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Hand Over the Keys! Having the “Big Talk” with a Senior Driver

Even though we know we’ll probably have to face it eventually, it’s a discussion all adults dread: the “Big Talk” about driving with a senior parent or grandparent. No one looks forward to telling their parent or grandparent it’s time to hang up the keys. However, when you notice your aging mom has dropped her driving speeds to 30 mph below the speed limit or you discover that your dear old dad no longer acknowledges stop lights, it’s time to have the talk.

If you have an aging family member who shouldn’t be behind the wheel, here are a few tips for broaching this delicate topic with them:

Know the warning signs

If you don’t spend a lot of time with your senior parent or grandparent, you may be uncertain about whether or not it’s time for them to stop driving. However, there are a few warning signs you should keep an eye out for that will help you make the decision.

For example, every time you visit, you may notice new dents and scratches on their car, their garage door or their mailbox. They may tell you about multiple near-accidents (although some will claim it wasn’t their fault) or they might continually receive traffic tickets or warnings. They may complain that they often miss street turns or can’t see traffic signs at the side of the road. These are all signs that it’s time to have the “Big Talk” with your senior parent.

Don’t hesitate

It’s natural to be anxious about telling your mom or dad they need to stop driving. Your parents have been telling you what to do for your entire life. So, it’s awkward when the tables turn and you suddenly have to tell the people who raised you what’s best for them.

However, look at it this way: your parent will be better off getting this advice from you and the rest of your family than receiving an order from the state motor vehicle department. As family members and people who love and know them, you and your relatives are the best candidates for telling your parent it’s time to give up driving.

Broach the topic delicately

Once you’ve determined the time has come for the driving discussion, try to get the all of the adults in your family involved. Work together to come up with the best approach for telling the senior driver it’s time to hang up the keys.

When you have the discussion with your parent or grandparent, try to keep the conversation adult-like. Do not treat the senior like a child—talk to them as you would about any other adult matter. Instead of being accusatory and saying things like “You did this” and “You’re not doing that,” try to use “I” to describe how you perceive the situation. For example, you may say, “I think you’re having a hard time seeing the road,” or “I worry about you having a terrible accident.”

If your parent resists, point out that they have a responsibility to others, as well. You may want to talk about how horrible they would feel if they killed or injured an innocent person because of a driving mistake. Typically, this is enough to convince a person that they shouldn’t be on the road.

However, if your parent simply refuses to give up driving and they haven’t had any accidents, you may have to give in and allow him to keep driving for another year. As they are still sharp of mind, they may still be able to manage a car.

On the other hand, if your parent has the beginnings of dementia, they should absolutely not be behind the wheel. If your loved one is suffering from the onset of dementia, you may have to sell the car and tell them it just isn’t available anymore or disable the car and tell them it no longer runs. This may seem cruel, but remember—it’s for the safety of your loved one and other drivers.

Be sensitive

Although you may tempted to firmly tell your parent, “Hand over the keys!” this is probably not the best way to approach the matter. Try to understand that this is going to be a tough transition for you loved one. After all, how will mom make it to her beauty parlor appointments or to church? How will dad get to the doctor or his poker parties? Try to see things from their perspective, and be sensitive to their feelings.

Many seniors fall into a deep depression after they stop driving because they feel a loss of freedom and control over their lives. This is why it’s so important to come up with alternatives to driving. As you discuss the change with your parent, discuss possible solutions for how they will get around. Maybe you, your siblings and other relatives could take turns driving them to their appointments and functions. Alternatively, you could purchase a mass transit pass for them so they can take the bus or the subway. You may also consider hiring a home-care agency that will transport your parent from point A to point B.

Whatever you do, don’t just firmly lay down the law with your parent and banish him or her to their house forever. Put yourself in their shoes, be delicate and offer clear solutions.

Men vs. Women Drivers: Does Gender Really Matter on the Road?

For years, insurance companies have regularly charged female drivers less for auto insurance coverage than males. Insurance companies claim it’s because women drivers statistically have fewer car crashes. However, no studies have actually proven that there is a difference between men and women’s driving abilities.

Looking at the stats

Over the past ten years or so, male fatalities have outnumbered female fatalities 2-to-1 in car accidents, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Men also have a higher rate of collisions that result in just property damage—also a 2-to-1 ratio.

According to the American Insurance Association, men are involved in 50 percent more fatal crashes per 100 million miles driven than females. This divergence is most prominent in drivers in their late teens and early to mid-20’s. 

Examining the male crash phenomena

No one can pinpoint exactly why men have more car crashes than women. Many researchers argue nature versus nurture theories. Some researchers blame natural male biochemicals—one study claims that high testosterone levels in men causes them to take more risks behind the wheel. On the other hand, some researchers say that men are products of their culture. These experts say society has taught males to act more competitively in general, which makes them more aggressive drivers on the road. Other studies point out that women are better multi-taskers, which makes them better drivers.

However, many people simply don’t buy into any of these studies. Skeptics say a person’s gender simply cannot predict whether or not they are a safe driver. The National Organization for Women’s Insurance Project points out that men simply have more crashes than women because they drive more miles each year. Because men are on the road more, they expose themselves to a more risk.

The gap narrows
Recent statistics show that the gap is narrowing between men and women crashes. Between 1975 and 2003, female fatalities in car accidents increased 14 percent, while male fatalities dropped by 11 percent.

Some experts say this is simply because women are on the road more these days. On top of that, an increasing number of women are becoming more aggressive on the road. If this trend continues, experts say insurance companies may soon stop taking gender into account as they calculate drivers’ insurance premiums.

A few states lead the way

Despite the latest research, insurance companies in most states continue to use gender as a factor in calculating premiums. Of course, insurers also take other things into account, including annual mileage, the type of car, the person’s previous driving record and even their Zip code (whether they live in the city, the suburbs or a rural area).

However, a handful of states, including California, Connecticut, North Carolina and Pennsylvania, no longer allow insurance companies to use gender as a factor to assess risk and calculate premiums.

The Right Homeowners Insurance Can Be a Homesaver

Homeowner’s insurance is an essential purchase. Mortgage holders require their borrowers to keep this coverage in force while the mortgage has a balance. However, the coverage is just as important for those who own their homes free and clear. Few individuals have sufficient funds to rebuild a destroyed home. For this reason, it is important for homeowners to have the right coverage, not just any coverage. Failure to consider a few factors can leave them with a too-small claim check or even no claim check at all. Probably the most important of these are the amount of insurance on the home and the perils that could possibly damage it.

Insurance industry consulting firm MSB has estimated that as many as two-thirds of American homes are underinsured, by an average 21 percent. This means that a home that would cost $100,000 to rebuild is probably insured for only $79,000. It is important for the insurance limit to reflect building costs in the area, not the prices that homes are selling for. It should also take into account the cost of rebuilding to comply with local codes, the expense of not buying materials in bulk, and any custom features the home has. For a nominal fee, MSB offers an online tool to help homeowners calculate their insurance needs at www.accucoverage.com.

Homeowner’s insurance typically covers damage caused by fire, lightning, vehicles, windstorms, and several other perils, but it does not cover everything. For example, it does not cover damage caused by flooding. Too many people fail to consider this; more than 40 percent of New Orleans homes damaged by Hurricane Katrina lacked flood insurance, and the insured rate was higher there than in other affected areas. Homeowners who live near ponds, creeks, lakes or oceans should give serious consideration to buying flood insurance from the National Flood Insurance Program, and even those who do not live near water should think about it. Officials with the NFIP estimate that one in four flood claims occurs in low- to moderate-risk areas.

Other perils that the policy may not cover include earthquakes, mudslides, mold infestations, and gradual rotting of building components. Homeowners in areas with frequent seismic activity should consider separate coverage for earthquakes and other types of earth movement.

The amount of insurance and the scope of the coverage have a major impact on the policy’s cost, but another influential factor is the deductible — the amount the homeowner pays out of pocket before the company pays. Higher deductibles result in lower premiums because the company is spared the expense of handling small losses that fall below the deductible. Each homeowner must decide the deductible amount that she can comfortably afford. Since homeowners often pay insurance premiums for many years without suffering a loss, the savings from the higher deductible discount may well offset the higher out-of-pocket expense if a loss occurs.

There are several other considerations homeowners have when they buy insurance. Do you have expensive pieces of jewelry, collectibles, musical instruments or artwork? Do you run a business out of your home? Do you or your children own laptop computers? Are you a landlord? Do you own snowmobiles or boats? Operate a home day care center? You may need special coverage for all of these. To identify your coverage needs and determine the cost of insuring them, speak with a qualified insurance agent who insures many homes. She can present options and provide information about the financial strength of companies and their claims handling practices.

