Category: auto insurance

Not all homeowners insurance policies are created equal. Many clients frequently compare homeowners quotes based on price alone, without having a thorough understanding of what coverage is provided. I must stress that it is very important to know if you are giving anything up for the lower price. Too many insurance agents are willing to provide bare-bones homeowners insurance coverage just to get your business on the books. The problem with this is that many of the claims we see are not covered in a bare-bones homeowners insurance policy.

My goal here is to identify several coverages that you should be on the lookout for as they are commonly used and cost very little to add to your homeowners insurance policy in PA.

Buried Utility Lines

How many times have you heard of someone that needed to have their front yard dug up to replace a pipe? We see it all the time. Traditionally, homeowners insurance did not cover this and many people were left paying the bill out of pocket. Many others bought separate coverage through the water company which provides limited coverage at a high price point. Today, most homeowners insurance companies in Pennsylvania offer this endorsement at a fraction of that cost. In addition, this endorsement typically provides broader coverage and higher limits than the policies through the water company.

Water/Sewer Backup

It’s a homeowner’s worst nightmare… you walk downstairs to find that a sewer or drain has backed up into your house through a toilet or sink. The floors are a mess with the grossest slime you can imagine. Your Bounty paper towels weren’t meant for this cleanup. You’ll need to have a professional come in for this. Unfortunately, this can cost in excess of $10,000 and most basic insurance policies don’t provide coverage. Just about all insurance companies in PA offer this endorsement though, and it typically costs very little. Make sure this one is on your homeowners insurance policy.

Roofing/Siding Matching

Many people think that when they have some damage to their roof or siding, the insurance company will automatically replace the entire roof or rewrap the house. That is not always the case. If the wording in the policy allows them to patch the damaged area, they will. However, you can purchase Roofing/Siding Matching with many PA insurance companies which provides extended coverage of $10k or $20k to match the roof or siding all the way around the house.

There are many more homeowners insurance endorsements that could be included on the list. The main takeaway is that you should not just assume every company is providing you equal homeowners coverage. Dive into the coverage package offered on the quote and ask questions of the broker to make sure the coverage meets your needs. Your home is likely your biggest asset. Spend a couple extra dollars for the right protection so you aren’t forced to spend thousands out of pocket when a claim isn’t covered.

Risk Averse Insurance is an insurance agency in Media, PA Delaware County that specializes in providing high-quality insurance products at an affordable price.

Delaware County is stepping up to provide some additional support for businesses affected by the COVID-19 pandemic with their Delco Strong Small Business Support Grant. Affected businesses can apply for a grant of up to $7,500 to help with the following:

• Up to three months of rent or mortgage payments
• Up to three months of utilities: electric, water, sewer, internet, security systems.
• Inventory: items regularly needed to conduct business incurred or due between February 15 and May 5, 2020

The timeframe for applications is a small one. The window to submit an online application is May 6 from 12:01 a.m. to 11:59 p.m. The window to submit a paper application is on May 6 from noon to 4:30 p.m. and May 7 from 8:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m at the Delaware County Courthouse. Applications will not be accepted before or after the window application.

Businesses eligible for the Delco Strong Small Business Support grant program must meet the following criteria:

• Be a small business defined as having less than 50 full-time employees on payroll as of March 1, 2020
• Must be a for-profit business
• Business must occupy a “brick and mortar location within Delaware County that is not a residential home
• Business must be located in an industrial or commercial (or similarly described) district within Delaware County
• Businesses must be registered or incorporated to conduct business within the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

Additional information can be found on Delaware County’s official website. We will continue to stay on top of this situation and keep our clients up to date with additional information as it becomes available.

At Risk Averse Insurance, we are here to answer your questions or help in any way possible. Please reach out to us with any questions or concerns you might have. We are happy to help!

I hope you and your families are staying healthy during this trying time.

 

Call Risk Averse Insurance in Media, PA for any questions you may have on your insurance coverage.

Risk Averse Insurance is an independent insurance agency in Delaware County that specializes in providing high-quality insurance products at an affordable price.

As a result of the ongoing coronavirus situation, most of us have been using our vehicles very sparingly. Because of this, personal auto insurance companies have begun providing discounts, rebates, or billing flexibility for existing auto insurance customers.

