5 Winter Driving Tips to Stay Safe

Winter driving, for experienced northerners and inexperienced southerners alike, can be a tricky and dangerous task. Driving in snowy/icy conditions should be avoided when possible, or at least postponed until after the snow plows and sand trucks have treated the roads. For those times when driving cannot be avoided, try these safety tips for winter weather driving:

1. Decrease your speed by 50 percent to increase your reaction time. Leave plenty of space between you and the car in front of you, as stopping can take longer in the snow.
2. Use your headlights to increase your visibility to other drivers. Keep you lights and windshield clean.
3. Practice driving in an empty parking lot to learn how your car handles in the snow.
4. Drive cautiously on bridges and overpasses, as they freeze first.
5. Plan your route ahead of time, including current weather and road conditions. 

Get 5 more safety tips for winter driving, then call us at 720-457-1101 to get a Colorado car insurance quote.

Warm Weather Employee Safety

The arrival of the summer sun is a welcome relief for people in some regions of the USA, but that relief can often turn to despair when temperatures get out of control. While the vast majority of office buildings and retail environments have air conditioning, some systems are more effective than others. What about employees who work outside? Where will they get some respite from the intensity of the sun’s rays? By adopting a few practical changes to the workplace, business owners can make it a far more comfortable and productive place to be.

Display Advice for Employees

Employees might neglect their own health if they are conscientious and hard-working, so it’s always a good idea to point them in the right direction. Business owners should advise their workforce to switch off unnecessary lighting and electrical equipment around their workstations. Employees should also drink fluids throughout the day and use blinds to block out as much of the sun as possible. If they work outside, they should be taking regular breaks in the shade and have access to water at all times. Employees suffering from the effects of heat exhaustion or increased irritability will probably be far less productive, so looking after their welfare is also in a business owner’s best interests.

Click to learn about modifying working practices and attending to any maintenance issues immediately.

If you need clarification or guidance on business insurance and what it covers, call us now at 877-430-0092, and one of our experienced insurance agents will answer any questions you may have. You can also fill in our online Colorado business insurance quote form for expedited service.

Avoid Cheap Home Insurance

Standard insurance policies only pay a percentage of the value of a home's contents. The contents are assessed at a cash value, which takes depreciation into consideration. As such, the policy will only reimburse what the items were worth at the time of the incident that led to a covered loss. If you have some fairly recent furniture, electronics and appliances, it may be in your best interest to purchase additional replacement cost coverage. This coverage offers reimbursement amounts to fully replace items.

How Cash Value Compares to Replacement Costs

A five-year-old television that cost $800 new may be valued at half of its life, or $400, under a typical homeowner's policy. If it is under replacement cost coverage, though, the full $800 will be reimbursed. However, you need to be careful and read all of your policy documents concerning coverage and have a clear understanding of how the process works. Some replacement policies may only cover four times the current cash value of an item. An item valued at $100 may only be covered for $400, even if it would cost more to replace it.

Making Sure That Your Claim Is Fair

After a covered loss, an adjuster will inspect the property and review the documents concerning your damaged or destroyed contents. An assessment will be prepared that details the goods that need replacement, along with replacement cost estimates. It is a common practice for adjusters to use computer programs to calculate these figures. Once the claims supervisor has this report and approves it, a check will be issued to you. Before you accept this check, be sure to look over everything in the report and make note of any disagreements.

Seek a Second Offer

Over the years, you should have been keeping records of your major purchases and saving the receipts as proof of purchase. This information is your arsenal when the claims adjuster seems to think that big box retailer prices are good enough to replace your solid oak bedroom set. If the claims adjuster doesn't give a fair assessment, you can compose a politely written complaint that details:

• Your specific objections
• Your preferred resolution
• When you expect a response

The insurer may ask for additional details, so be ready to provide any requested documentation or statements.

If you have any questions about claims or Colorado home insurance, then feel free to contact us at 877-430-0092.

How does Summer Weather affect my Home Insurance Claim?

