Navigating Uncommon Traffic Situations

Driving in traffic today can be hazardous under any circumstances. When a stop light goes out, or other unusual situations develop, the risk can become even more significant. The following are some tips to help you navigate safely in some uncommon traffic situations.

General Rules for Navigating Traffic

When you get behind the wheel and venture out into traffic, presence of mind plays a vital role in your safety. Here are four items to be mindful of in traffic:

Stay alert and focused on your driving. Even if you are stuck at a complete stop in a traffic jam, don’t let your mind wander. Remain aware of your surroundings so you can react quickly in any situation.
Maintain a safe distance from the car ahead. A lot of stopping and starting goes on in heavy traffic. You can reduce your risk of a collision by keeping a safe distance from the vehicle in front of you. And remember, the faster you are traveling, the more space you will need to stop.
Try to remain patient. Road rage and aggressive driving have caused many tragic accidents. If you find yourself crawling along or at a dead stop because of road construction or an accident ahead, listen to some good music, think positive thoughts, or do whatever it takes to keep your cool.
Use your turn signals. If you need to change lanes or turn left or right, use your turn signals to let other drivers around you know your intentions. Otherwise, they may not react in time to avoid a crash.

What to Do When a Stoplight Goes Out

A power outage can put a stoplight out of commission, so drivers are left with flashing red lights in all directions. In this situation, treat the stoplight like a four-way stop. The rules are simple:

The first vehicle to arrive at the intersection goes first.
If two vehicles arrive at the intersection simultaneously, the one on the right goes first.
If two vehicles traveling in opposite directions arrive at the same time, they may both proceed straight through the intersection simultaneously. If one of the drivers is making a left turn, that driver yields to the driver who is going straight.
All the drivers at the intersection are required to yield to pedestrians.

Drivers are not always familiar with these rules, so you should not assume other drivers know the rules. When you are approaching an intersection with a traffic signal outage, be sure other drivers come to a complete stop before you proceed.

When the power goes out, flashing red lights are generated by backup power, which can last for up to eight hours. If power is not restored within that time, signals go out entirely. The intersection should also be treated as a four-way stop in this situation.

Make Sure You Have Enough Auto Insurance

No matter how diligently you drive, accidents happen every day, in uncommon and normal traffic conditions. It makes sense to protect yourself from liability, bodily injury, or damage to your vehicle in case of a crash. Our friendly agent can help you ensure you have the auto insurance coverage you need.

How Many Life Insurance Policies Can I Have?

There is no set limit to how many life insurance policies you can purchase. You can buy multiple policies from different insurance companies, but insurers may start asking questions if your coverage reaches a point that greatly exceeds your income.

Can It Cause Problems to Buy More Than One Life Insurance Policy?

You can have more than one life insurance policy, and there is no rule against applying with more than one insurer at the same time. However, doing so can complicate the application process.

When you submit applications, life insurance companies share the information with each other. The purpose is to avoid insuring you beyond your limits of insurability – the amount of coverage you can reasonably purchase based on your income, debts, and other financial factors. When you apply to more than one company at the same time, you may be denied by all of them, or your applications may be delayed. You may be required to undergo more than one medical exam.

Our experienced agent can help you find the most affordable and best life insurance. If you want to purchase more than one policy, we can help you split the coverage without slowing down the process or raising any red flags.

Why Buy More Than One Life Insurance Policy?

There are several reasons why you might want to have more than one life insurance policy:

Group life insurance is not enough: If your employer offers group life insurance, it might make sense to opt in, but the policy may not provide as much coverage as you need. In this case, you may want to purchase additional life insurance.
Major life changes: If you get married, have a child, start a business, or buy a house, you may need to increase the amount of life insurance coverage you have. You may choose to buy an additional policy, rather than increasing the limits of your current policy.
Long-term financial planning: Life insurance can play a major role in a financial plan. Many people use the ladder strategy, purchasing term life insurance policies with different terms, such as 10, 20, and 30 years, in decreasing coverage amounts, that expire one by one as expenses decrease and debts get paid down. Expenses such as childcare and mortgage payments are likely to be highest during the first 10 years, and that is when you have the highest amount of coverage.
Risk mitigation: Some people don’t like the idea of relying on one insurer alone for their families’ future financial protection. Buying multiple life insurance policies puts your “eggs in more than one basket” to minimize the risk in case a company goes out of business.

