Dangers Of Lead

Lead is utilized in paints predominantly as a coloring agent, it is also employed to make paints stronger and corrosion resistant.  It’s not only present in older paints, but additionally it can be found in household dust, soil, and drinking water.  It may also be present in vegetation. Lead can seep into soil near old, lead-painted houses as well. Lead was not banned as an ingredient in residential house paint until 1978. Often, you will not be able to get building or landlord insurance in NY on buildings that were built prior to this date unless you can provide a certificate that shows proof of lead abatement.

Lead is most often found in semi-gloss and enamel painted doors, window sills, door frames and moldings.  It may be found in the paint of either wooden or plastic toys made in China. It has been found on toys made in the USA before it was banned.  Lead has also been found in cigarette smoke, which makes it a life insurance rating factor as well.  It is a toxic metal that has been used for many years in various products and building materials.

Lead is soft, durable, and pliable. It is resistant to some chemicals, and fairly common.  It is toxic, and as young children sometimes want to chew on things, they are particularly prone to ingesting it.  It is a hazard to children under 6 years of age in particular, but can affect people of any age, exposure to which can produce a wide range of adverse health effects.

When ingested or inhaled, especially in youngsters and women that are pregnant, It could potentially cause numerous health conditions such as behavioral problems, learning disabilities, seizures, and death.  It can irreversibly lower a persons IQ, as well as result in a number of co-ordination skill deficiencies. Lead was utilized mostly in past years compared to these days, thus giving rise to the NY products liability issue of lead poisoning.

Debate: Eldery Drivers

There is a debate raging today about elderly drivers. Elderly drivers are on the streets considerably less than any other age class of people.  They also represent the quickest growing segment of the driving populace.  Although many elderly motorists are responsible and drive within their limitations, sadly, others don’t.  Regardless of the evidence that some elderly drivers pose greater risks on the road, most states, including Pennsylvania and New Jersey, do not require re-testing of elderly drivers.

Some programs are available to help seniors motorists adjust their driving to changes in their health condition: The American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) has a Driving Safety Program, that will help older people deal with issues like the best way to compensate for vision problems related to aging.  Even though it may not be mandatory, responsible elderly drivers really should have their hearing, vision and reflexes tested annually; for their own sake as well as others.  Elderly drivers may get defensive , even irritated , when the topic of their driving abilities is raised. They should be included in the decision-making process whenever possible, as opposed to formulating a decision for them.

Elderly drivers cause more fatal accidents than any other group besides young drivers.  While some elderly drivers may pose a threat, statistically, teenagers continue to account for more accidents and deaths on the road. With varying proficiency and physical and mental abilities, elderly drivers should be permitted to drive as long as they are able to do so safely and dependably.

Many NY insurance companies are now starting to penalize elderly drivers as they do teenagers based on their higher accident rates as well so it is imperative for them to shop their insurance rates more often after a certain age to make sure they are still getting the best car insurance rates in NY.

When elderly drivers are required to stop driving or self-regulate in reaction to decreasing abilities and safety issues, they face elevated isolation from family, social, and civic activities and reduced access to professional medical services.  The challenge of elderly drivers is nationwide and should become a top priority for organizations like  AARP and other seniors groups and supporters. When approaching this subject with an elderly loved one, remember how it felt when you were a teenager and constantly being judged on your driving, and also think how you would feel if you were in their shoes, because someday you will.

Do you have enough insurance for your personal property?

The cost of gold is still rising. Do you have enough insurance for your personal property? According to this article “Price check: Time to reassess your valuables” from CNN Money, you may not.

If you have a New York homeowners insurance, condo insurance, renters insurance, mobile home insurance, or personal effects insurance policy in-force for more than three years, and that policy has additional scheduled limits for jewelry, gold and silverware, or antiques; then I hope you have been getting annual updated appraisals of the values and submitting them to your insurance company.

Why? Because in the last three years gold has risen over 70% in value and silver has risen over 111%. In the last five years gold is up more than 190% and silver up a whopping 225% in value!

So, what do you think… are you under-insured on your scheduled valuables or not? Talk to your Middletown NY insurance agent and ask them what most insurance companies policies are regarding updated appraisal requirements. You’ll be in a better position in the unfortunate event of a claim, if you understand your companies requirements upfront.

Motorcycle Tire Safety

If you want to ride a motorcycle, then you need to know about tire safety. The only thing between you and total disaster on a motorcycle is the tires so make yourself an expert on them real quick.

For optimum performance and fuel economy, make sure your tires are not over inflated or under inflated. Keep a tire pressure gauge with you every time you go for a ride on your motorcycle. Adequate tire tread not only ensures tire integrity, it allows water to be channeled away from the contact patch, which helps maintain grip under wet conditions.  Using a quarter, ensure that when placed within the tread groove, the top of the tire does not extend below the top of Washington’s head.  If tread depth is 1-2mm it is time to replace your tires.  Wear on one side of the tread or flat spots in the tread may indicate a problem with the tire or vehicle.

Don’t overload your bike! It can place stress on the tires and cause poor handling and gas mileage, and get your wheels properly mounted and aligned. Improper mounting can cause accidents.

New tires should not be run at high speeds, or pushed into leans or hard cornering until after 100 miles. The most common motorcycle breakdown is for tire damage. Inspect your tires for excessive or uneven wear. Bald tires can cause skidding or blow outs. Motorcycle tires are often designed with reinforcements aimed at minimizing centrifugal growth. Check your motorcycle wheels and tires any time you experience an unusually bumpy ride (potholes, rocks, etc. It’s easier to check motorcycle wheels if you raise your bike using a lift or a center stand.

