Insurance News

The warm summer months see the most motorcycles on the road, and the numbers increase every year. According to the Motorcycle Industry Council, motorcycle sales are up more than 8% through the first quarter of this year. The following is some important information for the owners and operators of motorcycles: • Four of the top 10 days with the highest claims for motorcycle customers fell in June. • The summer months o

We’re all looking for a “safe” car. But what does that really mean? What should we be looking for when shopping for a car? It’s reassuring that each new car must meet the most recent federal safety standards, but that doesn’t mean that two visibly comparable cars are equally safe. Some manufacturers offer safety features beyond the required federal minimums.  It is worth taking the time to research and compare any mo

 Owning a small business means owning data. You’re constantly acquiring new information related to your customers, your financial details, and all the vendors and contractors with whom you work.  One cybercriminal, though, one lucky hack, and you’ve just exposed your business to a major blow. From lost trust among your clients to costly lawsuits for the damage done, protecting your company from data theft

It’s not just big businesses like JPMorgan Chase, Target and Home Depot that get hacked. Small companies suffer from intrusions into their computer systems, too. The costs associated with computer and website attacks can run well into the thousands and even millions of dollars for a small company. Many small businesses have been attacked — 44 percent, according to a 2013 survey by the National Small Busin

What if someone sues you for millions of dollars and your car insurance or homeowners liability coverage tops out at $300,000? You’ve got trouble. Your insurance company stops paying when your limits are reached, leaving you personally liable for the rest. The answer, especially for those whose high net worth makes them a more tempting target for lawsuits, is typically an umbrella liability policy. What is an umbrell

National Dog Bite Prevention Week® (May 17-23, 2015), is an annual event designed to provide consumers with information on how to be responsible pet owners while increasing awareness of a serious public health issue.  Dog bites (and other dog-related injuries) accounted for more than one-third of all homeowners insurance liability claim dollars paid out in 2014, costing in excess of $530 million, according to the Ins

Some Facts about Hurricane Season: The 2015 Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30. The areas covered include the North Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea. The National Weather Service defines a hurricane as “an intense tropical weather system with well-defined circulation and sustained winds of 74 mph (64 knots) or higher.” Hurricanes are rated according to intensity on t

The most common claim for small businesses is burglary & theft.  It is also the least expensive in Hartford’s ranking of the 10 costliest claims.   While 20% of business owners were impacted by theft and burglary in the past 5 years, the average cost was about $8000. Compare that to the costliest claim which is reputational harm.  Though less than 5% of small businesses file claims for reputational harm, payouts

Tips for safer travel In recogniton of Distracted Driving Awareness Month, keep these safety tips in mind when driving: Pull off the road – Don’t drive while calling or texting; pull off the road to a safe location. Use voice-activated dialing – If you must dial from the road, program frequently called numbers and your local emergency number into your phone and use voice-activated dialing. Never dial while driving –