inSIGHTS | Spring 2013

inSIGHTS

SPRING installment

Personal Risk Management topics brought to you by Henriott Group, Inc

IN THIS ISSUE HOME MATTERS Even those who don’t live next to a water source could be at risk from a springtime deluge. Spring showers can quickly lead to flooding. Be prepared for the unexpected.

AUTO INSIGHTS As the temperature increases, so does the number of motorcyclists on the road. Follow these tips to safely “share the road” with motorcyclists.

LIFE LESSONS What would your life be like without your paycheck? It’s not a pleasant thought, so think about disability insurance. After all, it protects your paycheck if you become ill or injured and unable to work.

SAFETY CORNER With lawns to mow and houses to paint, spring cleaning can include multiple trips to the emergency room. Keep your equipment and tools in check for a safer spring.

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>>> Be Prepared for Spring Flooding Flooding is the nation’s most common natural disaster.

Floodwaters have the power to damage not only your home and sense of security but also your financial future. Don’t be caught off guard. Get the facts. Know the risks. Take action to protect yourself, your family, and your finances—before it’s too late.

Be Floodsmart—Reduce Your Risk A flood does not have to be a catastrophic event to bring high out-of-pocket costs, and you don’t have to live in a high-risk flood area to suffer flood damage. Around twenty percent of flood insurance claims occur in moderateto-low-risk zones. Property owners should remember:

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The time to prepare is now. Visit ready.gov/floods for more on family preparedness for flood and other emergencies. There are a number of steps individuals and families can take to better prepare themselves for flooding and reduce their risks. Remember to have a family emergency plan, build an emergency kit, and keep important papers and valuables in a safe, dry place.

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Only flood insurance covers flood damage. Standard homeowners policies DO NOT cover flood damage.

Remember: it typically takes 30 days for a new flood insurance policy to go into effect, so get your policy now. Flood insurance may be more affordable than you think. An average flood policy costs around $570 a year, with rates starting at $129 a year for homes in moderate-to-low risk areas.

Visit floodsmart.gov to learn more about your flood risk and to explore your coverage options.

>>> Share the Road with Motorcycles Now that warmer weather is right around the corner in most of the country, motorcyclists will soon be out in force. All motorists are reminded to safely "share the road" with motorcycles and be extra alert to help keep motorcyclists safe. Motorcyclists also need to make themselves visible to other motorists.

Take the following safety precautions to reduce your chances of being involved in a costly and potentially deadly accident:

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Start your Engines!

Spring is here, which means classic car owners around the country are bringing their rides out of hibernation for another fun-filled summer. While it may be tempting to just uncover the car and drive, there are some important steps to make sure your baby is ready to go. 

Always allow a motorcyclist the full lane width—never try to share a lane.

Perform a regular visual check for motorcycles by checking mirrors and blind spots before entering or exiting a lane of traffic, and at intersections.

Always signal your intentions before changing lanes or merging with  traffic.

Don’t be fooled by a flashing turn signal on a motorcycle. Motorcycle signals are often not self-canceling and riders sometimes forget to turn them off. Wait to be sure the motorcycle is going to turn before you  proceed.

Allow additional following distance when behind a motorcycle to give the motorcyclist time to maneuver around obstacles in the roadway, or stop in an emergency.  Visit NHTSA for more motorcycle safety tips.

>>> Insurance for Your Paycheck If your paycheck suddenly vanished due to an illness or injury that prevented you from working, how long would you be able to buy groceries and pay your monthly bills before feeling the pinch? Probably not long.

That‘s why there‘s disability insurance. Think of it as insurance for your paycheck. It ensures that if you are unable to work, you will continue to receive an income. So if you couldn’t manage for long without your paycheck, now is the time to do something about it. We insure our homes and cars against the unforeseen, but many of us are not exercising the same due-diligence when it comes to our ability to earn a living.

Many people put off buying disability insurance because they think that a disabling illness or accident will never happen to them. But did you know that you have a roughly three in 10 chance of becoming disabled for 90 days or more before turning 65? Your bills will not stop rolling in if you’re unable to work due to illness or injury. So if you depend on your paycheck to fund all the things in your life today—and nearly all of us do—you need disability insurance.

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Batteries slowly lose their charge over a winter in storage, so take some time to fully charge it before starting the engine.

Make sure all fluids are properly filled, including gas. Giving the vehicle an oil change is also recommended.

When first starting the car, let it idle for a while to get it up to operating temperature.

Wash and wax the vehicle and then take it for a quick cruise around the area to ensure everything is working properly, including lights, brakes and turn signals.

Finally, make sure your classic car insurance policy is current. Classic car policies are much different than your typical auto policy and need extra attention to guarantee your vehicle is properly insured.

