Tips for Avoiding Deer Collisions

· While you should always be aware of your surroundings, keep an especially keen eye around dusk and dawn. These are the periods of time when deer crossings occur most often. It can also be more difficult to see at dusk or dawn, since it is neither completely light or dark outside.
· One of the best ways to avoid deer collisions is to drive at a safe speed, especially in areas with deer warning signs. These signs are strategically placed in areas known to be frequented by wildlife. Follow the speed limit and you’ll give yourself enough time to react should a deer or any other animal cross your path.
· Whenever possible, use your high-beams when driving in areas with wildlife. Not only will they provide the light necessarily to see the road, but they can also help illuminate a deer’s eyes from afar, giving you proper warning. Flashing your lights at other drivers can alert them to a deer’s presence, but do so with caution, so not to distract them.
· If you do come across a dear, firmly apply your brakes, but try not to slam on them or swerve into another lane. While deer collisions are extremely dangerous, drivers losing control of their car to avoid them can be just as deadly.
· You could consider investing in one of the “deer whistle” products. These whistles emit ultra-sonic noise when driving over a specific speed and they are supposedly only audible to animals. Unfortunately, studies have shown them to be largely ineffective at minimizing accidents.
· Should you see a deer getting ready to cross the road or one that is already in the middle of it, loudly honk your vehicle’s horn. This will scare most deer and they’ll quickly make their way back into the woods. It also helps alert other drivers nearby to the situation.
· Finally, always keep an eye on the vehicles in front of you. Be prepared to stop suddenly, as there’s no telling when a herd may decide to cross, forcing the drivers in front of you to slam on their brakes.

Monitor Your Teen's Driving

Automobile accidents are easily the leading cause of death for teenagers across America, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). For both genders, drivers between the ages of 16 and 19 have the highest average annual crash and traffic violation rates of any other age group. NHTSA data also show that unaccompanied 16- and 17-year-olds crash nine times more often than adults.

Research indicates that young novice drivers tend to underestimate the crash risk in hazardous situations. Teen drivers also tend to take more risks while driving, partly due to their overconfidence in their driving abilities. One way for parents to reduce their teen's chances of being involved in an auto accident is to use technology to monitor their driving characteristics and provide appropriate feedback.

A number of "black box" products are now available on the marketplace to facilitate monitoring drivers. These small devices (often the size of a pager and starting at around $280) can be simply installed into the auto your teen drives by plugging them into the Vehicle Data Link Connector (on 1996 and new vehicles). They can detect and record your teen's speed, aggressive driving such as "jack-rabbit" takeoffs, failure to wear a seat belt, unsafe backing techniques, driving locations, monthly mileage, and driving times. Thus, if your teen's curfew is at midnight and they get home at 1:00 a.m., you will know it.

With some of these products, you can simply pop the memory card out of the "black box" and plug it into your PC to display the reports and graphs. You can then review the results with your teenager, providing a great educational opportunity based on solid, technology-driven evidence. Research indicates that this type of monitoring and coaching pays off big dividends in the form of safer teen driving. Numerous companies offer these products in the marketplace, with some of the more sophisticated ones costing upwards of $1,000. A few insurers offer discounts for families who utilize these devices.

Copyright 2010
International Risk Management Institute, Inc.

Back-to-school: A great time to review coverage

Millions of students will be heading off to college this fall. Parents with college-age children should re-evaluate their insurance coverage.

HIGHLIGHTS
> Most home policies provide 10% of Coverage C for students away at college
> Generally damage to a dorm room or apartment would not be covered
> Students may qualify for auto good-student or distant-student discounts

College is expensive enough without finding out too late that an accident or theft isn’t covered under parents’ current policies. So, as parents get their children ready to head off to school in the fall, there’s one vital “to-do” to add to their list (other than writing that tuition check): a review of their insurance coverage.
It's important to keep in mind that policy language varies from state to state, and there are never "one-size-fits-all" situations, but below is a general guide.
HOMEOWNERS (may vary by state)
· Coverage of personal property: Most homeowners policies provide 10 percent of Coverage C (Personal Property) for property owned by an insured while it is at a residence other than the insured residence. That means if the contents of a policyholder’s home are insured for $100,000, a student’s property up to $10,000 would be covered if living in a dormitory – provided the damage is caused by a covered peril and the student meets the definition of an insured.
o Certain items, such as jewelry or expensive electronics, may require special coverage, or a “rider.” For apartments or houses off-campus, the same coverage generally applies. See your state’s product guide for specifics. Of course, renters insurance is strongly recommended if a particular policy does not cover a student’s personal property.
· Liability coverage: There usually is an exclusion for damage to property rented to an insured, so generally damage to a dorm room or apartment would not be covered.
· Ensuring adequate coverage: You should speak to your clients to give specific answers and information about their coverages. Also, having parents create an inventory of the items their student is taking to school is a good idea, as is keeping photos of and receipts for the items.
· Renters insurance: If a student's needs can't be met under their parents' current policy, don't forget Safeco’s Renters Program. We provide strong protection at a competitive price, as well as fast and easy selling through Quote & Issue. And we've recently made major enhancements to the product in 29 states.