When most people think of weather-related home insurance claims, they think of violent hurricanes, tornadoes and flash flooding. However, a prolonged period of hot weather can also wreak havoc on a building.  High temperatures are often welcomed after a long and cold winter, but many homes are put at risk of structural damage unless proper precautions and maintenance routines are followed.  Home insurance is based on risk, and policy-holders who make regular claims will be considered a high risk.  The result -- higher insurance costs, and in some cases, the refusal of coverage altogether.  Although precautions cannot guarantee the avoidance of structural damage, they will reduce the risk significantly.

Wildfire

States such as California are susceptible to the risk of wildfire throughout the year.  Fire damage does not have to be complete for an insurance claim to be necessary, but a few precautions should reduce the likelihood of having to make a claim to a minimum.  The use of fire-resistant roof shingles and concrete tiles can protect a home from the flying embers that often trigger secondary fires.  The fitting of specialized, fire-proof air vents will allow the free flow of air while stopping embers from entering a property.  Any shrubs and plant-life can be a fire hazard when located close to a property; however, surrounding your home with a 'circle' of trees and foliage could act as a buffer.  The fitting of dual-paneled glazing made with tempered glass will delay a fire's progress into a home.     

Click for two more weather-related items that may affect your home insurance claims.

Buying a home is often the single biggest investment a person will make during a lifetime, so protecting that investment is incredibly important. Give us a call today at 877-430-0092 to discuss ways of protecting your home from the cost of prolonged periods of hot weather.  You can also get an online quote for Colorado home insurance on this website.

8 Car Insurance Tips for Drivers

People are often unaware that there are ways to reduce their auto insurance premium. There are certain habits you can practice, things you can add to your car and things you can avoid in order to keep your insurance premium affordable. Below are eight basic tips that every driver should know about their auto insurance policy.

1. Safety devices lower your premium - Safety devices such as a steering wheel lock or car alarm can reduce the risk of your car being stolen. A stolen car is a nightmare scenario for both the policyholder and the policy provider. Not only will the insurance company have to pay out the entire policy to cover the car, but because you made a claim, they may be inclined to increase your premium. The less money an insurance provider is likely to pay out for a claim, the lower your premium will be.
2. Read the exclusions carefully - During the next super storm, you may want to be well versed about your insurance policy. Some insurance policies specifically exclude damage to a vehicle due to an act of nature such as a branch falling on the car or hail damage. 
3. Obey the law - This goes without saying, because you'll want to avoid getting points on your license, but obeying the law can also help decrease your insurance premium. People who get multiple tickets for even minor things such as failing to yield the right-of-way will see their insurance premium go up. Bad driving habits show an insurance company that you are more likely to make a claim because you're more likely to get into a car accident.
4. Get familiar with gap insurance - If you just bought a brand-new car, there's something you should know about your insurance provider. It depreciates the value of your car faster than you can pay off the car loan. What this means is that you may not receive enough insurance money to replace your new car if it is totaled in an accident. Instead, you will have to use gap insurance to cover what your insurance provider doesn't.
5. Do not let uninsured drivers drive your vehicle - Uninsured drivers are not just a nuisance on the road, but they're also a nuisance to your insurance policy. If you let an uninsured or unlicensed driver -- or one that is otherwise excluded from driving or from being covered -- drive your car, your insurance coverage could be canceled out completely. This is a nightmare scenario that you don't want to find yourself in. Having no coverage means having to take an SR-22 or limited liability policy that won't likely give you adequate coverage.
6. Keep your car locked and secure - Keeping your car adequately locked and parked in a place that is not highly visible will make your car less likely to be stolen. If your insurance company finds that your car was stolen due to your own negligence, don't be surprised if they completely refuse to pay out your claim.
7. Take your iPod with you - iPods, iPads and other electronic equipment are not a part of your car and therefore, are not covered on your car insurance policy. If you leave an iPad or a similar device in your car and it's stolen, you will not be able to make a claim for it.
8. Decide on commercial or personal auto insurance - If you use your car for transporting goods, to run errands for your home business, or to taxi people around, you need commercial auto insurance. If you make a claim for any accident or damage to your car during the time you were using it for business, your personal auto insurance will not pay out the claim.

For more information on ways that you can stay on your insurance company's good side and therefore, reduce your premium, or even to get a Colorado car insurance quote, give us a call at 720-457-1101.