Each company has responded in a different way. Listed below are all of our auto insurance carriers below and their response to this situation. You may also receive updates directly from the insurance carrier with clarification on this situation as it changes. These refunds will happen automatically, so there is no need to contact the carrier.

Encompass

According to their website, Encompass is offering an average of 15% money back based on their monthly premium in April and May for personal auto insurance clients (subject to limited exceptions). Customers will receive the money back through a credit to their Encompass account, bank account or credit card on file, depending on how they make their payments.

Main Street America

Main Street Americaclients can expect a one-time full payment of $50 per vehicle that is covered by MSA under a personal auto insurance policy. Checks will be made out to the named insured on the policy and sent via mail to the address on file within the next 60 days. NOTE: new policies written after March 31, 2020 are excluded from this refund.

Travelers

Travelers is providing relief to their clients by:

• Providingbilling relief for all U.S. customers, including suspending cancellation and non-renewal of coverage due to nonpayment through May 15, 2020 (no interest, late fees or penalties will be charged).
• Giving U.S. personal auto insurance customers a15% crediton their April and May premiums.

Nationwide

Clients who have their auto insurance with Nationwide will receive a one-timepremium refund of $50 per policy for personal auto policies active as of March 31, 2020. This refund will be automatically issued to the customers’ most recent method of payment within the next 30 days.

Penn National

Penn Nationalhas extended their grace periods so that policies won’t be cancelled if their insureds are unable to pay at this time. Their website does not mention any auto insurance refunds being issued at this time, however.

Progressive

Progressiveis taking the following steps for their clients:

• If you have an active personal auto policy with Progressive at the end of April, you’ll receive a credit for 20% of your April premium.
• Progressive is offering the same 20% credit to active personal auto customers at the end of May, and may offer additional credits in the upcoming months.
• Starting April 1, 2020, they are waiving late fees, pausing collections, and holding off on canceling or non-renewing any active policies due to non-payment through May 15, 2020.

Safeco

Safeco’s personal auto insurance customers will receive a 15% refund on two months of their auto premium based on their premium amount as of April 7, 2020. Refunds will be issued in the manner that the client’s most recent payment was made or by check.

MetLife

Official details have not been released as of the date of this blog’s publication, but MetLife will be offering a 15% rebate for April and May personal auto premiums. MetLife clients will receive an email from MetLife once more details are available.

 

At Risk Averse Insurance, we are here to answer your questions or help in any way possible. Please reach out to us with any questions or concerns you might have. We are happy to help!

I hope you and your families are staying healthy during this trying time.

 

Call Risk Averse Insurance in Media, PA for any questions you may have on your auto insurance.

Risk Averse Insurance is an independent insurance agency in Delaware County that specializes in providing high-quality insurance products at an affordable price.

With Coronavirus (COVID-19) sweeping through countries across the world at an alarming rate, it can be difficult not to panic. As of 4/8/2020, there are over 1,000 confirmed positive cases of Coronavirus in Delaware County, PA alone and about 14,600 cases throughout Pennsylvania. Every day we’re hearing about more deaths, more jobs lost, and more severe social distancing protocols being implemented. Small businesses are being forced to close their doors either indefinitely or permanently. 41 states have issued stay-at-home orders in an effort to flatten the curve.

Two questions on everyone’s minds are: how do I avoid getting sick and getting others sick? Our five tips below will help you as you navigate this strange new territory.

1) Wash your hands

The best way you can avoid getting sick is to wash your hands regularly with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. This may seem like an obvious tip, but a recent poll of more than 24,000 US adults revealed that about 40% of Americans don’t always wash their hands after going to the bathroom. Yikes! If you were a member of the demographic that doesn’t always wash their hands, hopefully you’ve changed your ways by now in light of the current situation.