Homeowner’s insurance is not just another expense. It is a vital part of a homeowner’s financial plan. Take the time to make certain you have the right coverage at a reasonable cost.

Finding the Best Home Contractor for the Job

Let’s say you’re about to take on a house project, whether it’s a major kitchen renovation or a simple painting job, and you decide to hire a contractor. So, you flip through the phone book and call the first number you see listed under “Kitchen Remodeling” or “Painters.” Not so fast.

Many homeowners don’t realize that they are taking a huge risk when they hire just any contractor off the street. If you don’t do your homework, you could be exposing yourself to massive amounts of liability. What if a painter falls off his ladder and badly injures his back while painting your living room? What if a kitchen contractor hits a pipe and floods your home? Who will cover the lofty expenses associated with these types of accidents?

The thought of such a home improvement catastrophe is enough to send chills down any homeowner’s spine. This is why it’s so important to hire only licensed, insured, highly experienced contractors to work on your house project-no matter how big or small the job may be.

Here are a few rules of thumb for hiring a reliable contractor and limiting your liability:

Ask for recommendations

One of the best ways to find a dependable contractor is simply to ask your friends, family members, co-workers and neighbors. Ask everyone you know and trust if they can suggest a reputable contractor who did exceptional work for them. More than likely, if a friend was happy with a contractor, you will be too.

Avoid solicitors

Steer clear of contractors who go door-to-door or make cold calls in search of work. The best, most reliable contractors don’t have to resort to such solicitations.

Don’t fall for “limited time” offers

If a contractor quotes you a “limited time” project price that will increase if you don’t hire him immediately, run like the wind. This can be a sign that the contractor is dishonest or illegitimate.

Get it in writing

Don’t settle for verbal agreements. Request a written estimate that includes a detailed breakdown of the project costs, including materials and labor fees.

Verify, verify, verify

Before you hire any contractor, make sure that they are licensed, bonded and insured-and don’t just take their word for it. Verify all of this by asking for certificates of insurance for workers’ compensation as well as info on their general liability policies. If the contractor working on your home plans to use subcontractors, be sure to ask for the certificates for those subcontractors as well.

Read the fine print

Before the contractor begins work on your house project, request a copy of the proposed contract. Read all of the fine print and make sure all the terms are fair and reasonable. The contract should clearly establish an independent contractor relationship. It should also include a “hold harmless clause” in your favor, especially if the contractor is doing major work that involves heavy equipment (such as installing a swimming pool or adding a room to your house.) A hold harmless clause ensures that the contractor will cover any expenses associated with members of the public who are injured or whose property is damaged during the project.

Check with the Better Business Bureau

If you’re still not sure, contact the Better Business Bureau for more information. They can tell you if any consumers have filed complaints against the contractor. Visit the bureau’s website at www.bbb.org.

AAA Study Shows After School Hours Dangerous for Teen Drivers

Parents have always been concerned about their teenagers driving on the weekend, especially at night. However, a new AAA study of crash data reveals that after school hours can be as deadly for teenage drivers as weekend nights. The researchers advise parents that they need to be just as vigilant about monitoring their teens’ driving on weekday afternoons as they are on weekend nights. 

The researchers studied the number of fatal crashes involving teenage drivers between 2002 and 2005. What they discovered is that almost as many 16 and 17-year-old drivers were involved in fatal crashes between 3 and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday as were on Friday and Saturday nights between 9 p.m. and 2 a.m. There were 1,100 weekday crashes and 1,237 weekend crashes.

To combat this growing problem, the AAA recommends that parents do the following:

·  Establish specific driving rules with your teen. If they follow the rules, they will be permitted to increase their amount of driving time. Breaking the rules leads to fewer liberties. Parents can find a parent-teen driver agreement at https://www.aaa.com/publicaffairs.

·  Don’t allow a new teen driver to carry passengers during the first three months of driving. Allow them to carry no more than one passenger for the rest of the first year of independent driving. Crash rates increase drastically for 16 and 17-year-old drivers as you add more teenage passengers to a car. Thirty-five states limit passengers for new teen drivers. Every parent should do the same, regardless of state law.

·  Don’t permit your teen to ride with a new teen driver. Carpooling seems like a sensible way for teens to ride to school, home and activities, but it can promote risky passenger behavior. Research shows that it is more dangerous for several teens to ride in one car than for them to drive individually.

·  Ban cell phone usage while driving. Teens have trouble managing distractions, especially while driving.

·  Require your teen to wear a seat belt every time s/he rides in a car. Teens have the lowest belt usage rate of any age group, even though new teen drivers have the highest crash rates.

·  Make your rules known to other adults in your teen’s life. A parent-to-parent agreement with your teen driver’s friends will standardize rules among a group of teenagers. Letting your neighbors know your teen’s driving rules can provide you extra sets of eyes when you’re not around. You can also find a parent-to-parent agreement at https://www.aaa.com/publicaffairs.

Thirteen Vehicles Named to The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety List of Safest Vehicles

Thirteen vehicles, including four cars, seven SUVs, and two minivans, earned The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s Top Safety Pick awards for 2007. The award is given to vehicles that best protect people in front, side, and rear crashes based on ratings in Institute tests. Winners are also required to be equipped with electronic stability control. Honda and Subaru each manufacture three of the 13 winning vehicles.

The complete list of winners for 2007 include:

·   Large car: Audi A6 manufactured Dec. 2006 and after

·   Midsize cars: Audi A4, Saab 9-3, Subaru Legacy equipped with optional electronic stability control

·   Minivans: Hyundai Entourage, Kia Sedona

·   Luxury SUVs: Mercedes M class, Volvo XC90

·   Midsize SUVs: Acura RDX, Honda Pilot, Subaru B9 Tribeca

·   Small SUVs: Honda CR-V, Subaru Forester equipped with optional electronic stability control

Pickups were not included in this round of awards because the Institute hasn’t begun to evaluate their side crashworthiness.

The Institute ratings of good, acceptable, marginal, or poor are based on each vehicle’s performance in high-speed front and side crash tests. Consideration is also provided for how well seat/head restraints protect passengers against neck injuries during rear impacts. For a vehicle to become a top pick it must obtain at least good ratings in all three of these tests.

A new electronic stability control requirement was added for 2007. This requirement was added because Institute research found that electronic stability control greatly reduces crash potential by helping drivers stay in control during emergency maneuvers. Single-vehicle crashes in general were reduced 40 percent with the addition of this feature. Fatal single-vehicle crashes declined 56 percent, and fatal rollovers decreased by nearly 80 percent.

Some manufacturers improved their vehicles specifically to earn the awards. The Institute noted that Audi redesigned the seat/head restraints in the A4 and A6 to improve performance in the rear impact test and Subaru stepped up its plans to offer electronic stability control on some versions of the Forester and Legacy in order to meet the new requirement.

Other vehicles are also in the process of being changed to make them eligible for an award. Ford will add electronic stability control to 2008 Freestyles. Most automakers have added standard side airbags with head protection, even though government regulations don’t require them yet. All 2007 winners have standard side airbags.

Seventeen other vehicles would have won awards with better seat/head restraint designs. Toyota would have earned nine awards, including three Lexus winners. Honda could have added four more awards, including one for an Acura. The Institute stated that rear crash protection is a safety area in which many automakers lag behind.

Taking Another Look At Flood Insurance

According to an August 2006 article published on SmartMoney.com, the Federal Emergency Management Agency reported that only 40 percent of all residents in the flooded areas hit by Hurricane Katrina were covered by flood insurance. The majority of those insured were required to have the coverage in order to obtain a mortgage.

The other 60 percent who didn’t have flood insurance fall into two main categories: renters and homeowners without a mortgage.

The uninsured group faced a serious problem. Standard homeowner and renter’s policies cover damage from wind or rain. These policies, however, don’t cover damage as a result of flooding. These individuals’ only recourse was to rely on federal disaster aid.

Flood insurance is available through the National Flood Insurance Program to any property owner living in an area with an established flood plan. This is used to gauge the community’s vulnerability by creating an area flood map. Flood plans also help lessen some of the risk by establishing certain zoning and building policies, which include types of allowed construction, elevation at which building is allowed, permissible building materials, and construction reinforcement techniques.

