J & R News & Notes Archives - Page 19 of 37 - Johnson and Rohan Insurance

Bailment waiver of collision deductible

As reported on our MassAutoQuote.com site:

On your Massachusetts auto insurance policy, a “bailment” situation occurs when the operator borrows a vehicle temporarily from the owner and is responsible for returning the vehicle in the same condition as when it was borrowed. Otherwise, a claim for damages exists against the operator.

A “valid” bailment situation allows 100% recovery of physical damage payments against the other party’s insurance company in instances where the operator of your vehicle may have been primarily at fault.

In order for bailment to apply 4 conditions must be present:

the operator of your vehicle cannot be the owner and must have permission to use it.
the owner cannot be an occupant of the vehicle at the time of the accident.
the owner cannot benefit from the operator’s use of the vehicle at the time of the accident.
at least 1% negligence must be proven against the other party involved in the accident.

If all of these conditions apply, both the owner and the operator of the vehicle will need to complete a “Bailment Affidavit” which we will send to you. This signed document will be presented as evidence that a valid bailment exists and full recovery of all physical damage claim payments is warranted.

Do I need to buy insurance from rental car company?

Buy insurance from rental car company? It depends.

Do I need to buy insurance from rental car company while on vacation?

It’s a common and great question. The answer is: it depends.

The following is an actual, e-mail our Agency received this afternoon.

(The names and e-mail addresses have been changed to protect the innocent.)

——– Original Message ——–
Subject: Rental Car Insurance Question
From: MA AUTO INSURANCE CLIENT

Date: Tue, February 14, 2017 12:59 pm
To: JohnsonandRohan.com

Dear Johnson & Rohan Insurance,

I hope you’re doing well. I’m heading to Florida with the family and renting a van. The car rental companies are always trying to get me to purchase additional insurance. I always decline thinking that my current auto insurance will cover me . Is that true?

Thanks in advance,

Longtime Client

Need to buy insurance from rental car company?

Dear Longtime, Massachusetts Auto Insurance Client,

Yes, your Massachusetts personal auto coverage will apply to the rental vehicle and you can turn down their additional coverage offers.

However, this is as long as:

you’re renting a private passenger-type vehicle (vs. moving van)

vehicle is being used as “substitute transportation” (ie – on vacation)

vehicle is being used for for pleasure (vs. business)

Your MA personal auto coverage applies to rental vehicle including $100,000 per person/$300,000 per accident liability limits. Damage to rental vehicle subject to policy deductibles.

So, again, you can turn down on their additional coverage offers and pay their base, per-day rate.

The only thing your auto policy won’t cover is: loss of rental expense (days of lost rental for repairs to the rental vehicle). Most credit cards, however, include this loss of rental expense.

(FYI- Coverage does not apply outside of US, Canada and US territories and possessions.)

Please call or e-mail with any questions or to discuss.

Thank you,

Johnson & Rohan Insurance

Term Life Insurance: Best Gift Money Can Buy

Term Life Insurance is the Best Gift Money Can Buy

MassQuotes suggests, if you have dependents, Term Life Insurance: Best Gift Money Can Buy.

How much term life insurance? As much as you can afford.

“Term Life Insurance might be the most generous, least selfish gift a person can leave their surviving loved ones. In other words: it’s the best gift money can buy.

Life Insurance can be a great solution for financial responsibilities such as: family protection, consumer debt, dependent care, education, funeral costs and mortgages.”

For a young, healthy couple starting a family, rates are surprisingly low.

27 year old man, non-smoker, with good family medical history can secure a $500,000 face value, 10 year term policy for as little as $17.37 per month ($208.44 annual).

27 year old female, non-smoker, with good family medical history can secure a $500,000 face value, 10 year term policy for as little as $13.33 per month ($159.96 annual).

Term Life Insurance offers the biggest bang (face value) for the buck. For loved ones left behind, Term Life Insurance: Best Gift Money Can Buy.