Paying too much for Colorado Commercial Insurance?

While insurance is a necessity for any large or small business, the amount of coverage needed can vary. When someone owns a business, it is important to take the time to determine if the premiums are as low as possible and that the coverage is not more than is needed. There are a few things that a businessman can do to ensure that he has the perfect amount of coverage to allow his company to be protected without overpaying.

A Business Owner Needs to Talk to a Professional Who Is Certified in the Insurance Industry

A professional consultant will have taken insurance certification education classes and will have learned everything there is to know about business insurance. Such an agent is able to advise the business owner about all options that are available. It is important for a business owner to understand that insurance options change often, and knowing what is available is essential if the business is going to have the right coverage.

A Business Owner Needs to Understand What the Policy Covers

Many business owners simply gloss over the insurance information without taking the time to read what is truly covered in the policy. It is important to take the time to read each and every sentence to ensure that the business has the best possible coverage. It is essential for the owner to know that the business is covered for what is happening currently and for what is going to happen in the near future.

Businesses Need to Trim Insurance Policies from Time to Time

As things change in a business, certain insurance options can be trimmed to help the business save money. If a vehicle is removed from a fleet of vehicles, security systems are installed within the business, or employees are given specific training, there is a chance that the business could get a discounted rate on insurance, or have an option removed altogether. There is no need for a business to pay more than necessary for an insurance policy.

Insurance Premiums Should be Compared between Multiple Insurance Companies

It is important for a business owner to get quotes from multiple insurance companies to ensure that he is paying the lowest rate possible for the coverage that is needed. Even if a company has an insurance policy currently, it is often possible to transfer the policy to a different company. More information on Colorado business insurance coverage is available by calling 877-430-0092.

Kemper Specialty awards PGI Agent

One of our agents just won $10,000 from Kemper Specialty! George Gonzalez and his staff from PGI after winning $10,000 from Kemper Specialty.

Know your State's Minimum Insurance Requirements

When choosing an automobile insurance policy, it is very easy to rely on an agent’s knowledge of state-mandated specifics and recommendations. The best way of knowing about your state’s minimum insurance rates is to research it for yourself. Here is why:

Different States, Different Rates
There truly are different rates for different states. Every state has its minimum insurance requirements. These figures are based on statistical collations of accident reports and other types of data. You do not need to take a course in statistics to understand the particulars of the process. However, what you do need to understand is that this sort of analysis affects how the state you live in determines the base price of what you need to pay to insure your vehicle. Understanding the basic amounts lends you a knowledgeable base of realizing what you are paying for and why you are paying it.

Click to learn more about what to do with changing requirements.

If you have any questions about state minimums or if you want a free Colorado car insurance quote, give us a call at 720-457-1101. 

Is Rental Car Insurance Essential These Days?

Everyone needs to rent a car from time to time; whether it is for travel, to haul heavy loads or just for a night out on the town.  Drivers often get confused when they're offered renter’s insurance when picking up their rental car. Most rental car companies push the sale of this type of insurance which makes some customers feel as if they have no choice but to sign up, but do they really? 

What is rental car insurance?

Rental car insurance generally covers two things: collision coverage and liability coverage.  

Let’s look at these more in-depth:

• Collision insurance – this coverage protects you if you’re in an accident that involves another object.  This can be a car, light pole or person.  Who’s at fault for the accident really doesn't matter, because collision insurance will protect you.  It also covers the expenses of towing your rental car away if need be and replaces the rental car if it’s not operational.  Every insurance company has their own limitations of what they will and will not cover, so it’s best to look in the policy itself and not just take the salesman’s word for it.
• Liability coverage – rental car liability coverage protects you in the event that a driver you hit wants to sue you for bodily injury.  This policy is more to protect you from third party actions, but it does not protect you or anyone in your car in the event of an accident.

Now while rental car insurance has many added extras such as supplemental rental insurance and personal accident coverage, you are not required to add these extras to your insurance policy should you choose to take rental insurance.