The National Flood Insurance Program offers three different types of policies:

·   The Dwelling Form – this insures one to four family residential structures and/or contents. This form can also be used to insure residential condominium units.

·   The General Property Form – this insures residential buildings housing more than four families as well as non-residential and commercial buildings.

·   The Residential Condominium Building Association Policy Form – this insures associations operating under the condominium form of ownership.

There is also a Preferred Risk Policy designed for residential and non-residential properties in low-to-moderate risk areas. The policy can be written with one of several combinations of building and contents protections:

·   Renters pay $39 per year for $8,000 of contents coverage.

·   Business owners can buy $50,000 of building and contents coverage for $550 per year per building.

·   Business owners who lease their space can purchase $50,000 of contents coverage for $145 per year.

Finally, keep in mind that flood insurance is easy to obtain. While the federal government may administer the program, it is sold through regular insurance companies. To find out more about flood insurance, call us today or log on to www.floodsmart.gov.

Motorists Still Driving While Talking on Cell Phones

The Cellular Telecommunications & Internet Association reports that more than 231 million people are currently subscribed to wireless communication devices, namely cell phones, compared to roughly 4.3 million in 1990. This increase in cell phone usage has resulted in a rise in the number of people using the devices while driving.

Since 2001, when the first law banning hand-held cell-phone use while driving was passed in New York State, the subject has been a hotly contested issue. There has been sharp disagreement as to  exactly how much of a hazard talking on a cell phone while driving actually creates. The results of several recent studies indicate that cell phone use while driving isn’t the most dangerous distraction. However, because it is so widespread, it is the most common cause of crashes and near crashes resulting from the driver being distracted.

An August 2006 survey conducted by the Liberty Mutual Research Institute for Safety studied teenagers use of text messaging while driving. The research showed that teens considered sending text messages to be their biggest distraction. Of those polled, 37 percent said that text messaging was extremely or very distracting.

An April 2006 study conducted by the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration discovered that approximately 80 percent of crashes and 65 percent of near crashes resulted from some kind of driver distraction within three seconds of the event. The study also found that the most common distraction is the use of cell phones. However, the researchers went on to note that cell phone use is far less likely to be the cause of a crash or near crash than other distractions. They found that reaching for a moving object such as a falling cup increased the risk of a crash or near crash by 9 times, while talking on a hand-held cell phone only increased the risk by 1.3 times.

The results of the Virginia Tech study confirm an August 2003 report from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety which concluded that drivers are decidedly less distracted by their cell phones than by other activities, such as reaching for items on the seat or in the glove compartment or talking to passengers. The AAA study was based on an analysis of videotapes from cameras installed in the cars of 70 drivers in North Carolina and Pennsylvania.

Research conducted in July 2005 by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety discovered that motorists who use cell phones while driving are four times more likely to get into crashes serious enough to cause injury to themselves. The results also showed that banning hand-held phone use and mandating that drivers switch to hand-free phones doesn’t improve safety. The study found that injury crash risk didn’t vary with the type of phone, because the driver was still distracted by the conversation.

Age and Gender May Be Factors in the Severity of Car Accidents

A new study conducted at Purdue University demonstrates there are statistical differences in traffic-accident injuries depending on the gender and age of drivers. The Purdue researchers found significant differences in the severity of injuries suffered in accidents involving men and women drivers and drivers within three age groups: young drivers, 16-24; middle-aged drivers, 25-64; and older drivers, 65 and above. The researchers’ findings corroborated national statistics, which indicated that fatalities rose by 7 percent for drivers 75 and older from 1981 to 2000, remained steady for drivers from 65-74, but dropped for younger drivers.

The study also included the following findings:

·   Accidents involving an overturned vehicle increased the likelihood of a fatality by 220 percent for older men, but only 154 percent for young men. Rollover accidents increased the likelihood of fatality by 523 percent for older women, but only 116 percent for young women.

·   Vehicles carrying one or more passengers increased the likelihood of driver fatality by 114 percent for young men and 70 percent for middle-aged men, but had no significant effect on the injury levels of older male drivers.

·   Vehicles less than five years old increased the likelihood of fatality for older men by 216 percent and for young men by 71 percent, but did not have a significant effect on the likelihood of a fatality for middle-aged men.

·   Not using safety belts increased the likelihood of injury by 119 percent for young women, 164 percent for middle-aged women and 187 percent for older women.

·   Accidents occurring in rural areas increased the likelihood of fatalities by 208 percent for young women but had no significant effect on the injury levels of other female age categories.

·   Vehicles six years old and older increased the likelihood of injury for middle-aged female drivers by more than 200 percent but had no significant impact on the injury levels of other female age categories.

·   Fatalities were more likely for middle-aged men who fell asleep at the wheel, exceeded the speed limit, got into an accident at an intersection or had an accident after midnight on Friday or Saturday, while the same factors had no significant effect on the injury levels of middle-aged female drivers.

·   Injuries were shown to be more likely for middle-aged women who drive during daytime hours, drive while under the influence of alcohol or drive while ill, while the same factors did not significantly influence the injury levels of middle-aged male drivers.

·   Driving on curvy roads and driving vehicles six years old and older increased the likelihood of injury for middle-aged female drivers but were found to have no significant effect on the injury levels of middle-aged male drivers.

The researchers went on to note that in many cases, alcohol consumption might have had an indirect effect on the outcomes because it increased the probability of not wearing a safety belt and speeding. However, once you take this into account, the effect of alcohol on injury severity isn’t significant because the level of injury is a function of the type of accident not of sobriety. Whether or not the accident occurred because the driver was drunk was beyond the scope of the study. The researchers developed their statistical models based on the accident having occurred regardless of the reason.

Government Survey Shows Parents Confused About How to Use Child Safety Seats

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reported in a December 2006 survey that many parents are confused about the correct way to install child safety seats in their cars.

In 2002, NHTSA mandated that all new cars and child seats be built with locking attachments. The system, called Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH), was designed to make safety seats fit snugly and provide a method of attaching the seats without having to use a seat belt. LATCH was intended to simplify child safety seat installation, but the survey results prove otherwise.

According to the study results, approximately 40 percent of parents still use seat belts when installing a car seat. Safety advocates say that using seat belts to attach a car seat can lead to a loose fit. Furthermore, the researchers discovered that just 55 percent of parents use the top tether built into the vehicle’s back seat to help secure their children. Using upper tethers for child safety seats reduces the tilting or rotation of the seat during a frontal crash.

Although the 55 percent usage rate of the top tether represents a significant improvement compared with earlier surveys, many parents still are not properly protecting their children. The researchers also found that over half of the parents not using the upper or lower tethers said they did not know how.

Other key findings of the survey include:

·   Thirteen percent of respondents said their vehicle was not equipped with lower tethers so a seat belt had to be used to anchor the safety seat.

·   Among the 87 percent that use a child safety seat on a car seat with lower tethers, only 60 percent use them to secure the safety seat.

·   Eighty-one percent of upper tether users and 74 percent of lower tether users said the tethers weren’t easy to use.

·   Seventy-five percent of the respondents who have used both seat belts and lower tethers to secure a safety seat preferred the lower tethers.

The government recommends car safety seats be used for children up to 40 pounds. Children over 40 pounds should use booster seats until they are 8 years old or 4 feet 9 inches tall. All children should ride in the back seat until age 13.

You Maintain Your Car, But What About Your Car Insurance

Your car’s performance relies on a program of regularly scheduled maintenance, and so should your car insurance. In the same way that your car needs to be tuned up for it to operate safely and efficiently, your car insurance needs to be periodically reviewed to ensure it continues to provide the coverage you need.

When you review your car insurance, you should pay careful attention to the following:

·   The Declaration Page – This is usually the first page of the policy. It shows the insured’s name and address, policy dates, and a summary of the policy terms, the coverage limits and what is covered. You need to review and update the information on this page because it affects your coverage needs and the cost of your premiums. Never overlook any updates that need to be made, no matter how seemingly insignificant.

·   The Insuring Agreement – This specifies what the insurance company has agreed to cover in exchange for the premium. An insurance policy begins by declaring what it covers and then proceeds to restrict, limit and exclude coverages. You can’t just read the insuring agreement to understand the coverage your insurer is providing. You must read the entire policy and refer back to the insuring agreement. This will help you identify coverage gaps.

·   The Types of Coverage – The types of required coverage and minimums vary from state to state. The level of coverage is also affected by the age and value of your car. However, there are four types of common coverage that you should include in your insurance assessment.