Term Life Insurance

“Life insurance is for the living.”

As an insurance agent, when I hear someone has passed away, I almost immediately think: did he/she have life insurance?

For family protection, the most pure life insurance product is: term life insurance.

Term life insurance is defined as: (n) Life insurance that pays a benefit in the event of the death of the insured during a specified term.

Term life insurance offers the biggest face value for the lowest annual premium.

We’ve put together a website that allows consumers to compare term life rates, at no cost, with top-rated, most-competitive companies in seconds.

Utilizing technology and the buying power of the masses, we introduce a new, powerful online term life insurance tool: MassQuotes.

MassQuotes allows consumers to compare term life rates, at no cost, with top-rated, most-competitive companies in seconds.

MassQuotes has simplified the life insurance process. True, one stop shopping, educate (learn about different life insurance products), calculate (the amount of life insurance you need), rate (with numerous, top companies), compare (rates and different face values and terms),and apply (submit application request and you will be on your way)!

Drones and Insurance

damaged-drone-580x387

Love it or hate it, the future includes a lot more drones flying through our skies. The FAA projects that 2017 will be the turning point in the commercial adoption of drone technology. Among hobbyists and amateur drone operators, the future is now. Drones can be purchased on eBay or Amazon for under $50. So you or your child may soon be a drone owner. Here are some drone tips and suggestions for your drone and insurance:

For the drone owner, the prevailing source of insurance coverage is through your Homeowner or Renters policy.
The drone itself is Personal Property under your policy but subject to named perils and the deductible (often $500-$1000) is more than the value of the damaged drone.
Liability coverage to damage done by the drone depends on the circumstances of the accident- especially if negligence is involved. If others are injured or the property of others is damaged by the drone, coverage may be found under the liability coverage of your Homeowner, Renters or Umbrella policy.
Coverage for injury to the operator, the operator’s family or pets would have to be addressed through your medical insurance policy. If the drone falls from the air and damages an auto, coverage could be found under the comprehensive section of the owner’s auto policy (or if identified, more likely the drone operator’s Homeowners or Renters policy).
All drones over .55 pounds need to be registered through the Federal Aviation Agency. Here is the link to more FAA unmanned aircraft information FAA.gov, including registration. The cost starts at $5.00.
A new company, Verifly, offers on-demand insurance for enthusiasts and commercial drone operators at a cost of about $10 per hour.

Note that we at Johnson & Rohan see insurance for the business of drones, for both commercial and consumer enthusiasts as developing rapidly and evolving. We suggest giving us a call to review your particular coverage before your next drone launch.

Advocate: Your Independent Insurance Agent

header

There are many ways to buy insurance. You can buy direct online or over the phone through a direct writer …

Or you can use an Independent Insurance Agency.

Your Independent Agent plays an important role in your family financial protection plan.

Your Agent will shop coverage with multiple companies to find you the best rates.

Your Agent reviews coverage to ensure you understand your limits and will offer you coverage options.

Maybe, however, the most important job of the Independent Insurance Agent is the role of advocate.

Webster Dictionary defines advocate as:

1: one that pleads the cause of another; specifically: one that pleads the cause of another before a tribunal or judicial court

2: one that defends or maintains a cause or proposal

3: one that supports or promotes the interests of another

At claim time, if you have a claim with a direct writer, you really don’t have anyone that’s your advocate.

Your Agent, on the other hand, is there to assist during a claim to ensure insurance companies treat you fairly.

Give Johnson & Rohan Insurance a click or a call.

We’re here for you.

Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Plowing But Were Afraid to Ask

snow-plow

It’s that time of year. Plows are breaking out in every community. Our phone rings and our client on the other end has questions about plowing and plates or plowing and insurance or both. So here’s the skinny: Massachusetts law is clear on the point that if you plow for hire, you need Commercial plates. Personal passenger plates are acceptable only if you plow your own driveway, or if say you plow a relatives driveway but do not get paid. Even still, a police office might write a ticket to a vehicle plowing with Private passenger plates- such a ticket would need to be appealed. Insurance and plowing is a little more complicated. Insurance carriers have different appetites for vehicles used for plowing. We work with some that will not write plows of any kind, others that will write only vehicles used for residential plowing and others that allow plowing without restriction. Please call if you plow and we can review your specific situation to ensure you have the right coverage and plates.

3 Great Black Friday Recipes

3 Great Black Friday Recipes

Transform your Thanksgiving leftovers into great lunches and dinners in their own right!

Nana’s Turkey Pot Pie

Ingredients:

2 tablespoons butter

1 onion, chopped

2 stalks celery, chopped

3 carrots, chopped

4 tablespoons flour

4 cups chicken or turkey stock

2 potatoes, peeled and diced

2 cups shredded turkey

2 tablespoons chopped parsley

1/2 cup frozen peas, thawed

1 prepared pie crust

1 egg, lightly beaten

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
Melt butter in saucepan and cook chopped onion until tender. Stir in celery and carrots and cook for 2 minutes. Stir in flour and cook for 2 minutes. Add chicken stock and bring to a simmer. Add potatoes and simmer until tender. Stir in turkey, parsley and peas. Pour mixture into casserole. Top with pie crust and brush with egg. Bake for 30 minutes until crust is golden.

thanksgiving-2011_tm1e50-what-a-face_s4x3_jpg_rend_sni12col_landscape

Mayflower Open Faced Sandwich

Ingredients:

One slice of whole grain bread

Left over turkey (about one cup)

Left over turkey gravy

Two tablespoons whole berry cranberry sauce

Left over stuffing, about an ice cream scoop full

Chopped parsley or chives (optional)

Directions:

Place the bread on a dinner plate. Place the stuffing on top of the bread, the turkey on top of the stuffing, gravy on top of the turkey. I like the cranberry on top of the gravy, others like it on the side with the re-heated mashed potatoes. Sprinkle the plates with chopped parsley or chives.

cranberry-champ-cocktail-tyler-florence_s4x3_jpg_rend_sni12col_landscape

Cranberry Champagne Cocktail

Ingredients:

1 ounce sweetend cranberry juice

1 wedge lime

Champagne or sparkling wine

Cranberries (frozen)

Directions:

In a chilled champagne flute, add cranberry juice and a squeeze of lime. Top off the glass with champagne and garnish with 3 cranberrys. We substitue ginger ale for the champagne for the kids (who love it).

Enjoy and Happy Thanksgiving!

Fall Home Maintenance Tips

Fall Maintenance Image

Prepare your home for cooler days ahead

Fall foliage is beautiful, but not when it builds up in your gutters. Take these tips into account during the cooler autumn months.

Have your furnace cleaned and inspected annually by a qualified technician.
Keep flammable materials, including all lawn and power equipment, away from water heaters and wiring in the basement.
Insulate water pipes in areas exposed to cold temperatures, and turn up the thermostat during extra cold periods.
Check for damage to your roof, and clean gutters and downspouts to keep debris from accumulating. This is especially important during the fall season to keep leaves from building up in gutters.
Check and repair caulking around doors and windows that show signs of deterioration.
Check caulking around showers, bathtubs, sinks and toilet bases; and make repairs as needed.
Have your chimney cleaned and maintained annually by a professional.
Clean and/or replace your furnace filter.
Clean the clothes dryer exhaust duct and space under the dryer. Remove all lint, dust, and pieces of material.
Check your electrical outlets for potential fire hazards such as frayed wires or loose-fitting plugs. Be sure not to overload electrical outlets, fuse boxes, extension cords or any other power service.
Keep a multi-purpose fire extinguisher accessible, filled and ready for operation.
Inspect your smoke detectors. Make sure there is one on each floor of your home. Test them monthly, and change the battery annually or as needed.