There’s an exact science behind washing your hands correctly which the Centers for Disease Control, Prevention (CDC) lays out on their website. Here’s when you should be washing your hands:

• After using the bathroom
• Before, during, and after preparing food
• Before eating food
• Before and after caring for someone who is sick with vomiting/diarrhea
• After changing diapers or cleaning up a child who has used the toilet
• After blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing
• After touching an animal, animal food, or animal waste
• After handling pet food or pet treats
• After touching garbage

If you don’t have access to soap and water in these situations, use hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol instead. Studies have shown that hand sanitizers with 60-95% alcohol are better at killing germs than those with a lower alcohol concentration. However, if your hands are heavily soiled or greasy after gardening, handling food, or playing sports, hand sanitizers may not work very well regardless of the alcohol concentration. Washing your hands with soap and water is recommended in this scenario.

2) Wear a mask/face covering

The CDC recommends that you wear a protective cloth face mask any time that you are in a public place and social distancing protocols are difficult to maintain. These cloth masks are used to help slow the spread of coronavirus as many people who have the virus are asymptomatic and unknowingly spread it to others. Wearing a cloth mask can also help you to avoid getting sick as it blocks large particles that are ejected after someone sneezes or coughs. Cloth coverings can be made at home using items you already have, so don’t feel the need to purchase a mask online.

Cloth face coverings should:

• Fit snugly but comfortably against the side of the face
• Be secured with ties or ear loops
• Have multiple layers of fabric
• Allow for breathing without restriction
• Be able to be laundered and machine dried without damage or change to shape

Coverings should only be worn once between washes. Because of this, it’s a good idea to make a few cloth coverings for yourself so that you’re not constantly running them through the washer and dryer. Remember: even if you aren’t concerned about getting coronavirus yourself, there are high-risk individuals everywhere and their exposure to the virus could be fatal.

3) Practice social/physical distancing

Depending on your preferred terminology, social distancing and physical distancing encourage the same behavior. To practice social or physical distancing, the CDC recommends:

• Staying at least 6 feet from other people
• Not gathering in groups
• Staying out of crowded places
• Avoid mass gatherings

Social/physical distancing is essential in our efforts to slow the spread of coronavirus because it mainly spreads between people who are in close proximity of one another. If you’re within 6 feet of someone for a prolonged period of time that you do not live with, your risk of contracting or spreading the virus increases. COVID-19 can be spread when an infected person sneezes, coughs, or talks, and droplets fly from their nose or mouth to someone else’s. You can also contract coronavirus by touching a surface that has been exposed to the virus and then touching your face.

Staying in your house is the best way to avoid getting sick and stop the spread of the novel virus. However, if you do need to leave the house for essential travel such as going to the grocery store, ensure that you are maintaining a distance of at least 6 feet from others.

4) Clean and disinfect surfaces every day

Get into a routine of cleaning and disinfecting surfaces in your home that are frequently touched by you or anyone that lives with you. Examples are: doorknobs, counter tops, light switches, handles, faucets, keyboards, etc. Before you start cleaning and disinfecting your home, make sure you are wearing disposable gloves to avoid contact with any germs that may be present.

To clean the area, start by using soap and water. Then, use a household disinfectant or diluted bleach solution if appropriate for the surface to kill as many germs as possible. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)’s website has a helpful list of disinfectants that can be used against SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. For soft surfaces such as bed sheets and rugs, run them through the wash machine at the warmest temperature the material will allow.

5) Avoid touching your face and mouth

The CDC recommends that we avoid touching our eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands to avoid getting sick. This may seem straightforward, but people touch their faces several times an hour without even realizing it. One study was done in 2015 in the South of Wales wherein researchers monitored via video recording the face-touching behaviors of 26 students during a lecture. They found that these students averaged an alarming 23 face touches per hour with almost half of the touches involving contact with the mouth, nose, or eyes. How do we stop ourselves from doing something so often that we didn’t even realize we were doing?

If you’re wearing a cloth face covering in public as we discussed earlier, that pretty much eliminates the risk of touching your mouth and nose. When you’re at home and not wearing a mask, however, you can’t be expected to wash your hands every time you touch your face… that would be wasting a lot of soap and water, and it isn’t even necessary. You mainly need to be concerned about touching your eyes, nose, and mouth when you’ve just been out in public. After coming back from the grocery store, for example, wash your hands with soap and water as soon as you get back to lower your chances of giving yourself coronavirus by absentmindedly scratching your nose.