The first is liability coverage. This protects you if you hurt someone or damage property while you are driving. As you accumulate more personal wealth, it is imperative that you increase your liability coverage. Without sufficient liability coverage, you could have your hard earned assets seized to cover a judgment against you.

The second type that needs to be reviewed and updated is your medical payments coverage. This covers you if medical expenses are incurred by anyone involved in the accident regardless of who was at fault.

The third type is your Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage. You will be extremely glad you upgraded this coverage if you are ever involved in an accident with a driver who has no insurance, has minimal insurance or is unidentified, as in the case of a “hit and run.”

The last type to be reviewed is your collision and comprehensive coverage. Collision covers damage to your car caused by an accident. Comprehensive covers damage caused by anything other than collision.  Both coverages are optional.  However, if you have a car loan or you are leasing a car, you will be required to carry both collision and comprehensive coverage. If you own your car outright, the decision whether to carry this coverage will depend on the age and value of the vehicle. 

Insurance Institute for Highway Safety Says Death Rates Double for Minicars

Minicars have become increasingly more popular as fuel prices have risen. Because of their newfound popularity, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety included them in their crash tests for the first time in 2006. The agency rated the cars for comparison of occupant protection in front, side, and rear crashes. What the Institute discovered from its testing is that driver death rates in minicars are higher than in any other vehicle category and more than double the death rates in midsize and large cars.

The results of the crash tests conducted by the Institute indicate which vehicles in each weight category provide the best protection in real crashes. This round of tests reveals big differences among the smallest cars.

Minicars weigh about 2,500 pounds or less. A typical small car weighs about 300 pounds more, and midsize cars weigh about 800 pounds more. A midsize SUV weighs 4,000 pounds or more, which is at least 60 percent more than a minicar weighs. In every vehicle category, the tests revealed that the risk of crash death is higher in the smaller, lighter models. This means that any car that’s very small and light isn’t a good choice in terms of safety.

Another objective of the testers was to find the minicars with the most crashworthy designs. The Nissan Versa scored best. It is slightly larger than the other cars tested by the Institute, which puts it in the small car classification. This is the next size class up from minicar. Still the agency included it in the minicar testing because the Versa is marketed to compete with minicars.

The Versa was the only car to earn the highest rating of good in all three tests. In the frontal test, its structure held up well, and there was minimal intrusion into the space around the driver dummy. The majority of injury measures were low. In the side test, the standard equipment side airbags prevented contact between the striking object and the heads of the crash test dummies.

The Honda Fit with its standard side airbags and the Toyota Yaris equipped with optional side airbags also earned good ratings in front and side tests. However, both cars failed to earn acceptable ratings for rear protection. The Yaris was rated marginal, and the Fit was rated poor.

The Hyundai Accent ranked lowest in overall testing. Researchers were especially concerned about its structural performance in the side test. Its standard airbags in front and rear seats provided good head protection. However, injury measures recorded elsewhere on the driver dummy revealed that a motorist in a similar type crash would be likely to sustain internal organ injuries, broken ribs, and a fractured pelvis.

Never Let an Intersection Be Your Crossroads to an Accident

The Insurance Research Council estimates that 81 percent of all crashes occur in urban areas of which the most dangerous locations are busy intersections. Nearly 43 percent of all auto accidents that happen in a city are intersection-related.

Even though intersections can be hazardous, that doesn’t mean you have to be a victim. Just remember these common sense rules for intersection driving:

·   Never wait until the last minute to get into the lane you need for your next turn. Always change lanes well in advance of reaching the intersection. Put your turn signal on before making any turn.

·   Avoid speeding through an intersection. You need time to react if a motorist fails to stop for a red light or stop sign. You also want to be sure you have plenty of time to brake if pedestrians cross against the light.

·   Be aware of other vehicles changing lanes. Keep out of other
drivers’ “blind spots” where they cannot see you in their rear and side
mirrors.

·   Stop behind the marked crosswalk. This will allow other drivers to see across the entire intersection. It will also prevent you from hitting pedestrians.

·   Don’t enter an intersection when the traffic is backed up on the
other side. You could wind up getting stuck in the middle of the
intersection if the traffic doesn’t move.

·   Watch for cars speeding through intersections after a red light. If you are waiting at a red light, don’t floor the gas pedal the moment the light turns green. Instead, quickly look both ways before proceeding through the intersection. If a motorist coming from one of the opposite directions is trying to speed through before the light turns red, you could be hit if you rush into the intersection at the instant the light turns green without looking for oncoming cars.

·   Check for cars twice before pulling into an intersection at a stop sign. It is a common occurrence to stop at a stop sign to make a left-hand turn, look both ways, and see no cars coming. Only to find that once you have begun the turn, a car has come out of nowhere and is headed straight for you. If you check twice before proceeding, you will allow enough time for the car that was hidden from your view to clearly emerge.

Tips to Consider When Shopping for Auto Insurance

There is no mystery about buying auto insurance. If you want to save money, you need to understand what factors influence your premiums. Once you understand these factors, you can put your new knowledge to work and find the best coverage at the lowest rate.

Here are some guidelines to follow when shopping for car insurance:

·   When you file a claim, the deductible is the amount of money you pay toward the loss before your insurance company pays the claim. If you accept a higher deductible, your premiums will be proportionally lower. It is important to be sure you can afford the out-of-pocket expense of the deductible you select.

·   If your car has a Kelley Blue Book value of less than $2,000, you’ll probably pay more for collision/comprehensive coverage than you would collect on a claim. Insurance companies use their own criteria to determine fair market value for vehicles; however, the Blue Book can serve as a good indicator of whether you should maintain your collision/comprehensive insurance. You can find these values at www.kbb.com.

·   If you own a car that suffers from a high theft rate, or is expensive to repair, you’ll face higher premiums. Buy a car that’s not a thief magnet and/or doesn’t require expensive replacement parts and your rates will be significantly lower.

·   “Sunday Drivers,” meaning drivers who use less than the predetermined number of miles on their vehicles each year, may be eligible for a discount.

·   Where you live impacts the car insurance rates you pay. Premiums in rural communities are generally lower than in urban areas. The increased traffic and higher incidence of crime that are hallmarks of city life, increases the risk that you will eventually file a claim.

·   Most insurers give discounts for air bags and other safety features.

·   Some states require insurers to offer discounts for cars equipped with antilock brakes. There are also insurance companies that offer standard discounts for antilock brakes regardless of the geographic location in which you live.

·   Additional discounts you may be eligible for include: insuring more than one car, insuring your home with the same carrier, having no accidents in three years, being a driver over age 50, taking driver training courses, and using antitheft devices. 

Maintaining Your Home’s Fire Alarm System

One of the most important household safety techniques you can implement is the purchase and proper installation of an adequate number of smoke alarms in your home. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) offers the following facts regarding smoke alarms and fires.

* One-half of home fire deaths occur in the 6 percent of homes without smoke alarms.

* Homes with smoke alarms typically have a death rate that is 40 to 50 percent less than the rate in homes without alarms.

* In three of every ten reported fires in homes equipped with smoke alarms, the devices were not operational.

The NFPA offers safety tips regarding smoke alarms for you to consider.

* New batteries should be installed in all smoke alarms annually or when the alarm chirps to warn that the battery is weak.

* Smoke alarms should be tested monthly.

* Smoke alarms should be placed outside each sleeping area and on each floor of the home, including the basement.

* Smoke alarms should be interconnected, so if one goes off, they all go off.

* Smoke alarms should be replaced every 10 years.

Keys to Switching Auto Insurance Carriers

There are many reasons to consider a change in auto insurance carriers. You may be unhappy with the service provided by your current insurer, or you may have found another insurer that offers better rates or service. If you review your coverage annually, you can be sure you continue to receive the best bang for your premium dollar.

It pays to shop around because in some states there can be a wide spread in the premium for the same coverage. That’s because insurers base premiums on the number of claims incurred from a particular coverage group. A coverage group can be drivers of the same age or who own the same type of vehicle. If the number of claims for your coverage group increases during a calendar year, your rates will also increase. If that happens, it makes sense to check with other carriers to see if better rates are available.

Canceling your old policy is usually a matter of writing your carrier and specifying the date coverage should be terminated. In some states, your new insurance agent will notify your former carrier for you. You will receive a cancellation request form that you must sign and return to your former insurer. Some companies will also request that you return the policy with the cancellation form. Be sure that you cancel your coverage in writing. Otherwise, the insurer will assume that you are still covered and when you fail to pay your premium, it will terminate coverage and report this to your state’s Motor Vehicle Department and the credit bureaus.  This can hurt your credit rating and your ability to obtain a new policy.