PLAYING IT

SAFE POTHOLEPATROL >>> Don’t Brake Into a Pothole Next to an actual fender bender, the sound of your car making a direct hit on a pothole is one of the most spine-jolting noises you'll ever hear. But if you think your nervous system is rattled by running your vehicle into an enormous road abyss, think about your car's tires, chassis, suspension and rims, all of which can be compromised after a particularly vicious encounter with a pothole. As you hit the road, keep an eye out for these hazards and know what to do if one is unavoidable.  Always maintain proper air pressure  Brake lightly. Slamming on your in your tires. A tire could pop if the brakes can cause greater tire damage wheel rim pinches against the jagged and also compresses your vehicle's edge of a pothole. front-end suspension system.

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Beware of puddles – they could be deep, sharp-edged potholes filled with water.

Reduce your speed. Slower pothole hits generally result in less damage.

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Don't swerve. Your vehicle could hit the pothole on an odd angle, causing more damage to the tire, wheel rim and alignment.

If you encounter a pothole, be sure to report it to INDOT.

SPRING-CLEANINGSAFETY >>> Tune up Your Tools Ah, springtime. That glorious time of year when you suddenly realize the lawn needs mowing, the garden needs weeding, and the house could use a fresh coat of paint. But buying new spring-cleaning tools may not always be possible.

Using last season’s tools is a good idea, if they’re in good condition and can be used safely. The last thing you want to do is take a trip to the emergency room. Yet that’s exactly where more than 350,000 people end up every year, thanks to injuries from improperly used ladders, lawn mowers, and power garden tools. So before you get too ambitious, take a few precautions to help keep your family safer.

 If you’re reusing last season’s lawn and garden power  Don’t operate an electric or gas-powered lawn    

tools, inspect them for frayed power cords and cracked or broken casings. If the item is damaged, have it repaired by a qualified technician or replace it.

Never carry a power tool by the cord or yank a power cord from a receptacle. When disconnecting the cord, always grasp the plug, not the wire. Keep cords away from heat, oil, and sharp edges.

When pulling out the lawn mower for the first time this year, refresh your memory by reading the owner’s manual. Be sure you know how to stop the machine in case of an emergency.

If you have a gasoline-powered mower, store the gas in a UL Classified safety can.

Always start your mower outdoors. Never operate it where carbon monoxide can collect, such as in a closed garage, storage shed, or basement.

mower on wet grass.

 When you’re through with power tools and garden

appliances, store them away from water sources to avoid electric shock. Never use them in the rain.  Whether your ladder is brand new or it has seen a few spring cleanings, read the warning labels before using it. They’ll help you choose the right ladder for the job and describe ladder weight and height limits.  Remember the 4-to-1 rule. For every four feet of ladder height, the bottom of the ladder should be one foot away from the wall or object it is leaning against.  Use a fiberglass ladder if you’re working near electricity or overhead power lines.

Spring Allergies have Sprung:

At last, the first warm days of spring! Time to open the windows, pack away the winter coats, get out in the garden -- and head to the pharmacy to stock up on allergy medications!

Spring-cleaning activities can stir up dust mites, so be sure to:

 Wash your bedding every week in hot water to help keep pollen under control.

 Wash your hair before going to bed, since pollen can accumulate in your hair.

 Wear a mask and gloves when cleaning, vacuuming, or painting to limit dust and chemical inhalation and skin exposure.

 Vacuum twice a week.  Limit the number of throw rugs in your home to reduce dust and mold.

 Make sure the rugs you do have are washable.  Change air conditioning and heating air filters often.

Do you have an iPhone? Our FREE app is live and available for download in the Apple iTunes Store.

This is a great tool to interact with our office and is a convenient place to store your policy information. Just a few of the benefits include: ► Quickly contact our office. Our contact information is available right at your fingertips! You can call or email without having to search around for a phone number or email address. ► Get roadside assistance from vendors that we trust. The application will figure out where you are and find a trusted source for towing, car rental, taxis, gas stations, repair facilities or locksmiths near you. ► Submit a claim from the scene of the accident. Do you know what to do if you have a claim? This application does. It walks you through finding all of the information you will need, bundles that with pictures you take with your camera phone and sends it directly to your agent to expedite the claims process. ► Keep your proof of insurance handy. Take a picture of your auto ID card and never be without it.

After 50 years, we are honored to still be serving Lafayette and the surrounding communities! We have grown and adapted through the years from our humble beginning in 1963 to our exciting 50th anniversary in 2013! Thanks to our staff and more importantly, YOU, for helping us continue to provide quality insurance to our friends and neighbors.

Client Focused. Results Driven.