Category: Insurance Know How

Put home and car maintenance on autopilot with the help of Allstate’s Maintenance Reminder tool. All you have to take care of is the initial setup and then the Allstate Maintenance Reminder tool keeps you on schedule. You can even learn about important maintenance needs you may have overlooked before.

Let’s check out exactly how this free tool works and how it helps every car or homeowner regardless of whether or not you have an Allstate insurance account.

Getting Started with the Allstate Maintenance Reminder

Setting up the Allstate Maintenance Reminder is a simple process that only takes a few minutes. The first step is to provide some basic information to create an account. During the setup you can choose how you want to receive reminders: text, email or both. Accept the terms of agreement and you’re ready to start using the Allstate Maintenance Reminder!

Putting Together a Maintenance Calendar

Next start adding items you want to get maintenance reminders for like your home or car. You can also add custom assets as well, which is a nice addition for anyone who owns a boat, motorcycle, etc. When adding an item you’ll give it a name and provide a few details, such as whether your house has a basement, to generate a customized maintenance list.

The list will include a number of common maintenance concerns and pre-set dates for each. There’s also a function for adding your own custom maintenance reminders. To remove an item from the list, simply click the grey box next to the blue “ON” button. You can always bring the item back up on your dashboard by selecting “View All Reminders” at the top.

There are two ways to edit a maintenance task.

1.)  Click on the date to adjust when a reminder is due, select how frequently you want a reminder to occur and to make notes.

2.)  Click the arrow to the right of the “ON” button to edit, change the reminder date or mark the task as complete.

Each task also has a link to more information about why the maintenance for an item is important, how often maintenance should be done and provides access to even more information.

Reminders and Alerts That You Won’t Miss

The best part about the Allstate Maintenance Reminder is with automatic reminders you’ll never forget about an important car or home maintenance to-do ever again. Even during busy times of year like the holidays reminders will be front and center without you ever having to think about it. One setup is all it takes for year round updates.

Of course, things change – you buy a new home, get a new phone number or no longer have an asset needing maintenance. You can always easily update your account to change where and when the alerts are sent, and the dashboard and calendar views on your account give you a quick look at items that are set for a certain month or the entire year.

Regular home and car maintenance extends the life of your systems and can save you serious cash in the long run. The Allstate Maintenance Reminder has you covered even if you didn’t know something needed to be done.

Image Source: www.allstate.com

Original Source: http://www.mybiginsurance.com/insurance-know-how/simplify-home-car-upkeep-maintenance-reminder

If you’ve dealt with Halloween pranksters in the past, it may have left you with a bad taste in your mouth despite the candy. This October 31^st you can take steps to better protect your property from people that are out for tricks not treats.

Halloween mishaps most often fall under one word – vandalism. Another possible result that could affect your property is injury – either to yourself or the pranksters. Below are ways to avoid both problems whether your home or car is the target for mischief.

How to Protect Your Home on Halloween

Put out “No Trespassing” and “Beware of Dog” signs – These signs will make people think twice before sneaking into your yard or on your property.

Keep the lights on – This will make it appear like someone may still be up and around, and could help you catch pranksters in the act. This will also help trick-or-treaters get to and from your door more safely. Outdoor motion detector lights are also very good idea any day of the year.

Have neighbors keep an eye out if you’re not at home – If you’ll be away during Halloween ask a neighbor to keep watch in case someone does vandalize your property so you can handle the situation ASAP.

Organize a neighborhood watch – Halloween is one of the best nights of the year to have residents of the neighborhood take turns going around in pairs to keep a watch and discourage pranksters from preying in your area.

Put out security system signs and set your alarm – Setting an alarm and letting people know it’s protected with signage will deter people from coming near your home. If you don’t have a system but have been thinking about getting one, having it installed before Halloween is a good time to make the investment.

Disable your doorbell – If possible turning your doorbell off will dissuade pranksters from sticking around and doorbell ditching. There have also been reports of pranksters tampering with doorbells so that they stick and keep ringing.

How to Protect Your Vehicle on Halloween

Get comprehensive car insurance – Unlike basic liability or collision coverage, comprehensive auto insurance covers you if your vehicle is vandalized.

Park the vehicle in the garage if possible – Even if you have to move things out temporarily to make room, the best way to protect your car from pranksters is to get it in the garage.

Park in well-lit areas – If you are away from home, don’t have a garage or can’t get the car in one, at the very least park the car under a streetlight or other well-lit area.

Park in the driveway, not off the street – Drive-by pranksters tossing pumpkins or swinging bats will have a much harder time getting to your car if it’s off the street.

