Spencer Insurance Blog

Well, last weekend we moved our clocks ahead one hour for Daylight Savings Time.  Let’s hope this is a sign that Spring has arrived.  What a winter!!!  Time to think about lying on the beach at the Jersey Shore!

Daylight Savings Time is also a great time to remember to change the batteries in your smoke or carbon monoxide detectors.   Protect your family by replacing all the batteries in these detectors, then do it again in the Fall when we change back from Daylight Savings time.

It is also a good idea to clean out your smoke detectors.  I learned this the hard way.  I recevied a call from a fireman friend who told me they had a fire alarm at my house.  A neighbor heard my smoke detector going off and called the fire department.  I later thanked my neighbor for calling the fire department even though it turned out to be a false alarm.  Better safe than sorry!

It turns out my smoke detector went off because of a build up of dust inside the detector.  Needless to say I replaced the smoke detector.  However, that experience taught me a lesson.  Everytime I change the battery in a smoke detector I make sure there is no dust.  If there is I clean it out.

Smoke detectors save lives, so be sure to make sure they are working!  A few dollars could save a life or the loss of property.

So, go out today and buy some batteries and replace all those batteries in your smoke detectors.  Be Safe and enjoy Spring!!

This question comes to us in many forms.  Do I have full coverage? Do I have good coverage? Am I fully protected?

The answer to these questions can be different for each of our clients.  Our Mission Statement says: “Spencer Insurance Agency, Inc. recommends and provides insurance products and services to our clients that best meets their risk factors in their personal and business lives. The Agency represents top rated competitive carriers. Our goal is to provide an insurance package that reflects the client’s risk that is very competitively priced. While the Agency recognizes that price is an important consideration, it also realizes that our client’s TRUE COSTS can be much higher if they are not properly protected. Your protection and peace of mind is our only business.”

We are happy to review your coverage and needs with you.   An easy way to start is to answer our “20 Question Quiz” which can be found on our website at: http://www.spencerinsurance.com/docs/20_Question_Quiz_Review_Side.pdf.  Download and complete this form then fax, email or mail it to us. If you do not have access to a computer call our office at 215-885-2200 and we will send one to you.  After you complete the Quiz our office will contact you to review your needs.  Don’t wait until you have a claim and it is too late. Get your FREE review today!

Last September Tammy and I lost a good friend and client, Cathy Garry, to cancer.  Cathy’s first fight was with breast cancer.  After she successfully battled this terrible disease she was diagnosed with cervical cancer.  All of us who knew Cathy were amazed at her spirit.  Whenever we got together with Cathy and Jim the conversation was never about her battle with cancer.  She only wanted to know how our family was doing.   She certainly was an inspiration to us and a truly kind and loving person.

Cathy’s Kids Foundation is a registered non-profit foundation that was created by her three children and their spouses to aid families fighting the same battle with cancer as their family fought.  I cannot think of a better way her children could have kept her spirit alive. 

Check out their website at http://www.golfforcathy.com/  

 On Monday August 2, 2010 the Foundation will hold the first Cathy Garry Memorial Golf Tournament.  All proceeds raised at this event will help send a child who is fighting cancer and his/her family to Walt Disney World.  I urge you to support this event in any way possible.  If you like golf, sign up a foursome.  If you are not a golfer then you can still make a donation

All of us here at Spencer Insurance Agency want to help out in this great cause.  In addition to being a sponsor for the golf outing, Spencer Insurance will donate $5 for every referral we receive from you from March 1, 2010 until August 2, 2010. There is no limit to the number of referrals you send our way.  Please spread the word to your friends and family.

In addition if you can donate even a small amount we would be thrilled.  You can make individual donations through their website at http://golfforcathy.com/individualdonations.htm.

I would like to thank you in advance for helping Cathy’s Kids Foundation send a child and their family to Walt Disney World.  I know all of us have been affected by this terrible disease and hope for a cure in the near future.

Wow!  Did I hear 47 inches of snow in one week here in Philly? 