Essentially, you just need to be mindful of what you’re doing. It’s almost impossible to stop touching your face altogether, but as long as you’re taking appropriate precautions and keeping your hands clean, this shouldn’t be an issue.

It is looking more likely that COVID-19 is going to have a long-term impact on our economy. Businesses are now being forced to close their doors which could spell the end for many and be a major setback for most. Sustaining your business through this time is going to require tightening your belt and cutting costs where you can.

As a commercial insurance brokerage, we fielded many calls last week from clients with a lot of questions about this situation. But they all boiled down to two basic questions:

1. How will my insurance respond to this situation?
2. What can I do to cut costs during this time?

With this in mind, I put together some information which should be helpful for those of you who have questions whether certain coronavirus losses are covered by your business insurance.

Business Interruption, Civil Authority Coverage

Most business owners want to know if there is any coverage in their policy to provide relief while they are shut down. Many news sites have been incorrectly telling business owners to file a claim for Business Interruption.

After review of numerous policy forms it is very evident that most, if not all, business and commercial property forms will deny coverage for business interruption as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, even if it is a result of a mandated shutdown.

The Insurance Services Office (ISO) provides standard coverage forms which are utilized by almost all insurance companies in the United States. The ISO Business Income and Extra Expense Coverage form coupled with the Special Form Causes of Loss and the Businessowners Coverage Form do not provide coverage for lost revenue stemming from a coronavirus outbreak. ISO reinforced the standard policy language in 2006 following the SARS outbreak to make it very clear that loss as a result of virus, bacteria is not covered.

Because a virus is not a covered cause of loss, Business Interruption coverage will not be triggered. Because Contingent Business Interruption and Civil Authority coverages are extensions of Business Interruption coverage, they will not come into play either.

I do not want to offer false hope because it is very unlikely, but if you have an older policy form (one issued prior to 2006) you may have an argument for coverage if the policy does not include a specific virus exclusion. It is very important that all business owners contact an insurance professional to have their policy reviewed.

Your Risk Averse agent should first review the property form for a virus exclusion. If it doesn’t exist, they should review the entire property policy for a specific virus exclusion. If neither are on the policy, it may be worth filing a claim. I still believe this is a Hail Mary, but it may be worth the time considering what’s at stake.

Workers Compensation

Workers Compensation is more straightforward. Illness caused by virus is covered if that illness was contracted at work. If an employee tests positive for coronavirus and they believe they contracted the virus at work, I would recommend reporting it to your workers compensation carrier immediately so it can be reviewed for coverage.

Do not put this off. As soon as an employee makes you aware that they believe they contracted the illness on the job, you should enter the claim and let the insurance carrier handle it. Delaying this could jeopardize coverage and leave you on the hook for expenses associated with the illness.

 

Measures That Can be Taken to Reduce Insurance Costs

Most General Liability policies are rated on payroll or revenue. I would recommend reviewing those estimates with your Risk Averse agent and adjusting those figures as you see fit.

All Workers Compensation policies are rated on payroll. If you are on a pay-as-you-go plan, then all you need to do is report the lower payroll each period and you will be charged accordingly. If you have a traditional workers compensation policy, you should review your payroll estimates with your agent and make adjustments by endorsement.

The Commercial Auto policy is a bit trickier, but you could consider lowering the liability limits if all company-owned vehicles are off the road. However, if any vehicles were taken home by employees or are in use by managers or owners, I do not recommend lowering the liability limits. You could also remove Collision coverage from those vehicles if there isn’t a loan or lease involved. This is not something we would typically recommend, but this is an unprecedented situation, so the ultimate goal is protecting the short-term viability of the company. When you are allowed to get back to work, you should adjust the limits back to where they were.

 

Billing

Each insurance carrier is handling billing differently, but most are offering some flexibility. Unfortunately, there is not an option to suspend an insurance policy but if you are going to have an issue making your next payment, contact your Risk Averse agent and we’ll see what we can do.

 

Small Business Relief Package

I am a small business owner myself and fully understand the damage COVID-19 will almost certainly inflict on our business community. The US Congress is already approving measures to help us. How that looks is still an unknown, but it sounds like there will be low-interest or interest-free loans available for business owners. If we use those loans to pay our employees and rent, they may be eligible to be converted to a grant.

