[June 21, 2011] : OFIR's Insurance Tips for Your Summer Vacation Tweet Jun 21, 2011 (M2 PRESSWIRE via COMTEX) -- Now that school is out for summer, many Michiganders will be leaving home for a family vacation. The Office of Financial and Insurance Regulation (OFIR) today provided auto and property insurance tips to consumers before they hit the road for a family trip. "Before leaving for a summer getaway it's important for Michigan consumers to know what to do if they're in an accident or if something happens to their vacation property," said OFIR Commissioner Kevin Clinton. OFIR's tips for consumers planning summer travel: Auto Insurance: Before Leaving on Vacation: Make sure your insurance certificate is in the car. Double-check that phone numbers for your insurance company and agent are listed on the certificate. If not, make note of these numbers to keep with your ID card. If You're in an Accident: Check for any injuries and administer first aid, if necessary. Contact the proper authorities and inform them of any injuries. Regardless of the circumstances, report the accident to the police. Record the name, address and phone number of the other driver. Always write down the make, model and license plate number of all vehicles involved. Collect the names, addresses and phone numbers of all passengers and witnesses. Take photos of the accident scene, if possible. Ask the investigating officer how to obtain a copy of the police report. Notify your insurance agent or company immediately. Property Insurance: Renting a Vacation Property: If you're renting a property this summer, your homeowners insurance policy might extend to the property where you'll be staying. Generally, as a renter you are not responsible for damages caused by unavoidable accidents, such as faulty plumbing. However, there are circumstances where you could be considered partially responsible for damages due to negligence, and you may be expected to pay for them. Personal belongings you take on vacation - such as a laptop, camera or clothing - are generally covered by your primary homeowners policy. Umbrella Policies: If you have an umbrella policy in place to provide excess liability coverage, the policy should automatically extend to any new property you purchase or rent. To be sure the umbrella meets your liability expectations and that there are no exclusions in the policy that might be triggered by the new property, read your policy before making your down payment. Contact: Jason Moon 517-335-1700 http://twitter.com/miofir ((M2 Communications disclaims all liability for information provided within M2 PressWIRE. Data supplied by named party/parties. Further information on M2 PressWIRE can be obtained at http://www.presswire.net on the world wide web. Inquiries to [email protected]. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]