Back to School Safety

As kids head back to school, let’s keep them safe

The end of summer means many things, such as cooler weather, shorter days and ... the start of football here in Wisconsin!

But most important, it means kids are headed back to school. And that means we all should be extra careful on the roads, in school zones and around buses in Chippewa Falls and Eau Claire. Remember to watch for bikes, too! Here are some tips for both parents and kids to make sure everyone stays safe.

Use caution on the roads

·         There are going to be a lot more kids on the sidewalks and streets when school starts, so take it slow and always be aware of your surroundings. That’s good advice for all situations, of course, but be extra cautious around the times when school starts and ends for the day.

·         Watch out for school zones! They’re usually easy to spot, as many have flashing signs indicating a slower speed limit.

·         Remember to follow school-bus rules. You aren’t allowed to pass the bus on either side of the road when the red lights are flashing. Even when the lights stop, make sure the coast is clear before moving on. Kids can move quickly and erratically.

·         Leave yourself extra time to make it to your destination. Whether you’re headed to work or dropping your child off at school, rushing is a recipe for disaster.

·         Be especially careful in school or child-care parking lots and loading zones!

Teach kids to be safe while walking

Just a few minutes spent explaining some basic safety rules to your child can help keep them safe when they’re walking to or from school. Young children should never cross streets alone, but if your child is old enough to walk with others, remind them to do the following:

·         Always use marked crosswalks when crossing streets and look both ways twice.

·         Do not assume that drivers can see you. Try to make eye contact with them, if possible, when crossing the street.

·         Watch for driveways when walking on the sidewalk.

·         Be aware of cars that are turning or backing up.

·         Never move into the street from behind a car or other obstacle. Don’t chase a ball, pet or anything else into the street.

·         Always use sidewalks and paths. If there is no sidewalk or path, walk facing traffic and as far to the left as possible.

Help them stay safe on their bikes

Just as it’s important to help your children learn safety tips for walking to and from school, it’s important to teach bike safety, especially by setting good examples yourself.

·         Make sure your child wears a properly fitted helmet every time he or she rides a bike.

·         Before the bicycle is ridden, do a quick inspection to ensure it is working properly and reflectors are in place.

·         Show your kids how to ride on the right side of the road with traffic and to stay as far to the right as possible.

·         Encourage your child to walk his or her bike across busy intersections. Or better yet, choose a route without any busy crossroads.

·         Explain to your child why no one should ride on the handlebars.

·         Demonstrate the rules of the road by using proper hand signals and obeying traffic signs when you ride bikes together with your child.

·         Set curfews so your child is not riding a bicycle at dusk or in the dark.

·         Most importantly, supervise your children every time they ride until you are certain they have good judgment.

We know you’re probably familiar with all of these good ideas, but everyone needs reminders. So take it slow, and let’s have a happy and safe school year!

Uninsured Motorist

Uninsured Motorist Levels Are on the Rise

There’s another unfortunate side of the economic downturn that impacts every driver on the road: The number of underinsured motorists is expected to rise.

According to a recent study from Insurance Research Council, about one in six drivers across the United States may be driving uninsured by 2010. This means responsible drivers who purchase insurance may end up paying for injuries caused by uninsured drivers.

If you haven’t reviewed your liability coverage in the last two years, now is a good time to revisit your auto coverage to ensure you avoid extra costs after an accident. We’re happy to help – and we can often increase your coverages without a significant increase in premium. Just call Tyler Sperry at 715-723-5525 or e-mail tsperry@mowerins.com .

Stay in Touch

Stay in Touch!

As your insurance partner, we want to make sure we can contact you and your family in the event of an emergency. In addition to your home address and landline, we’d like to have your e-mail addresses and cell phone numbers on file. You can update your records by calling 715-723-5525 or e-mail tsperry@mowerins.com

Heading to Sturgis

 

Heading Off to Sturgis?

Whether you’re taking your Harley and heading across country, or just hitting the Northwest back roads, we want you to be safe on the roads this summer. Here are a few top tips:

Which cyclists have the highest risk for serious motorcycle accidents? Surprise: It’s 40-year-olds.”