Activate your car alarm – If you have a car alarm make sure it’s turned on and working properly.

If despite your best efforts you find that Halloween tricksters have egged, creamed or TP’d your house or car, clean it as quickly as possible so that it doesn’t cause permanent damage. If your property is damaged get in touch with your insurance provider ASAP as well. Keep in mind there may be a longer wait than usual since lots of people wind up on the trick end of All Hollow’s Eve.

Image Source: flickr.com/photos/37prime/2164047646/lightbox/

Original Source: http://www.mybiginsurance.com/insurance-know-how/halloween-tricks-go-far-avoid-halloween-mishaps

 

Did you know that some updates can actually lower your Austin home insurance costs? That’s right. The condition of your home, especially a few key components, has a significant impact on your monthly premium. Here’s a look at the home updates that have the best potential for lowering your insurance costs.

Safeguard Against Natural Disasters

If you live in an area where natural disasters aren’t unheard of, you could potentially save up to 30% on your insurance by properly protecting your home. Installing storm shutters, cutting back tree limbs and sealing your roof are all ways to lessen the impact if a storm strikes and lower insurance costs.

Plumbing

In older homes, if the plumbing hasn’t been updated it’s a big red flag for insurers. Plumbing problems mean water damage, which leads to a lot of expensive fixes. Is your plumbing 20-25 years old? Has it had issues in the past? If so, making updates can have a positive impact on your home insurance bottom line.

Roof

If your roof is already in need of repair or getting close to the end of its lifespan (i.e. 25 years or older), getting home insurance that covers anything up top could be difficult. And it will most certainly be more expensive than it otherwise would be.

A new roof may be a bit of an investment but you can at least recoup some of the cost with savings of up to 20% on your insurance and get better coverage in the process. Opt for an impact-resistant roofing material for the best chance at a big reduction.

Electrical System

Electrical systems that are old and not up to code are seen as a liability. Not only is it prone to having technical problems, it can also be a fire hazard (see below). While it may not save you on your monthly premium, having your electrical system up to code can save you in the long run should your home be destroyed or heavily damaged.

Anti-theft systems

Home insurance doesn’t just protect you from natural disasters and system failures. It also covers you if your home is burglarized. Naturally, anti-theft systems, which ward off break-ins and limit the collateral damage are a big plus in the eyes of your insurer. Installing a burglar system is a great way to protect your family and lower your home insurance cost by up to 10%.

Fire Protection

Like anti-theft systems, a fire protection system is also a way to protect your home while knocking a little bit off the cost of your insurance. Consider adding smoke alarms as well as security systems that alert authorities or the fire department of a potential fire.

If you do invest in any of the updates above, make sure to let your insurance company know so you can hopefully save a little bit each month on your premium.

Image Source: thinkplaninvest.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/home-improvement-loan.jpg

Original Source: http://www.mybiginsurance.com/insurance-know-how/home-updates-can-lower-insurance-costs

Getting into an automobile accident is bad enough. Having a collision with someone who is un-insured can make matters a whole lot worse.

Even though it is against the law to go without at least liability auto insurance in just about every state, there are many people who push their luck and go without it. If you are unlucky enough to meet one of these people under the worst circumstances there are steps you can take to safeguard yourself.

What To Do in the Event of an Accident with an Uninsured Driver

Step 1 – Call 911 to get a police officer dispatched. This is an immediate must if anyone is injured, but it’s best to do so even if everyone is alright. Why? So that the police officer can note in their official records that the other driver is uninsured and what happened to cause the collision.

Step 2 – Get all of their information. By all of it we mean:

• Name
• Phone number
• Address
• Email
• License Plate Number
• Drivers License Number

With no insurance company to call, the other driver is going to be your sole contact to get matters resolved. It’s not pleasant to think about, but people will sometimes provide false information in these instances. By asking to see their driver’s license and getting their drivers license number you can ensure that you at least have a real name.

Step 3 – Contact your insurance company. Call your insurance provider as soon as possible to let them know what has occurred. Pass along all of the information that you received from the other driver.

Step 4 – Prepare to pay the deductible – even if the accident wasn’t your fault. All Austin auto insurance policies come with a deductible that must be paid before repairs can be made, unless it was the other driver that caused the accident. In most cases their insurance will be the ones covering the cost of the repairs so no deductible is required from you.

However, if the other driver has no insurance you’ll be on the hook for the deductible no matter what.