AUTO (may vary by state)
· Coverage without a car at school: If the student will continue to drive while at home on school breaks, they should continue to be listed on an insured’s auto policy. If they are attending school more than 100 miles from home, and are not taking a vehicle with them, the policy may qualify for a distant-student discount.
· Coverage with a car at school: In most instances, a car registered to the parent and listed on their policy will be covered if used by a listed student away at school. But insureds should make sure that their insurance carrier writes coverage in the college’s state and location. It’s important for agents to know if the insured’s child is taking a car, because the principal location of the vehicle could result in a change in premium.
· Driving a friend’s car at school: Students generally would be covered while driving a friend’s car if they are listed on their parents’ policy and do not have regular use of the vehicle. The coverage would likely be secondary in this case, as the carrier for the friend’s vehicle likely would be the primary coverage.
· Coverage discounts: In addition to the possible distant-student discount mentioned above, students may qualify for a good-student discount. To qualify, a student must be enrolled in at least four courses per term as a full-time student at an accredited college university and meet certain academic qualifications. Also, drivers under the age of 21 who complete a driver education course may be eligible for a policy discount.

Contact us for additional information.

Apartments.com National Survey Reveals the Majority of Apartment Dwellers Are Living Without Renters Insurance

Renters Are Not Seeking Coverage Because They Believe It Is Too Expensive Or Did Not Know It Existed

CHICAGO, July 26 /PRNewswire/ -- Renters are 50 percent more likely to experience theft than those who own homes, according to the Bureau of Justice Statistics. Despite these risks, most apartment dwellers are still living without renters insurance. According to a recent Apartments.com survey of nearly 1,400 apartment hunters around the country, 67 percent said they do not have renters insurance. The top reason survey respondents gave for not being covered is that they cannot afford it, followed closely by many who claim they did not know this type of insurance existed. Other respondents believe they do not need renters insurance because their possessions are not valuable enough to make the investment worthwhile and nothing bad has ever happened to them.

Nearly a quarter of apartment seekers surveyed are under the assumption that renters insurance is too rich for their blood, yet the average premium is under $200 a year, according to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. The majority of Apartments.com survey respondents who choose to protect themselves with renters insurance said they pay on average $12.50 a month or less and one out of 10 renters said they have had to use their insurance at one time or another.

The two most common components of renters insurance include protection against theft and destruction to personal belongings, including televisions and computers, and liability, which defends renters from judgments that go against them in the event that someone is injured on their property. While a large percentage of apartment dwellers are not carrying renters insurance, 33 percent of survey respondents said they are covered and list the most compelling reasons for purchasing renters insurance as protection against:

1. Theft (79%)

2. Fire/Lightening (70.7%)

3. Water Damage (52.3%)

4. Weather (e.g. Hail, Windstorm) (40.5%)

5. Smoke Damage (40.6%)

Management companies and landlords also understand the value of renters insurance. While most would likely prefer residents to carry renters insurance, nearly 20 percent of survey respondents said it is mandatory at their apartment community.

Renters may not want to think about what could go wrong at their apartment including the possible threat of a fire or burglary, yet apartment dwellers are encouraged to protect themselves from these potential perils by following these tips from Apartments.com.

1. Talk to Your Auto Insurance Provider: A good place to start looking for coverage is with your current auto insurance provider as your rate will often improve if you have multiple policies with one carrier. However, many of these same providers offer separate policies for renters insurance if you do not own a car. Decide how much coverage you want. Typically, you can purchase a policy that covers $15,000 in personal belongings and several hundred thousand in liability for a couple hundred dollars a year.

2. Picking Your Policy: There are two types of policies offered: Actual Cash Value (ACV) or replacement cost. ACV coverage will only pay you for what your belongings were worth at the time they were stolen or damaged. You will pay higher premiums with replacement cost coverage, but if something happens you will be paid the amount that it will actually cost to replace your items.

