Our customers are averaging about one deer hit a day this fall. Keep your eyes peeled for Bambi as this is the time of year you are most likely to hit a deer. Read on for a handful of deer truths and myths.

Watching deer in their natural habitat can be an enjoyable, peaceful experience. But encountering one on a roadway? That’s a different story.

If it’s happened to you… you’re not alone. More than 1.5 million drivers are involved in deer collisions each year, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, causing nearly $1 billion in vehicle damage.

We’ve already shared tips on how to avoid hitting a deer if one jumps in front of your car. But what about those common bits of folklore that everyone seems to have heard about deer collisions? Is there any truth to those?

Below are six common myths you may have heard… along with some facts to back them up.

Myth: Deer are more active at sunrise and sunset.Status: True. While deer can—and do—cross the road at all hours of the day, dusk and dawn are their peak hours of activity. Deer are “crepuscular” animals. That’s a fancy way of saying they move the most during twilight. So if you’re driving as the sun is rising or coming home from work at dusk… be especially careful.
Myth: You’re more likely to hit a deer in the fall. Status: True. Nearly half of all deer/vehicle collisions happen between October and December. Not coincidentally, deer mating season and peak hunting days also fall between these months. As deer are running from hunters or looking for a mate… odds are they’ll cross a road somewhere in between.

Myth: Deer whistles can prevent collisions.Status: False. Deer whistles attach to your vehicle and are said to emit a frequency that alerts deer of your presence and send them running away. Despite anecdotal evidence – we all probably know someone who swears by their deer whistle! – no credible study has proven them to be effective. One research study at the University of Georgia found that no matter how loud or high-pitched the whistle, the sound isn’t enough to alter the deer’s behavior. Tried-and-tested technology like crash avoidance features might give you more (or… less?) bang for your buck.
Myth: Hitting a deer isn’t that dangerous.Status: False. Nobody wants to face the repair costs of a deer collision. But in many instances, these crashes cause more than just inconvenience. In 2016, the IIHS recorded 189 deaths from collisions with animals. It’s important to note that the most serious injuries occur when a vehicle leaves the roadway—so know when to swerve, and when to stay in your lane.

Myth: More deer are present at “deer crossing” signs.Status: True. If you encounter a deer crossing sign, it’s there for a reason. Signs are installed in areas with high deer populations and a history of deer collisions. Additional factors that can lead to crashes, such as road conditions and visibility, also inform where deer crossing signs are placed. (And before anyone asks: The signs, of course, are for people to read… not the deer.)
Myth: If I hit a deer, I can take home the meat.Status: It depends. If you have a taste for venison, you may be tempted to make the best of an unfortunate situation by taking the unlucky animal home with you. In Wisconsin you need to get a tag from the DNR. ... See more

Thank you to the veterans, military families and current service members that sacrifice more than we will ever know so that we can enjoy a safe and free existence.

Winter arrived! Yeah! (sarcasm font) I heard through the grapevine that Alpine Valley is making snow! Yikes! Tonight the lows are going to approach single digits and since we didn't have a lot of time to prepare you may not have gotten your home ready for winter. Here are a couple of tips as we rush to get prepared. Make sure the water to your outside spigots are shut off. This is a common cause of breakage in the cold. Make sure your hoses are put away and stored inside.

If you turn your heat off because you head south for the winter or go on vacation your pipes will more than likely freeze. You need to keep your heat on at least a minimal level hovering around 60 degrees.

If you leave for the winter we strong encourage you to winterize your house or have a professional do it and still keep your heat on to protect it. You can also purchase a water leak and freeze detector for around $50 that works off WiFi and will notify you if there is any trouble via text/email. We like this one: https://www.getroost.com/sensors/

Using different methods of mitigation are way cheaper than dealing with a loss. It's also a lot easier than going through the hassle of having to fix your house.