There are several things you should do to prevent claims on your auto and home insurance.

Your auto insurance:

• Since many back streets are still snow covered and that snow is packed and like ice, you need to allow a lot more time to stop.  Also, be aware of your surroundings and think about your options should you start to slide.  This happened to me a few years back when I was driving into a busy intersection and slid down the hill.  I was headed right for the busy cross street but was able to turn my car into the curb to stop my car.  That could have been a disaster.
• Also remember that the snow becomes very hard after a couple days.  The melting during the day followed by the freezing at night makes the piles of snow the equivalent of a stone wall.  Remember this when you are parking or backing out of your driveway.  The snow which earlier was soft now is rock hard and can cause severe damage to the body of your car.  Also watch the undercarriage of your car.  The snow that has been accumulating and not plowed is also becoming hard and could do serious damage to the undercarriage of your car.
• Clear all the snow off your vehicle.  I saw a van yesterday that had about a foot of snow on the top of the van.  This snow becomes hard and when it blows off your car and hits the car behind you could cause a serious injury to that driver. (Not to mention that PA passed a law last year which fines a driver if snow from their car damages another car.)
• With this much snow the plows have pushed the snow to the side of the roads.  Many times this makes the inside lane more narrow.  Be aware of this as you drive.

Your Homeowner’s Insurance:

• Remove the snow from your decks and the roof of your garage and shed.  Snow becomes very heavy and could cause a deck, garage or shed to collapse. Remove the snow if you can do it safely.
• Look at the trees in your yard to make sure the trees are not bent over and scraping your home due to the heavy load of snow on them.
• Clear your walks and make sure you put some salt down. The snow melts during the day and the water can freeze at night.
• Make sure all your outside drains and sewers are not blocked by snow.  If the snow melts this could cause a flood. 
• If you have a fire hydrant near your home make sure that you shovel out the hydrant so the fire company can respond faster to a fire.

With more snow in the forecast it is time to be proactive to prevent losses. 

If you have Teen Drivers, this is a great time to take them out in the snow so they can practice.  Start in a deserted parking lot first so the teen driver can get comfortable in the snow.

It is time to shoot the ground hog!  I don’t think I can handle six more weeks of a winter like this.

For more tips check out our website: www.spencerinsurance.com

For Teen Driver tips check out our website at: www.teendriverinsurance.com/spencer

In a recent blog I suggested to everyone that you should be outraged at the fact that Pennsylvania does not have stricter teen driver safety laws.

Now an organization has been formed to target distracted drivers.   As U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood states “Every single time you take your eyes off the road or talk on the phone while you’re driving – even for just a few seconds – you put your life in danger.  And you put others in danger too.  This kind of behavior is irresponsible and the consequences are devastating.”

The new advocacy group will help raise awareness and support victims of distracted driving.  The program designed by U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood and the National Safety Council is called FocusDriven.    There are two websites that will give you more information on this topic.  Visit them at http://www.focusdriven.org/why_cell_free.aspx and   http://www.distraction.gov/ .  Check them out today and get actively involved in getting cell phone and texting bans in Pennsylvania.  For more information on how to help your teen driver become a safer driver visit our website at www.teendriverinsurance.com/spencer.

Tragically car accidents continue to be the primary cause of teenager deaths.  In our area we had three accidents that caused the death of 6 teen drivers in two months. 

I have teamed up with  the Society of Family Insurance Specialists (SFIS) in striving to reduce that statistic by  providing parents a free online 16 step ‘Teach My Teen to Drive’ home study driving course.  This is a tool, available on our Parents of Teen Driver Website  that will allow parents to structure their time with their teen driving to gain as much knowledge and experience as possible in a variety of situations.  The SFIS is a national organization of insurance agents committed to reducing the number of teen driver related accidents and fatalities by providing tools to promote teen driver safety.

