The Concerned Insured: Only YOU can Prevent…

How is Babby Formed?

We’ve all seen/heard some pretty strange things in our lives.  Random flash videos, comment wars, Darwin Award Winners, FAIL blogs, it’s a lot to take in.

Babbies can't frigth back?

But sometimes something can be just so ridiculous that you have to stop for a moment and just say to yourself:  “Wow, really?”  People make mistakes, that’s a no brainer.  It’s the people that make such easily avoidable mistakes that give us examples of how not to make those mistakes.

This Mistake Could Be Your Last…

Recently, a man in Vermont nearly burned his house down due to one critical flaw in his master plan.  Here in Vermont, it can get pretty cold, so having a good source of heat for your home is very commonplace.  This house in particular had a wooden stove.  If you live in the woods (like most Vermonters do) then you have wood all around you at your disposal, so a wood stove is a great heat source…as long as you take the right precautions.

Someone walking by the house saw that it was smoking and knocked on the door, getting the family outside safely and unharmed.  The fire caused about $55,000 worth of damage, a claim that was sure to go to the insurance company that covers the property.  But the kicker is in the details.

Paper Burns, People.

After some investigations, it was deemed that the fire started from poorly managed disposal of wood stove ashes.  The man had apparently left the hot ashes on a wooden step of his porch in a paper bag.

Don't let that be your house...

It seems he thought it was a harmless idea, as the coals were black, and black means cold right?  Wrong, as he now knows all too well.  His insurance will cover the fire damage to the house, premiums will increase for the claim, but perhaps he will think twice before calling the kettle cold and grabbing it with his bare hands.

 

 

 

Original Article:  http://www.claimsjournal.com/news/east/2011/12/29/197808.htm

The Concerned Insured: Golf Carts with Seatbelts?

Making Golf Carts Legal

I was unaware that it was commonplace to drive a golf cart around town to run errands and visit family.  It’s not often that I see a golf cart broken down on the side of the road with the owner checking under the hood.

Maybe regulation isn't a bad idea...

But it would appear that in Georgia, Governor Nathan Deal is cracking down on golf cart safety and regulation.  Apparently, it is commonplace enough where people use their golf carts on roadways to get back and forth to places, that certain safety regulations need to be in place.

Golf Carts?  Really?

Now, if you’ve ever driven around a golf cart (at the course, for pleasure) you know that they can be pretty cool.  My family has had a golf cart for years.  We put new leaf springs in and a lift kit, big knobby tires and a back seat that flips into a flat bed.  To say the least, it’s sort of a beast.  But after it tipping on its side from unqualified drivers having control of the wheel, it’s been looking a bit on the “old and tattered” side.  It still has some gusto however, and it is definitely still drivable and functional.

So if they are regulating these manufacturing guidelines in Georgia, how does that affect me in the North Country?  According to manufacturers in Georgia, they estimate that somewhere around 90 percent of golf carts that we Americans use are produced in Georgia.  Soon, you may be seeing golf carts with seat belts, brake and reverse lights, and banger sound systems cruising around your neighborhood.  That is, of course, if you see one at all.  And don’t worry, they won’t be able to go more than 20MPH, so you won’t be seeing any underground drag racing clubs sprouting up anytime soon.

Why Now?  Why Golf Carts?

Have you ever searched Google Images for “Souped up Golf Cart?”  You may be blown away by the amount of time and thought goes into creating these monsters.  What were once simple vehicles that were designed to “put” around a golf course while also not destroying the fairway, have mutated into crazy things like this:

Top Speed: 25MPH

Maybe it’s the future of transportation; Maybe it is just a crazy fad; or maybe it is somewhere for rich folks to spend their money.  Whatever the case may be, these babies are getting bigger and less compatible with super short grass fields.  So before you go building your own, make sure you’ve got a good sound system to put in.

The Concerned Insured: Insurance Claim Costs Increasing

New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Maine, Vermont, The US:  Things ain’t gettin’ cheaper…

We all know that putting on your seat belt when you get in a car is a great way to prevent some serious injury, should you be involved in a collision.  Cars nowadays have air bags to further protect your life, anti-lock brakes, and even sensors that can tell when you are dozing off at the wheel.  But cars are not to the point where they are completely fail safe.  You still have the factor of the driver behind the wheel whose responsibility it is to keep their eyes on the road.  Sure, you should try to avoid getting into an accident because you like your car, you don’t want to get hurt, and you don’t want to hurt anyone else.  But someday, no matter how careful you think you are being, it could still happen to you.  And when you are in an accident, there usually tends to be costs associated with repairing or replacing parts, or medical expenses for injured persons.

Where does this money usually come from?  Insurance companies.  You call in a claim, pay your deductible, and in about a week, you’ve got a new car, or replacement parts.  Sounds easy enough, right?  Well research has been conducted recently that shows an increase in claim costs for insurers.  As you may know, this also has an effect on the consumer.

According to an article published in Insurance Journal, it has been years since there has been an increase in claims cost.  This was recently because of a decrease in the volume of claims, while the severity of claims was increasing.  But now it seems that along with the amounts paid out for injury claims increasing, so too is the volume of claims.  This would surely have an effect on how insurance companies do business and rate policies.

It just goes to emphasize how important that blinker being on or checking that blind spot is.  You may think that you are the safest driver on the road, but remember that you are surrounded by many more drivers who are unpredictable and potentially dangerous.

You don’t want higher premiums, and you don’t want to get stuck with the options you have when things get to pricey.  That’s why you have an independent agent take a look at your policy for you and see just how much money you could be saving in preparation for rating increases.

Oh, and here’s a kitten to ease your mind:

Cute Kitty Says: “Relax”

 

 

Original article:  http://www.insurancejournal.com/news/national/2011/12/28/228875.htm