Hover boards: Am I Covered for That?

by California Casualty | Auto Insurance Info, Homeowners Insurance Info | 0 comments

It seems as if almost every household has gotten a hoverboard; they are one of the hottest gifts of the New Year. Hoverboards are similar to skateboards but they have a motor and can move along at speeds around 10 miles per hour.  If you were one of the many hundreds-of-thousands who purchased one of the new high-tech gadgets, be aware that they also have a dangerous side.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is warning that many of the self-balancing scooters have burst into flames due to faulty batteries. People and property have been burned and airlines and many college campuses are now banning them because of the fire risk.

The other hazard is from falls. How is your balance? If it’s not very good, stay off a hoverboard. Scores of users have suffered scrapes, bruises and even broken bones after being tossed off the motorized devices. There are a multitude of videos and news sites highlighting “hoverboard fails.” Some of the injuries have been very serious.

So before you get on a hover board, make sure you have a proper helmet, protective padding and wrist and elbow guards. The CPSC also advises to:

• Avoid buying them at locations like a mall kiosk or website that doesn’t have information about who is selling the product and how they can be contacted if there is a problem
• Be very careful when charging the board – don’t overcharge it, don’t leave it plugged in overnight, always observe it while charging, and keep it away from flammable items
• Let it cool after riding before recharging it
• Leave it in its partially charged state if giving one as a gift – never take it out of the package to bring it to a full charge and rewrap it
• Don’t ride in heavy traffic or pedestrian areas
• See if it has the mark of a certified national testing lab (like UL)

There is another major issue concerning hoverboards – insurance and liability risks. Since they are a motorized device, you may not be covered if you hurt somebody while riding one. If you hit a crack, crash into a person and cause them injury, coverage under your homeowners liability might be excluded. Also, if you loan your hoverboard to someone who subsequently falls and gets injured, you might be on the hook for any hospital or medical bills.

Now, if your hoverboard starts a fire and causes damage to your home or apartment, and you have homeowners or renters insurance, you might be covered for the cost of repairs. Those policies provide protection from accidental fires, but every company and contract is different.

So, the moral of the story is that you should be very careful if you have a hoverboard. You’ll want to read all the safety information that should have come with the device, and be vigilant when charging it. You also need to contact your insurance company to learn about your coverages and how you might be impacted if there were an accident with your hoverboard.

If you don’t have homeowners or renters insurance, now is the time to get it. One of California Casualty’s exceptional advisors is ready to help; call today at 1.800.800.9410 or visit www.calcas.com for a policy comparison or review.

Resources for this article:

https://abcnews.go.com/Health/wireStory/colleges-students-leave-hoverboards-home-36136212

https://www.cpsc.gov/en/About-CPSC/Chairman/Kaye-Biography/Chairman-Kayes-Statements/Statements/Statement-from-the-US-CPSC-Chairman-Elliot-F-Kaye-on-the-safety-of-hoverboards/

https://www.buzzfeed.com/daves4/hoverboard-rip#.jeP4Wpd8Dy

https://www.osha.gov/dts/otpca/nrtl/nrtllist.html

2016: A Year of Insurance Changes

by California Casualty | Auto Insurance Info, Homeowners Insurance Info | 0 comments

What can we expect in the New Year? There will be a new president of the United States, many are predicting another see-saw year for the stock market and Forbes predicts the Olympic Games in Brazil will turn out to be the most poorly run in history.

What can you expect when it comes to insurance? Here are the thoughts of one prognosticator:

1. Millennials will have a bigger impact – now in their mid-30s, this has become the generation replacing the aging baby boomers with influence and dollars. Insurance companies will have to continue to adapt to serving them online and offer more services accessible from mobile devices.
2. Bigger rewards for consumers who adapt to the Internet of Things (Io T) – whether it be devices that monitor how you drive or emerging technologies for the home, insurance companies will continue to use data from intelligent devices to predict losses and reward those who install them. They include water or leak detection systems, interactive door locks, and appliances that can communicate and be controlled via a smart phone or other mobile device.
3. Renters insurance will spike – with the increasing trend of more millennials opting to rent than buy homes, the renters insurance market will continue to boom.
4. More peer-to-peer insurance – there will be more specialized insurance dedicated to targeted groups of policyholders. The concept is a return to the earliest forms of insurance that pooled together like-minded groups like farmers. Peer-to-peer insurance provides quality protection at reasonable rates.

As we face a New Year with excitement and uncertainty, it’s good to know there is a company you can depend on for your auto and home insurance needs. California Casualty is a 100 year old company founded as, and continues to be, a policyholder owned company that serves specialty groups: law enforcement, firefighters, educators and nurses with exclusive benefits not available to the general public. They have partnered with us because of our competitive rates and insurance that reflects their members’ professional lifestyles. This means:

• Deductibles waived or reduced for vandalism or accidents that occur where your vehicle is parked at work
• Personal property damaged or lost in a collision, fire or taken from your car is covered up to $500
• Rates guaranteed for a full year (not six months)
• Free identity theft protection with each policy
• Multiple payment options including EZ Pay and holiday or summer skips

Are you using all of your professional benefits? Now is the time for a policy review to see if you could be saving money or getting better coverage for your auto or home. Call one of our award winning advisors today at 1.800.800.9410 or visit www.calcas.com.