3. Keep Detailed Records: Take inventory of all the items in your apartment. Insurers state that most people underestimate the value of their possessions, and therefore, do not have enough personal property coverage. Keep detailed records of each item including its value, serial numbers and receipts of major purchases. Also, take photographs of each room, making sure all items of value are clearly visible. Store your documentation in a safe place such as a fireproof box, digital file with online access or in a bank safety deposit box to protect against a fire or natural disaster

As part of its "What Renters Want" research series, Apartments.com surveys renters on various topics. For more information on these surveys or to receive a copy of additional survey results, please contact Tammy Kotula at tkotula@apartments.com.

About Apartments.com

Apartments.com (www.apartments.com) is a leading national apartment Internet listing subscription service with more than 50,000 unique addresses representing more than three million rental units from managed properties, newspaper classifieds and for-rent-by-owner properties. With personalized searches, highly visual ads featuring "Walk Through Video," "Apartments.com Anywhere" mobile solutions, 360-degree virtual tours, professional photography and comprehensive community listings, Apartments.com makes it possible for renters to access apartment rental inventory from across town or across the country. Leads from highly qualified ready-to-rent prospects are delivered to Apartments.com customers, increasing closure rates and decreasing the average cost of leasing an apartment. The Website's foundation of solid partnerships with more than 1,000 newspaper affiliate and strategic partners across the country include Yahoo! Real Estate, AOL Real Estate, Univision, the Chicago Tribune, The Washington Post and the Los Angeles Times. Apartments.com is a division of Chicago-based Classified Ventures, LLC. Additionally, Apartments.com owns and operates Apartment Home Living (http://www.apartmenthomeliving.com), a leading social media apartment Web site distinguished by a "live for fun" community experience, proprietary lifestyle matching and local living guides to help renters find their perfect place to live.

SOURCE Apartments.com

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RELATED LINKS
http://www.apartments.com

Amanda's Law Now in Effect and Can Save Lives!

Amanda’s Law — mandating the installation of carbon monoxide (CO) detectors in all homes in New York State — took effect on February 22 of this year. The law is named for 16-year-old Amanda Hansen of West Seneca, New York who died on January 17, 2009 due to a carbon monoxide leak from a defective boiler while she was sleeping at a friend’s house. Under the law, homes built before January 1, 2008 are permitted to have battery-powered CO alarms, while homes
built after that date are required to have the alarms hard-wired into the building. The law requires contractors in New York State to install a CO alarm when replacing a hot water tank or furnace if the home is not equipped with an alarm. Additionally, the law mandates that existing one- and two-family
residences have at least one carbon monoxide alarm installed on the lowest floor of the building having a sleeping area. The alarm must be clearly audible in all sleeping areas over background noise levels with all intervening doors closed. According to the New York State Office of Fire Prevention and Control OFPC), fire departments in New York responded to more than 42,000 calls involving carbon monoxide in 2007, the most recent year with complete data. A majority of these calls came in at night and during the winter months. Carbon monoxide can kill in minutes or hours depending on the levels in the air.

Visit our website at: http://www.lawleygenesee.com

Lower Your Auto Insurance Costs

Automobile insurance premiums often take a big bite out of the family budget. You may, however, be paying too much for this coverage. The following are several approaches you can use to reduce your auto insurance costs.

• Choose higher deductibles, particularly if you currently have a low collision or other-than-collision deductible, such as $100 or $200. Increasing your deductible from $200 to $500 or $1,000, for example, can reduce your collision and other-than-collision premium by 15 to 35 percent.
• Eliminate collision and other-than-collision coverage on older, less valuable cars. If your car is worth less than $1,500, it may be wiser and cheaper in the long run to just retain this physical damage exposure. Used car valuations are available online at N.A.D.A.
• Maintain an excellent credit record, since insurance companies are increasingly using credit scores to price auto insurance policies. Consumers with poor credit often pay more for auto insurance.
• Pay your premiums on a timely basis. Insurance companies are now adding late fees of $15-20 when issuing a non-payment cancellation. Some even charge another $15-20 to recind the cancellation.
• Consider having your premiums paid by EFT (Electonic Funds Transfer) whereby your premiums are paid automatically from your checking, savings or credit card account. EFT eliminates the costly late fees and will save you $3-5 per installment in billing fees.
• Buy a “low-profile” automobile. Before you purchase a new or used car, check into the auto insurance costs. Automobile models that are expensive to maintain and have higher theft and collision frequency rates tend to have higher insurance costs.
• Take advantage of multipolicy discounts by keeping your homeowners and auto policy with one insurer. Likewise, take advantage of multicar discounts by having all autos on one insurance policy.
• Seek out other auto insurance discounts (which can vary by insurance company), such as defensive driving, driver training, good student, air bags, antilock brakes, daytime running lights, anti-theft device, claim-free experience, and long-term customer.