Before you sign that dotted line

Before signing up for rental car insurance, there is one important thing to keep in mind.  When renting a car, most companies require you to have a valid credit card on file to absorb any incidental charges or costs. A little known fact is that a variety of credit card companies such as MasterCard and American Express often provide collision insurance for rental cars when you use their card to pay for it. The only downfall to this is that if you're involved in an accident, your credit card company will work in conjunction with your personal car insurance to resolve any claims. This can result in a situation that may cause your premiums to rise. To eliminate any chance of this occurring, you may want and wish to keep these services separate.

On that subject, your own personal car insurance may cover rental cars as well.  That is why before purchasing any type of additional rental insurance it is best to check with your primary insurance provider to see if your existing car insurance policy offers this type of coverage before signing up.

If you’re looking for a Colorado car insurance quote or to get more information on collision or liability coverage, give Premier Group Insurance a call at 720-457-1101.

How Over the 50's Can Save on Car Insurance

By being less likely to make a claim, it should come as no surprise that you'll likely be rewarded by insurance companies with lower costing policies. One key group that consistently has lower policies are drivers over the age of 50. However, it is important to keep in mind that at times this group is actually seen as being more likely to claim, which can in turn boosts the cost of the driver’s policy.

With this in mind, a driver who is over 50 must source a policy that works in their interest.  Another option available to this set of drivers is to become knowledgeable about the different things that they can do to lower the cost of their auto insurance policy.

The reasons that insurers tend to offer drivers over 50 lower rates include,

• They usually have a reliable car,
• Their level of road experience,
• Their level of maturity,
• They tend not to live in high-crime areas.

Exceptions to the rule do sometimes arise. For instance, when an older driver is the owner of a powerful vehicle or an expensive car, their policy may still be costly. Vehicles such as these are more likely to be the target of thieves and vandals. The cost of repairs and replacement parts would also be high, and because of this, so will the cost of insurance.

As stated, most policies that cover a niche group like this one do offer a discount, but if they do not, there are other things that you, as a driver who is over 50, can do to get the cost of your premiums down. One such option is to pay your premium annually in one lump sum. Spreading the cost over many months will see insurers adding interest to each payment. Another option if married is to buy your policy as a couple. Married couples pay a lot extra simply by having individual policies. When one policy is bought and two names included, the saving is quite significant.  Agreeing to a limited mileage is another option, as is highlighting the presence of your 'No Claim Bonus' and using it to your advantage.

Car insurance policies aimed at people who are over 50 will enable you to save money, especially if combined with the cost-cutting measures mentioned above. If you are 50 plus and want to save on your Colorado Car Insurance policy, call a Premier Group Insurance agent today at 877-430-0092, and we will advise you on how this can be done.

Car Insurance Fraud: What You Ought to Know

Car insurance fraud is a growing problem that affects everyone. The money car insurance companies lose to fraudulent claims gets passed to consumers through higher insurance policy rates. You can also directly lose money if you are the victim of auto insurance fraud by having to pay deductibles and policy rate increases. Protect your finances by learning to identify car insurance fraud and how to protect yourself from becoming a victim.

What Is Car Insurance Fraud?

There are many types of car insurance fraud. Car insurance fraud ranges from people lying to insurance providers to get cheaper rates to organized crime rings that stage fake auto accidents to collect money from insurance companies. Some common types of insurance fraud are:

• Insurance policy scams: Fake insurance salesman sell bogus insurance policies to unsuspecting consumers
• Inflated claims: Claiming more damage than actually occurred to collect more money
• Fraudulent theft or damage: Having someone steal or burn a vehicle to collect money from the insurance company
• Staged Accidents: Staging an auto accident and claiming false injuries
• Runners: A scam where someone (the runner) directs a victim of an auto accident to a fake medical facility that will fake medical claims

How to Avoid Becoming a Victim of Car Insurance Fraud

Watch out

• Purchasing car insurance: Only purchase car insurance policies from licensed insurance companies or licensed insurance brokers and get a written copy of your policy (including what it covers). Read your policy to get a thorough understanding of what it covers.
• While driving: Keep plenty of distance between your car and cars in front of you. Trust your instincts. If another vehicle is acting suspiciously by driving erratically or too close to you, call the police and pull into a safe spot such as a police station or gas station.
• After an accident: Call the police and your insurance company immediately after an accident, no matter how minor the damage and get a police report or the incident.
• Avoiding scams: Never sign a blank insurance claim form. Be weary of bystanders, towing companies, medical professionals, or auto repair shops that try to pressure you to go to a certain facility for service or treatment, or try to pressure you to file false claims.