Resources for this article:

https://beta.propertycasualty360.com/2015/12/29/technology-and-insurance-predictions-for-2016

11 Insurance Resolutions You Should Make

by California Casualty | Auto Insurance Info, Homeowners Insurance Info | 0 comments

As we drop the confetti and toast the New Year, an annual tradition is to make a resolution. What will yours be? Here are the top five resolutions Americans have made in recent years:

• Lose weight
• Get organized
• Spend less and save more
• Enjoy life
• Become more fit and healthy

Unfortunately, research shows less than 10 percent of those of us who make resolutions actually keep them.

But, there are easy actions you can take that could save you money and provide peace of mind.

Every year, many Americans fail to take stock of their biggest assets: their homes and vehicles. Here is a list of 11 simple resolutions you can make this New Year to protect the most valuable possessions you have worked so hard to attain.

7 Home Insurance Resolutions:

1. Do a yearly policy review with an insurance advisor to check that you are getting all the discounts you qualify for, that you adequately insure any new additions or appliances, and verify that your liability coverage isn’t lacking
2. Make sure you have replacement value if a fire or other disaster strikes
3. Purchase earthquake or flood insurance if you live in areas prone to either
4. Save on your premiums by investing in security and fire suppression systems
5. Get renters insurance if you don’t have it yet
6. Protect high-dollar items such as jewelry, fine art or musical instruments with scheduled personal property insurance
7. Complete a comprehensive inventory of everything in your home in case you should ever have a claim

4 Auto Insurance Resolutions:

1. Get a yearly policy review to check deductibles, coverages and to make sure you are getting all the discounts you qualify for (professional, multi-policy, good student, mature driver)
2. Make certain you have adequate protection from uninsured or under-insured drivers
3. Add any new drivers to your policy (teens or a new spouse)
4. Bundle your auto and home insurance to receive deeper discounts

We Are Here To Help

Start the New Year off right; resolve to call today to make sure you are getting the professional discounts you deserve: $500 coverage for items destroyed or stolen from your vehicle, deductible waived or reduced if your vehicle is vandalized or hit while parked where you work, and special coverages for the equipment used for your job.

California Casualty advisors are ready to help you with any questions, do a policy comparison or review, or make any insurance changes you may need at 1.800.800.9410, or go online at www.calcas.com.

Resources for this article:

https://www.statisticbrain.com/new-years-resolution-statistics/

https://www.insurancejournal.com/news/national/2014/08/12/337407.htm

https://www.knowyourstuff.org/iii/login.html

What NewlyWeds Need to Know about Insurance

by California Casualty | Auto Insurance Info, Homeowners Insurance Info | 0 comments

Odds are you know someone who is getting married this summer. Now through September is when the majority of weddings take place each year in the U.S. While it’s a time of joy and dreams of the future, there are many important decisions: how many people to invite, is there a need for a wedding planner, who will cater the meal and what about entertainment. Once the rings are exchanged and the honeymoon is over, there’s another important step – getting your auto and home insurance in order. Here’s a checklist for newlyweds.

1. Combine Your Insurance

If you both have separate cars with different insurance companies, now that you are married you can find discounts by putting both vehicles on the same policy. It will also ensure that both drivers are covered no matter which car they use. Get extra savings by bundling your autos with your home or renters insurance.

2. Marriage Discount

Make sure to inform your insurance company that you got married – most auto and home insurance companies offer important discounts for newlyweds. Men under the age of 25 are usually considered high risk drivers. However, once they marry they often see a big drop in insurance premiums. The lower rates can also apply to those in domestic partnerships.

3. Increase Homeowner or Renters Coverage

Wedding presents are wonderful. You now have a new set of china, expensive new appliances and other things for your home. These assets need to be covered. Talk to an insurance advisor to make sure you have enough coverage to protect all the things you own and to increase your liability protection. It’s also a great time to create an inventory of all the things you own to help you purchase the right insurance protection and make filing a claim much easier.

4. Get Extra Protection for High Value Items

That beautiful new wedding ring and special gifts like fine art or silverware may need scheduled personal property protection, often called a “floater,” to make sure they are covered for their full value. Most homeowners and renters policies will provide limited coverage for those items. Scheduled personal property coverage will also pay to replace a ring, without a deductible, even if it was misplaced or damaged in the disposal.

Just like marriage, California Casualty is a committed partner in helping with your auto and home insurance needs. Don’t go it alone, contact a California Casualty advisor today for a free quote or no hassle policy review at 1.800.800.9410 or visit www.calcas.com.

Resources for this article:

https://www.knowyourstuff.org