Holiday car crashes

Holiday

Fatalities

Fourth of July
(3-day period)

392 deaths
(39 percent alcohol related)

Labor Day
(3-day period)

403 deaths
(36 percent alcohol related)

Memorial Day
(3-day period)

397 deaths
(40 percent alcohol related)

New Year's
(3-day period)

297 deaths
(48 percent alcohol related)

Thanksgiving
(4-day period)

431 deaths
(40 percent alcohol related)

Christmas
(3-day period)

259 deaths
(37 percent alcohol related)

Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 2010 data.

Memorial Day is just around the corner which means a nice long weekend for most of us! Before hitting the road to get to your destination, beware that Memorial Day is one of the most dangerous days to drive. According to the National Highway Safety Administration, 397 people died in car accidents during the three-day weekend. Of that, 41% resulted from alcohol-impaired driving in 2010.

Stay safe on the roads if you plan on traveling this holiday weekend by following our safety tips.

1. Do not drink and drive. Alcohol-related accidents are the major cause of death during this holiday weekend. Call for a cab or have a designated driver to bring you home.
2. Don’t speed. Police and state troopers will be everywhere. Obey the speed limit and keep a good distance between the cars in front of you. Don’t forget that a speeding ticket can hurt your driving record and also potentially increase your auto insurance rates!
3. Wear your seatbelt. This is the simplest way to keep you and your family safe in the event of an accident.
4. Check your tires. Be sure to check your tire pressure before leaving for a road trip. Low levels can reduce fuel efficiency and be hazardous.
5. Check your battery. If your battery is old, think about replacing it. Also, consider keeping some jumper cables in your trunk. 
6. Turn on your lights. Check your tail lights, turn signals and headlights before you hit the road.
7. Pack a first aid kit and roadside assistance kit. You never know what could happen so its better being safe than sorry.

The “Q-Bag tag” looks like a normal luggage tag, but it can be scanned for passenger information and flight destination. Even better, the tag can be located anywhere in the world! Hopefully soon enough other airline carriers will implement use of this innovative technology so travelers don’t have to worry about losing their luggage!

When it comes to watercraft, the majority of people are concerned with fishing equipment, personal property, and who’s listed on the policy. It’s important not to forget how essential liability coverage is. If you don’t believe me, take a look at the boat accident statistics below reported by the U.S. Cost Guard.

Boat Accident Statistics:

• In 2011, the Coast Guard counted 4588 accidents that involved 758 deaths, 3081 injuries and approximately $52 million dollars of damage to property as a result of recreational boating accidents.
• Alcohol use is the leading contributing factor in fatal boating accidents; it was listed as the leading factor in 16% of the deaths.
• The most common types of vessels involved in reported accidents were open motorboats (47%), personal watercraft (19%), and cabin motorboats (14%).

Remember that your homeowner’s policy (HO-3) only provides limited coverage when it comes to your watercraft. In short it provides limited coverage for watercraft that is cheap and slow. If you’re watercraft isn’t considered “cheap and slow”, you need additional coverage on a separate watercraft policy to cover you for personal property and liability in case someone gets hurt. Always be sure to check with your insurance agent to make sure you are adequately insured.

As an e-customer you won’t have to worry about receiving hard copies of your policy as well as a declaration page each time a change is made. Electronic payments (EFT) have the perks of automatic monthly withdrawals from the account you choose, on the day of preference. It’s also a great way to avoid being cancelled for non-payment and from incurring monthly service fees that companies often charge for other payment plans. Just set it and forget it.

Check with your agent to see if these discounts are available or give us a call at 617-236-6400 you have any questions. Already an existing customer, you can access the electronic payment forms here to sign up.

When it comes to your home you’ll have one policy for the both of you. Regardless of how you do this, update the inventory of your belongings. If you’ve recently had a wedding and received numerous gifts, you should increase coverage on your personal belongings. Consider adding jewelry separately onto your policy for any new rings. Also be sure to increase coverage on the building limit if you’re planning on doing any home improvement projects.

For your auto policy, you have the option of having separate policies or combining policies. Combining policies can have its perks such as the multi-car discount. However, if your spouse has a poor driving record, it may be in your best interest to keep the policies separate. Either way, make sure that all licensed household members are listed.

Lastly, an umbrella policy can provide an extra layer of liability protection, whether married or not in the litigious world that we live in. Consider adding liability coverage to supplement your home and auto policies to protect you if your held liable for a large settlement. Always remember, the more you own, the more protection you need.

Our team is excited to “ship” our ideas to better serve the needs of our loyal customers and make a difference in the Insurance Industry.

Brownstone Insurance and its affiliate Murphy & Jordan Insurance, are featured on the front cover of the May issue of the Rough Notes Magazine, as marketing agency of the month!

View the online May edition here.

Before you even consider doing this, beware that your insurance provider could drop homeowner’s coverage due to the home being vacant. Homes that are empty for 30 to 60 days are riskier to insure since they can attract thieves and vandals.

Vacant homes may also open the door to liability issues such as kids climbing over fences and getting injured or teens partying in the empty house.

So what is the difference between vacant and unoccupied homes? A vacant home is one which the resident has moved out and taken his or her belongings. It must not contain enough furniture for a resident to reasonably live there such as a table, bed, appliances etc. In an unoccupied home, the belongings and furnishings are there even though the resident is elsewhere.

Be sure to talk to your insurance adviser about the occupancy status of your home. It’s better to be safe than sorry and make sure you have the proper coverage if a claim were to occur.

If you have questions about your homeowner’s policy, please call us at 617-236-6400, email LetUsHelp@murphyandjordan.com or join our live chat here.

Some parts of the state such as western MA are being affected more heavily than others due to the tornados. Insurance Companies are hoping that these rate increases will offset a big jump in claims related snowstorms, Tropical Storm Irene and the tornadoes.

On a positive note, although insurance companies are increasing their base rates, some are also increasing the discounts available for policyholders who bundle their home and auto with the same company. Other credits such as no loss history, security systems, and age of home may also be available.