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National Fire Safety Week, October 6-12, 2013

In 1920 President Woodrow Wilson issues the first proclamation for National Fire Prevention day.  And in 1922, the week that includes October 9th has been observed as National Fire Safety Week.

Fire is no laughing matter.  It can be a devastating event, destroying homes and families.  According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), in 2011 there were 1,389,500 reported fires in the US, causing 3,005 civilian deaths, 17,500 civilian injuries and $11.7 Billion in property damage.

A further statistic shows that on average, there is a fire department in the US responding to a fire once every 23 seconds!

These statistics are staggering and they show that fire is serious business.  You should start educating your children about the dangers of fire at an early age.  They should be shown the devastating effects of a fire and be advised how easy a fire can be started.  It is truly amazing how many fires we hear about that get started by kids playing with fire, whether it be matches, lighters, candles, cooking, etc.

At Huff Insurance, we deal with the after effects of fires throughout the year and it is tough.  Although we want to make sure that you are protected with the right Home Insurance, Renters Insurance, Apartment Owners Insurance, etc., should there a be a fire in your property, fire prevention should always be on the forefront of your mind.

My next blog will discuss having a plan to deal with a fire should you find yourself facing the scary ordeal.  Having a plan and knowing what to do plays an important role in keeping calm in a stressful situation..

You’ve probably seen a news report recently about vandalism, burglary or attempted break-in at business premises.

Hopefully, the owners were insured against damage and loss. But getting back to “business as usual” after incidents like these can be a real challenge.  At Huff Insurance, we deal with the after effects of these incidents on a regular basis, helping businesses through the claim process and getting their doors back open as soon as possible.

Because we know, every day, or even every hour a business stays closed, is money out of the business owners pocket.

And even then, sometimes everything just doesn’t feel the same again afterwards, as you feel violated and wonder if or when it will happen again.

These days, thanks to advances in technology, the means for deterring would-be thieves now cost less and are more effective than ever.

What’s more, having a good security system in place can even reduce business insurance premiums, sometimes by as much as 20%, as well as improving peace of mind.

For the most comprehensive protection, perhaps you need to talk to a security specialist, but if your budget doesn’t run to that, there are still plenty of inexpensive things you can do. For example:

• Install security cameras. These are no longer a big-ticket item. And they range from sets of cameras that you link to a dedicated monitor or recorder, to wireless webcams that can be hooked into your computer network and viewed on a PC screen – even remotely, at your home. The great thing is you can easily add to their location as needed.

• Set up a simple alarm system linked to intrusion detectors on windows and motion detectors in rooms and passageways. Again, wireless systems are available – though more expensive than wired versions they’re simpler to set up and move around.

• Install more effective locking systems. Still using that rusty padlock or ancient door lock and key? And remember how easily keys are copied. Any disgruntled employees leave recently? At least consider replacing locks and having a carefully-controlled key management policy in place.

• Replace your safe. Modern safes are much more difficult to crack open, and more likely to protect valuable documents – as well as money – against fire and flood damage.

• If you have a cash register in your business, empty it at night and leave the empty drawer open in plain sight of the window.  If a would be thief sees an empty drawer, they may pass you by.

Where security is even more critical, you might want to consider electronic access control, with swipe cards and key codes, automated intrusion alerts linked to police or security firms, and even regular security patrols.

Remember it’s not just that these devices and systems will actually do their own job effectively; it’s also that their very existence will deter would-be criminals from even trying in the first place.

Obviously, you should call in security experts for further advice on these things. But if you’d like to discuss how your insurance and premiums might be affected by improving your business security, do give us a call at 410-647-1111.

I am often amazed by the reckless driving I see on my way into to the office and from my office which overlooks Ritchie Highway in Pasadena, MD.  So many accidents could be easily avoided.  At Huff Insurance, we handle the “after” effects in our business every day. Which is why we have a claims liaison in our office ready to help you should you be involved in an accident.

So, I thought I’d send you a quick “reminder” this month.  PLEASE … read through this short list of safety reminders.  It won’t take long, and it could save your life!

We drive so much it becomes sub-conscious.  We have all had times that we are driving down the road, get to a point and wonder, wow, how did I get this far?  It happens because we were in a daze or thinking about things other than driving at that moment.