Before you cancel your old policy, be sure you have a replacement. Since most states require drivers to carry a minimum level of coverage, your former carrier will require you to provide proof of insurance before canceling your existing policy.

If you do plan to switch companies, the best time is when your old policy is up for renewal. In this way, you will avoid paying printing and start-up expenses associated with the renewal process. The renewal notice is typically sent out one month before the new policy period begins. Most states allow approximately one month after renewal to switch policies without penalty. However if you miss the deadline, you could be liable for a cancellation fee.

Keep in mind that standard auto insurance policies have a provision that allows you to cancel at any time. If you plan to cancel before your policy is up for renewal, the best time is at the end of a payment period. In this way, you won’t have to concern yourself with recovering the unused portion of your premium.

When You Shop for a New Car, Consider Safety Ratings

Most people know that the federal government enforces certain safety standards for new cars. However, these are only the minimum standards a car manufacturer must satisfy in order to have its vehicles considered safe. Many automakers offer safety features beyond the required federal minimums. When shopping for a new car, you should look for a vehicle that offers the maximum safety features in your price range.

The following list of safety features should be considered when you are shopping:

·   Crashworthiness – This rating indicates the level of risk of death or serious injury if a crash occurs. Log on to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s web site at www.iihs.org/searchresults.aspx?q=crashworthiness for more information about the various models.

·   Structural design – Look for a structural design that has a strong occupant compartment. The vehicle should have front and rear ends that buckle and bend in a crash to absorb the force of the crash. This keeps the occupant compartment from collapsing. If the occupant compartment collapses, the likelihood of injury increases significantly.

·   Size and weight – Larger and heavier cars are safer than lighter and smaller models. In crashes where smaller and larger vehicles collide, the larger vehicles drive the smaller ones backwards, which increases the forces in the smaller vehicles.

·   Restraint systems – Shoulder belts, airbags and head restraints are designed to work together with a vehicle’s structure to protect people in crashes. Shoulder belts keep you in place, reducing the possibility of your body slamming into something hard or being ejected from the vehicle. Airbags reduce the risk of the head and upper body hitting some part of the vehicle’s interior. They also distribute crash forces more evenly across your body. Head restraints keep your head from being violently snapped, which would injure your neck in a rear-end crash.

·   Anti-lock brakes – Conventional brakes may cause wheels to lock if you brake too hard. This can result in skidding and possible loss of control of the car. Anti-lock brakes pump brakes automatically many times a second to prevent locking and keep you in control. While anti-lock brakes help you maintain steering control, they don’t necessarily help you stop more quickly.

·   Daytime running lights – These are usually high-beam headlights at reduced intensity or low-beam lights at full or reduced power. These lights prevent daytime accidents because they increase the contrast between the vehicle and its background, which makes the car more visible to oncoming drivers.

·   Miscellaneous factors – Other design characteristics can influence injury risk. The structure of some small utility vehicles and pickups make them more likely to roll over during a crash. High performance cars tend to have higher-than-average death rates because drivers, especially young ones, speed when they are behind the wheel. You should examine the design features of any new car you are considering to be sure that they are appropriate for everyone who will be driving the car.

Three Questions to Determine Whether Your Home Is Properly Insured

Homeowners are always being advised to update their property insurance annually because any home alteration or lifestyle change, such as marriage or divorce, can affect the amount of coverage needed. While it is important to complete that yearly review, it is equally important to know what questions you should ask your agent to ensure you have the right coverage for your circumstances.

According to the Insurance Information Institute (I.I.I.), there are three key questions you should always ask:

1.   Do I have enough insurance to rebuild my home? – Buying just enough insurance to meet your mortgage lender’s requirements could mean that you are inadequately covered should you need to rebuild your home at current prices. To have real protection, you need to consider the following types of coverage:

§      Replacement Cost Policy – A replacement cost policy pays for the repair or replacement of damaged property with materials of similar kind and quality.

§      Extended Replacement Cost Policy – This extends your coverage another 20 percent or more above your stated policy limits. This additional insurance can be extremely important if your home is one of many damaged in a disaster, because a widespread disaster can result in increased costs for building materials and labor.

§      Inflation Guard – This coverage automatically adjusts the policy limits for rebuilding costs as construction costs rise.

§      Ordinance or Law coverage – If your home is badly damaged and requires rebuilding under new building codes, ordinance or law coverage will pay a specific amount toward any additional costs involved in meeting the new code requirements.

§      Water Backup – This coverage insures your property for damage from sewer or drain backup. 

§      Flood Insurance – Standard home insurance policies do not include coverage for flooding. Flood insurance is available through the federal government’s National Flood Insurance Program (https://www.floodsmart.gov), but can be purchased from the same agent who provides your homeowner’s insurance. Make sure to purchase flood insurance for the structure of your house, as well as for the contents.

2.   Do I have enough insurance to replace my possessions? – Most insurers provide coverage for personal possessions equal to 50 percent to 70 percent of the amount of insurance on the dwelling. The best way to determine if this is enough coverage is to conduct a home inventory. A home inventory is a list of everything you own and the estimated cost to replace these items if they were stolen or destroyed.

You can insure your possessions in one of two ways:

a.            Cash Value Policy – This coverage pays the cost to replace your belongings minus depreciation.

b.            Replacement Cost Policy – This coverage pays the full cost of replacing your belongings at current prices.

3.   Do I have enough insurance to protect my assets? – Homeowner’s insurance provides you with basic liability coverage. This protects you against lawsuits for bodily injury or property damage that you, your family, or your pets may cause to other people. Liability insurance pays for the cost of your legal defense and for any damages a court rules you must pay, up to the stated limits of your policy. Most homeowner’s insurance policies provide a minimum of $100,000 worth of liability insurance. If the standard liability coverage isn’t sufficient, you may need an excess liability policy, which provides additional coverage over and above what is covered by your homeowner’s insurance policy.

Tips for Buying Homeowner’s Insurance

Considering that for most people a home is their largest asset, they understand the importance of protecting their investment with homeowner’s insurance. What they may not know, however, is that insurers offer numerous discounts based on various factors ranging from the type of building material used to your home’s proximity to a fire station. Keep in mind that while multiple opportunities exist for premium discounts, not every discount is available in every state or with every insurance company.

When shopping for homeowner’s insurance, you should follow these tips:

·   Accept a higher deductible – When you file a claim, the deductible is the amount you pay personally toward the loss before the insurer pays the balance of the claim. Deductibles on most homeowner’s policies start at $250. If you raise your deductible, your premiums will be lower. However, before you accept a higher deductible, be sure you can afford the additional out of pocket.

·   Use one insurer for both your homeowner’s and auto policies – Most insurance companies offer multi-policy discounts.

·   Consider the cost of insuring any home before purchasing – The geographic location of your home has a significant impact on the amount you pay in premiums, especially if your home is located in an area frequently hit by natural events that cause large scale damage. The age of the house will also play an important role, as does the age of the electrical, heating and plumbing systems. Older structures, pipes and electrical wiring pose a greater risk.

·   Buy insurance coverage for your home, not the land it sits on – Never include the land value when you calculate how much insurance you need.

·   Be sure your home is safe and secure – Dead bolt locks, burglar alarms, and smoke detectors generally qualify you for premium discounts. Your insurance company may also offer an even larger discount if you install a home-security system. Check with your insurer to see which systems entitle you to a discount before proceeding.

·   Stop Smoking – Smoking increases risk of fires. Some insurers offer discounts if your family is tobacco free.

·   Ask about discounts for seniors – Retired people stay at home more, so they can spot fires sooner. Older people also spend more time maintaining their homes.

·   Review your policy each year – Any improvements you have made to your home should be reflected in your coverage. Talk to your agent about increasing your coverage as necessary.

Don’t Wait Until It’s Too Late to Dust Off Your Homeowner’s Policy

If you’ve never thoroughly reviewed your homeowner’s policy, you could find yourself out of luck at your time of need. When you bought your policy, you assumed it would provide the necessary funds needed to recover from a disaster.  However, if you are unfamiliar with your policy’s terms and conditions, you may not have as much protection as you think.