We can help you purchase a Colorado car insurance policy that fits your specific needs at affordable rates, and will provide you with continued service to prevent you from becoming a victim to insurance fraud. Call us today at Premier Group Insurance to get started.

Best practices in acquisition of a workers compensation insurance cover

A workers compensation insurance cover should be acquired by employers to cover their employees against any accidents which may occur while at work. Though most worker compensation policies may be the same in some aspects, there are some significant differences between the Colorado Business Insurance policies sold by various insurance firms. Before buying a workers compensation cover, an employer should go through the contract  to ensure that it's a good fit in the business, then call a trusted agent at Premier Group Insurance. Here are some of the best practices during the acquisition of a workers compensation cover.

Investigate the state mandatory regulations on workers compensation covers - Each state has a different set of mandatory regulations on what a  workers compensation cover should  include. If a business operates across several state lines and uses the same cover in all states, situations may arise where the business fulfills the state mandatory requirements in one state but not in other states. To avoid such situations, its best to investigate set mandatory regulations in each state and make sure the business fulfills them.

Update all employees’ occupational codes – When buying a workers compensation cover, a  premium is charged for employees depending on their occupational codes. Occupational codes help insurance companies determine the level of risk each employee is exposed to and hence the premium that should be paid. If a company’s employee occupational codes are not up to date, the company may be charged a higher premium if the codes reflect more high risk employees than the company has.

Take time to negotiate with the insurance company – Factors such as claim rate affect the amount of premium paid on a workers compensation cover. If a company has a consistently low claim rate, an insurance company could offer discounts on policies or even offer premium refunds. In most cases, it is advisable to negotiate with the insurance company to come up with ways to reduce the amount of premium paid.

Update safety practices – When calculating the amount of premium which should be paid on a  workers compensation cover, insurance companies consider the amount of risk employees are exposed to. Companies with low safety standards expose their employees to a high level of risk while working, which leads to insurance companies charging more premium on insurance covers. Businesses should update their safety practices before taking an insurance cover to lower the amount of premium charged by insurance companies.

Carefully study the insurance contract –  Each insurance cover has a different set of terms and conditions. These stipulate circumstances such as when the insuring company is liable to compensate workers. By making sure that all the terms and conditions of a policy are adhered to the incidences of defaulting on insurance policies are reduced.

Limited or Full Tort?

Whether you’re getting auto insurance for the first or fifth time, the hardest choice to make is whether you would have limited or full tort. The choice between limited and full tort is made even harder with the confusing definition available on most insurance companies websites. Ultimately, it’s important to fully understand this concept in order to choose the option best for you and your family

What is tort?
According to Merriam Webster, tort is “a wrongful act, other than a breach of contract, [through] which relief may be obtained in the form of damages.” For motorists, that means this type of insurance essentially pays damages to the insured after an accident. Specifically, tort covers injuries you may receive from a run-in with another vehicle. The other party must be at fault, otherwise the tort option doesn’t come into effect.
With full tort, you retain the right to sue the at-fault party for more than medical expenses and other accident-related expenses, such as pain and suffering. In essence, full tort is a security blanket for your family. If injuries from an accident force you to rack up medical bills, rehab bills and remain out of work, your ability to sue for damages, including pain and suffering, can greatly ease the burden.

Which is right for me?
The main appeal of limited tort is the price. It’s considerably cheaper than full tort, and property damages and injuries are still covered. Limited tort, however, restricts what policy owners can include in a civil suit. Some major exceptions exist, which may allow for some compensation beyond medical under limited tort. For the most part, policy owners lose only the right to sue for pain and suffering, but that can be a devastating if the accident severely injured you. 