So, let these safety reminders dwell in your sub-conscious, too…

• Back off.  Odds are, if you can clearly read the bumper stickers on the car in front while moving- you’re too close!  Please reserve the bumper sticker and plate frame reading until for when you are stopped at a light or stop sign.
• I wish I had the statistic of how many car accidents are rear-ending collisions.  It’s a lot.  I actually see at least one per month right outside of my office window.  I realize in heavy traffic it seems impossible to keep a safe distance between you and the car in front.  But try.
• A safe distance is determined by a 2 second gap – that is, when the driver in front of you passes a road marker, you shouldn’t get there for 2 seconds.  That means the faster you’re going, the bigger the gap between you and the driver in front should be.
• Slow down.  I know its cliché, but speed kills.  It really does.  Plus, speeding tickets are expensive.  And if an insurance carrier finds out about it – and they do check – you will get a rate increase,too.
• Put on that seat belt.  Why fight the odds?  Statistics prove that seat belts save lives.  Not to mention in most states being caught without your seat belt on means a hefty fine.  Be safe – put it on!
• Are you too close to the airbag?  Make sure you’re more than 10 inches from the steering wheel.  If you’re too close, an inflating airbag could hurt or kill you.
• Pay attention to road conditions … and slow down!  If you lose control of your vehicle on a wet road, you might blame the road, but the cops and the insurance company won’t.  They’ll blame you!  Remember, you’re responsible for controlling the car you’re driving in ALL conditions.
• Do not text or used a handheld device while driving.
• Do not drive while impaired by alcohol or drugs.
• Check all around before changing lanes.  Never assume another car isn’t there.  Look.  It only takes a few seconds for a car or motorcycle to move into a dangerous position.
• Be aware of other aggressive drivers on the road and steer clear and DO NOT retaliate.  Let them go on their way.  Do not let them ruin your day.
• Finally, please do not be one of those aggressive drivers I mentioned above.  The goal is to get to your destination safely.

Of course, there are thousands of safe driving tips, these are just the top ones that I could think of today.  I hope this short list sticks in your sub-conscious mind and keeps you safe.

With schools back in full force, we also need to be aware of the buses and children that are on or near the roads.

From everyone here at Huff Insurance, we thank you for your business and may the roads you travel always be safe ones!

At Huff Insurance,  we have great auto insurance products at great rates!

We have been Protecting Lifestyles™ since 1960

A new  NFL season once again almost upon us.  And with the NFL season start, millions of Americans will begin managing their fantasy football teams, and on company time.

There are about 23 million workers that participate in fantasy sports leagues.  These workers can spend up to nine hours per week managing their team or multiple teams in some cases.

The question that jumps out is should you, as an employer, crack down hard on this apparent time waster?  The answer may seem like an obvious yes, but in actuality, it is not such an easy answer.  Some studies have shown that cracking down on these types of issues can actually hurt morale and cause workers to be less productive.  So you may want t consider allowing your workers to spend a little time managing their fantasy football team during work hours.  Some folks have even found that they have met some important business contacts through a fantasy sports league.  So it can be seen as a fun, social and a networking activity.

That being said, there needs to be some monitoring of activities.  After all you will not want someone to spend 3 hours every day managing their fantasy football teams when they need to handle their work duties.  So, if you see the quality and/or quantity of an individuals work drop significantly after the football season starts, then you need to address the issue right away.  And try not to let one bad apple spoil the whole bunch.  So if there is an issue with one individual, try to keep it at the individual level and not let it affect the other who are properly handling the situation.  And you want to handle it properly so you do not find yourself in the middle of a lawsuit.  This is where Employment Practices Liability Insurance (EPLI) can help out.

So, what it comes down to is that although folks do spend work time managing their fantasy teams, it may not hinder productivity as much as you may think.  Studies have shown that fourth quarter earnings results have not suffered from the “fantasy football effect”.  So good luck and play on, but stay productive!

Happy Labor Day!  I hope you had a good holiday.  I spent mine sorting through some piles in my home office…

It got me thinking…some of my papers should probably be stored more securely than just as a pile on my desk.  If anything should happen to my house replacing lost documents would be a huge time commitment to say the least…

So, I figured I’d share some important tips to save you time, money and hopefully a little frustration.

WHERE TO STORE DOCUMENTS:

Documents that are difficult to replace – things like birth certificates, marriage licenses, divorce decrees, records of military service, citizenship papers, adoption records, etc. – should be kept in a safe deposit box at a bank.

For your convenience – and some added protection – keep photocopies of these documents at home.  If you keep paper copies – as opposed to scanning – you could be even more secure by keeping them in a home fire safe that carries a UL class 350 fire resistant rating.

Other documents for safe deposit box storage include passports, social security records, stock certificates, deeds, property titles, mortgages, wills and insurance documents.  Remember to keep copies at home for your own convenience.