The standard homeowner’s insurance policy includes four basic types of coverage:

·   Coverage for the structure of your home – If your home is damaged or destroyed by fire, lightning, windstorm, or other peril listed in your policy, your insurer will pay to repair or rebuild your home subject to the terms of your coverage. However, if the damage is caused by a flood, earthquake or mudslide, there would no coverage unless you had purchased a separate policy for these risks.

Most standard policies also cover detached structures such as a garage. Coverage for these structures is automatically provided at 10% of the amount of insurance you have on the structure of your home.  You can purchase additional coverage if necessary.

Do you know if your policy would provide enough coverage to rebuild your home?

·   Coverage for your personal belongings – Furniture, clothes, and other personal items are covered if stolen or destroyed by fire, wind or other insured disaster. Most companies provide personal belongings coverage equal to 50 to 70 percent of the amount of insurance you have on the structure of your home.  

High-ticket items like jewelry are covered, but only at minimal dollar limits if stolen. To insure each of these items for their full value, you would need to add a special personal property endorsement to your basic policy.

Trees, plants and shrubs are also covered under standard homeowner’s insurance for theft, fire, lightning, explosion, vandalism, and riot. They are not covered for damage by wind or disease. Limits are usually $500 per item.

·   Liability protection – This protects you against lawsuits for bodily injury or property damage that you or your family members cause to others. Liability coverage also pays for damage caused by your pets. Your insurer pays the cost of defending you in court and any court awards, up to the policy limit. You are also covered not just in your home, but anywhere in the world.

Liability limits start at about $100,000, but you should purchase more coverage. You can also purchase an umbrella or excess liability policy, which provides broader coverage, including claims against you for libel and slander.

Your policy also provides no-fault medical coverage if a friend or neighbor is injured in your home. Your insurer pays the individual’s medical expenses without a liability claim being filed against you. You can generally obtain $1,000 to $5,000 worth of this coverage.

·   Additional living expenses – This pays for any additional costs in the event you are temporarily unable to live in your home because of a fire or other insured disaster.  Many policies provide coverage for about 20% of the insurance carried on the structure of your home.

In addition to reviewing your homeowner’s coverage, you should keep updated records of your property in a safe location that is easily accessible. The Insurance Information Institute offers free software you can download to create a home inventory. Log on to www.knowyourstuff.org.

Finally, try to review your homeowner’s policy with your insurance agent annually. Your agent can help you determine if your coverage is still adequate for your needs.

Most RV Owners Fail to Obtain Standalone Coverage

Purchasing an RV has become an increasingly popular way to vacation, especially for families. Models are available to fit most budgets, from folding travel trailers that cost, on average, close to $7,000, to conventional Class-A motor homes with an average price tag of over $140,000.

The one characteristic all RVs share is that they represent a sizeable investment for the purchaser. Despite this fact, according to a 2007 Progressive Insurance survey, most RV owners cover their vehicle under an auto policy, rather than secure standalone insurance coverage.

In the survey of more than 1,000 RV owners, researchers found that just 28 percent bought a standalone insurance policy with specialized RV coverage. Fifty-four percent of the respondents said they added the RV to their auto policy, and 14 percent said they didn’t obtain any coverage for their RV.

An RV is a hybrid vehicle that serves as both a home and method of transportation. As a result, it requires specialized coverage that combines the protections offered by both auto and homeowner’s policies. Rather than add your RV to your auto policy, consider insuring your RV under its own insurance policy. Without standalone coverage, you’ll have major gaps in your coverage. Consider the following:

·   You may keep personal items in your RV that you would never keep in your car, such as clothing, jewelry, binoculars, VCRs, satellite dishes, laptops, camcorders or outdoor gear.

·   When you park your RV at a campsite, you may be liable for the area around your RV. If someone is injured, you may be responsible.

·   If your RV is damaged while you’re traveling, you’ll need a place to stay and a way to get there.

If you insure your RV under a standard auto policy, none of these scenarios would be covered in the event of a loss, which could cost you a considerable amount of money.

When you insure your RV with its own policy, you can rest assured knowing that you have a broad range of coverage for a wide range of possible incidents.

Hiring a Public Claims Adjuster to Handle Your Homeowner’s Insurance Claim

Imagine that your house has just been badly damaged by an earthquake, fire, hurricane, or other disaster. Not only can you not find your policy, but you can’t remember the last time you reviewed your coverage. Not that it matters, since most people don’t understand the terms of their policies because they are written in legalese. The good news is that with home or property damage, consumers can turn to public claims adjusters to interpret their policies and obtain a fair settlement from their insurance company.

You don’t need to hire an adjuster for minor damage, such as negligible smoke damage from a stovetop fire. However, you should hire an adjuster if your lifestyle is significantly disrupted. That is, bring in a public adjuster when you can’t handle finding new living arrangements, filing a large claim, and arranging for a survey of extensive damage to your property.

Public claims adjusters know the insurance process inside and out, so they can minimize the hassle that comes with collecting documents and evidence, and then negotiating with the insurance company. The adjuster will file all your pertinent paperwork with the insurance company, arrange for the inspections of your damaged property if needed, and haggle with the insurance company if it refuses to pay your full claim.

If you do decide to have a public claims adjuster help you out with your claim, expect to pay them between 5 and 50 percent of your claim settlement. As the settlement amount increases, the adjuster’s cut generally goes down.  Adjusters’ fees also depend on the nature of the claim and your marketplace.

What you should look for when hiring an adjuster:

-Experience is a must

-Check the adjuster’s certifications

-Do a background check

-Ask for a referral from a friend

-Confirm the adjuster is licensed in your state (if applicable)

How do you know if you need an adjuster? Depending on who you talk to, you may or may not need a public adjuster. One piece of advice is to seek a public adjuster’s service as soon as possible. Often it’s nearly impossible for consumers to know what to expect from an insurer in a homeowner’s claim situation, even after they read their policies. In addition, it’s difficult for an adjuster to come in after a claim is already being processed. On the other hand, insurers contend that their claims staffs are professionals who make the claims process easy for their policyholders, and they assert that it’s questionable whether a policyholder comes out ahead when the adjuster’s fee is subtracted.

Keep Track of What You Own with a Home Inventory

If you suddenly experienced a catastrophic incident where all of your possessions were destroyed, would you be able to remember everything you’ve accumulated over the years? Like most people, your answer is probably “no.” That’s why having an up-to-date home inventory is so important. It can help you settle your insurance claim faster, because it represents an accurate and immediate accounting of what you lost. A home inventory can also be used to determine if you have enough insurance to replace the items you own, as well as verify losses for your income tax return.

To help you create an accurate home inventory, the Ohio Insurance Institute offers the following guidelines:

·   Use your wedding registries to document new possessions if you have just been married.

·   Update your inventory regularly, adding new items when you buy them. Be sure to keep receipts and take photos.

·   Take close-up shots of expensive items such as jewelry, fine art, stamp collections, china, furs, antiques and silver. Items, like artwork, antiques and collectibles may increase in value over time. They may require appraisals for authentication and value.

·   Don’t forget to inventory the contents of closets, drawers, the basement, the garage and outbuildings.

·   Include toys and CDs in your inventory.

·   Copy the inventory onto a disk/CD and store it off-premises in a safety deposit box or at a friend or relative’s house.

·   Be sure to delete items from your inventory when they are no longer in your possession.

·   Update your inventory every few years, when you move, or when you make a major home improvement.

Home inventory software is available that allows you to add digital photographs of your items. If you only own a film camera, you can scan print photographs or have the film developer save the images to a disk. The software also allows you to scan in copies of your receipts.

Another way to create an inventory is with a video camera. Walk through your house or apartment videotaping the contents and describing the items as you go, including information like the make and model of home electronics and appliances, or the type of upholstery fabric used for expensive furniture. You can do the same task using a tape recorder; however, be sure to have detailed photographs that serve as a backup to the verbal descriptions.

A third way to create a home inventory is to use a personal finance software package. These often include a homeowners room-by-room inventory program.

Protect Yourself Before Disaster Strikes

Tornados that have recently devastated parts of the Midwest could pop up anywhere. While there is generally little to no warning before these storms strike, there are some steps you can take to protect your family and your home from disaster.

1: Construct a safe room

Homeowners living in an area known for tornados should consider a safe room, which is built to withstand wind speeds of over 250 miles per hour. Usually, a safe room is located in a central, ground-floor area of the home for additional protection as well as accessibility. To find out more about safe room plans, check out the Federal Emergency Management Agency at www.fema.gov.

2: Reinforce the garage

Most residential tornado damage starts when wind enters through the garage, so you should make sure your garage doors are reinforced.

