HOLIDAY SAFETY

Holiday Safety

  Keeping your home and business safe  

While the holidays can be a time for celebrating and rekindling with loved ones, it could quickly turn disastrous by the way of a structure fire.

According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), fires that began with Christmas trees accounted for estimated annual averages of 240 structure fires and an average of 13 deaths, 27 injuries and $16.7 million in property damages.

Forty-two percent of those fires occurred from Dec. 23 through Jan. 3, according to the NFPA.

The NFPA said holiday lights with line voltage were the culprits in an estimated average 150 home structure fires, causing an average of eight deaths, 14 injuries and $8.5 million in damage. Almost half of these occurred in December and 13 percent happened in January, according to the NFPA.
 

Christmas Tree Safety:

• Consider an artificial tree for safety and clean up
• A real tree should not lose green needles when you tap it on the ground
• Cut one inch off the trunk to help absorb water
• Leave the tree outside until ready to decorate
• The tree stand should hold a minimum of one gallon of water
• Check the water level daily
• Make sure the tree is secured and cannot be knocked over
• Keep the tree away from all heat sources
• Use miniature lights that have cool-burning bulbs
• Always turn off the tree lights when going to bed or leaving
• Never use candles even on artificial trees
• Dispose of the tree properly after the holidays

Information courtesy ServiceMaster All Care Restoration, Peoria, Az.

“My dog doesn’t bite” — until it does Sometimes even good dogs bite, and when they do, you could be sued. If your dog bites someone, don’t panic. It’s important to remain calm so you can take swift and appropriate action: Restrain your dog immediately. Separate it from the scene and confine it. Seek medical attention immediately. If you think the injured person needs medical attention call 911. Call me. If you have personal liability coverage under your Farmers property policy call me and be prepared to give me information about the time and place of the incident and the name and phone number of witnesses and any injured person. Remember, if you have Farmers property coverage you can always call HelpPoint® Claim Services by Farmers at (800) 435-7764 for assistance when you need it most. Watch the body language Dogs express their feelings with their bodies just as people do. For instance, a threatening dog may have a wrinkled nose that draws back to reveal its teeth; the hair along the back of its neck may be raised and its ears may lie back; its body may appear tense and the dog may growl or snarl. If your dog is behaving like this, remove him from the scene immediately and confine him. And, always try to avoid any dog displaying any of these signs or acting in a threatening manner. Call for an appointment to review your current policy. Marianne Hobbs Insurance Agency 602.547.1970

Understanding Auto Insurance Coverage

Understand your auto coverage before you need it What do you mean my insurance doesn’t cover that? What do you mean I’m not covered? These aren’t questions you want to be asking after you’ve filed a claim. As your Farmers agent, it’s my goal to help you understand the auto coverage you have so you can be sure it’s what you want. States vary in what insurance they require drivers to carry; most require at least liability coverage with minimum limits. Here’s a brief review of the primary types of coverage that may be in your policy. Take a look at it, and then give me a call. We can get together and review your current coverage so you can see whether it’s what you want or if you want to make changes. Liability Bodily injury — covers the expenses associated with other people’s injuries or death such as medical expenses, loss of income and pain and suffering cause by you or someone driving your car with your permission, up to a limit chosen by you. Most states require drivers to carry a minimum amount of bodily injury coverage but you may want to consider buying more: If you’re found at fault in a serious accident you could be sued, and higher limits of liability coverage could help protect your assets. Property damage liability — pays for damage up to a limit chosen by you that you or someone driving your vehicle with your permission may cause to someone else’s property such as damage to someone else’s vehicle, but it also includes damage to lamp posts, telephone poles, fences, buildings or other structures your vehicle hits. Medical Payments or Personal Injury Protection (PIP) — pays for medical bills and funeral expenses for you or a passenger injured in an accident while riding in your vehicle, up to a limit chosen by you. It may also cover you or a family member who is a passenger injured in someone else’s vehicle or a pedestrian struck by a vehicle. Collision — pays for the damage to your vehicle resulting from a collision with another vehicle, object or as a result of flipping over. This coverage is typically required if your vehicle is leased or if you have an outstanding loan on the vehicle. Comprehensive — helps protect your investment in your vehicle by covering damage resulting from many different kinds of perils including fire, theft, falling objects, riots, storms, earthquakes, floods, and collision with a bird or animal. Like collision coverage, comprehensive coverage generally includes a deductible that you select. This coverage is normally required if your vehicle is leased or if you have an outstanding loan on the vehicle. Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist Coverage — subject to a limit selected by you, covers injury to you, your family members and your passengers in an accident with a motorist who has no insurance, or a motorist who lacks enough coverage to compensate for the damage caused, or a hit-and-run driver. It also covers you and your family members injured as a pedestrian. Coverage typically includes payment of medical costs, lost wages, pain and suffering. Uninsured Motorist Property Damage — covers damage to your insured vehicle caused by an uninsured, underinsured, or hit-and-run driver. I’m here to help Auto insurance can be confusing and difficult to understand so call me and we can review your coverage and discuss your concerns or questions so you can make an informed decision about what’s appropriate for your situation. It also will give us the opportunity to see whether you might be eligible for any of the discounts Farmers offers. Call me today.  Marianne Hobbs Insurance Agency 602.547.1970.

The Best Gift You Can Give Your Family!

The many uses of life insurance

Most of us buy life insurance to replace the loss of income that would occur should we die or to create an estate for our loved ones, but there are many other reasons:

• People depend on you — you have an aging parent or disabled relative who depends on you for support
• Retirement needs — your retirement savings and pension won’t be enough to support your family
• Estate planning — you have a large estate and expect to owe estate taxes
• Joint debt — you have a substantial joint financial obligation, such as a personal loan for which another person would be legally responsible after your death

If you own a business you may wish to consider life insurance for:

• Key person — life insurance can be used to help protect a business from the loss of income and profits caused by the death of a key employee
• Business continuation — life insurance can be used to help fund a buy/sell agreement or stock redemption plan to enable a partner or group of employees to buy the business interest of a deceased partner
• Business loans — insurance on a key employee or business owner can be used to pay off or help pay down the debts of a business in the event of that individual’s death

Prepare for the unexpected
I can help you analyze your individual situation so you can determine your life insurance requirements and be sure your coverage is appropriate for your needs and your family.

Life insurance issued by Farmers New World Life Insurance Company, Mercer Island, WA 98040.
Products and features may not be available in all states and may vary by state.