Step 5 – Prepare to take the other driver to court. You and/or your insurance company may have to file a civil lawsuit against the other driver in order to recoup the costs involved with the accident. As you probably know from your own policy, there are limits to coverage. So even if your insurance company covered most of your costs you may still have to pay out of pocket for a portion.

Step 6 – Keep records of everything. If the accident was the other driver’s fault then they are responsible for the costs you incur. Note anything that is related to the accident: write down names of people you talk to, make copies of receipts, note anytime you have a conversation with or reach out to the other driver. All this information will be needed if you have to go to court to recoup costs.

What You Can Do To Protect Yourself in the Future

Someone trying to save a few bucks can cost you a lot of money. With the Insurance Research Council estimating that 1 in 7 drivers doesn’t have car insurance it’s best to cover your own bases with un-insured/under insured motorist coverage.

Un-insured/under insured motorist coverage can be added to your policy to protect you from incurring costs if:

• You are in a collision with an un-insured driver.
• You are in a collision with an under insured driver.
• You are in a hit-and-run accident.
• If the other driver’s insurance denied coverage or becomes insolvent.

There are a lot of options to choose from when it comes to un-insured/under insured coverage. The two main types are bodily injury coverage and property damage coverage. It’s the best way to ensure that you and your passengers are covered no matter who is driving the other car.

Image Source: allianceclaimfunding.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/car-accident.jpg
Original Source: http://www.mybiginsurance.com/insurance-know-how/what-to-do-if-the-other-driver-is-uninsured

Dogs are a part of many people’s families, and they interact with many different individuals on a daily basis. We domesticated dogs centuries ago, however that doesn’t mean that accidents and incidents don’t happen. Here’s how to handle them whether you’re the owner of a dog or the victim of a dog bite.

If You’ve Been Bitten By a Dog

A dog bite can barely break the skin or cause severe trauma. Here are the steps that you need to take anytime a dog bite occurs.

1.     Clean the wound immediately. This is important at minimizing the chances of infection and will help you assess how bad the bite really is. You’ll also want to take photographs of the wound for your records.

2.     Get medical attention. Even if it is a superficial wound if it breaks the skin you need to get a tetanus shot if you haven’t recently had one and possibly a series of rabies shots. You have a window of 72 hours but the sooner you can schedule to have these done the better.

3.     Contact the dog owner. Unless the owner is there when the bite occurs you’ll need to contact them and let them know what happened. They or their insurance company will be liable for any medical costs.

4.     Gather contact information for anyone who witnessed the attack.

5.     Get evidence of the dog’s vaccinations. Request documentation of when the dog was last vaccinated for rabies. If they aren’t current on their shots you need to start the series of rabies vaccinations immediately.

6.     Report the incident. If the bite wasn’t accidental it needs to be reported to the proper authorities so they can assess whether the dog is dangerous.

7.     Contact your health insurance company and let them know what has occurred.

Being bitten by a dog can be a frightening experience. It’s important to focus on your health first, then the monetary issues later.

If You’re the Owner of a Dog That Bit Someone

Every dog owner understands there is some liability involved with owning one of these animals no matter what their breed. Sometimes accidents happen, and dogs can get protective or upset just like people. If your dog has bitten someone you need to take action immediately.

1.     Get the dog contained and under control. Stay calm and don’t engage the victim in any arguments.

2.     Make sure the person who was bitten gets proper medical attention.

3.     Get the information of any witnesses.

4.     Make copies of your dog’s medical records for the person that was bitten.

5.     Provide the other party with the appropriate insurance information. It is likely that there will need to be medical treatment that you or your insurance company will be responsible for. There are a number of insurance policies that cover these types of incidents including your Austin renters insurance, homeowners insurance, pet insurance and liability insurance.

6.     Contact your insurance agent(s) to inform them of what happened and ask what coverage is available to you.

7.     Keep in touch with the victim. Make sure that they are okay and coordinate with them on next steps to get medical bills, etc. handled.

8.     Brace yourself for court and insurance claims. You may have to go to civil court, criminal court or answer to the local animal control authorities.

This can be a very emotional ordeal that takes months to put behind you. The most important to make sure of is that the victim is alright and your dog is safe in the future around people.

SPECIAL NOTE: Some cities, like Austin, require that owners of “dangerous dogs” get additional liability insurance to cover these kinds of events. “Dangerous dogs” are those that have already bitten someone before – not simply certain breeds of dogs. Even if your dog hasn’t bitten someone it’s best to look into all of your insurance options and make sure you’re covered beforehand.

Original Source: http://www.mybiginsurance.com/insurance-know-how/dealing-with-dog-bite-drama