that carry a variety of toys and educational videos encourage children to interact with others. Review their menu; are the meals nutritious, and do they consider a child’s food allergies?

Staff: The best New Jersey daycare centers have qualified and experienced caregivers. These caregivers should have the knowledge and ability to care for children of all ages. Also check if the facility has a consistent staff and are reputable to having a drastic turnover rate.

License: Before choosing a day care facility, make sure that they insured and licensed. A good day care has also met their state’s specific licensing requirements for health and safety.

New Jersey Vision Insurance: Common Vision Misconceptions

While there are a plethora of vision problems, a prevalent condition is myopia. Myopia is an inability to see objects from a far distance and it accounts for 30% of America’s vision problems. With a percentage as high 30%, there has been multiple myths and misconceptions. Myopia often develops in younger children and it continues to grow until you are in your mid 20’s. These school children are frequently bombarded with myths that their parents and peers have told them to be true. These theories have not been scientifically proven therefore labeling them as myths. Here are four common vision misconceptions. This post is brought to you by Vreeland New Jersey vision insurance.

Sitting too close to the television screen and prolonged staring at the computer screen contributes to poor vision. Although your eyes may get tired or dry, there is no direct correlation between the distance you are from the television and your vision. The only conditions you might develop are eye strain and a stiff neck.
There is not any scientific evidence that proves reading in the dark worsens your vision. Even though it is recommended to read in the light, it is simply so you are able to see what you are reading.
Another common misconception is eating carrots will either improve your vision or cure any current eye conditions. Although carrots do have a significant amount of Vitamin A and beta carotene, it will not cure any type of vision ailment.
Your vision inevitable worsens with age. This term is referred to as Presbyopia (Old Age Sight). Many believe that once you reach a certain age your sight will worsen and will have to resort to wearing eye glasses. While there is no direct correlation between vision and age, there is a correlation between vision and how we take care of our bodies. The elderly are known to develop vision problem because they did not properly take care of their bodies throughout all those years. This development is not because they have lived longer. However, many do develop Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) in which the central part of the tissue that lines the retina gradually starts to damage. Developing AMD makes it more difficult to read fine print and tasks involving central and detail vision. However, AMD does not simply occur because of age, possible causes are smoking, family history, and obesity.

At Vreeland Insurance, we can help you find both the best coverages and most competitive rates for New Jersey vision insurance. For more information on how our New Jersey vision insurance program can fit into your current employee benefits program, call us – (877) 755-3767

4 Reasons Why Reading to Your Child is Important

When we live in a world occupied by an abundance of brilliant authors, being exposed to how they think and how they write is very valuable. However, according to the National Education Association (NEA), the amount of books being read a year declines when an individual ages. In fact, less than a majority of high school students read ten or more books per year. America overlooks the power of literacy. Reading empowers, educates and encourages creativity in individuals. Reading is a habit that should be lifelong and it should start at a young age. Exposing young children and even babies to a rich literacy environment is beneficial in many ways, if not all aspects of life. Here are four reasons why reading to your child is important.

Why Reading to Your Child is Important – Exposure to the English language: Reading to a small child or a couple months old baby introduces them to the basic fundamental of the English language, such as comprehension, letter knowledge, and vocabulary. Upon reading to your child they will learn to slowly mirror your words and will begin to enunciate letter names and different sounds.

Why Reading to Your Child is Important – Future academic excellence: A study done at Rhode Island Hospital compared two different sample groups of eight month old babies; group one was read to often, group two was not. They measured the number of words they understand since they were born and group one’s increased by 40%, while group two only increased by 16%.

Studies have shown that toddlers who are exposed to language read to them often do better in preschool. These toddlers also do better in latter grades due to their ability to comprehend mathematical, scientific, and social concepts.

Why Reading to Your Child is Important – Stronger relationship with parents: When you are reading to your baby you are creating a bond based on nurture and intimacy.

Why Reading to Your Child is Important – Enhances exposure to life skills, such as logical thinking, communication, concentration, and discipline: Reading to your child exposes them to different colors, shapes, objects, relationship, and situations that they will be able to utilize when they are older. Your child will eventually start to understand different situations that are illustrated in books and learn to apply that to their own life. They are able establish connections between different scenarios, which will help them build logical thinking. When you are reading to your child it takes a lot of patience for them to sit still for long periods of time. However, if they are exposed to this at an early age they will be able to acquire longer attention spans and self-discipline. All of these skills will help them throughout the rest of their life.

Let us take care of you while you take care of the little ones.

Contact us for more information about how Vreeland Insurance can serve your New Jersey day care insurance needs. Call us at 877.755.3767

New Jersey Business Insurance: How to Foster Creativity in the Office

Due to the dramatic shift in the workforce and in technology there has been a rise in the “mobile workforce.” These new work at home employees believe that they are more productive in an office space that allows them to channel their creativity and imagination. The new office nurtures a community-like environment where all employees despite their position will be able to interact and collaborate with another. In New Jersey businesses, the new office is a well known trend among many companies. This post is provided by Vreeland New Jersey business insurance programs. Give us call and today for a free quote -1 (877) 755-3767

Is your office killing collaboration, communication & production?

This new type of office space eliminates the traditional white walls and cubicles and proposes the integration of a term called ‘hot-desking.” This new office means that there will more open spaces such as conference rooms, casual seating and cafes. These open spaces encourage growth, collaboration, and creativity. It is believed this new office arrangement correlates production level to comfort level. Hot-desking creates a flexible and casual environment, in which a singular open space is enveloped in couches, tables, and seats. The new office design encompasses four elements; socialization, focus space, collaboration room, and the learning area.

Why should a business convert to the new office?

Not every company is fit for hot-desking. The companies that will benefit from hot-desking do not require all employees to be in the office at the same time nor do they require their employees to be present in the office all day.

Hot-desking eliminates a substantial amount of square footage (30%) alleviating a substantial amount of cost. This is especially advantageous when employees frequently leave the office for business meetings or project site visits.

We’re in the business of serving your business. Whatever your need for New Jersey business insurance, whether in the Rockaway area or throughout the state, call or email us for more information, or fill out and send the handy form on this page. Here at Vreeland Insurance, we look forward to getting you the New Jersey Business Insurance coverage you need…at a price that you can afford.

Picture Source:
Shubin+Donaldson Architects

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New Jersey Auto Insurance: Car Accident Overview