Although full tort is considered the best option, choosing what’s right for you should be determined by your own needs and beliefs. One important question to ask yourself is whether or not you would sue the other party for damages. Although you would have the right to sue, you are never required to. If it goes against any beliefs you may have to pursue a suit, limited tort is just what the doctor ordered to help limit the cost of auto insurance. On the other hand, full tort provides the best security for your family, as it helps insure an accident doesn’t cause serious financial harm.

The truth is, there is no right or wrong answer. You have to decide whether or not you need the extra coverage of full tort, and if you can handle the extra expense each month on something you (hopefully) will never need to use. For more questions and to get a great rate on Colorado Car Insurance, contact an agent at Premier Group Insurance today.

The Truth about Active Safety Systems

One of the most valuable assets to come out of our technological renaissance can be found in the active safety systems in newer automobiles. Not only are these safety systems valuable because they prevent injuries and death by reducing accidents, but they’re also valuable in that they can help to reduce both Colorado auto insurance premiums and overall driver expenses.

How Active Safety Systems Help

Data from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety in 2008 showed that forward collision warning systems could potentially prevent 2.3 million crashes in the United States annually. They also found that 143,000 crashes per year could be prevented with adaptive headlights that help drivers see better around corners and 417,000 accidents could be prevented with emergency brake assistance, a system that applies the break for a driver when it senses a forward collision is imminent.

The Possible Downsides

One concern that the Institute’s safety report mentioned was regarding how drivers would adapt to utilizing active safety systems—especially since many drivers weren’t even aware of their existence. In a May 2006 report ordered by the European Commission, researchers found that safety equipment did not play a major part in the sales process as auto sales professionals felt that their customers weren’t necessarily interested in the topic. A 2011 report delivered by European company, eValue, mentions the problem of creating a rating system for active safety technology in order to improve what they describe as the, "low awareness" of car buyers.

If you purchase a vehicle with an active safety system, it's important that you understand how the system works and how you need to interact with it for maximum efficiency. Without truly understanding your system, its notification method may produce anxiety while you drive and you may not fully benefit from the technology.

Retaining the Driver’s Personal Safety System

Even more important, perhaps, is learning to utilize the technology without relying on it completely. In 2011, Wired magazine discussed the occasional failure of active safety systems. In their piece, they mentioned the importance of active driving at all times so that drivers can be prepared to react appropriately to a dangerous situation when their active safety system unexpectedly fails.

Your vehicle’s active safety system is a supplemental product that can help lower your insurance premiums, but it’s not infallible nor is it a miracle cure for bad driving. Learn how to work with it and how to work without it in the event of failure.

Understanding Your Insurance Policy Stipulations and Conditions

In the past few years, one-time Disney star Lindsay Lohan has had a lot of trouble driving without incident. As such, she’s become pretty high risk in the eyes of the insurance companies. On her most recent movie set, the insurance company temporarily insuring her for the movie stipulated that in order to be covered, she must not drive during the months and weeks that she was working on the film. Unfortunately, she did not comply with this rule and—after getting behind the wheel of a rented Porsche—had yet another incident.

Luckily for Lohan and the movie company, the insurer did not cancel her policy, but because she was out of compliance with the stipulations and conditions of the policy, they certainly could have. It’s never a good idea for you to push the boundaries of your insurance coverage and test the limits of the insurance company’s patience. Instead, it’s best to have a full understanding of the stipulations and conditions in your policy, which can include things like:

• A liability insurance policy might require a certain course of action in specific situations.
• A home insurance policy may state that it is for a primary residence only, meaning that you can’t use it for a property that you rent out.
• An auto policy might stipulate that it’s for personal use—which makes using it for commercial purposes completely uncovered.
• All insurance policies can stipulate that the insured is not to hide any details of the claims from the insurer or otherwise commit fraud.
• A health policy could stipulate that a pre-existing health condition is not covered.
• An auto insurance policy may stipulate that unlicensed drivers are not covered.

The key to understanding the conditions and stipulations of your Colorado insurance policy is to actually read them. If you want to discuss how your policies work and any specific conditions that you’re concerned about, give us a call at Premier Group Insurance today.

