Johnson & Wood Insurance News

10 Little-known Insurance Facts

Stuart Wood — Wed, 15 May 2013 18:45:32 GMT

10 Little-known Insurance Facts

Insurance is, by and large, a mystery to a lot of people. It’s not that they don’t understand what home owner’s, car, boat, motorcycle, or any of the other insurances do. That makes sense. It makes sense that your insurance will help pay for your repairs if you have collision coverage. You wouldn’t have added those points on if you didn’t understand what they did.

It’s the little things that slip through the cracks: the fine print or assumed knowledge. For instance, did you know that the personal items in your vehicle are not covered even though your car could be if it was stolen? Say someone comes and steals a worthless vehicle you own that contains a GPS, 42” TV, and $10,000 watch. If your coverage will pay for the replacement of the vehicle, it likely won’t pay for the replacement of all the stuff you lost with it. That’s a lot of money down the drain.

The following are 9 other facts about insurance that you might not have heard of before.

1) Auto insurance is tax deductible for business use. Figure out how much time you used your car for the business and report that in your taxes.

2) Your job affects your insurance rates. They see certain occupations as a reflection of the person. For example, they trust an engineer to be more careful with their vehicles than someone that didn’t understand the laws of physics on machines.

3) Bad credit scores can hurt your auto insurance rates. Research has shown a correlation between credit and premiums. Keep up your credit score to not just ensure you can get a loan for your car, but that you can afford the insurance that comes with it.

4) Purchasing a cheap vehicle doesn’t always mean you’ll get cheaper insurance. Show on the low-risk vehicle list instead to ensure you get lower premiums. Low-risk vehicles combine the price of the vehicle, safety data, and theft history. If the car is going to be more expensive to replace or the injuries could mount, then you can bet your insurance is going to be higher.

5) When you get a new insurance policy and forget to cancel an old policy, your credit will suffer. Your old insurance company will report non-payments to the credit bureau—giving you a nice new red mark.

6) If a friend borrows your car and gets into a wreck, you have to make a claim to your insurance company.

7) When you insure your home and your home with the same company, you can often claim multi-policy discounts.

8) Auto insurers are required to pay the sales tax for the replacement of your totaled vehicle.

9) The color of your car does not affect your monthly premiums. A red sports car is not going to be judged differently than a blue, green, or yellow sports car.

Hopefully this list will help you understand more completely what your policy will and won’t do for you.

Insuring Mom’s Jewels for Mother’s Day

Stuart Wood — Thu, 09 May 2013 21:35:27 GMT

Insuring Mom’s Jewels for Mother’s Day

If you’re old enough to be reading this post than you’re probably old enough to be beyond making a Mother’s Day card with crayons and construction paper. She would probably still like it, but you wouldn’t normally make that kind of card for anyone anymore. It’s time to upgrade your gifts, but sometimes you just don’t know what to get her. Sometimes the perfect gift is the one you wouldn’t think to buy.

The best gift is one that someone wants, but would never buy for themselves. Many times that can be something as simple as a watch. That gift can also be something as simple as purchasing an insurance policy to cover her jewelry for a year.

Jewelry is often collected, protected, and passed down through generations of women. Many of the jewels your mother owns hold remarkable sentimental value. They were often given to them by inheritance or by gift from a loved one (often dad). They do everything in their power to protect them and fear the loss of both their sentimental and market value should they ever be stolen or lost.

For a mother’s gift, why not offer her the protection of her precious memories for a year? Purchase an insurance plan that will cover her jewels for the coming 12 months. Insurance will cover the price of an earring that falls out without mom’s knowledge or the diamond that falls out of its setting. It will also help you recover the financial loss of stolen jewelry from a thief.

Although home insurance will cover jewelry in some situations, it doesn’t apply to many situations. This insurance will fill in those cracks. And since it’s coverage that your mother isn’t likely going to purchase herself, it makes the perfect gift for mother’s day.

