1. You’re remodeling or building an addition to your property. When you hire the contractor, request a certificate of insurance to confirm their liability and workers’ compensation coverages. Review the certificate and your homeowners policy with our agency. In some cases, remodeling projects can increase your home’s reconstruction cost.

2. Your teen starts driving. If a teenager in your home is learning how to drive, that means you’ll soon need to help them purchase insurance. We can guide you through the process, find the best way to add them to your policy and provide materials about safe driving behavior.

3. You got a new job. If you have accepted a position and the work commute is shorter or longer, call us. A significant change in annual mileage could warrant a change in your auto policy. (And that could save or cost you money.)

4. You bought a new ride. If you’ve purchased or leased a new or used vehicle, your insurance policy needs to be updated. Car dealers are required by law to confirm insurance coverage, but only you can make the necessary changes to your policy to make sure you’re fully protected.

5. You’re saving a buck with refinancing. When you’re taking advantage of lower interest rates by refinancing your home or vehicle, your policy should be updated to reflect any new mortgagee or lienholder.

6. Your family’s growing and changing. When you get married or welcome a new baby to the family, the new responsibilities may warrant a change in your home, auto and life insurance coverage.

7. You’ve bought a little luxury. When you purchase valuables such as a diamond ring or a rare piece of art, you should contact your agent. Your homeowners policy covers personal belongings and furnishings, but higher-valued items may have coverage limitations. An endorsement may be advisable for more costly or unusual items.

8. You’ve decided to work from home. If you’re starting a business out of your house, let us know. Depending on the equipment and the nature of your work, an endorsement or separate policy may be necessary to protect your investment and liability exposures.

9. It’s time to retire. Ready to kick back and relax? We can help you maximize the benefits of your retirement plan with a life insurance program.*

No matter what you’re considering, contact our agency. We will assist you with life, auto or home insurance policy changes and insurance needs.*

People First

Keeping your employees safe and healthy is good for your business. To do that:
•Offer prevention and wellness activities
•Have options in place so injured employees can receive immediate treatment
•Consistently search for and eliminate workplace hazards
•Offer early intervention and rehabilitation programs for drug and alcohol abuse and mental health problems
•Make free flu shots available

A Safe Environment  

Heavy equipment, electrical hazards, even keyboards can pose health threats to your employees. For a safer workplace environment:
•Conduct routine maintenance and housekeeping measures
•Frequently check for proper ergonomic conditions
•Check all equipment for unsafe wear and tear
•Educate workers on identifying hazards and risks
•Make sure employees wear necessary protective equipment
•Create and rehearse a worksite disaster plan
•Control and eliminate toxic chemical use where you can
•Make your workplace smoke-free

From the Top 

Safety starts with a company’s leadership. To establish and communicate your vision, mission, policies and trust:
•Keep confidential medical information protected
•Offer educational programs to improve health and safety
•Thoroughly analyze accidents for prevention
•Have a zero-tolerance policy for workplace violence
•Offer access to cost effective health care benefit programs
•Begin an employee assistance program

If you have any employees, most states require you to have an active workers compensation policy to insure coverage for those employees against a workplace injury. In most cases, the owners of a sole-proprietorship or a partner in a partnership are not considered employees and have the option whether to cover themselves or not.

The primary purpose of life insurance is to provide capital to your dependents after you die. The money is an important financial resource. It can help cover funeral costs, pay the mortgage, provide funds to run the household and ensure that your dependents aren’t burdened with debt.

Erie Family Life’s line of competitive life insurance products* can provide financial security for you and your family. Our agency can help you every step of the way.

There are two basic types of life insurance: temporary and permanent.
•Temporary needs include home mortgages, short-term debt reduction, family income and educational expenses that can last from as little as one year to 30 years. Term insurance provides affordable coverage for a specified number of years. It is the most cost-effective way to cover costs for loved ones left behind. There are a variety of plans ranging from an annual renewable term (1-year plan) to a level term plan that could last 10, 15, 20 or 30 years.

•Permanent needs include those that last for your entire life, or potentially for periods of 15 years or more. Unlike term, permanent life insurance builds a cash value that increases the longer the policy is in force. Permanent needs may include final expenses and funds to cover estate taxes and retirement savings protection. Whole life and universal life plans are ideally suited for meeting these goals. With permanent life insurance policy from Erie Family Life, you’ll have guaranteed protection for your entire life.

The proper coverage can make all the difference when it comes to the loved ones you leave behind. We will help you every step of the way. Contact our agency today to discuss the life insurance program that best fits your needs.