Insurance as a Budget Guarantee

Every day it seems that different events, retailers, and even people conspire against your ability to keep your spending on target, turning budgeting into a sport for which you must play the offensive position. But all hope isn’t lost; there are many ways you can keep your expenses on track and your bank balances in the green. Among all of the tricks out there, the purchase of insurance is one of the most deceptively simple and often overlooked.

Insurance Can Prevent Additional Expense

During a car accident, if your vehicle suffers any damage you'll likely need to get it fixed. In fact, you may not be able to go to work without doing so or renting a car in the interim. A Colorado auto insurance policy may not only provide payment for repairs in excess of the deductible, but it can also provide a loss of use benefit that pays for a rental during a certain period.

Likewise, a home insurance policy can pay to have the contents of your home replaced when they are damaged during an insurable incident and may pay for a hotel room or other temporary lodging.

Without insurance, both these events would quickly devastate your budget and could make it next to impossible to get back on track for the near future.

Level Premiums and Deductibles

It would be almost possible to accurately predict the amount that you need to pay for car repairs caused by accidents and then to budget for those expenses. Additionally, it would be impossible to predict all the other property you might lose over the course of a year and the cost to replace it. Insurance policies offer affordable premiums and deductibles that you can easily plan and budget for in advance.

Whether you're completing a midyear budget checkup or getting ready to start your 2013 budget planning, it’s time to allow insurance policies their place in your financial plan as a budget guarantee. Give us a call at Premier Group Insurance today and we can help you review your current insurance portfolio, identify any gaps in coverage and help you set out on the right foot for the future.

Protecting Yourself from Liability Claims when Your Home is for Sale

When your home is for sale you’ll have many prospective buyers walking through the property on any given day, exploring both the inside and out. They will poke and prod, crawl and crouch as they examine every crevice to decide whether it's a property they wish to invest in. Although these individuals will not be left unattended, since you or your real estate agent will be with them, they could be injured while on your property. It is generally your responsibility to pay damages from injuries that occur while you own the home, so it's important that you have the right liability insurance going into the home sale process.

Liability in Home Insurance Policies

Your home insurance policy has many limits; one of them may be for contents coverage, one for dwelling coverage, one for loss of use, and one are for liabilities. Check your insurance policy to see your liability insurance limits and make sure that they are reasonable when compared to the additional risk you take on when you invite strangers in to evaluate your home.

Umbrella Liability Insurance

You may wish to consider an umbrella liability insurance policy in the event that your current home insurance liability limits are too low. An umbrella liability insurance policy is a separate policy that steps in to pay claims that exceed the liability limits of your home insurance policy. They have their own limits which can range from $1 million or more. Best of all, they don’t just cover your home liability but also your auto liability.

Because the coverage you need is temporary, securing an umbrella liability insurance policy may be a better strategy than increasing the liability insurance coverage on your home insurance policy. Umbrella policies can also be very inexpensive, increasing your overall carrying costs very little.

It can be difficult to determine the best way to protect yourself from liabilities when you put your home on the market. Luckily, there is no need for you to make this decision alone. Give us a call and we can discuss your current limits and help you decide whether they keep pace with your risks. We can also discuss the benefits of having an umbrella liability insurance policy during the home sale process.

Arizona Residents: Use Your Smart Phone to Prove Insurance Coverage

How often have you gone to clean out your wallet only to find an expired insurance card within its folds and a new card nowhere to be seen? If you are one of those extremely organized people then it's possible that this has never happened to you because you switch out your auto insurance card every time your policy renews, but many individuals don't even realize they need a new card until they get pulled over and it’s too late.

Arizona residents will no longer feel the shame of not replacing their insurance card since the governor recently signed a bill that allows Arizona residents to show proof of auto insurance coverage with their Smartphone.

Wireless Proof of Coverage

With electronic gadgets taking over our documentation storage, it was only a matter of time before states began approving alternative methods to show proof of valid auto insurance coverage.

This approval allows insured drivers to use an application on their Smartphone to show an electronic facsimile of their insurance card. Drivers should note that, when showing an officer their Smartphone, they are not giving the officer permission to view any other data stored on the device.

Arizona isn't alone in approving the presentation of wireless coverage documentation when pulled over. Idaho has also introduced the same legislation and it's anticipated that even more states will join them. Alabama and Colorado may be quickly following suit, with Colorado allowing drivers to show electronic proof when registering their vehicles as well.