When you work with our agent, we can discuss alternatives to buying multiple life insurance policies, such as increasing your coverage amount or adding riders (additional benefits) to your policy. If you want to buy more than one policy, we can help you acquire the right coverage for the lowest rates.

What Makes Hotel and Motel Hospitality Insurance Different from Other Business Insurance?

Hospitality insurance is different from other business insurance because the industry faces a wider range of risks. A hotel or motel business owner’s policy (BOP) should cover property and assets, protect against liability, and keep you in compliance with state and federal regulations for employers. Our knowledgeable agent can custom-tailor a hotel and motel hospitality insurance package that meets your business needs.

Liability Coverage for Hotels and Motels

Hospitality business owners face a high risk of liability, by the very nature of the business. It is vital to have sufficient liability insurance to protect your hotel or motel business. Types of liability coverage you may want to include in your BOP include:

General liability: If guests are injured or their property is damaged on hotel premises, this coverage can protect your business.
Cyber liability: This can provide liability protection in case of a data breach that allows criminals to access your guests’ personal information, including names, addresses, and credit card numbers.
Workers’ compensation: Employers are required by law to carry this insurance. It covers medical expenses and reimburses lost wages for workers injured on the job.
Commercial auto: Liability coverage under a commercial auto insurance policy can protect your hospitality business in case a company vehicle, such as a shuttle or limo, is involved in a crash.
Employment practices liability: Turnover is high in the hospitality industry, and employee lawsuits are not uncommon. Employment practices liability insurance protects your business from lawsuits brought by employees alleging discrimination or harassment.
Premises pollution liability: This coverage kicks in if guests are exposed to mold or airborne pollutants on the premises and become ill. It helps pay for medical bills, cleanup costs, etc.
Liquor liability: If your hotel has a bar or serves alcoholic beverages, liquor liability insurance is a must. It protects your business from liability in case an intoxicated guest causes bodily injury or property damage.
Foodborne illness liability: You need this coverage if your hotel has a restaurant or room service. It protects you from liability for foodborne illnesses, such as Salmonella or E. coli.

Hotel and Motel Property and Asset Protection

A hotel or motel is a major financial investment. It makes good business sense to protect your business against property and income losses. Types of hotel and motel insurance coverage you may need may include:

General property: In case of theft, vandalism, fire, or other perils
Business interruption: If you are forced to close because of a covered event
Equipment breakdown: To repair damage and replace lost income
Food spoilage: To protect you from financial loss in case a power failure or equipment breakdown causes food to spoil
Utility interruption: To compensate your business for losses caused by a sustained utility outage
Crime: To protect you from losses caused by guest or employee theft

The cost of hotel and motel hospitality insurance can vary widely, depending on several factors, including the location and size of your hospitality business and the types of services you offer. Our experienced agent can help you find the right coverage at the best available rates.

Driving Tips for Long Trips

Setting out on the open road can be an exciting adventure, but you need to plan in advance to avoid fatigue and the risk of crashing. The following driving tips can help you maximize the fun and minimize the risks of embarking on a long road trip.

Get a Vehicle Checkup

Before a trip, make sure your car is in good operating condition. At a minimum, check the fluids and the tire pressure. If you are planning a long road trip, it may be wise to have your mechanic give your vehicle a thorough checkup before you set out.

Get Rest and Nourishment Before Hitting the Road

If you are planning a long drive, get plenty of sleep the night before and eat a good meal before your trip. Studies have shown that driver fatigue is a major contributing factor to accidents. Driving hungry can also lead to a loss of concentration or fatigue when behind the wheel.

Take Rest Breaks

Even if you don’t feel sleepy, pull over and take a break every few hours on a long drive. Be sure to park off the road – not on the shoulder. Get out of the car for some fresh air and to stretch your legs. Take a quick nap if you need to.