If you want to add more to the special gift, give her a jewel yourself to remember you by. Not only will it likely stay in her collection for the rest of her life, but it could be passed on through the generations to come, gaining sentimental value for the ages.

5 Steps to De-stress Your Life

Stuart Wood — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 20:15:04 GMT

5 Steps to De-stress Your Life

April is national stress awareness month. More than likely, you deal with stressors on a regular basis. Most of us deal with stress on a daily basis. It is important that you find ways to mitigate the effects of stress in your life to ensure that the stress does not take too much of a toll on your body. Stress can be extremely detrimental to your health and it is important that you understand how to calm yourself down when you start to feel stressed. Some common ways to minimize the effect of stress are…

Exercise – Whether you head out for a run or you need to punch a punching bag at the gym, it is important that you get out and exercise. Find a physical activity that you enjoy and let yourself enjoy the time that you are spending improving your health.
Laugh – It may sound ridiculous, but laughing can do a lot to help you calm down. It will improve blood flow throughout your body and even help your heart health.
Socialize – Sometimes it can be hard to go out and be around other people when you are stressed. In actuality, being around people that you love can be a great way to help you minimize your stress levels.
Write – Writing down your problems and keeping a journal of your stress can help you relive tension that you may be feeling. Working out problems through writing can help you solve problems that you may not have solved otherwise.
Show Gratitude – Take time to find things in your life that you are grateful for. Gratitude can help you put your stressors into perspective.

Stress can take a toll on your physical and mental health. If you are not already finding ways to relieve your stress, take the next few weeks to find some beneficial ways of relieving stress in your life.

Boating Safety Tips

Stuart Wood — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 20:29:05 GMT

Boating Safety Tips

Spring is upon us and with spring comes the promise of summertime fun. One of the best ways to enjoy the hot weather of summer is by taking the boat out of storage, cleaning it up a bit, and giving it a test drive on the lake.

Boating has long been an American favorite for summertime fun. But boating, like almost any other activity, comes with inherent dangers.

To avoid these hazards of boating and to enjoy a fun day on the water, boaters should brush up on their boating safety before firing up the old outboard. The first step towards safety is to perform a safety inspection of the watercraft before taking it out on the water.

A safety check should be made by professional and certified boater safety inspectors who will be able to determine the safety of the craft and any repairs that will need to be made to improve the crafts safety. Additionally, the owner of the boat will want to perform their own safety check every time before going out on the water.

Once the boat has been deemed safe for use, the boat owner can still do things to ensure their safety and the safety of others while enjoying their day at the lake. The first is to always have enough lifejackets for everyone on board and to wear them at all times while on the water.

Boaters can enjoy increased safety by checking weather conditions before packing up and heading for the lake. A change in weather can be dangerous for crafts on the water and for the people who are in them.

By having the craft checked for safety by professionals, by having a sufficient number of lifejackets on board, and by knowing the weather conditions beforehand, a boater and their family can enjoy a safe and fun day on the water.

3 Auto Insurance Myths

Stuart Wood — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 20:01:03 GMT

3 Auto Insurance Myths

As you are shopping for car insurance it can be hard to know who you can trust. When people find out that you are looking for insurance, they will probably have some “great” advice to give you, but sorting through all of the advice that you have been given can be frustrating. There are some common auto insurance myths that are widely circulated. We would like to clear some of them up for you…

Red cars will cost more money to insure. Fortunately, the color of your car is not a factor that is used when calculating your insurance rates. More than likely, the insurance company that you work with is going to ask you what year, make, model, body type and engine size your car is.
One speeding ticket will increase your auto insurance rates. There may be some instances in which this is true, but the majority of insurance policies are going to wait until you have two tickets to increase your insurance premiums. When considering whether to increase your premium rate, the insurance company may consider your driving history, the amount of time you have been with the company and the number of miles that you were going over the speed limit.
Cheaper cars will cost less to insure. There are a lot of old cars that cost a lot of money to insure. If your car weighs a lot, has a large engine or is an unusual model, you will find that your car may be more expensive than a newer car to insure.