According to the latest research released by the non-profit group Safe Kids USA, most adults aren’t using child seats correctly. One of the key problems was top tether use.

Less than 30 percent of the forward-facing child seats arriving at seat check events used a top tether, which secures the top of the chair to anchors found in any car made after 1999. The tether provides added protection to children under 50 pounds by helping to reduce the forward movement of a child’s head in a crash.

The Safe Kids USA study — considered the largest ever of its kind and released in September — reviewed data from 79,000 child safety seat inspections collected over a full year from 2009 to 2010.

Car crashes remain the leading cause of death for children ages 3-14, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). But, correctly used child safety and booster seats are extremely effective and reduce the risk of injury and death in accidents.

On the positive side, the Safe Kids USA study found that parents are doing a better job keeping children in rear-facing seats for a longer period — 41 percent of children greater than 20 pounds and 32 percent of children over age 1 were still riding in the rear-facing direction. But as children age, the research showed that they are less likely to be in the appropriate child safety seat for their age and weight.

Securing precious cargo
To help protect your family, Safe Kids USA recommends reviewing these and other seat belt safety tips:

•Keep children under age 2 in a rear-facing seat until weight or height of the rear-facing car seat is fully outgrown.
•Use car seat harnesses for large, heavier children beyond 40 pounds. Many caregivers make the mistake of moving a child too quickly into the booster seat because it’s easier to use.
•Be cautious about transitioning older children into an adult seat belt. Children will not fit the adult safety belt until they are over 4’9”, weigh between 80 to 100 pounds and are between ages 8 and 12.
•Get your child’s safety seat inspected, even if you think the child’s seat is secure. Certified technicians at safety inspection stations nationwide use standardized procedures to evaluate each seat. Each inspection takes about 20 to 30 minutes to complete. To find a child car seat inspection station locator near you, go to the NHTSA Web site or seatcheck.org. Both sites have a state and ZIP code location finder.

Review your insurance coverage
Insurance can help your family in the most unexpected situations. Here’s how:

•Auto Insurance – If you have a car accident, your auto insurance policy will protect you against financial loss. Be sure you have the proper coverage to meet your family’s needs, and talk to your agent about how you might qualify for a discount.
•Personal Catastrophe Liability – You may want to consider extra liability coverage through a Personal Catastrophe Liability policy, commonly called an umbrella policy, which could help protect you should a lawsuit ensue after a crash.
•Life Insurance – Add life insurance as part of your overall financial plan to help protect your loved ones. Erie Family Life offers a variety of products that are meant to work with you and your situation.*

Most importantly, though, let us know about the changes happening in your household so we can review your specific situation and coverage needs. Contact our agency today.

This system test is the first of its kind designed to broadcast a nationwide message to the American public.  In the history of the country, nothing like it has been conducted on such a level.

As you may be aware, there have been tests in the past, but not of this magnitude encompassing all regions of the nation simultaneously.  The three (3) minute test will run concurrently on all radio and TV band stations exceeding the previous messages broadcast which were anywhere from a 30 second to 1 minute message.

There is great concern in local police and emergency management circles about undue public anxiety over this test.  The test message on TV might not indicate that it is just a test.  The concern is that the lack of an explanation regarding the message might create panic.

Below are two websites that will provide more information regarding this test:

http://www.fema.gov/emergency/ipaws/eas_info.shtm

https://nationaldialogue-emergencyalertsystem.ideascale.com/

Lighthouse Insurance Services
1119 MD Rt. 3N  #210
Gambrills, MD 21054
410-721-6000
www.lighthouse-insurance.com

“There are an unbelievable number of cases in which the storage facility says they never received the boat and the insured says that they left the boat in front of the building,” says Gene Robertson, supervisor in ERIE’s Corporate Security. “Many boat owners don’t discover that the boat is missing until they attempt to retrieve it at the start of the new season.”

Marine theft is a problem nationwide. From January to May, nearly 2,000 boats were stolen, according to the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB). In 2010, there were more than 6,660 boat theft cases. Less than half of those stolen were recovered.

Navigating Safety and Security
Whenever you’re storing your boat, the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) recommends obtaining a contract from the storage facility that includes an employee’s signature. Other proactive steps to follow:

1. Mark it: Mark your boat and equipment with the vessel’s Hull Identification Number (HIN). A 12-character serial number helps law enforcement agencies to recover stolen boats and equipment quickly. All motorboats, with very few exceptions, must display the registration number on the forward part of the boat.

2. Keep records: Place registration and title papers in a safe location other than your boat.

3. Take video or photographs: Take photos or videotape your boat, equipment and HIN.

4. