Dog bite claims continue to be a major source of concern with homeowners insurance underwriters based upon recently released statistics by the Insurance Information Institute www.iii.org.  The year 2009 results show that $412 million in dog bite claims were paid by homeowners insurance companies. The Pitbull breed tops the list of dog bite claims, followed by Rottweiler, German Shepherd, Husky-type, Malamute, Doberman Pinscher, and Chow Chow.

The Institute states that dog bite claims account for more than one-third of all homeowners insurance liability claims and that the average cost of a dog bite claim in 2009 was nearly $25,000.  The rate of dog bite related injuries is highest for children aged 5 to 9 years old and the injuries are significantly higher for boys than for girls.

SMOKE ALARM PLACEMENT.
 
No doubt you are familiar with the number of fires that have occurred in the Lehigh Valley in recent months.  Injuries and deaths (in addition to significant property damage) have occurred as a result.  We would like to review some of the fundamentals of smoke alarm placement.

Where should smoke alarms be installed?
a.  On every level of your home, including the basement.
b.  Make sure there is an alarm outside every separate sleeping area.

How should alarms be installed?
a.  Install them high on a wall or on a ceiling.
b.  If installing on a wall, stay at least 12 inches from the ceiling.
c.  If installing on a ceiling, stay at least 4 inches away from the nearest wall.
d.  If installing on a pitched ceiling, install near the ceiling’s highest point.
e.  If installing near cooking equipment, use an ionization alarm with a hush button or use a
     photoelectric alarm.

What’s the difference between an ionization alarm and a photoelectric alarm?
a.  An ionization alarm is more responsive to flaming fires.
b.  A photoelectric alarm is more responsive to smoldering fires.
c.  It is recommended by the National Fire Protection Association that both ionization and
     photovoltaic alarms be used in your home, or use an alarm that includes both technologies.

What about people who are deaf or hard of hearing?
a.  Smoke alarms for hearing impaired individuals are available that use strobe lights.
b.  Vibration equipment can also be added to these alarms.

What about sound sleepers who may not hear an alarm sounding?
This situation highlights the importance of developing a home fire escape plan, not just for sound sleepers, but for the safety of everyone in your home.  In this case your plan should include assigning a grown-up who is easily awakened by the alarm to wake the sleepers.  This can be done by yelling “FIRE,” pounding on the wall or door, or blowing a whistle.  Make a commitment to practice your fire escape plan on a regular basis.

The National Fire Protection Association has a wealth of information on fire safety.  Visit their website at www.nfpa.org for more information.

The Insurance Department reminds motorists about the risk of deer collision and need to drive with care.  Deer are most active during the Fall and particularly between sunset and sunrise.  The animals become less cautious and move around more during their breeding season.

Almost half of all collisions with wildlife occur between 7 p.m. and midnight.  November is a distinctly risky time for deer-related crashes.

Here’s how to reduce your risk of hitting a deer and injuring yourself or others:

• Limit your driving time during the sunrise and sunset hours
• Drive more slowly during sunrise and sunset hours and keep alert to movement along the highway
• Select more major, well-lit routes if there are alternative routes to travel
• Allow adequate space between cars to increase braking ability if a deer springs out
• Use your high-beam lights when possible to maximize your field of view
• Be on the lookout for multiple deer running in a herd – wherever there is one deer, there are usually others nearby.

SOURCE: Pennsylvania Department of Insurance

If you must drive in snowy conditions, make sure your car is prepared. Pack a winter safety kit to include an ice scraper and brush, cat litter for traction, good flashlight, can of lock de-icer and blankets.

1) Decrease your speed and leave yourself plenty of room to stop. You should allow at least three times more space than usual between you and the car in front of you.
2) Applying the gas slowly to accelerate is the best method for regaining traction and avoiding skids. Don’t try to get moving in a hurry and take time to slow down for a stoplight. Use low gears to keep traction, especially on hills.
3) Brake gently to avoid skidding. If your wheels start to lock up, ease off the brake. Whether you have anti-lock brakes or not, the best way to stop is threshold breaking. Keep the heel of your foot on the floor and use the ball of your foot to apply firm, steady pressure on the brake pedal.
4) Turn on your lights to increase your visibility to other motorists.
5) Keep your lights and windshield clean.
6) Don’t use cruise control or overdrive on icy roads.
7) Be especially careful on bridges, overpasses and infrequently traveled roads, which will freeze first. Even at temperatures above freezing, if the conditions are wet, you might encounter ice in shady areas or on exposed roadways like bridges.
8) Don’t pass snow plows and sanding trucks. The drivers have limited visibility, and you’re likely to find the road in front of them worse than the road behind.
9) Don’t assume your vehicle can handle all conditions. Even four-wheel and front-wheel drive vehicles can encounter trouble on winter roads.

Introducing our Health Connect Individual & Family Plan Portal.

This feature has just been added to our website.  It allows you to browse through individual and family health plans from multiple insurance providers.  You are able to log on to this interactive comparison shopping site through the link on our Home Page.

Click on the “Individual Medical Insurance Quotes” button on the lower right to access this new feature.