No one's too old to wear a helmet

A motorcycle rider not wearing a helmet is forty percent more likely to sustain a fatal head injury in a crash than a rider with a helmet.* A National Highway Traffic Safety Administration study reports that "helmets saved 1,658 motorcyclists' lives in 2006, and that 752 more could have been saved if all motorcyclists had worn helmets."* Buy a full-face helmet for the best protection for your head and eyes. Wear other protective gear as well: heavy leather or synthetic gloves, long pants and jacket, and over-the-ankle leather boots.

In a crash, the SUV wins

When cars and motorcycles collide, it's usually because the driver of the car failed to see the cyclist. With more SUVs on the road, it's even more critical to take extra steps to become more visible. Use your headlamps—both night and day—and wear yellow, red or orange jackets to make yourself easy to see. Make a point of positioning yourself in your lane for visibility.

Training saves

One out of four motorcycle drivers involved in fatal crashes in 2006 were driving with invalid licenses.* Safeco offers discounts to riders who attend the Motorcycle Safety Foundation's safe riding courses or are active in one of 10 approved groups that promote safe riding. Do both those things and you can reduce your premium.

New Gear? Update your policy

Some companies, including Safeco, offer special coverage for custom parts and equipment—but you have to make sure each piece of equipment is listed on your policy. Any time you buy new leathers or safety equipment or customize your bike, call Mower Insurance at 715-723-5525 or e-mail tsperry@mowerins.com before you head out on the highway. 

Buying a New Car

Things to keep in mind when buying a car

Buying a new car is an exciting time — but it can also be stressful. After all, you’re trying to get the best deal on price, while also deciding on the make, model and features you need.

Here at Mower Insurance, we can’t really help you become a master negotiator when it comes to buying a car. But we can give you some things to consider when you’re looking around the lot — and when you’re trying to answer the age-old question of “new, or used?” Read on with an open mind, and you might just come to a different decision the next time you’re on the car lot.

New cars

Ah, that new-car smell. It’s a bit of a cliché, but it’s one of the things that people love about climbing into a brand-new car. And while they make air fresheners that supposedly give you that same smell for your used car, it just doesn’t seem the same, does it? Still, there are other benefits to buying new — and, of course, there are drawbacks as well.

•          PRO — maintenance: Some manufacturers offer free scheduled maintenance for a set period of time after you buy the car, and you likely won’t need a new battery, tires, etc., for several years after your purchase.

•          PRO — peace of mind: Your new car may have a warranty for up to 10 years, and also is covered by “lemon laws” that could allow for a replacement or refund if the car has serious defects.

•          CON — cost: Depending on the make and model, buying a new car is almost always more expensive (at least in terms of the purchase price) than a used car.

It’s also worth noting that if you purchase a new car in its first model year (meaning it’s a new model for the automaker), there won’t be many user reviews available, and data on reliability and repairs will be limited. In addition, sometimes newly introduced cars have some kinks that generally are ironed out by the second and third model years. These aren’t necessarily serious issues, and the warranty should cover them, but in some instances, you and your car could be headed to the shop more than you’d like.

Used cars

Don’t care about the new-car smell? Looking to save some money on your purchase? Well, a used car might be right for you. There are many advantages to buying used, but you’ll want to be a little more careful. After all, it’s hard to know exactly how well the previous owner treated the car. But you can limit your risk with a little bit of work.

•          PRO — cost: New cars depreciate quickly after they’re purchased. By buying used, you’re letting someone else take that financial hit over the first few years of the life of the car.

•          PRO/CON — reliability: Buying a used car is less of a gamble than it used to be, particularly with the advent of “certified pre-owned” programs many automakers now offer. However, used cars generally don’t carry the same warranties as new cars, even though the original manufacturer’s warranty is usually transferrable to a second owner.

•          CON — maintenance: While a used car theoretically shouldn’t need more frequent maintenance than a new car, you’ll likely need to replace things like tires, headlights, etc., earlier. And scheduled maintenance probably isn’t covered by the automaker.

•          PRO/CON — history: You’ll need to check the car’s title history to make sure it hasn’t been in a serious accident or salvaged. Ask the dealership to provide this information, usually from Carfax.