Now is the time to have a snack if you’re hungry. Eating while driving is a form of driver distraction that can contribute to accidents. Nutrition-packed snacks, as opposed to fast food, can help you remain alert on your trip.

Stay Hydrated

This is important for increasing your energy on the road. Make sure you carry plenty of water for the trip. It may mean more bathroom stops, but you can combine them with your rest breaks to save time.

Keep Passengers Entertained and Happy

When passengers (particularly children) get bored on a long drive, it can lead to bickering, which causes stress and fatigue for the driver. Encourage passengers to either engage in pleasant conversation or pass the time with books, puzzles, or other diversions. Road trip games, such as I Spy, Twenty Questions, or Association can help the hours pass more quickly. If your vehicle has a video system in place, you can also play videos for your children to help keep them entertained.

Fill Up Frequently

When traveling on unfamiliar roads, it can be difficult to gauge the distance to the next gas station. Don’t wait until your vehicle is close to empty to stop for refueling. Start looking for a place to gas up as soon as it gets down to a quarter of a tank. Passengers can use their smartphones to help you find a gas station close to where you are traveling.

Make Sure You Have the Right Auto Insurance

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Beginner’s Guide to Commercial Auto Insurance

Are you using company-owned vehicles to conduct business? You might need to consider getting commercial auto insurance. For those who are new to the game, this may be a confusing subject. You know you need coverage, but may not be clear on what kind or how much. Our knowledgeable agent can help ensure you have the specific coverage you need for your unique operations. The following is some general information about commercial auto insurance for beginners.

What Is the Difference Between Personal and Commercial Auto Insurance?

Personal auto insurance policies only cover claims related to the personal use of a vehicle. This includes commuting to and from work. They have lower policy limits and cost less than commercial auto insurance policies. Insurance companies will deny personal auto insurance claims for accidents that occur when a vehicle is being used for business purposes.

Commercial auto insurance is designed for business-owned vehicles that tend to cover more ground. They typically have higher policy limits and higher premiums due to the increased risk.

Who Needs Commercial Auto Insurance?

If one or more vehicles are used to perform tasks related to your occupation or business other than commuting, you probably need commercial auto insurance. This coverage is needed when vehicles are:

Owned by a corporation or partnership
Performing a service
Transporting people or goods for a fee
Transporting clients or employees
Hauling tools or equipment used to conduct business
Towing a trailer used to conduct business
Driving to and from work sites
Operated by employees in the course of their jobs

What Does Commercial Auto Insurance Cover?

Commercial auto insurance covers the cost of accidents involving business vehicles. It includes the following types of coverage:

Liability for auto accidents: Liability coverage pays for damages in an accident you or your employee caused, including medical bills and property damage. It will also cover your legal expenses in the event you are sued.
Medical: This coverage will pay for medical expenses if you, your employee, and/or any passengers are injured in an accident. It kicks in regardless of who was at fault for the crash.
Collision and vehicle damage: This insurance protects you financially against damage to the vehicle caused by inclement weather, vandalism, or impact with an object.
Uninsured motorist: Despite state laws against it, one in eight drivers in the U.S. drive without the mandatory minimum insurance, as stated by the Insurance Research Council. Uninsured motorist coverage protects you in case an uninsured driver causes a crash with a company vehicle.

What If the Vehicles You Use for Business Are Not Company Owned?

If you rent or lease your vehicles, or if you or your employees use personally-owned vehicles for business purposes, commercial auto insurance will not protect you. In that case, you need hired and non-owned auto insurance. Personal auto insurance will not cover accidents that occur when a vehicle is being used for business purposes. Having hired and non-owned auto insurance can help protect you and your employees from personal liability for accidents.

If A Contractor Damages My Home, Whose Insurance Covers It?

Homeowners insurance is designed to provide you with financial protection from loss due to theft, disasters, and accidents. But what happens if a contractor causes damage to your home? In this case, your homeowners insurance may help cover the cost of repairs, but will likely seek reimbursement through the contractor’s general liability insurance.