Nobody will know what the relief package will look like until a bill is passed but we intend to keep anybody who is interested informed. For frequent updates, please follow us on social media. It is our goal to provide all small business owners with the important details of the relief package as well as a step-by-step guide as to how to obtain assistance.

I wish you all the best of luck in getting through these trying times.

In Pennsylvania, the law requires a certain minimum amount of auto insurance coverage. This amount is informally called a 15/30/5 Policy. These numbers are shorthand, for $15,000 of coverage for injuries you cause to one person; $30,000 of coverage for injuries you cause to two or more people; and $5,000 of coverage for damage you cause to the property of others. That’s it.

Perhaps you noticed, the required state minimum does not cover injuries to YOU or damages to YOUR VEHICLE. The state minimum is insufficient and outdated coverage, being in place since the 1970’s with no changes or indexing for inflation and the realities of modern life.

“Good” coverage protects OTHERS and protects YOU.

You should purchase UM/UIM coverage. UM/UIM is shorthand for Uninsured/Underinsured. This covers YOU for injuries you suffer by a driver that doesn’t have liability coverage (i.e. Uninsured) or doesn’t have adequate liability coverage (i.e. Underinsured). For example, if you are injured by a driver that is uninsured and you don’t have UM coverage in place, you are likely out of luck to be financially compensated for your injury. Similarly, if you are injured by a driver that is underinsured (e.g. the other driver only has 15/30 liability coverage) and you don’t have UIM coverage in place, you are limited to $15,000 of financial compensation for your injury. Worse yet, at any given time in Pennsylvania up to 20% of drivers are not insured. UM/UIM coverage gives you the power to insure all drivers on the road for as much as you want them to be insured for.

Pay extra for Stacking if you own more than 1 vehicle. Stacking allows you to combine UM/UIM coverage that you have on 2 or more vehicles and make it available to you all at once. For instance, imagine that you have $25,000 of UM/UIM coverage on each of the 3 vehicles in your household. If another driver is uninsured/underinsured and at fault for an accident that injured you, you are able to make a claim to your own insurance company for your injuries up to $25,000 because of the UM/UIM coverage you purchased. (Yes, you can make a claim against your own insurance company!) BUT, if you paid just a bit extra for Stacking, then you would be able to make a claim to your own insurance company for your injuries up to $75,000 (Because all 3 of your $25,000 policies are combined, i.e. “stacked” together).

You should purchase the Full Tort option. Full Tort allows you to financially recover for any degree of injury no matter how minor. The alternative is the Limited Tort option, which only allows recover for an injury that is a “serious impairment of a bodily function” or a “serious permanent disfigurement”. What does this really mean? For example, if you suffer whiplash causing neck and back pain resulting in 6 months of physical therapy, you might not be able to financially recover for your injuries if you chose Limited Tort on your auto insurance policy. Most attorneys would agree that a “serious impairment of a bodily function” or a “serious permanent disfigurement” would include a broken bone, herniated disc, permanent and noticeable scar and/or an injury requiring surgery. But there are many lesser injuries one could suffer that are still very painful, lasting and disruptive to your life, that may be barred if you select the Limit Tort option. Choosing the Full Tort option leaves nothing to chance.

You should purchase Full Coverage (which is not the same thing as Full Tort). Full Coverage commonly refers to Collision Coverage (when others crash into your vehicle or you back into that light post at the super market) and Comprehensive Coverage (damage caused other ways, such as hail stones, theft, vandalism, etc.). This is a good idea if your vehicle is valuable and is required if your vehicle is leased or financed. It’s also great protection if your vehicle is struck by an uninsured driver. Lastly, it’s great coverage to have if liability is unclear. If you think an accident is the other guys fault, but he thinks it’s yours, this coverage will require your insurance carrier to fix your vehicle promptly; then your carrier will duke out liability with the other guy on your behalf free of charge to you. Note: This is also where you have the option to purchase Towing and Rental Coverage.