For more information, visit our website at http://www.lawleygenesee.com

The Importance of Insuring Your Home to Value

Now More Than Ever: The Importance of Insuring Your Home to Value

This era of the “Great Recession” has been a challenging one. Dramatic economic conditions have affected both the U.S. real estate market and the residential construction industry. National data collected over the past year indicates extreme financial decline, with property market values plunging up to 40% in some areas, permits for new construction down by 36.9%, and foreclosure rates spiking across the country. Ironically, the costs to rebuild and repair a home are not declining at this same rate. Overall construction costs actually increased approximately 1.3% nationwide from January 2009 to January 2010.*

As a homeowner, you may be perplexed by the gap between the current market value for your home and the replacement cost listed on your homeowner’s insurance policy.


Market Value vs. Replacement Cost

Market value (the price at which your home may sell today) is not the same as replacement cost (the price to repair or rebuild your home if it is severely damaged). When rebuilding a home, contractors must work with and match existing materials, which requires skilled labor that costs more. Plus, when a contractor rebuilds a single home, there are no economies of scale. The cost to rebuild is always higher than the initial cost to build. Market value includes factors such as the quality of the local school system and popularity of the neighborhood and, therefore, is not a good indicator of the proper amount of insurance coverage for your home. The estimated replacement cost for your home, however, is a significantly more reliable indicator of the appropriate coverage limit needed in the event of a major loss.


Key factors that contribute to rising construction costs

• Varied spikes in building material costs throughout 2009 and expected for 2010-2011.

• Fluctuating energy costs.

• A 3% increase in the cost of skilled labor from 2009-2010.

• Increased demand for imported raw materials and building products.

• Anticipated rise in inflation for 2010.


Factors that can affect home replacement cost

• Contractor Fees. The typical contractor fee is 15-20% of the overall building cost or even more for larger, more ornate homes.

• Architectural and Related Fees. Fees for architecture, interior design, engineering, and other related services should be included in the home replacement cost. These fees can add another 10-15% to the overall building cost.

• U.S. Environmental Factors. Natural disasters such as hurricanes in coastal regions, floods in the Midwest, and wildfires in the West have contributed to shortages of building materials and overall cost increases. Building codes are continually enhanced following these natural disasters, which can increase the replacement cost of a structure.

• Green Construction. The trend to build “green” is gaining momentum and popularity with consumers. Building with ultraefficient technology has contributed to rising construction costs that are 15-20% more than traditional construction.

• Rebuilding Custom and Historic Homes. The materials used to reconstruct custom homes or restore historic homes are more expensive than those used to build average homes, due to finer quality and the fact that specialized homebuilders buy these materials in relatively small quantities. Also, fewer craftsmen specialize in custom construction and historic renovation, and greater demand for these specialists has led to increased skilled labor costs.


Insuring your home to value

In order to help ensure that your Homeowner coverage keeps pace with rising rebuilding costs, contact your agent or broker to:
• Make sure your replacement cost appraisal is updated every 3-5 years.
• Maintain your policy’s annual inflation guard so your coverage is in line with construction cost increases.
• Report any significant home remodeling projects or upgrades, and make any necessary coverage changes.


*Sources: Engineering News-Record, Marshall and Swift/Boeckh, RSMeans, and Reed Construction Data, 2010.

Visit our website at: http://www.lawleygenesee.com

What are Personal Umbrella and Excess Liability Policies?

What is an Umbrella or Excess Liability policy?
Umbrella or Excess Liability policies offer higher limits of liability protection than what can normally be obtained under a Personal Auto or Homeowner policy. Typically this means you’ll have extra insurance protection to pay sums you’ll be legally obligated to pay if you cause a serious auto accident or your dog bites and seriously injures the neighbor child. Personal Umbrella or Excess Liability policies can be purchased in million dollar amounts anywhere from $1 to $5 Million dollars. The cost is determined by the amount of your exposure. Many companies have a base premium for one home and two cars and go up from there. Household drivers under the age of 25 will also impact the price of an Umbrella.

Not all Personal Umbrella policies are the same.
Some companies offer true Umbrella coverage whereby the policy not only provides Excess Liability protection over your primary home and auto coverage but also for many things not covered by one of these primary policies. In these situations, a retained limit (similar to a deductible) must be paid. Most Umbrella policies include a $250 Retained Limit.