Damage to Your Home From an Accident Caused by a Contractor

Although many contractors are reliable, some have been known to cause house fires and other accidents that cause damage to a property. If this happens to you, your homeowners insurance may help pay for repairing the damage, then pursue reimbursement from the contractor’s insurance company.

Before any work is begun on your home, it is important to ensure the contractor has adequate insurance coverage. Ask to review a copy of the contractor’s policies and make sure they include commercial general liability insurance and workers’ compensation. If the contractor is unwilling or unable to provide verification of insurance, hire someone else.

Damage to Your Home From Poor Contractor Workmanship

Naturally, when you hire a contractor to work on your home, you hope the workmanship will be of the highest quality. Unfortunately, contractors have been known to perform shoddy work or use defective materials.

Your homeowners insurance will not cover poor workmanship in itself, but it may cover resulting damage. For example, if an electrician installs faulty wiring that causes a fire, your homeowners policy will likely cover the damage caused by the fire, but not the cost of repairing or reinstalling the wiring. For that, you would need to turn to the contractor to make it right. The same principle would apply if a plumber did a poor job that resulted in a water leak that caused damage to your home. Your insurance would likely cover the water damage, but not the cost of plumbing repairs.

Adjusting Your Coverage for Additions or Renovations

Every insurance policy has limits. Typically, your homeowners policy limits should cover the cost of repairing damage to your home or rebuilding it completely at current prices with equal quality. These costs may be higher if you are renovating or adding onto your home.

Your existing coverage may not extend automatically to a newly built addition, so you may need to make changes to your policy if you decide to add on. “Dwelling under construction” or “renovation” insurance can also be added to your homeowners insurance policy to cover you in case of a foundation collapse, damage to building materials, or theft of building materials.

Professional Insurance Advice

Before you have contractors begin work on your home, meet with our experienced agent. We can review your homeowners insurance policy and help you ensure you have the right coverage to protect you in case the worst should happen. We can also advise you on what to look for when reviewing a contractor’s insurance policies.

Do I Need Life Insurance If I Live Alone?

Life insurance is designed to benefit the ones you leave behind when you pass away. So why would you need this type of policy if you live alone and have no dependents? Surprising as it may seem, there are a number of reasons why you might need life insurance, even if you are single and have no children.

You May Want Children Someday

The younger you are when you buy life insurance, the less expensive it will be. If you are twenty-something and single and don’t want children right now, you may decide to have them in your thirties. It makes sense to buy a 30-year life insurance policy now, when it is more affordable, and have it in place when you are ready for children.

You Have Debts Incurred with Co-Signers

Some debts (i.e., federal student loans) will disappear when you pass away. However, this can be a different story with other types of debts or debts co-signed by others. The co-signer becomes responsible for the balance upon your death. If you have co-signed debts, it is wise to purchase sufficient life insurance to help co-signers pay them off in case something happens to you.

You Want to Cover Your End-of-Life Expenses

Funerals and burials are expensive. When you do pass, someone will have to cover the cost. Purchasing a smaller life insurance policy ($10,000 to $20,000) is a good way to ensure your family or friends are not left with the financial burden of your end-of-life expenses.

You Own a Business with Partners

To qualify for small business loans to help grow a business, you will likely be required to have life insurance. Life insurance proceeds could also help your partners keep the business going in the event of your death. There should be a plan in place to protect the business in case any of the partners should pass.

You Want to Contribute to a Worthwhile Cause

Even if you are single with no children and live alone, you may want to leave something behind for others. With the proceeds of a life insurance policy, you can make a significant contribution to a cause, charity, or organization that matters to you.

You Have a Mortgage

Buying a home is a major investment. A life insurance policy can be used to pay off your mortgage should you unexpectedly pass. In this way, your investment in your home can benefit someone else when you are gone.

People Other than Dependents Are Counting On You

Even if you have no dependents, there may be people in your life who are counting on you for help. For example, you may have elderly parents, aunts, or uncles who are retired and living on a fixed income. You may have been planning to help out as much as you can in the years to come. Life insurance death benefits can provide financial help for those who rely on you in case the worst should happen.

If you live alone and are considering life insurance, speak with our friendly agent. We can help you purchase a policy that meets your needs at the best available rates.

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