Purchase Property Damage Liability Coverage greater than the $5,000 required state minimum. This type of coverage not only covers damage you cause to the other guy’s vehicle, but also to personal and real property. If you rear end someone sending their car crashing into a telephone pole, careening through a store front window while breaking their expensive Iphone and designer sunglasses, this is the coverage that protects you for all of that. Maybe $5k would cover the tab in the 1970’s, but not today. Nowadays most any accident, no matter how minor, will result in more than $5,000 in damage.

You should purchase Personal Liability Coverage greater than the minimum required $15,000/$30,000 (i.e. 15/30). There are all different increments of coverage available above 15/30, the most common starting at $25,000/$50,000 (i.e. 25/50) all the way up to $500,000/$1,000,000 (i.e. 500/1000) and beyond. This coverage compensates OTHERS for injury you cause them due to your negligence (i.e. mistakes, bad driving, etc.). It also protects YOU because your increased coverage will be adequate to compensate others, and therefore they are extremely unlikely to pursue your personal assets in a lawsuit. Win – Win!

Lastly, you should consider increasing your First-Party Benefits Coverage. The First-Party referred to here is YOU! This is coverage that compensates you no matter who is at fault. The state minimum coverage in PA does provide you $5,000.00 of coverage for your Medical Bills (called PIP). But if you buy “good” insurance, you can be covered for more than $5,000.00, plus Funeral Costs, Accidental Death Benefits and Wage Loss. Of course, when deciding on this coverage you should consider what other coverages you may have in place through Health/Life/Disability policies. There’s no sense in paying twice – though be sure to note that increasing First-Party Benefits Coverage is relatively inexpensive.

“Good” Coverage obviously costs more than the state minimum coverage. I’ve litigated thousands of auto cases; take it from me, if you’re ever in an accident, you will never regret having paid a bit extra for auto insurance. Before an accident, it will give you peace of mind and after an accident, it will compensate you and your family while protecting your assets.

The difference between “Good” and “Bad” auto insurance coverage is probably the cost of few nice dinners a year – you and your family are worth that. Eight (8) auto injuries occur in this country every minute and a fatality occurs every 13 minutes! Don’t skimp here.

In sum, I recommend to my own family and my clients:

1. Buy the optional UM/UIM coverage
2. Pay extra for Stacking to combine your UM/UIM coverages if you have more than 1 vehicle
3. Always pay more for the optional Full Tort coverage (not to be confused with Full Coverage)
4. Buy the optional Full Coverage to protect your vehicle against damage caused by Uninsured/Underinsured drivers
5. Buy increased amounts of Property Damage Liability coverage
6. Buy increased amounts of Personal Injury Liability coverage 
7. Consider increasing your First-Party Benefits.

 

These are the basics but there is far more to the ins and outs of auto insurance. Please contact my office anytime if you have questions!

 

Call Risk Averse Insurance in Media, PA to get a quote on auto insurance.

Risk Averse Insurance is an independent insurance agency in Delaware County that specializes in providing high-quality insurance products at an affordable price.

As your business grows over time, your current office may not be big enough to fit your needs anymore. Moving to a newer and larger location is very exciting, but also daunting as there are many things to consider when it comes to updating your business address. We recently moved to a larger office ourselves, so below are a list of a few tasks you need to get done before settling in to your new digs!

1. Let the post office know

No matter how hard you try to save paper, there are always going to be companies that will send you physical mail. Because of this, one of the first matters of business should be to alert the post office that you are moving to a new address. USPS can then forward your mail to you for up to one year in case not everyone who sends you mail knows about your move in time.

It costs $1.05 to change your address with USPS, but you get about $750 worth of coupons after the fact, so it more than pays for itself.

2. Contact your insurance agent

You will need to reach out to your insurance agent to update your business address on your policies. Keep in mind that depending on the nature of your business, your policy premiums may change to reflect any additional risks. Updating your business address with your insurance agent should not take long, but it is important to make sure that your policies reflect your current location.

This is especially important if you have a commercial auto insurance policy as your company vehicle(s) will need to have updated auto ID cards with the correct address listed.

