As the leaves turn and the days grow shorter, it’s time to talk about how this year-end stretch—marked by daylight savings, fall, and winter—brings specific hazards and risks to your home, car, and business. With MBG Insurance leading the way in helping you understand and prepare, you’ll be better positioned to face what’s ahead—through the end of 2025 and into 2026.
1. Daylight Savings: Why the Time Change = Heightened Risk
When clocks roll back (or forward) for daylight savings, it may seem just a minor nuisance—but it actually triggers real risks. Research shows that the shift in daylight can disrupt our circadian rhythm, which leads to more drowsiness, poorer reaction times, and increased accidents. accuweather.com+2855mikewins.com+2
For example, one study found that nighttime driving accidents increase significantly after clocks fall back in the autumn. 855mikewins.com+1
At MBG Insurance, we see this play out across insurance claims:
- Auto claims tend to increase just after the time change—especially in early evening darkness.
- Pedestrian injuries rise as children and commuters find themselves traveling in darker conditions.
- Home risks increase too: waking before daylight or working after dusk means more strain and more opportunity for slips, falls or missed cues.
What you can do:
- Be extra cautious on the roads for the first week after the clock changes.
- Ensure exterior lighting is good at your home and business: dusk comes earlier, so visibility matters.
- If you’re a business owner or fleet manager, ask MBG about adjustments to your risk profile for that transitional week.
2. Fall Hazard & Risk: The Season of Transition
Fall is more than pumpkin spice—it’s a high-risk season for many kinds of hazards:
- Leaves are falling, making sidewalks and driveways slippery.
- Trees shed branches or are weakened after storms; power‐outage risks rise.
- Wildlife (like deer) migrate or are more active—creating more potential for vehicle collisions.
- With shorter days, many home systems turn on (heating, lighting) for the first time, and hidden maintenance issues surface.
In 2025, these risks are especially relevant: claims for home ice damming, roof damage, and tree‐related losses are trending upward. Moreover, fall is when many homeowners delay maintenance—so a small issue today becomes a major claim tomorrow.
How MBG Insurance helps:
- MBG’s Personal Risk Management Tool includes a checklist for fall readiness (see the “Personal Risk Management Planner” from MBG). MBG Insurance
- They’ll walk you through coverage gaps: for instance, does your homeowners policy cover tree damage? What about business interruption if a key tree falls across your signage?
Your checklist:
- Clear gutters and ensure downspouts direct water away from the foundation.
- Trim overhanging branches near your home or business.
- Check lighting on exterior walkways, steps, and parking areas.
- If you drive in early morning or dusk hours, update headlights and keep windshield and wipers in good shape.
3. Winter Hazards & What’s Ahead for 2026
Winter brings its own set of elevated risks—and looking ahead to 2026 means being proactive now. Even though we’re in late 2025, preparation matters. Consider these winter dangers:
- Freeze and thaw cycles causing pipe bursts, ice dams, roof collapse under heavy snow.
- Icy roads and parking lots increasing slip‐and‐fall claims, auto collisions, and worker injuries.
- Business downtime if utilities fail or transportation is blocked.
- Wildlife intrusion—animals seek shelter in homes/unheated structures.
From MBG’s perspective, as clients push toward 2026, aligning insurance coverage with winter readiness is key. Do you have adequate coverage for snow/ice load damage? What about business interruption if your facility is inaccessible due to freeze or snowstorm?
Winter preparation steps:
- Insulate pipes and locate your shut-off valves.
- Roof inspection: clear heavy snow and ice early.
- Maintain safe entryways (walkways, steps) with de-icing plans.
- Review your policy with MBG: ask about endorsements for extreme winter events, business interruption, or frozen‐pipe coverage.
Why This Matters Now (and Why MBG Insurance Matters)
As 2025 winds down and we move toward 2026, you want an insurance partner who understands seasonal risk—especially risks tied to daylight savings, fall transition, and winter extremes. MBG Insurance is positioned for that:
- They emphasize clarity, value, and personal service in their process. MBG Insurance+1
- They provide proactive tools, like risk-management planners, not just reactive claims service.
- They are independent—so they shop multiple carriers, helping you find both coverage and cost savings at a time when repair costs, material prices, and weather risks are climbing. MBG Insurance
Final Takeaway
The shift from fall into winter, combined with daylight-savings time change, creates a perfect storm of higher risk. But with some preparation and the right coverage partner, you can ensure you’re ready. As we close out 2025 and head into 2026, make this your moment to pause and evaluate:
- Are your home, auto or business policies ready for the darker evenings and colder months?
- Have you accounted for the extra risk that comes with less daylight and harsher conditions?
- Did you connect with MBG Insurance to review your coverage and risk management plan?
Reach out to MBG Insurance today, review your plan, and take steps now—for the rest of 2025 and beyond. Because when the unexpected happens, it’s not just about surviving—it’s about thriving with confidence.