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