Some companies offer Excess Liability protection that only “follows” your primary coverage. These policies generally provide excess coverage that kicks in only when coverage under a primary policy becomes exhausted.

Let me give you an example. It is fairly common while vacationing to rent a Boat or Jet Ski. Since Homeowner policies exclude Personal Liability coverage for “non-owned watercraft”, they offer no protection should you drive your rented boat or jet ski into the side of someone’s boat or even worse, cause serious bodily injury to a swimmer.

In the above scenario, an Excess Liability will not respond as there is no primary coverage available under the Homeowner policy. A true Umbrella policy however would respond and pay any defense and settlement costs that exceed the retained limit up to the Umbrella limit. It is important to know what type of policy you are buying for this reason.

Umbrella policies are not the answer to all your coverage problems but they do serve to fill the gap for most non-business related exposures.

For more information about our agency, contact us at http://www.lawleygenesee.com

Who needs Workers Compensation in NYS?

What Business Owners Must know about Workers' Compensation

Workers’ compensation insurance protects employers and employees against financial loss in event of injury. Employers must continuously provide for workers’ compensation benefits to all employees. For workers’ compensation purposes, employee can include day labor, leased and borrowed staff, volunteers, part-timers and family members, as well as most subcontractors. Visit
www.WCB.State.NY.US to download the Employers’ Handbook, a comprehensive resource for businesspeople about workers’ compensation.

Who Doesn't Need to be Covered:
The law may exempt licensed real estate and insurance agents, and media salespeople, in certain contractual relationships. There are few other exceptions to the law.

Business owners can always include themselves on a policy. They can sometimes exclude themselves from coverage in sole proprietorships, or partnerships (LLC, LLP, PLLC, PLLP or RLLP), or one- and two person
corporations where they own all the stock and hold all corporate offices.

Who Needs to Be Covered:
1. Workers in all for-profit businesses.
2. Domestic workers, sitters, companions and live-in maids employed 40 hours per week in a residence.
3. Farm workers whose employer paid $1,200 or more for farm labor in the
preceding calendar year.
4. Most workers compensated by a nonprofit organization.
5. Any other worker the Workers’ Compensation Board determines is an
employee.

It’s unlawful for an employer to discriminate against an employee who files or testifies in a workers’ compensation case.

Independent Contractors:
Workers under your direct control are probably considered your employees for
workers’ compensation purposes, regardless of their tax status. There is a
perception that so-called independent contractors do not need workers’
compensation insurance coverage, and that is often false. A worker’s tax status
does not determine if workers’ compensation insurance is required; you may need coverage even for 1099 employees.

Why Comply with the Law?
√ There’s a $2,000 penalty for every 10 days without insurance, and penalties for misrepresenting payroll, employees, and record-keeping failures.
√ Not carrying workers’ compensation insurance is a felony (more than five employees), or a misdemeanor.
√ The Board actively pursues scofflaws, and has issued 2,500 stop-work orders.
√ People and businesses who are penalized cannot win public work jobs.
√ Business owners must pay lost wages and medical care for uninsured workers. Permanent total disability and death benefits are not capped.
√ Employees generally can’t sue you for a work-related injury or illness when you’re insured.

Insurers notify the Board when they write, modify or cancel insurance. If coverage is canceled without a replacement policy, the Board will contact you. Your insurance status is public information, available at the Board’s web site.

Obtaining Insurance:

√ Private Insurance. Hundreds of private insurance carriers are authorized to write workers’ compensation insurance policies in New York.
√ State Insurance Fund. The New York State Insurance Fund, a quasi-public carrier, also writes workers’ compensation insurance. Visit www.NYSIF.com.
√ Individual Self-Insurance. Large employers can set aside reserves for self-insurance, in a formal, regulated process. Call the Board’s Self-Insurance office (518-402-0247).
√ Group Self-Insurance. Joining a group selfinsurance program may be a viable option. Contact Self-Insurance (518-402-0247) for a list of authorized groups.

For more information visit us at http://www.lawleygenesee.com

Insurance for Professional Photographers

Writing the insurance for a professional photographer is not the same as writing the insurance for the hardware store down the street. Professional Photographers have unique coverage needs and should be talking to an agent who understands their business.

At Lawley we can offer protection for your equipment, whether it's in your studio or on location. We can insure your equipment on a replacement cost basis with no deduction for depreciation. We can do all this on a blanket basis with no need to list every item.

For more information visit http://bit.ly/ciwWya or call Tom Ditzel at 1-800-807-1055 Extension 6505 for help.