A qualified contractor can determine if the garage door system is able to resist high-speed winds and, if necessary, replace it with a stronger system. If your garage doors are more than eight feet wide, you should consider installing permanent wood or metal stiffeners.

3: Install impact resistant doors and windows

If you are replacing your patio doors or building a new home, consider installing impact-resistant doors made of laminated glass, plastic glazing or a combination of plastic and glass.

Likewise, if you’re thinking about replacing your home’s windows, be sure to install impact-resistant windows.

4: Remove clutter from the yard

Keeping your yard free of debris can also help to minimize storm damage. Prune weak branches and remove trees that could fall on your house. If you use gravel or rock landscaping material, consider replacing it with mulch.

FTC Says Credit Scores Are a Valid Risk Predictor for Auto Insurance

A report issued by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) says that credit scores are an “effective predictor” of risk when underwriting auto insurance. The study titled, Credit-Based Insurance Scores: Impact on Consumers of Automobile Insurance, confirms what industry professionals have always believed, that credit-based insurance scores provide an objective and reliable tool for determining which drivers present a greater risk and should therefore pay higher rates.

Insurance companies have always tried to correlate premium rates as closely as possible to the actual cost of claims. This practice helps insurers stay competitive and keeps them from hemorrhaging money. The majority of consumers also benefit from this correlation because they are not subsidizing people more likely to file claims than themselves.

Credit information has been used for a number of years to help underwriters decide whether or not to accept insurance applications. Developments in information technology have led to the creation of insurance scores, number rankings based on a person’s credit history, which give insurers a far more accurate way to assess the risk of future claims.

Statistically, people with a poor credit history are more likely to file claims. Insurance scores are used to help underwriters differentiate between lower and higher insurance risks, which enables them to charge a premium appropriate for the level of risk assumed.

However, some in the insurance industry oppose this technique because they feel credit scores don’t always present an accurate picture of a person’s credit history. Credit scores don’t reflect the good payment records of consumers who pay their bills in cash. Credit scores may also provide an incorrect image of consumers who normally have good credit, but have been negatively impacted by one-time unexpected events, such as medical emergencies.

Despite these instances, the FTC report says the use of credit-based insurance scores provides benefits for consumers.Evaluating credit scores allows insurance companies to calculate risk with greater accuracy. This enhanced capability may make them more willing to offer insurance to higher-risk consumers for whom they would otherwise not be able to determine an appropriate premium.Using credit scores also may make the process of granting and pricing insurance quicker and cheaper, cost savings that can be passed on to consumers.

Does Your Homeowner’s Insurance Cover a Stolen Cell Phone?

You just realized your cell phone has been stolen. Not only are you out the cost of the phone, but more than likely, the thief is placing hundreds of dollars of charges on your phone bill right now.

As people increasingly rely on cell phones, this type of loss is becoming more common. In fact, a recent Better Business Bureau report indicated that an estimated 600,000 cell phones will either be lost or stolen this year. Unfortunately, a homeowner’s policy probably won’t be of much help in protecting you in this unfortunate event. Here’s why.

The most popular homeowner’s policy, the HO-3, provides the broadest coverage. It insures you for direct physical loss to all personal property described in Coverage C, as long as the loss was caused by a covered peril and not specifically excluded. The theft of the phone is considered a direct physical loss of property, but not the thief’s subsequent use of the phone. Unlike charges made on a stolen credit card, which have limited homeowner’s insurance coverage via a separate “Additional Coverage” grant, there is no such grant for unauthorized cell phone charges.

Here’s how to protect yourself from cell phone theft and fraudulent charges:

                    Keep as close watch on your cell phone as you would your wallet or purse. Be mindful of where your phone is at all times and be careful about who you lend it to.

                    Password-protect your phone. Read the user guide that came with your phone to find out how to “lock” your phone or enable the “password” feature to prevent a thief from making unauthorized calls.

                    Call your cell phone provider as soon as you realize your phone is missing. Be sure to keep detailed records, including the date and time you called your carrier, the name and ID number of the representative to whom you spoke, and what instructions you were given.

                    File a police report. This is an official record of the theft and your carrier may require you to provide a police report number when you report your missing phone.

                    Ask your carrier to open an investigation. If your phone company isn’t working to resolve the situation, request an investigation. This should stop collections agencies from taking action, as well as delay the reporting of non-payment of charges to credit bureaus.

                    Contact the Federal Communication Commission. The agency will forward your complaint to your service provider and mandate that they respond within 30 days. You can log on to https://www.fcc.gov/cgb/complaints.html to file a report.

                    Contact your state attorney general’s office. They handle complaints about cell phone fraud, in addition to disputes about contracts. Find your state attorney general by logging on to https://www.naag.org/ag/full_ag_table.php.

                    Contact your state’s public utility commission. You can find your state’s commission by logging on to the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners web site at https://www.naruc.org/displaycommon.cfm?an=15.

Minimize the Likelihood of a Homeowner’s Insurance Non-Renewal or Rate Increase

Almost three million households have lost their homeowner’s insurance since 2003 according to a 2007 national telephone survey conducted on behalf of Trusted Choice and The Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America.  Two-thirds of the households that lost coverage were located in the South. Only half of the non-renewed households said they were able to find other coverage.

As part of the current study, respondents were asked about changes they’ve made since 2003 to secure their home in the event of a natural disaster. Overall, a mere 28 percent of households indicated they have taken steps to secure their homes. Even in the South, where the threat of hurricanes is an annual occurrence, only 31 percent indicated that they had secured their homes.

The survey results also showed that about 35 percent of all American households had experienced a homeowner’s insurance rate increase in the previous 48 months. Twenty-two percent of the respondents answered that they had received anywhere from an 11 to 25 percent rate hike, while 13 percent said that they had received more than a 25 percent increase.

Trusted Choice offers the following tips to lessen the possibility of non-renewal or rate increases:

·   Monitor your claim activity – Insurance companies track how many and what type of claims you file. Frequent claim activity, no matter how small, can impact your rates and chance for renewal.

·   Stick with one insurance company – An insurance company is more inclined to look past an item on your claims record if you are a long-term customer. Changing insurance companies on a regular basis makes it difficult to build a relationship with an insurer.

·   Bundle your coverages – Keeping your homeowner’s and auto policies with one insurer makes you a more attractive customer. An insurance company may think twice about dropping your homeowner’s coverage if it may mean losing your auto insurance business, too.

·   Review your deductibles – Make sure that your deductible isn’t so small that you will be submitting every potential claim for payment, nor so large that it will cause financial hardship in the event of a loss. 

·   Home improvements help – Your home’s wiring, plumbing, heating and roofing should be in good repair at all times. At least twice a year, walk through your home and inspect it for developing problems.

·   Know a house’s claim history before you buy it – Ask for a disclosure report, which can be obtained from your real estate agent or the seller’s agent. Insurance companies will be wary of a home with previous structural or water-damage claims.

·   Consult your insurance agent – Working closely with an agent may be the easiest way to stay insured affordably.  And they will be your advocate when you have a claim or other problem.

Thorough After-Flood Cleanup Minimizes Mold Growth

If you and your home are the victims of a flood, your cleanup must be thorough to ensure that mold growth is eliminated to the greatest extent possible. You should completely dry wet structures as soon as possible after the event. However, while you want to act quickly, approach the cleanup process carefully, to avoid the mishaps and accidents that can occur in the less-than-safe environment that a flooded home can be.

The following tips, courtesy of the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, can help you to thoroughly clean up while protecting your own health and safety:

• Keep children and pets out of the area until you have completely cleaned it.

• Wear rubber boots, rubber gloves and goggles during cleanup.

• Discard items that cannot be washed and disinfected, including mattresses, carpeting, carpet padding, rugs, upholstered furniture, cosmetics, stuffed animals, baby toys, pillows, foam rubber items, books, wall coverings and paper products.

• Discard drywall and insulation that has been contaminated with sewage or flood water.

• Clean all hard surfaces such as flooring, concrete, molding, wood and metal furniture, countertops, appliances, sinks, and other plumbing fixtures with hot water and laundry or dish detergent.

• Use fans, air conditioning units and dehumidifiers to help dry the area.

• Wash your hands with soap and water after you have finished cleaning. Use water that has been boiled for one minute and then cooled. You can also disinfect water for personal hygiene by creating a solution of household bleach mixed with water.

