We’re often asked when is a car so old that it’s no longer a wise investment to continue buying collision insurance for it. The answer depends on your individual situation.
First, what’s the true worth of the car? Any repair or replacement costs following a collision will be based on the value of the vehicle at the time of the claim. Also consider your deductible amount. For example, if your car is now worth $2,000 and your deductible for collision claims is $500, insurance will pay no more than $1,500 for your loss.
Once you’ve estimated the maximum that your policy is likely to pay for a collision, ask yourself whether the value of the car would create a significant financial hardship if it were totaled in an accident without insurance. Is the cost of collision coverage reasonable, considering the maximum you can receive at the time of a claim? Don’t forget peace of mind — if dropping collision will make you lose sleep at night over a possible loss, it’s better to keep your coverage and get some rest.
If you’re considering whether it’s still worth insuring your older car for collision, call our personal auto representatives. We’ll be happy to review your current coverage, give you the book value of your vehicle, and estimate the changes in cost of your insurance if you make any changes. Let us help you make the best decision.
Content provided by Transformer Marketing.
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Springtime is known for many things, including beautiful blooming plants and flowers. Getting ready to plant new crops, warmer weather, longer days and allergies.
Allergies bring watery, itchy, irritated eyes; runny noses; uncontrollable sneezing and plain sinus misery. The most common allergies come from pollens, animal dander, mold spores, dust mite and cockroaches allergens.
Here are a few tips to help you with your allergies this Spring season:
- Head over to the pharmacy and stock up on allergy medications. Talk with your doctor to see which ones will work the best for you. Antihistamines, decongestants and nasal sprays should be at the top of your list.
- You can also ask about allergy shots. An allergy shot could mean the end all of all allergy medications.
- Dehumidifers and air purifiers work great in the home.
- Get mattress and pillow coverings. Mattresses and pillows host a ton of allergens. Getting a cover for the mattress and pillow and washing them once a week or so, will keep allergens to a minimum.
Before settling on any specific medical treatment for your allergies, please consult your doctor for the best treatment plan.
Content provided by Transformer Marketing.
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If you’re using “contingent workers” — on a part-time, temporary, or contract basis — be aware that these employees face a greater risk of occupational injuries and illness. According to the National Institute for Occupational Safety & Health (NIOSH) reasons for this higher vulnerability include the tendency to outsource more hazardous jobs, lack of experience and familiarity with operations in a dangerous workplace, inadequate protective equipment, and limited access to such preventive measures as medical screening programs. The chances are that temporary workers have a wide variety of experience levels (due to high turnover) or have had the benefit of formal safety programs.
Also, bear in mind that even though the safety of contract workers is the legal responsibility of the contractor, the OSHA General Duty Clause could be interpreted to make you responsible for protecting everyone in your workplace. To help meet this obligation, and bolster workplace safety compliance we’d recommend that you take these steps:
- Include safety requirements in the contract, even if only to state that the contractor must comply with OSHA requirements. If the contractor doesn’t follow safety rules, you can force compliance or stop work for breach of contract.
- Set the safety compliance ground rules up front, during orientation or before they start work.
- Share accountability. Although an accident caused by a contract worker might not be your legal responsibility, it’s still your problem. Don’t leave safety compliance problems for the contractor to solve alone.
- Offer assistance. Explain all hazardous conditions or processes during the initial project orientation and stress any rules and restrictions, such as hot-work permit requirements, lockout/tagout, and confined spaces situations and needs.
- Document communications with contractors. Give the contractor(s) a document or form to sign when resolving specific safety problems or for conducting inspections.
- Read the OSHA Multi-Employer Citation Policy. OSHA published an enforcement and compliance directive (CPL 02-00-124, December 10, 1999) laying out its citation policy for multi-employer worksites, which includes contractors.
Finally, don’t forget that most contingent workers will only be in your workplace for a relatively short time. This only adds to the urgency of getting them up to speed on your company’s safety policies and practices as quickly as possible.
Contact our office today for more information.
Content provided by Transformer Marketing.
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When you think of insurance, the typical ones come up. Auto insurance, health insurance, homeowners insurance and business insurance. Some people may have even heard of umbrella insurance, flood insurance, farm insurance and so on.
But we want to share with you about some of the more uncommon types of insurance that are out there.
- Cold Feet Insurance. That’s right. If your spouse-to-be happens to get cold feet right before the big day, reimbursement could be in order. However, there are some conditions: The change of heart has to happen a full year before the wedding and the reimbursement will be sent to a third party (such as parents).
- Fantasy Football Insurance. Football lovers all over are excited about this one! FantasyPlayerProtect.com allows fantasy players to insure their teammates.
- Multiple Birth Insurance. Oh boy, a bundle of joy is coming your way! And then you find out you’re having 3 bundles of joy! The insurance will pay out a lump sum to parents who were expecting 1 bundle of joy. The condition is that you did not use a fertility treatment.
- Divorce Insurance. Splitting up assets and debts and adding legal expenses to the mix, divorce can get costly. Divorce insurance will help with a payout in case of divorce.
- Chicken Insurance. Yes, you heard me correct. Pet insurance has been popular for all of the dog and cat lovers for years, but now some insurance companies have included the not-so-common pets such as chickens and mice.
- Kidnapping Insurance. For companies who have overseas employees to people who travel to third world countries, kidnapping insurance is there to help cover the costs associated with kidnapping, including negotiators fees, travel expenses and the ransom itself.
- Drunk Guest Insurance. For everyone who loves to entertain at your home, this one’s for you! The formal name is social host liquor liability coverage and this will provide coverage for an intoxicated guest who destroys property or harms another person. Most homeowners insurance policies have something like this in the policy.
- Infertility Insurance. You really want to have a baby and in-vitro is a viable option. The costs of fertility treatments can be excessive. Infertility Insurance will help you out with your dream, but only if you live in one of the fifteen states that offer this special insurance.
- Golf Insurance. This kind of insurance is popular throughout Asia and Europe.
- Bedbug Insurance. Typical homeowners and renters insurance won’t cover the costs associated with a bedbug infestation, which can add up to the $1,000s. Most bedbug infestations occur during travel, so when you sign up for travel insurance, make sure you have a bedbug rider.
Scurich Insurance Services can help you out with many types of insurance policies. Give us a call today!
Content provided by Transformer Marketing and http://money.msn.com/insurance/10-crazy-insurance-policies-you-didnt-know-existed
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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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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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