3. Notify the IRS

The IRS will need to know that you are updating your business address before you actually make the move. In order to inform them of your new address, you can fill out Form 8822-B and mail it right to the Internal Revenue Service Center. This form is used when you need to change the following:

• Business mailing address
• Business location
• Identity of your responsible party

Once filed with the IRS, you will receive a confirmation letter in the mail showing that your address has been updated. Make sure you keep this document for your records..

4. Update your website and online listings

Existing and potential clients need to know that you’ve moved! Nothing deters customers away from your business like wasting their time trying to find you because you didn’t update your website. If you’re not sure how to update your website’s contact information, reach out to your site designer and request that they change it on their end.

People use Google more than any other search engine to get directions and find out information on local businesses, so make sure you update your Google listing as well.

Call Risk Averse Insurance in Media, PA to get a quote on a general liability insurance, builder’s risk insurance, auto, home insurance, and more.

Risk Averse Insurance is an independent insurance agency in Delaware County that specializes in providing high-quality insurance products at an affordable price.

Picture this: you walk out to your car early in the morning after a night of subzero temperatures. You scrape off the ice covering your car and can see your breath as you take out your keys to unlock the door. Opening the car door with a gloved hand, you sit inside and twist your key in the ignition only to find… your battery is dead. Now, you’ll almost certainly be late for work after you either jump start the battery or just call an Uber.

You don’t want to have trouble starting your car in the morning or, worst of all, get stranded in some parking lot by yourself in the freezing cold. So, the best way to avoid these situations from happening is to prepare for them ahead of time!

Prepare your vehicle for the upcoming freezing temperatures with these helpful tips:

Replace your battery.

If it’s been a while since you’ve switched out your existing battery for a new one, now is a good time to consider doing so. Low temperatures often cause batteries to produce less current, making it more difficult for them to start after hours of sitting in the cold. This problem only gets worse as the battery gets older, so make sure you replace your battery if it’s been in your vehicle for a little too long!

If you don’t want to spend the money on a brand new battery, another option is to get your battery inspected by a professional to ensure that it’s in good condition.

Use a thinner oil at your next oil change.

Your engine will typically function better in the winter if your oil is switched to a lower viscosity grade. In other words, the colder the weather, the thinner your oil should be. If you usually use 10W-30, consider switching to 5W-30 during the wintertime to improve your engine’s performance. The lower weight number indicates less viscous oil, which allows it to move more smoothly through the engine.

You can discuss this with your auto service center to make sure you’re getting the best option for your specific vehicle.

Review your car insurance policy.

There are over 150,000 crashes annually due to icy roads in the United States alone, and 17% of all vehicle crashes occur in winter conditions. Unfortunately, many people do not know how to drive properly when winter weather hits. This becomes a huge issue when a winter storm comes through during a work week as not everyone has the option to avoid the roads by simply working from home.

 

Put together a winter safety kit.

Whether you’re going on a road trip or driving to the grocery store, carry these items in your trunk in case of an emergency:

• Flashlight
• Batteries
• Snacks and water
• Blanket and/or sleeping bag
• Winter gear such as a warm hat, gloves, scarf, boots and a coat
• First aid kit
• Ice scraper

Most of these items can be used year-round if you get stranded waiting for roadside assistance. However, keeping a blanket and warm clothes in the trunk could save you from frosbite, pneumonia, or even death. Keeping warm is essential in the freezing cold, and you cannot always rely on your vehicle to provide heat when you need it the most.

 

Call Risk Averse Insurance in Media, PA to get a quote on a personal or business car insurance policy.

Risk Averse Insurance is an independent insurance agency in Delaware County that specializes in providing high-quality insurance products at an affordable price.

Everyone knows that when you want protection for your vehicle, you get car insurance. When you want to protect your business from bankruptcy in the event that your company is sued, you get a general liability insurance policy… and so on. What if, however, you’re concerned that your house is haunted and you want financial protection from the ghost(s) plaguing your residence? You would get ghost insurance, of course.

Spooksafe Insurance

Ultraviolet is an insurance company based in the UK that issues specialty policies including Spooksafe. Spooksafe provides coverage in the event that you are attacked by a spirit, werewolf, or vampire. For those who are not superstitious, this may seem like a ridiculous waste of money. However, plenty of paranormal enthusiasts and paranoid home/business owners have invested in this unique policy which can provide up to $1,000,000 in coverage if you can prove that you were attacked by a supernatural being.