Give us a call today if you have any questions concerning your insurance policy. We can help you understand all that you need to know about your auto insurance to ensure that you are perfectly happy with the insurance that you have.

National Drowsy Driver Awareness Day

Stuart Wood — Mon, 01 Apr 2013 20:18:23 GMT

National Drowsy Driver Awareness Day

Although you may not be aware, April 6^th is National Drowsy Driver Awareness Day. Drowsy driving is not something Americans typically think about as a problem, but it is definitely a problem in our society today. Most people do not realize how many automobile accidents occur as a direct result of drowsy driving.

Drowsy driving is completely preventable. One thing you can do to avoid drowsy driving is to make sure you get a good night’s rest, especially before taking long trips. This can be difficult, especially if you are in school or if you have a stressful job. However, getting a good night’s sleep will benefit not only your driving, but your overall health as well.

If you find yourself dozing off at the well, immediately pull over and take a rest. If you need to be somewhere on time, contact whoever you are supposed to meet and explain the situation to them. They will probably be glad that you pulled over and will excuse your lateness.

If you know that you are going to be tired the next day, you could arrange for someone to pick you up and give you a ride to wherever you need to go. It may seem like a hassle, but it could prevent an accident from occurring. For this reason, the hassle is worth it. It is also important that you do not take medications that make you drowsy before you drive. Drink caffeine for a quick way to boost your energy.

April 6^th is National Drowsy Driver Awareness Day, but every day is a good day to practice safe methods of driving.

Spring Cleaning and Saving

Stuart Wood — Tue, 19 Mar 2013 23:17:16 GMT

Spring Cleaning and Saving

It’s that time of the year again. Spring has finally rolled around and it is time to participate in spring cleaning. For some people, this is an exciting and enjoyable time. For others, however, spring cleaning is a dreaded time. These people envision themselves making messes in their houses, and figuring out that they need to replace appliances and possessions, which will cost them money that they don’t have. It can be a stressful time indeed. Although spring cleaning is a necessary evil, it does not have to cost you extra money. Here are some ways to save money while doing your spring cleaning.

One way to save money this spring cleaning is to clean off the refrigerator coils at the back of your refrigerator. This will help your refrigerator to run more smoothly, therefore saving energy and money. Dusting off your light bulbs also helps to save energy and money. By dusting your light bulbs, you get more light for your money.

Another simple way to save money during spring cleaning is to clean the inside of your dishwasher. If you keep the inside of your dishwasher clean, then it will take less water and energy to clean your dishes. Another great way to save money and energy is to make sure to always empty out the lint filter on your dryer. You could even take advantage of the fresh, sunny weather and hang your clothes out on a line to dry.

By following these simple tips, you can save money, time, and energy while cleaning this spring season

National Umbrella Month: Umbrella Insurance

Stuart Wood — Thu, 07 Mar 2013 23:05:15 GMT

National Umbrella Month: Umbrella Insurance

March is National Umbrella Month. Thomas Edward Knibb declared it so to celebrate the invention of one of the “most versatile and underrated inventions of the human race.” The umbrella is quite a functional piece of equipment. It allows you to traverse the natural elements and come out dry and happy. The invention was so inspirational that Insurance companies decided to name a policy after it

Umbrella insurance works very much like an umbrella you would use to keep the rain away. Taking a look at the anatomy of an umbrella will help you understand what umbrella insurance does for you.

The Fabric

The fabric is what keeps the water off of you. Without it, the frame would be a useless tool.

Umbrella insurance covers everything that falls underneath its wing. Just as long as the frame reaches that far, the fabric will protect the policy holder from lawsuits and incredible financial burdens.

The Rib

A rib is a long, thin, curved metal rod that extends from the top of the umbrella down to the tip. Ribs reach out from the central rod to cover every part of you. They work by giving the fabric something to hold onto. Without the rib, the fabric couldn’t be stretched out to cover your body from the rain.