Although Pennsylvania only requires 50 hours, driving school experts recommend 100 hours of behind-the-wheel experience before a teen drives unsupervised. By following the step by step online ‘Teach My Teen to Drive’ course with practice exercises for each lesson, parents can not only teach their teens driving skills, but give them the much needed experience. Ret. Police Officer James Poer, who has investigated numerous teen driver accidents during his 30 years as an accident investigator says, “Teens are most likely to cause accidents because they just don’t have the practical experience that mature drivers have to avoid dangerous situations. This course gives parents tools that can help their teens gain this experience and learn the most important skills to safe driving”.

“We at Spencer Insurance are  proud to offer an easy and no-cost way for parents to give this education to their kids.”  “We know that driving schools are important but, they just can’t give new drivers adequate experience. By following our step by step program, parents can take control of and responsibility for their teens’ driver education.”

Members of the SFIS offer many tools including GPS teen driver monitoring systems, Parent/ Teen Driver Contract, 101 Safety Tips for Teen Drivers and much more.

The “Teach My Teen to Drive” online course is available through Charlie’s agency website at www.teendriverinsurance.com/spencer.  Or parents can contact them directly at 215-885-2200.

Let us help you by getting the most of the 50 hours or more you spend with your teen driver when they are learning how to drive.

In December there were three fatal accidents in our area taking the lives of six teen passengers.

 In 41 states there are Teen Driver Laws that limit the number of passengers that can be in a teen driver’s car.  Sadly, Pennsylvania is one of nine states without a law limiting the number of passengers in a car operated by a teen driver.  What additional motivation does the PA Legislature need to pass safer Teen Driver Laws?

It is time to call our State Representatives and Senators and tell them to pass safer Teen Driver Laws.

There are several laws pending to make Teen Driving safer.  Banning texting and limiting the number of passengers in a car driven by a Teen Driver are no brainers yet they continually get defeated when they come up for a vote.

As a parent my heart goes out to the parents of these teens.  A Johns Hopkins University study stated that the chances of a 16 year old dying in a car while a teen driver increased 39 percent with a single passenger, 86 percent with two passengers and 182 percent with three or more passengers.  In the December accidents that claimed lives of the six teen passengers two of the cars had six passengers and the other had three passengers.

Car accidents are the number one cause of death of teenagers.

As parents we are responsible for our children’s safety.  Even if the Pennsylvania legislature will not help us out we should enforce our own laws with our children. 

Number 1: No one is allowed in our vehicles unless they wear a seat belt (even back seat passengers)

Number 2: Outside of your household members, there should be no more than one other passenger in the car driven by your teen driver.

Number 3: No texting or using a cell phone while driving unless you are calling 911!  Parents, be aware that children learn by your example.  Practice what you preach.  Pull over to talk on the phone. At the very least use a hand held device.

Lastly, have your teen driver sign a contract that lists the consequences to any actions breaking your laws.

Visit our website at www.teendriverinsurance.com/spencer for a copy of a parent/teen contract and more tips on how to help your teen driver become a safer driver.  His or her life may depend on you!

AND, call your state rep and senator today and tell them to pass laws designed to help keep your teen driver safe.

Don’t Take that chance! Don’t drop your auto insurance on a seasonal vehicle unless you have surrendered your tag to PennDOT and talked to me.  Pennsylvania allows you to drop your auto insurance on a seasonal vehicle as long as it is not registered. 

 If you do not surrender the tag you could have severe consequences.  Pennsylvania law states that if you do not have auto insurance on a registered vehicle you can be fined, however that could be the least of your worries.

 Pennsylvania courts have ruled that if you have an uninsured registered vehicle and you are involved in an accident you do not have any first party benefits.  First party benefits include medical, work loss and funeral expenses.  This applies NOT ONLY to the uninsured car but any insured cars you own.

 If you are in an accident with a car you have insured and registered your insurance company can deny you first party benefits if they find out you have another car that is registered but not insured.  You can go online and get details of a case, Progressive v. Anthony Kennedy.

