DSD Insurance Newsletter

Transcription

1 Page 1 of 5 INDEPENDENT DISTRIBUTOR NEWS YOU CAN USE 3 Easy Ways To Reduce The Risk of a Car Crash Spring is right around the corner, and the warmer weather often prompts people in Alabama and around the country to hop in their cars for weekend (or longer) road trips. Unfortunately, too many of those trips will end up being memorable for the wrong reasons, due to crashes and other risks that drivers face anytime they hit the road. You can take control of your next trip, whether it s across the state or across town, by following these 3 simple rules: 1. Pay Attention Do you know how many drivers are using cell phones or other electronic devices right now? If it s daytime, the answer is about 660,000 drivers! That s according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Anything that takes your eyes off the road or distracts you increases your risk of a crash. Here s another reason to avoid distractions: If you re completely alert, you have a better chance of steering clear of that guy who is shaving on his way to work. 2. Stay Sober One bad decision can change your life -- and the lives of others you don t even know right now forever, and driving under the influence is an extraordinarily bad decision. Nearly 15,000 people died in 2012 in crashes involving impaired drivers, according to the National Safety Council (NSC). So either GET a designated driver or better yet, BE a designated driver. Best of all, have the party at your house and let your guests stay over. Make breakfast, not condolences! PSSSSSSST Did you know that we also offer personal lines insurance for your autos, homes and toys? Are you paying too much? Do you have the right coverage? Are you getting all of your discounts? We can help you answer all these questions (and more!) Contact us for more information or

2 3 Easy Ways To Reduce The Risk of a Car Crash (cont.) Page 2 of 5 3. Slow Down They say speed kills, and, as depressing as it sounds, it s true. Crashes caused by excessive speed cause more than 10,000 deaths a year on average, the NSC says. Surprisingly, you are most at risk on roads where the speed limit is 55 mph or below. Remember, the posted speed limit isn t always the best speed for you to follow. Depending on weather and road conditions, going slower than the legal speed limit might be your safest option. Improving safety on the roads isn t rocket science. It s just exercising your good ol common sense. Just a little prudence can make a big difference for you, your passengers and your fellow drivers. So be alert and be safe out there on the road. You ll be safer and many, many people will be better for it, too. Are YOU Paying TOO MUCH... for TOO LITTLE? If you re like many people who have stuff you value, you probably have some kind of insurance to protect you from the financial loss of losing your autos, home, boat, RV, ATV and all the other toys you have. Right? Unfortunately, many people don t review their policies on a regular basis to ensure they re getting adequate coverage and paying a competitive price for it. At, we encourage you to do a little shopping... on a regular basis. Why? Because we want you to know if your coverage is appropriate for the stuff you have and your premium is fair and competitive. Are YOU paying too much for too little? Find out easily -- call us at for a DSD insurance Quik Quote. It costs nothing to save peace of mind!

3 Page 3 of 5 Spring Maintenance for Your Home When springtime rolls around, almost everyone thinks of cleaning. That s fine (we probably all need to do a little more of that, after all), but there s something even more important to keep in mind: home maintenance. So, when it s time to set your clocks ahead for daylight-saving time and change the batteries in your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, give your home a checkup, too. Here are some suggestions from the Department of Housing and Urban Development: Interior Areas and Home Appliances Check the basement and/or crawl space for any signs of standing water or dripping Pull your dryer out and clean the exhaust hose and vent (lint in here is a common cause of house fires) Vacuum refrigerator/freezer coils for efficiency Clean exhaust fan outlets and screens Check all air filters and replace, if necessary Roof, Attic and Windows Check for damage to your roof and have a professional inspection, if necessary Check your attic. If you see visible moisture or discoloration, your roof might be leaking Check the paint on your home s exterior. If it s peeling, new paint can protect against further weathering Check for leaks around your window and door sills. Improving window seals can lower your energy bills Yard and Home Exterior Check for signs of rodents and other pests Clean debris from gutters and downspouts, and make sure they are draining away from the home Trim overhanging tree branches and shrubs Remember, winter weather can cause significant damage that is easy to spot, but it often results in wear and tear that you can easily miss if you re not looking closely. It s a wise investment to spend a little time on home maintenance this spring, so that wear and tear doesn t turn into something more serious... in the future!

4 The Top Five (5) Questions... Concerning Rental Trucks Page 4 of 5 From the Claims Desk of... Tab Vines, Claims Coordinator 1. Who is going to pay for the rental truck? 2. How much rental coverage do I have for a rental truck? 3. Will the truck rental companies accept my commercial insurance? 4. How do I make a rental truck reservation? 5. How much does the rental truck cost? Who is going to pay for the rental truck? Short answer, you are. Long answer, if you have rental reimbursement coverage written into your policy (and most do!) and you are involved in an accident and have a covered loss, your insurance carrier (Allstate or Hanover etc.) will reimburse you, the insured, for the rental expenses up to the limits of your policy. How much rental coverage do I have for a rental truck? Quick answer, most policies are now written with up to a maximum of $80.00 per day for up to a maximum of 45 days and a total of $3, per claim. There are still some policies out there that have lower limits such as, of up to $65.00 per day and up to 30 days and a total of $1, per claim. We are in the process of getting in touch with these policyholders to upgrade their policies to the higher limits. If you are one of these lower limits policy holders, call us to discuss the higher limits being added to your policy. We are seeing the need for the higher limits resulting from longer repair times with the aluminum cargo boxes. Will the truck rental companies accept my commercial insurance? That depends on your commercial policy. If, you have hired liability coverage on your policy, it will extend to vehicles you rent, hire or borrow. If, you have hired physical damage coverage on your policy, your coverage will extend to cover the rental vehicle. We will gladly assist you to verify coverage from your commercial policy when renting a truck to operate your territory. The rental companies will most likely require proof of insurance or

5 The Top Five (5) Questions... Concerning Rental Trucks (cont.) Page 5 of 5 Certificate of Insurance (COI). We can certainly assist with providing the rental companies with the proof of insurance. Just have them call us or us their requirements for the particular company you are renting from. The rental companies will want to verify the limits of your commercial policy. How do I make a rental truck reservation? If you are a Flowers Independent Distributor, please use the national reservation toll free numbers below for which ever brand of truck you want to use, i.e. Budget, Ryder, Penske, Enterprise, etc. and use the Flowers account number or code associated with each rental company. Have a credit card ready to confirm your reservation. They will then contact the nearest local branch with an available truck that fits your needs within their network for you and set up the reservation with them , account # , account # , account # Enterprise , account code: TKRALEY How much does a rental truck cost? It varies based on company, size, and equipment. A fairly common rental is a 16 foot box van with a lift gate. That should average between $50.00 & $70.00 per day, plus approximately $0.12 cents per mile, plus taxes. If you ever have any questions about your coverage please call your If he or she isn t available, call me -- Tab Vines, Claims Coordinator -- directly at -- anytime.