Of course, whichever car you purchase, the important thing is that it’s a good fit for you. Bear in mind that certain makes and models can result in higher insurance costs for you, so feel free to check in with us before you buy.

Have fun shopping — and we’ll see you on the road!

Savings Choices

Making Smart Savings Choices

In today's unsettled economy, many people are looking for ways to stretch their money—but sometimes this includes altering insurance  coverages to dangerously low levels or eliminating coverage entirely. If you’re thinking about changing your coverage to save money, consider these key issues below — and give us a call. We can help make sure you’ve got the right protection at a price you can afford.

•          Make sure you’re getting the appropriate discounts and credits:  Most insurers offer a variety of policy credits and account discounts that can translate into significant savings — without endangering the level of protection you need for your home, autos and other valuable property. And often, if you purchase multiple policies through the same insurance company, you’ll receive further discounts. People who own motorcycles or boats and who complete approved safety courses can qualify for discounts, and families with teen drivers who earn good grades in school may qualify for auto policy discounts.

•          Increase deductibles for cost savings: Only a small percentage of homeowners have claims in any given year, so you might consider increasing your deductible.

•          Specialty lines coverage options:  Own a classic car or RV?  If their use is seasonal, you can typically reduce your coverage to liability only during the off-season, then add full coverage only when you are actually using the vehicle

•          Full payment on policy: Depending on your financial circumstances, you may be able to make lump-sum payments instead of partial premium payments, such as monthly or quarterly. Partial payments often include small transaction fees, so paying the full amount can eliminate those extra costs.

Some decisions to avoid
It is just as important to understand what not to do as you look for cost savings. Here are some scenarios you should avoid:

•          It may be unwise to carry only the minimum state-required amount of uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage on auto policies, or to cancel it entirely if it is not required in your state: According to the Insurance Research Council (IRC)*, the correlation between the percentage of uninsured motorists and the unemployment rate is high — when the economy is struggling, more people go without insurance. You want to make sure you’re protected in this instance.

•          Ignoring renters insurance: This coverage is often overlooked no matter what shape the economy is in. Landlords’ policies generally only cover the structure, not the individual renters’ contents. Imagine having to replace furniture, clothing and other personal property out of pocket because you excluded this essential, affordable coverage and then suffered a devastating loss from a burglary or other covered event.

Saving money is important, but so is making sure that what you’ve got is protected. If you’re looking for ways to save, or want to review your coverages, give us a call!

*Insurance Research Council, January 21, 2009

Condo Insurance

Condo or Condon’t — Condo Insurance

You’ve taken the plunge and opted for condo life.  Now that the papers are signed, it seems like everything is taken care of for you—building maintenance, roof repairs, landscaping, insurance, etc.  It’s time to relax because everything is covered, right?   

Not quite.  The insurance policy provided by the condo association covers the building structure and common areas, but what about potential structural damage to your unit and covering your belongings?  Without a personal condo insurance policy, you could be left high and dry if your unit floods, is damaged in a fire, etc.

Most condos need two insurance policies.

Master Policy:  Generally provided by your condo association, this policy covers the physical structure of the building, including basement, roof, walls, elevators, lobbies, etc.  Coverage usually includes both physical damage and liability. Get a copy of the policy so you know what’s covered.

Personal Condo Policy:  This will cover additional structural damage to your unit, including cabinets, appliances, personal belongings, and more.  This also covers living expenses if you fall victim to a fire, theft, or other covered disaster.  Many insurance carriers, such as Safeco Insurance^TM, offer enhancements that include personal property protection in your condo insurance policy. Safeco’s Full Value Contents^® protection will pay the full replacement cost of your belongings, not just what they are worth today.

Other coverage to consider:

Umbrella Policy:   If someone were to trip and fall inside or near your condo, they could sue both you and the condo association.  Umbrella provides additional layers of liability protection and can protect against lawsuits that target both your current and future earnings.

Flood or Earthquake:  Read the fine print on your policy.  They often won’t cover damage due to these disasters.  Additional coverage may be required if you live in a prone area.