 This is why I do not recommend dropping your auto insurance on a seasonal vehicle.  The penalty is too severe.  You may have good intentions but if you forget to return the tag you put yourself in a very vulnerable position.

 It is not unusual for clients with antique and classic cars to store their cars for the winter.  The snow and salt is not good for the vehicle so they keep it in the garage. However, then  a beautiful sunny and warm January Saturday comes along and they can not resist the temptation to drive the classic car with its top down, UNINSURED and EXPOSED to a lawsuit!

  Another risk you run, even if you return the tag to PennDOT, is that your classic or antique car could be destroyed by a fire in the garage or someone could hit your car on your property.  Your homeowner’s insurance will not cover the car in the event it is destroyed by a fire, vandalized or stolen.

 
Give me a call to discuss your options on how to properly cover a vehicle that is seasonal or out of commission for a short period of time.  I will discuss your situation and tell you the best way to reduce your risk.  There may be some very affordable options for you. You may be able to get an Antique car policy which would reduce your premium substantially.  

 Another reason to reconsider dropping your coverage: You may be getting a multi car discount. You could lose the discount, causing the premium on your other cars to increase and you might not save as much money as you expected.

 If you decide to surrender your tag and drop your insurance, go to our website at www.spencerinsurance.com and check out our Resources page and Links to get the information and form you need to surrender your tag properly or get a seasonal registration from the state.

 Many times the premium savings you receive by dropping your insurance on a vehicle is small compared to the risk you take of being sued without insurance.  Then the “True Cost of Insurance” becomes much greater!  Call me today to make sure you are not being penny wise and pound foolish!

Many factors will play into your decision, but you should be aware of a recent study.

 On September 25, 2009 MSNBC.com had an article titled “1 in 4 teens with own car has been in a crash.”

 The research was based on a nationally representative survey of more than 5500 teens in grades nine through 11.  More than 2000 teens reported driving on their own where they had their own car or were the main driver of the car they used.  The author found this an alarming statistic.

 Of these 2000 teens, 1 in 4 reported being in an accident versus 1 in 10 of those who did not have their own car.  The author stated that freedom can lead to a sense of entitlement about driving that makes them less cautious.

 What can you do as a parent to protect your teen?  The study found that parents need to be involved with their teens. The study states “Compared with teens whose parents were uninvolved, kids who said their parents set clear rules and monitored their whereabouts without being overly controlling had half as many crashes and much better driving habits.”

 Parents need to be proactive with their teen drivers.  Asking your teen to sign a driving contract helps.  Working on driving skills above the usual drivers training is important.

 Our agency has all these tools in a website designed for the parents of teen drivers.  Check it out at www.teendriverinsurance.com/spencer. You can print out a teen contract and consequences form to be used with your teen driver.  If you have any questions give our office a call.

 I wish you the best in staying vigilant with your teen driver’s driving habits.

Fall is “Back to School” time.  This means more traffic on the roads especially in the morning as parents take their children to school.  It is also a time when more teen drivers are on the road and we need to be more alert.

 This is a great time to remind your teen drivers that driving is a “Privilege” not a “Right.”  Every state gives us the privilege to drive, and can take it away if we abuse this privilege.  As parents of a young driver, you also have the ability to take away this privilege.

 Just as every city and state has driving laws that your young driver needs to follow, you too should lay down some household laws that your young driver needs to follow or risk loosing their license.

 Simply discussing rules and the consequences of breaking a rule is one thing.  Putting it in writing gives you much more power.  You can download a “Teenager/Parent Driving Contract” and “Careless Driving Consequences” directly from our Teen Driver website at www.teendriverinsurance.com/spencer.  Just click the Resources tab at the top when you get to this website.

 Get the new school year off on the right foot by setting up guidelines with your teen drivers.

 We have a monthly email newsletter that is designed to help parents teach their children to be safe drivers.  To receive our newsletter email me at cspencer@spencerinsurance.com and ask me to send you our email newsletter called “Driver Seat”.