Spooksafe insurance covers the following:

• Death caused by the paranormal
• Injury caused by the paranormal
• Damage to personal property caused by the paranormal
• Attacks by vampires and/or werewolves

A $100,000 claim was actually paid out after a woman was thrown over the banister of her home here in the US tragically resulting in her death. After investigating, Ultraviolet underwriters concluded that her death was indeed caused by a poltergeist attack and paid up. This woman isn’t the only one who needed a Spooksafe policy; in 2002, the landlord of the Royal Falcon Hotel in Lowestoft, Suffolk obtained a �500 annual policy after claiming his hotel was haunted by the ghost of a monk who threw glasses in the adjoining pub. His insurance policy would pay up to �1 million in the event that anyone was killed or injured on the premises.

Other Ghost Insurance

Not satisfied with Spooksafe? Ultraviolet is not the only insurance company that provides specialty insurance. Lloyd’s of London is known for providing coverage to protect its policyholders from just about every situation under the sun. Serving over 200 countries, Lloyd’s also has a ghost insurance policy that over 40,000 people have chosen to carry.

In case ghosts aren’t your only concern, you can also purchase policies to protect yourself against Yeti and Bigfoot attacks, alien abduction, and being turned into a vampire or werewolf from this insurance company. Lloyd’s of London is pretty much your one-stop shop to insure yourself against any supernatural risk!

Risk Averse Insurance may not have any policies involving coverage for ghosts, vampires, or werewolves, but we do provide expert service while offering affordable prices on business and personal insurance. Contact us for any questions you may have and we’ll work with you to find the best coverage for your needs at a reasonable price!

Call Risk Averse Insurance in Media, PA to get a quote on a business or personal insurance policy.

Risk Averse Insurance is an independent insurance agency in Delaware County that specializes in providing high-quality insurance products at an affordable price.

Comprehensive and collision are both types of auto insurance that work to protect your vehicle in the event that damage is done to it. However, they differ in the types of damages that they will cover.

 

Collision Insurance Coverage

Collision coverage is incredibly important to have for any driver regardless of your level of experience. Whether you’re 18 or 65, accidents happen and fixing or replacing your vehicle after the fact can be very expensive.

The damages that collision insurance will cover is in the name; it covers damages incurred during a covered accident after a collision with another vehicle, object, or road hazard such as a pothole. After your deductible is paid, your collision coverage kicks in to pay the remaining costs of repairs done up to your car insurance policy’s limits.

As collision coverage can be expensive, many choose a higher deductible to keep their monthly payments and overall premium cost lower. A deductible of at least $500 is recommended.

Collision insurance coverage is optional to add to your auto insurance policy unless you are leasing your vehicle or are paying loans. If this is the case, your lienholder often requires that you have collision added to your policy.

Comprehensive Coverage

Comprehensive insurance will cover damages that are not caused by a collision with another vehicle or an object. It instead covers damages to a vehicle on your auto insurance policy involving the following:

• Theft
• Vandalism
• Fire
• Windshield repair
• Natural disasters
• Falling objects
• Animal impact (most commonly deer)

 

Which Coverage Should I Have?

If you carry comprehensive and collision insurance coverage, your vehicle will be protected for a variety of scenarios. You can choose to carry neither, just comprehensive coverage, or comprehensive and collision coverage. You cannot, however, carry collision without comprehensive insurance.

It’s important to note that you do not want to be stuck in a situation where you do not have enough coverage if you get into in accident; however, you also don’t want to over-insure your vehicle and end up paying for a bunch of coverages that you do not need.

It’s always best to talk to your agent if you’re unsure about which to carry. Risk Averse Insurance has been insuring Delco and the surrounding areas since 2015, providing expert service while offering affordable prices on car insurance. Contact us for any questions you may have regarding your auto insurance and we’ll work with you to find the best coverage for your needs at a reasonable price!

 

Call Risk Averse Insurance in Media, PA to get a quote on your auto insurance policy.

Risk Averse Insurance is an independent insurance agency in Delaware County that specializes in providing high-quality insurance products at an affordable price.