If you put in a claim against your NY motorcycle insurance policy because you wrecked your bike and it was due to negligent care and unusual wear and tear from it, your insurance claim may be denied as well.

Staged Accidents

According to a report from the National Insurance Crime Bureau, the number of staged car insurance claims has risen in recent years. This always seems to be the case when nationwide economic hardship is on the rise. Questionable claims are up 46% from 2007 through 2009.

While New York is usually the state with the highest amount of fraudulent insurance claims, this time it is not isolated to our little corner of the world. In fact, fraud is up significantly nationwide and other countries as well.  The Insurance Bureau of Canada estimates that insurance fraud is now costing policy holders and insurance companies billions.

Insurance fraud can be a serious issue that raises rates for everyone  and some states are aiming to battle the bulge.

Everyone’s auto premiums rise because insurance companies have to pass the costs of bogus claims onto their policyholders, don’t forget, they are a business and need to make money. If wholesale prices rise, retailers like grocery stores pass that cost down to the consumer. So don’t blame your insurance company for rate increases. Another reason why premiums can go up because of fraud is because each year insurance companies spend millions of dollars guarding themselves against misleading car accident claims. Not just any accident, but a carefully orchestrated and scripted accident where you become the victim of a scheme to dupe your insurance company out of thousands of dollars. Often these accidents are staged by organized crime rings that bilk hundreds of unsuspecting drivers. In NY taxi drivers have some of the highest insurance coverage requirements and subsequently the highest premiums. That cost gets passed down to the passenger and voila, you cant take a taxi anywhere with paying through the nose now.

If you think you’ve witnessed a scam or are being scammed, contact you insurance provider immediately. Insurance companies and state insurance departments have SIU’s (special investigation units) set up specifically to combat insurance fraud.

Hudson Valley Agents is an insurance agency that has helped battle insurance fraud many times over the last twenty two years, and also offers some of the most competitive low cost NY insurance rates available.

Got Presents?

So you got a new diamond “past present and future” necklace for the holidays this year. Well, it’s beautiful, it really is. How much did it cost to insure it? What do you mean you didn’t insure it?!??!!! You do know it is not just automatically covered on your homeowners insurance policy right?

So often, we hear horror stories from people that have been robbed of thousands of dollars of jewelry, only to find out their only going to get maybe $500 back from their insurance policy. You see, homeowners insurance policies in NY have sub limits on certain insurable items such as money, jewelry, furs, antiques, etc. The reason is that these items are an easy way to “pad” a loss when you have a claim. In the past many people have committed insurance fraud by exaggerating these types of losses.

Today’s home insurance policies require these types of items to be listed or scheduled for their full value. This will cost an additional premium, but dollar for dollar it is still the most efficient and inexpensive way to protect yourself from loss.
When you schedule these items you will be required to submit updated certified appraisals as the values can fluctuate quite a bit too.

Don’t overlook purchasing an in-home safe for your valuables as well. Many insurance companies will give a discount for this as well.

New Year’s Day Top Working Holiday for Car Thieves

While Americans are enjoying the holidays and most have time off from work, holidays are just another day at the shop for vehicle thieves.

New Year’s Day was once again the leading holiday for reported vehicle thefts in 2009, while Christmas Day repeated as the holiday with the fewest reported vehicle thefts.

 

Read more: http://www.insurancejournal.com/news/national/2010/12/28/115956.htm#ixzz19RGTJshE

New Year’s Day Top Working Holiday for Car Thieves.

Finding The Right Commercial Auto Policy

Finding a good deal on commercial auto insurance is about more than finding the lowest rate, it’s about finding the best all around coverage to suit your company’s needs.
Understanding what coverages and service options are available is the first step toward making better, more informed decisions so that you and your business are properly protected. Here are some tips from the experts at Progressive to help you find the right coverage, service and price:

• Know the company you’re dealing with—and its reputation for handling claims. Understand that you may pay more for “cheaper” coverage in the long run if the company lacks experience handling commercial auto claims. In business, vehicles need to be on the road or you lose money. Insurance companies that don’t specialize in NY commercial auto insurance often don’t have their own claims representatives handling the process, so it may take longer to get vehicles back in service.
• Look for discounts. Before initiating a quote for a policy, gather your company’s loss and financial records. This information could help you save a lot of money. You may qualify for NY insurance discounts if you’ve carried increased liability limits in the past, if your employee base consists of experienced drivers or if your company’s credit rating is good.
• Don’t let your coverage lapse. Proof of prior insurance is important, so never let your insurance policy lapse. If you do, you will most certainly pay more for your next policy.
• Ask for referrals. Find out where colleagues in your business have found the best coverage and the best service. They may be able to refer you to an agent or company that really understands your business.
• Check driving records before hiring. If they’ll be driving a company vehicle, be sure to screen the Motor Vehicle Report (MVR) for every potential hire.
• Update the value of your equipment. If you’ve added, upgraded or phased out equipment, you’ll want your policy to reflect the true value of your fleet. This ensures you have adequate coverage where you need it and that you’re not paying for cover-age you no longer need.
• Check the options for managing your policy. See if you can handle routine tasks online and over the phone instead of having to visit an agency or mail in forms. It saves time—and in business, time is money.

Easy Homeowner Insurance Claim Filing Video

For more FAQ on NY homeowners insurance and easy claim filing tips visit Hudson Valley Agents online.

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