• Wash all clothes worn during the cleanup in hot water and detergent, separately from uncontaminated clothes and linens. Use a self-service laundry for washing large quantities of clothes and linens until your onsite wastewater system has been professionally inspected and serviced.

• Get immediate medical attention if you become injured or ill.

If you need to turn off the main power and have standing water inside your home, remember to do so only when you are in a dry location. If you must enter standing water to reach the main power switch, call an electrician to turn it off. Never use an electric tool or appliance to turn off power while standing in water. Be sure the electrician checks the house’s electrical system before turning on the power.

If the house has been closed up for several days, enter only long enough to open doors and windows, and then leave them open for at least 30 minutes before you stay inside for any length of time. This allows potentially hazardous air to circulate out of the rooms, while letting fresh air inside.

As always, don’t hesitate to call a qualified professional for advice and/or help with the cleanup process.

The History of Insurance Throughout the World

Insurance has a history that dates back to the ancient world. Over the centuries, it has developed into a modern business of protecting people from various risks. The industry has been profitable for many years and has been an important aspect of private and public long-term finance.

In the ancient world, the first forms of insurance were recorded by the Babylonian and Chinese traders. To limit the loss of goods, merchants would divide their items among various ships that had to cross treacherous waters. One of the first documented loss limitation methods was noted in the Code of Hammurabi, which was written around 1750 BC. Under this method, a merchant receiving a loan would pay the lender an extra amount of money in exchange for a guarantee that the loan would be cancelled if the shipment were stolen. The first to insure their people were the Achaemenian monarchs, and insurance records were submitted to notary offices. Insurance was also noted for gifts of substantial value. These gifts were given to monarchs. By recording their gifts in a register, givers would receive help from a monarch by proving the gift’s existence if they were in trouble.

As the ancient world evolved, maritime loans with rates based on favorable seasons for traveling surfaced. Around 600 BC, the Greeks and Romans formed the first types of life and health insurance with their benevolent societies. These societies provided care for families of deceased citizens. Such societies continued for centuries in many different areas of the world and included funerary rituals. In the 12th century in Anatolia, a type of state insurance was introduced. If traders were robbed in the area, the state treasury would reimburse them for their losses.

Standalone insurance policies that were not tied to contracts or loans surfaced in Genoa in the 14th century. This is where the first documented insurance policy came from in 1347. In the following century, standalone maritime insurance was formed. With this type of insurance, premiums varied based on unique risks. However, the separation of insurance from contracts and loans was a major change that would influence insurance for the rest of time.

The first book printed on the subject of insurance was penned by Pedro de Santarém, and the literature was published in 1552. As the Renaissance ended in Europe, insurance evolved into a much more sophisticated form of protection with several varieties of coverage. Until the late 17th century, many areas were still dominated by friendly societies that collected money to pay for medical expenses and funerals. However, the end of the 17th century introduced a rapid expansion of London’s importance in the world of trade. This also increased the need for cargo insurance. London became a hub for companies or people who were willing to underwrite the ventures of cargo ships and merchant traders. Lloyd’s of London, one of London’s leading insurers, is still a major insurance business in the city.

Modern insurance can be traced back to the city’s Great Fire of London, which occurred in 1666. After it destroyed more than 30,000 homes, a man named Nicholas Barbon started a building insurance business. He later introduced the city’s first fire insurance company. Accident insurance was made available in the late 19th century, and it was very similar to modern disability coverage.

In U.S. history, the first insurance company was based in South Carolina and opened in 1732 to offer fire coverage. Benjamin Franklin started a company in the 1750s, which collected contributions for preventing disastrous fires from destroying buildings. As the 1800s arrived and passed, insurance companies evolved to include life insurance and several other forms of coverage. No type of insurance was mandatory in the United States until the 1930s. At that time, the government created Social Security. In the 1940s, GI insurance surfaced. It helped ease the financial difficulties of women whose husbands died while fighting in World War II. It wasn’t until the 1980s that the need for car insurance grew enough that steps were taken to make it mandatory. Although insurance is an established business, it is still changing and will change in the future to meet the evolving needs of consumers.

Choose a Safe Car for Your Teenage Driver

If you’re the parent of a teenager, you may have very mixed feelings about the day your teen gets a driver’s license. On the one hand, you’re proud that your teen has reached this milestone, but on the other hand, you’re worried about reckless driving and safety issues.

You have good reason to be concerned. Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death among teens, according to the Centers for Disease Control, accounting for 36% of all deaths in this age group. In 2004, 4,767 teens ages 16 to 19 died due to motor vehicle crashes, and during 2005, nearly 400,000 teens sustained nonfatal injuries serious enough to land them in the emergency room. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), per mile driven, teens are four times more likely than older drivers to crash.

The Insurance Information Institute (I.I.I.), together with the IIHS, advises parents of teenage drivers to do more than worry. They should take a proactive role in protecting their teens. This starts with selecting a safe vehicle:

-Avoid vehicles that encourage reckless driving. Teen drivers not only lack experience…they also lack maturity. As a result, speeding and reckless driving are common. Sports cars and other vehicles with high performance features, such as turbo charging, can encourage speeding. Choosing a vehicle with a more sedate image will reduce the chances your teen will be in a speed-related crash.

-Don’t let your teen drive an unstable vehicle. Sport utility vehicles are inherently less stable than cars because of their higher centers of gravity. Abrupt steering maneuvers-the kind that can occur when teens are fooling around or over-correcting a driver error-can cause rollovers where a more stable car would, at worst, skid or spin out.

-Pick a vehicle that offers good crash protection. Teenagers should drive vehicles that offer state-of-the-art protection in case they do crash. Review the IIHS and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration test results when selecting a vehicle.

-Don’t let your teen drive a small vehicle. Small vehicles offer much less protection in crashes than larger ones. However, this doesn’t mean you should put your child in the largest vehicle you can find. Many mid- and full-size cars offer more than adequate crash protection. Check out the safety ratings for cars in this group.

-Avoid older vehicles. Most of today’s cars have better-designed crash protection than cars of six to 10 years ago. For example, a newer, mid-size car with airbags would be a better choice than an older, larger car without airbags. Again, before you make a final choice on the car your teenager will drive, consult crash test results and safety ratings.

With time and experience, your teen will become a seasoned driver and move out of the highest-risk category. Incorporating these suggestions into your car selection will help him or her to get there, safely.

Risky Behaviors Behind the Wheel Can Lead to Car Crashes

Drivers do the strangest things when they’re behind the wheel, but how many of those activities actually cause accidents? Dr. Sheila Klauer, a senior research associate at the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute, and her research team examined driver behavior to find the answer to this question.

The researchers, sponsored by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, looked at the daily driving habits of more than 240 study participants in and around Washington, D.C. The drivers’ vehicles contained five digital video cameras and a “black box” that registered following distance, lateral acceleration, speed, forward acceleration, braking and other data.

After viewing videos of 82 collisions, 761 near-crashes and 8,000-plus incidents in which the study participants were involved, researchers identified four specific behaviors that increase the odds of having a crash:

·   Speeding-The researchers defined speeding as driving faster than prevailing traffic or driving at a speed “inappropriate” for conditions.

Speeding nearly tripled the crash odds.

·   Driving while drowsy-Drowsy drivers were defined as those who stare fixedly through partially closed eyes. The chief characteristic of this type of driver is lack of eye movement. Most drowsy-driving episodes occurred during broad daylight. This behavior also tripled the crash odds.

·   Becoming distracted while driving-The distractions that caused accidents required drivers to look away from the road for two seconds or more. They included such activities as applying make-up, dialing a cell phone, searching for a CD or reading behind the wheel. This kind of behavior doubled the crash odds, and the increased crash risk shows how quickly and unexpectedly traffic conditions can change. Even when the driver maintained a safe following distance, this didn’t prevent distraction-related accidents. For example, many of the rear-end crashes in the study occurred while a driver was keeping a greater-than-two-second headway behind the car in front.

·   Aggressive driving-Researchers defined aggressive driving as using a vehicle to menace another driver or pedestrian. This included behaviors such speeding, weaving in and out of traffic, running stop signs, tailgating and frequent lane changes. Oftentimes the driver exhibited a combination of these activities. Aggressive driving doubled the risk of a crash.

The researchers’ work has a number of potential applications. For example, the risky behaviors can be studied independently to determine how they contribute to crashes when associated with particular types of drivers, and videos and black-box readings can be used to develop collision-avoidance systems. But most importantly, for each and every driver on the road, this research shows just how important it is to stay alert and keep your eyes on the road at all times.