Umbrella insurance takes liability insurance from your house, and stretches it out to cover you when you leave the property. Normally you would be safe within your own home, but the minute you walk out the door, you are liable for any accidents or damages you cause. Umbrella insurance helps cover all parts of you, no matter where you go.

The Convenience

You only carry an umbrella when you go outside. You would never think to carry it around indoors. It serves no purpose there because you’re already covered from the rain.

Umbrella insurance gets put away when another insurance policy is already keeping out the bad. It is no longer in effect when your home or car insurance has got you covered. It has it’s uses in extending coverage everywhere else, but even it has it’s limits.

What to Do After Your Car is Stolen

Stuart Wood — Fri, 01 Mar 2013 00:39:41 GMT

What to Do After Your Car is Stolen

You left your car on the north side of the 2^nd light post on the fourth row. You know you did because that’s where you park every day you come into work. The location is easy to remember and your feet take you on auto pilot to and from it every day. Yet today, when your feet carried you off to the normal parking stall, you find it completely empty. Panic is beginning to set in as the reality of the situation hits you, somebody stole your car.

Stop! And Breath

“Now is not the time for fear, that comes later” – Bain, The Dark Knight Rises

Now is the time to act, not panic. Take a few deep breaths and gather your wits. Calm yourself with a few deep, steadying breaths as you begin to think through your next steps.

Verify Your Car Was Actually Stolen

Every year, hundreds of car owners call the police reporting their car stolen. Upon arrival on the scene, the owner finds they just parked somewhere else. Take a second and think. Did you really park here today? Perhaps you parked around the building, or got dropped off today. Did you bring your car today and if you did, where did you park?

Call the Police

Once you’ve verified the car is gone, then proceed to call the police. Tell them the make and model, VIN (if someone at home has access to those records), license plate number, etc. Report anything that might make it identifiable.

Contact OnStar

Next, contact OnStar or any other GPS program you have installed in the car. Report the car stolen and have them track the car or shut it down. The cops can then use the car’s location to recover your car for you.

Contact a Ride

You will want to leave the scene relatively soon. Contact a ride and ask them to pick you up. First make sure that the police don’t need any more information from you.

Contact Your Insurance Company

Tell your insurance provider what’s going on. It will take them a long time to get through the paperwork. Tell them it’s missing and you’re trying to recover it.

Panic

If you want to panic, now is the time to do it. You’ve taken care of yourself and are ready to face your emotions. The important thing is that you’ve taken care of what you’re supposed to.

Coping With Tragedy

Stuart Wood — Wed, 20 Feb 2013 23:00:38 GMT

Coping With Tragedy

Tragedy and loss are natural and inevitable parts of life. We have all lost something that is very dear to us, whether it is a loved one, a home, or a job. We cannot always avoid or prevent a tragic event from occurring, but we can control how we react and what we do in the aftermath. It can be difficult to keep going after something tragic has happened, but here are a few steps on what to do while facing a tragedy in your life.

Remember to breathe. Sometimes the weight of what has just happened can seem crushing and debilitating. It can be easy to sink into a depressed state, where the future seems endless and hopeless. Deep breathing can help to calm your worries and anxiety. And it can help you survive from the current minute into the next.
Try to accept what has happened. This is obviously very difficult and takes a different amount of time for every person. Once you can accept what has happened and realize that it was not your fault, it can be easier to let go. Dwelling on the tragedy for an extended amount of time can just make the pain worse.
Embrace nature. Getting a healthy dose of sunshine can greatly affect your mood and attitude. It may not solve or fix the pain you’re feeling, but it can definitely help alleviate it a little bit. Take a walk outside. Work in a garden. Go for a bike ride. These may be the last things you feel like doing when you’re grieving, but getting outside can definitely help you to feel better.

Dealing with tragedy and loss can be extremely difficult, but following these steps can help you feel more calm about your situation and work towards complete healing.