#winter #freezingpipes #homeowners #insurance ... See more

I think Thanksgiving is an underrated holiday so we like to blow the doors off for Thanksgiving. How could you go wrong when you have food, family and football mixed in with a long weekend? So this year we are giving away a 20 pound fresh turkey from Lake Geneva Country Meats. This means Mr. Turkey was never frozen so extra delicious. To be entered into the drawing to win this delectable bird simply like our Facebook page and send us your name, email and phone number. The drawing will happen on Monday, November 25th and you can pick up the turkey at our office. Please reply in the comments or send us a quick email at info@spiegelhoffinsurance.com with your name, phone number and email. Good luck! ... See more

Happy Halloween from your friends at Spiegelhoff Insurance!! #wicowboys #topgun #hippy #joker #skipper 🎃

Good morning! It's October 30th and there is a snow storm on the way! It's hard to imagine but as of this morning we're looking at 3" - 7" of the fluffy white stuff over the next 36 hours. Is it possible we could have a snow day in October? The first snow storm usually comes with some driving challenges as everyone gets used to winter driving again. Erie Insurance has put together a list of things not to do while driving in snow. Did you know that having 4-wheel drive doesn't help you stop? I know right? Crazy! It's great for traction to get you going but you'll still need to give yourself ample space to come to a complete stop. Enjoy the snow (maybe?!) and be careful driving tonight and tomorrow morning!

https://www.erieinsurance.com/blog/winter-driving-donts ... See more

Are you making one of these 6 common driving mistakes?

Is this the end of drunk driving forever? The federal government is looking at making all cars manufactured by 2024 to not start if your BAC is over .08. They are attempting a "passive" system and are currently testing two types. One, is your finger print. The other would be "breathing normally." Interesting ideas.

#drunkdriving #autoinsurance #privacy

https://www.yahoo.com/news/drunk-driving-could-start-end-164700932.html ... See more

A new Senate bill calls for onboard test equipment in every new car that would prevent a car from starting if the driver's BAC is at 0.08 or higher.

Are you ready for winter? NO!! We aren't either but perhaps you're ready to get your home ready for winter. Click the link for some helpful tips to get your house ready for winter including your furnace, your doors and windows, fireplace, ducts and even your smoke detectors.

https://www.erieinsurance.com/blog/winterizing-your-home-checklist

#insurance #homeowners #winterready ... See more

It’s time to get your home ready for winter. See what made our list of must-do’s.

Our office is committed to our community and several employees serve on local boards including the Lake Geneva Jaycee's, the YMCA and the Walk to End Alzheimer's. This weekend, Saturday at 9:30 AM, our team, "the Purple Protection Posse" will be walking in support of our friends and loved ones that have Alzheimer's or another form of dementia. If you feel so inclined to support our team or a member on it we would be greatly appreciative as we try to stamp out this terrible disease. You can donate here by following this link: https://act.alz.org/site/TR/Walk2019/WI-Wisconsin?team_id=530293&pg=team&fr_id=12302#team-roster

There is still time to form your own team or you can head down to Library Park on Saturday and sign up upon arrival. Registration begins at 8:30 AM and the Walk begins at 10 am with opening ceremonies at 9:30 am. To sign up online you can follow this link: https://act.alz.org/site/TR/Walk2019/WI-Wisconsin?fr_id=12302&pg=entry

This community is a great one and we are proud to be part of it. There are more than 2,000 people in Walworth County alone suffering from Alzheimer's. We hope you come out and help turn Lake Geneva into a sea of purple this Saturday! ... See more

The Walk to End Alzheimer's is the world's largest event to fight Alzheimer's. Join now and help raise awareness and funds for care, support and research.

There has been a lot of rain this week and water can be confusing when it comes to what your homeowner's insurance covers. Make sure you know your coverage or call us at 262-248-9502 and do a review of your homeowner's coverage.

Water from the outside is generally considered flood. Flood insurance is a separate policy sold only through FEMA. (Any agent can sell it) but flood insurance goes through the federal government. Flood insurance is expensive and maxes out at $250,000 for a home and $100,000 for contents.

If you lose power or your sump pump is overwhelmed you can add an endorsement to your policy called "water/sewer backup." This endorsement can be purchased in different increments normally starting at $2,500 and increasing from there. You need this endorsement to have coverage for sump pump or backup coverage.

It's important everyone knows what they are covered for. Please make sure you do or reach out to us for a review.

Ultimately the adjuster makes the call on whether a claim is covered or not. ... See more