Smartphones and Insurance: Natural Partners

Smartphones offer insurance policyholders many helpful options for organizing their financial lives. They can utilize apps for home inventory creation, budgeting, bill payment reminders, and now offer electronic proof of you Colorado auto coverage. Many insurers are even getting in on the act by providing mobile policy access for questions and claims.

If you're interested in all the ways your Smartphone can be integrated into your insurance policy management, or want more suggestions on being as paperless as possible, give us a call at Premier Group Insurance or stop by.

Loss of Use—A Benefit Worth Keeping

Often, when we think about insurance, we think about how it covers many of the damages that occur during a covered peril such as a fire or flood. But there are more consequences to the damages these incidents cause to your property than just the loss of your tangible goods and shelter, because by making your property useless, insurable incidents force you to find a substitute until your repairs are done.

Loss of use is a valuable part of a home or auto insurance policy that can keep you and your family safe and active, even after a total loss.

Auto Loss of Use

If you are in an accident and your vehicle cannot be driven until repairs are made, the world doesn’t stop spinning. You still need to get to work, bring your kids to school, run errands, and more. When you have loss of use benefits in your auto insurance policy, your insurance company will pay for a car rental to get you around while you wait for repairs to be completed. You will be permitted to rent a car that is in a similar class to your own and the rental can generally last until you are able to pick up your own car again.

Home Loss of Use

There are some insurable incidents that do not require you to evacuate from your home or apartment afterward—such as damages that are limited to just one, small area of your home and carry no health hazards through the rest of your dwelling. But sometimes it’s not safe to be home until repairs are done, such as after a fire. When this happens, a loss of use benefit in your renter’s or home insurance policy will pay for a hotel or temporary rental until it’s safe to go back to your house or apartment. Your policy will have limits, restricting the total benefit to a certain percentage of the total limit of your policy.

It’s hard to imagine just how stressful it is to lose the ability to live in your home or drive your vehicle—even if the loss is temporary. Add in the extra burden of having to foot the bill for a short-term replacement and your life has become even more difficult than it needs to be—unless you have loss of use coverage. If you aren’t sure whether your home, renter’s or auto policy has this generous benefit or you want to add it to your policy, give us a call at Premier Group Insurance today!

The Risks of Social Media

Social media has become a very valuable tool for businesses. It allows a way to extend your business’s reach, to advertise and promote products and services, to connect with existing customers, and change the way people see their company. Marketing your business through social networking can pose a number of risks to your business though if proper measures are not taken. These risks can be easily guarded against with a simple phone call to your independent agent.

Cyber Risk Insurance and Social Media
While it might not be your company's policy to obtain customer data through social media channels, that doesn't mean it can't be done. Should your social media accounts on websites like Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn or Google Plus get hacked by someone who wants to obtain sensitive data, they could send out messages to your clients. Hiding behind the trusted name and avatar of your account, they can request passwords, credit card numbers, social security numbers and other data. Trusting that it’s you behind the request, many of your clients will provide the requested data never realizing the risks they’ve just taken on.

This is a form of theft that can be covered with cyber risk insurance. Once you find out that your account has been hacked, you must contact your clients to let them know their data might have been compromised. This process doesn’t just bring embarrassment and extra hassle, it also brings added costs. Cyber risk insurance will help you cover those costs while saving you money without forcing you to sacrifice service.

Liability Insurance and Social Media
Cyber theft risks aren't the only ones your business faces when using social media to spread its message. If you or the employee or contractor responsible for managing your social media should mention a competitor or one of their products in a negative way, you may be accused of libel or slander that causes financial damages to the company in question. Your liability insurance may cover the damages if you are, but you should check with your insurance agent to make sure.

In order to help reduce the possibility of risks in social media, make sure that your company has relevant guidelines and that all employees are trained on using them. Keep your social media marketing message positive, and notify your clients and followers frequently that you will never ask to obtain personal data from them via social media. And don't forget to give us a call at Premier Group Insurance to find out how Colorado Business Insurance can insure your company against the many risks that social media marketing presents.