HOW LONG TO STORE DOCUMENTS:

CPAs say that the nature of the document determines how long it should be kept.

For example, utility, credit card, and other bills can be discarded once you have verified that they are correct.

And there’s no need to keep car titles or most other property documents once you’ve disposed of the item.

If your mutual fund company or brokerage house provides a year-end summary report of your transactions, there’s no need to keep monthly or quarterly statements once you’ve checked that the year-end report is accurate. However, hold on to all your buy/sell trade confirmations, since they contain information needed for completing your tax return.

Retain indefinitely records documenting retirement plans and individual retirement accounts.

Tax records, such as federal and state income tax returns and supporting documentation should be kept at least six years, or longer if you have room.  The reason being, if you’ve substantially under reported income the IRS has six years to audit your returns.

It’s a good idea to keep pay stubs until you get your W-2.  Keep canceled checks for as long as you might need proof that payment was made. However, canceled checks and receipts that support income tax deductions should be held as long as the returns themselves.

KEEPING TRACK OF YOUR DOCUMENTS:

Finally, CPAs suggest that you keep a list of all items, where they are stored, and give a copy to a friend or relative who can locate the items in an emergency.

Of course my team and I hope you never have to recover from a tragedy, but if you do maybe these tips will make your life a little easier.

Our Digital Insurance Office has a nice research center section dedicated which has some great every day advice for your insurance protection needs.

 

School Shopping Safety Tips

With this being tax free shopping week in Maryland for certain items, the stores will be packed with shoppers, myself included.

Every year around the holidays, we all hear about the shopping safety tips.  Summer is also a big shopping season, so I thought I would take a few minutes to remind you of some of these tips.

• If possible, shop during daylight hours.  If you do shop at night, try to go with a friend or family member.

• If you carry a wallet or purse, be extra careful.  These are prime targets of criminals in crowded shopping areas.

• Avoid overloading yourself with shopping bags.  It is important to have clear visibility and freedom of motion to avoid mishaps.

• Beware of your surroundings.  Beware of strangers approaching you for any reason and of people trying to distract you.  Often criminals work in teams, with one offering up a distraction with another attempting to steal from you.

• Avoid leaving packages and bags in clear view in your vehicle.  The last thing you want after a day of shopping is to come back to your vehicle to discover that it has been broken into and all of your items have disappeared.  If this does happen, the items stolen would be covered under your Home Insurance policy or your Renters Insurance policy.

A lot of these tips seem to be common sense items.  But when we are busy shopping, running from store to store to get the clothes for the kids and their school supplies, sometimes we forget about our own personal safety.  And that is what the criminals are hoping for, a moment of vulnerability on your part.  So don’t make yourself an easy target.

Shut Up and Drive

Today, talking on the phone while driving is only a secondary offense, which means a police officer cannot pull you over for just talking on the phone. However a police officer can pull you over if they see you texting and driving.

As of October 1st  2013 you can no longer talk on your phone without the use of a hands-free or Bluetooth device.  And no, putting your phone in your lap on speaker is not hands-free. A police officer will now have the right to pull you over at any time if they see you with your phone in hand. Regardless if you are talking on the phone, e-mailing, texting, googling, etc. It doesn’t matter. In fact you can be pulled over even if you are stopped at a red light. and you can be ticketed up to $500!

Get the picture? Stop using your phones while driving! If the engine is on, the phone is away.

In Maryland alone from 2007-2011, 152,000 have been injured in accidents involving distracted driving and about 1,100 of those people were killed. Distracted driving has become the number ONE killer of American teens. And as a teen driver myself I am happy this law is finally going into effect.

Many people have the assumption that just because many people my age (which is 16) have been accused of it, that I do it also. Well it’s not true. When I get into my car the very first thing I do is put my phone into the glove box where I cannot reach it. I know I’m not the only person who drives on Maryland roads and is next to or behind a car that is all over the road and wondering, “What on Earth is that person doing? They’re going to cause an accident!” and surely enough you look over and what are they doing? TEXTING! Or they are on the phone with someone. It’s not just teen drivers which everyone assumes. It’s drivers of all ages and most of the teen drivers I guarantee you learned and picked up the habit from watching their parent’s. Fortunately for me, I don’t use my phone while I’m driving, even after watching and still watching my parent’s do it.