One factor in determining the premium of a personal auto policy or a homeowners policy has nothing to do with your driving record or claims history—it's your credit record. According to Conning and Company, more than 90 percent of insurers use an insurance applicant's credit history—his or her insurance risk score—to slot him or her into a certain program.

When you apply for auto or homeowners insurance, the insurance company typically asks for permission to pull your credit information. The insurer then secures a credit report from one of the credit bureaus. Credit scores range from 300 to 850. If your score is below 650, you may have trouble getting insurance, or you may have to pay a higher premium. In order to improve your credit score, keep in mind the following factors that influence the score.

§         Payment history: The largest factor is credit and loan account payment history. A steady record of on-time payments going back several years shows responsibility.

§         Debts owed: The number of accounts you currently have, including type and balance. Try to have just a few active accounts with low balances.

§         Length of credit history: The longer your credit history, the better.

§         New accounts: Every time you apply for a new account, a record of that application appears on your credit report and drops your score. Limit the number of applications you submit.

§         Balance of accounts: It is best to have between two and six open credit cards and one or two loans.

§         Negative records: Collections, judgments, and bankruptcy filings will drop your score.

Get more personal lines insurance and risk management tips and ideas from IRMI.

Copyright 2011
International Risk Management Institute, Inc.

FENDER BENDERS

§         Pull over and assess your surroundings.  Is anyone hurt? What damage has been done?

§         Call police.   Even if they do not want to come to the scene of the incident, this at least means there is some record of the accident.

§         Listen to what the other driver says. If he says something like, "I didn't see you" or "I was on my cellphone," make a note of it and tell your insurance company.

§         Call your insurance company.

§         Get contact, registration and insurance information from the other driver.   Be sure to get this information from an actual driver's license and insurance card.

SERIOUS ACCIDENTS

If your car is not driveable or if someone is hurt follow these steps:

§         Pull over.

§         Call 911.

§         Assess your surroundings and injuries. Is there a power line down? Can oncoming traffic clearly see there is an accident? Are fluids leaking from the car?

§         Help those who are hurt.

§         Wait for the police to arrive.

§         Be sure to get a Driver Notice and Exchange Report from the police.

QUESTIONS POLICE WILL ASK

§         What happened?   What were the road conditions at the time of the accident?   What direction were you traveling? Were you in the right lane?

§         What were you doing right before the accident?   What did you see before the accident?

§         Were you wearing your seat belt?   Did the air bags deploy?

§         Were you on your cellphone?

§         Do you have a preference in towing companies?

Throughout this interview, police will look for whether you were under the influence of alcohol or another substance.

DON'T

§         Talk to witnesses about what happened. Police need to hear what you saw, what you experienced. They do not want your story to be shaped by what you hear from others.

§         Lie. The truth will come out. Lying will only make it worse.

§         Admit fault. That means saying sorry. There is always the chance that there were other factors you weren't aware of at the time.

DON'T LEAVE WITHOUT

§         Other driver's contact information (name, address, phone number).

§         Other driver's insurance information (name, address, phone number of company as well as policy number and expiration date).

§         Other driver's registration information.

§         Make and model number of cars involved.

§         Contact information for witnesses.

* NOTE: Do this only if you are able to stay at the accident. If you are seriously injured, seek medical attention first.

PHOTOGRAPHS

If you have a camera on hand, try to grab these shots for your insurance company:

§         Damage to each car.

§         The scene. If it's safe, take photo before moving cars.

§         Other driver's documents, including insurance card, driver's license, license plate and registration.

§         Other driver.

Patriot-News, The (Harrisburg, PA), October 17, 2011

Copyright, 2011, The Patriot-News Co. All Rights Reserved. Used with permission.

The devastating effects of Hurricane Sandy drive home the point that personal catastrophe planning is an essential part of any personal risk management program. Catastrophes, whether natural or manmade, can strike individuals and families at any time without warning. You should develop a comprehensive disaster plan that addresses the following 10 items.

1. Identify hazards in your home, such as frayed wires or large amounts of gasoline stored in the garage. Hazards should be reduced as much as possible.

2. Learn first aid and CPR skills, which can lessen injuries after they occur.

3. Make certain your children learn your full name, address, and cell phone number at the earliest possible age.

4. Develop an emergency evacuation plan. For example, you should work with family members to establish escape routes and rehearse these periodically.

5. Establish a disaster meeting place and an outside family contact. For a sudden emergency, a location right outside the home should be arranged. Consider designating a friend or relative in another city as a common contact through whom the family can communicate if separated by a disaster.

6. Keep an adequate water storage supply to use in the event you become stuck in your home. Several days' worth of bottled water should be stored in a cool, dark location.

7. Prepare a food supply, including canned meats, fruits, and vegetables. You should include a manual can opener and disposable utensils and plates along with the food.

8. Store emergency supplies, such as a first-aid kit, flashlights, batteries, prescriptions, and a lantern.

9. Prepare a portable pet disaster supply kit for pets, including dry food, potable water, and proof of vaccination. Proper identification on the pets is essential.

10. Practice, modify, and maintain the plan every 6 months.

Get more personal lines insurance and risk management tips and ideas from IRMI.

Copyright 2012
International Risk Management Institute, Inc.