You hope nothing will go wrong with your car, especially late at night or far from home. Yet we all know that breakdowns can happen unexpectedly. We recommend taking a risk management approach to car safety — assume the worst will happen and prepare for it in advance.
Start by getting a good emergency kit. Whether you purchase one or build it yourself, your kit should contain at least a working flashlight, flares, reflective triangles, distress sign, first aid supplies, and basic tools.
Before leaving the house, make sure your cell phone is fully charged. Take along some spare change or a telephone calling card in case you break down in a “dead” area for your cellular provider.
If your vehicle breaks down, pull off the road as far as possible on the right shoulder (or in the center median, if getting to the shoulder is impossible). Activate your hazard lights and place flares or reflective triangles far enough behind your vehicle to warn oncoming traffic of your presence. Many authorities advise against you attempting to change your tires or jump your battery while traffic is present. Open your hood, then stay in your vehicle and wait for help.
If a stranger approaches, it’s safest to talk through a closed window. Don’t ask them to assist in repairing your vehicle. If they wish to help, ask them to call your auto club or the police.
For more recommendations on helping minimize the risks of everyday events, give our Personal insurance experts a call. As always, we’re happy to help.
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You’ve spent hours, days or even weeks, making your jewelry choices — not to mention paying thousands of dollars on your final purchase — so why fall short when it comes to finding the right coverage for your jewels? Getting the appropriate protection is easy; you just need to understand what your Homeowners insurance will cover.
The standard HO-3 policy provides only $1,000 worth of coverage for jewelry for THEFT ONLY. For example, if your $6,500 engagement ring, a pair of $500 earrings ,and a $1,000 class ring WERE STOLEN, you would receive a reimbursement of only $1,000, not the actual value of $8,000. So be sure you’re protected by extra insurance. The cost is minimal compared to the risk of losing expensive jewelry and being unable to replace it.
You might consider a stand-alone policy that offers broader coverage than the typical Homeowners policy. For instance, an ALL PERILS policy and covers “mysterious disappearance” (when you lose jewelry and have no clue where it went); and “pairs and sets” (which buys you a new set of earrings even if you lost only one). You can also schedule your jewelry on any homeowner policy.
Keep in mind, your insurance company will require you to have a professional appraisal to set an objective value for your scheduled property, which might be significantly higher or lower than what you think it’s worth!
For more information on insuring your valued jewelry, please feel free to get in touch with Scurich Insurance Services.
Content provided by Transformer Marketing.
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WATSONVILLE — A 10-year-old Watsonville boy on a scooter was seriously injured Wednesday after he was struck by a driver of a Chrysler PT Cruiser in a crosswalk on Main Street.
About 3:25 p.m., a 19-year-old Prunedale woman was driving a purple PT Cruiser north on Riverside Drive toward Main Street when she accelerated to try to make a yellow light, said Watsonville police Sgt. Brian Ridgway.
A 10-year-old boy was riding a scooter behind his family in the crosswalk, and she struck him with the car, police said. The front bumper of the car hit the boy on his right side, and the boy was forced on to the hood and then the ground, Ridgway said.
Officers were near the crash and treated the boy. He was taken by helicopter to a San Francisco Bay Area hospital where he was in critical condition Wednesday night, authorities said.
The woman, whose name has not been released, has cooperated in the police investigation and has not been arrested. Alcohol use was not a factor in the crash, police said.
“This investigation in ongoing,” said Ridgway.
Watsonville police ask anyone with information to call investigations at 831-768-3350 or leave an anonymous tip on the tipline at 831-728-3544 or by texting WATSPD to 888777.
Content provided by http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/copsandcourts/ci_25337290/driver-collides-boy-scooter-watsonville
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The most recent figures from the National Center for Health Statistics show that 18.6 million American adults (that’s one in 12) suffers from asthma. If you’re one of them, buying Life insurance can be costly — depending on the severity of your condition and your reaction to treatment.However, asthmatics with a good track record of controlling their symptoms can have a near normal life expectancy. So, if it’s been more than two or three years since your asthma led to an ER visit and your condition hasn’t caused you to miss work, you shouldn’t have much trouble getting Life coverage at or near a “standard” premium. Before you apply for coverage, it makes sense to:
- Have your physician monitor your condition at least twice a year.
- Follow the medications the physician prescribes.
- List these medications on your insurance application.
- Provide a comprehensive medical history for the application.
- If you’re a smoker, kick the habit!
We’d be happy to review your situation and recommend the coverage that’s best for you. Call us today for more information.
Content provided by Transformer Marketing.
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In case you’re still wondering how Obamacare is going to affect you, you now have another answer.
You might start seeing Obamacare surcharges on your restaurant checks.
The Executive Editor of CNN Money, Chris Peacock, tweeted a snapshot of one such bill this morning. You can see the surcharge there right at the bottom: $0.20 for “ACA” — a.k.a., the Affordable Care Act, a.k.a., Obamacare.

Twenty cents isn’t exactly exorbitant. But this new practice will no doubt get the anti-Obamacare crowd howling.
Content provided by: http://www.businessinsider.com/restaurant-obamacare-surcharge-2014-2#ixzz2uYGl80Gq
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If you’ve been to our office, chances are. Mary Myrick-Sunkler, CISR, CPIW is a central California coast native. Mary has been in the insurance business since 1988 giving her 26 years of experience. Mary has worked with Scurich Insurance Services for 15 of those years, starting in 1998.
Mary graduated from Monterey High School and went onto graduate from Monterey Peninsula College. Mary is a member of the Insurance Professionals of Monterey Bay which is a local chapter of National Association of Insurance Women.
In Mary’s spare time, she is an avid walker, loves bicycling, gardening, camping and cooking.
Stop by our office to say, “Hi,” to Mary today.
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