Without even realizing it, the average distracted driver will drive the length of a football field without looking at the road. You are 1.4x more at risk of being in an accident just by reaching for a device, 1.3x talking or listening, 2.8x dialing, and 23x more likely to be involved in an accident if you are texting while driving! Sadly, distracted driving has become an epidemic and needs to be stopped, because things are only going to get worse. Hopefully this new law will help bring those numbers down and raise awareness about putting the phone down. Unfortunately, it’s grown to be a habit for some people and this law still won’t stop them probably until they get pulled over and their phone bill is $500 more… And on top of that, their car insurance may go up as a result of the ticket.

What can you do to help? I beg you to go to https://www.stoptextsstopwrecks.org/ today and share this with your loved ones.
In the meantime, here are a few suggestions to reduce the risky behavior while driving:

1.    Put the phone out of reach. No phone means no calling or texting.
2.    Make sure one passenger is the “designated texter.”
3.    Turn off the phone’s sound notifications – reduce reflexive need to check incoming messages.
4.    Buy one of several mobile apps that cuts off texting while the car is moving

Please remember the new law that goes into effect each time you get into the car.  And from now on, think about the example you’re setting for your children, and always remember… It can wait, so shut up and drive.

Should we be talking?

Of course, there are a few obvious reasons we might have to speak to one another: you’re moving, you bought a new car, etc., etc.

But there are other critical times when a short chat will help us protect you better. Here are nine events off the top of my head that should trigger a call to us:

1. Marital separation has profound effects on your car insurance coverage.
2. Divorce means lots to sort out… too complicated for this email, please give us a call.
3. Refinancing is a good time to review coverage and make sure it’s in sync with what the lender requires.
4. Home remodel or improvement—you want to make sure you maintain true “replacement cost” especially if you’ve spent over $25,000.
5. You’re giving a family member or relative one of your cars but keeping it in your name—we have to talk immediately!
6. You’ve purchased some jewelry, fine art, antiques, guns, a fur coat or an expensive collections—let’s make sure we have it listed.
7. You got rid of some jewelry, fine art, antique, etc.—let’s make sure you’re not wasting premium on something you no longer own.
8. You bought an income rental property—let’s make sure your homeowners policy gives you the right liability protection.
9. You don’t have “flood” insurance but maybe you’d like to discuss it some more—We’d feel much more comfortable knowing you really understand what flood insurance can do for you.

Of course, you don’t need a reason to call. We’d love to hear from just to say “hello” and catch up on things.

Sadly, before you know it, the time will shortly come again when we have to go out shopping for our textbooks and other school supplies. The school-year is shortly upon us. Where did the summer go? Well, unfortunately we have to go back whether we like it or not. Here are a couple tips to ensure your mind is back in full academic swing so you can start this year off on the right foot!

•    Develop organizational systems that will work for YOU.
•    Avoid distractions in your study space.
•    Keep all of your books, notebooks, binders, and folders for each class together on a shelf.
•    Reward yourself! Positive reinforcement is an amazing thing.
•    Schedule time to complete your assignments based on anticipated time on task and urgency.
•    Use an academic planner to keep track of your assignments, deadlines, and appointments.
•    Use shorter, less grammatically correct sentences.
•    Divide your study time into blocks separated by quick breaks.
•    Create and save study guides and aids.
•    Learn how to effectively communicate with your teachers.

For the child going off to college (click to visit our research page)

•    Maintain a College Budget- Keep a record of all expenditures to be responsible for extracurricular spending, including clothes shopping and nights out with friends.
•    Less Is More When Packing for College- You should pack items you can share with roommates and also bring storage boxes that can be stored under beds and in closets; Dorms are very small, with little storage.
•    Get Along With Roommates- Roommates may be able to avoid issues if ground rules are set from the beginning. Having conversations about cleaning schedules or having friends over can ensure roommates are on the same page.
•    Be Proactive about Fighting College Stress- Believe it or not, just getting enough sleep, exercising regularly, or seeking out counseling services on campus will help relieve your stress.
•    Fight the Freshman 15- College dining halls often offer buffet options. Freshmen who want to fight the bulge should consider counting calories watching their portions, and exercising regularly.
•    Find Cheap College Textbooks- Before freshmen purchase textbooks at college bookstores, they should consider renting, purchasing used, or explore the library for extra copies or see if their professor has extras to lend out to students..
•    Dealing with a Bad Grade- Receiving a bad grade can be frustrating, but it can also be a learning experience. Students who have questions about their grade should set up a meeting with the professor, which can be beneficial in numerous ways: the student learns from the experience and the professor gets to know the student.

We wish you and your children a safe and educational 2013-2014 school year.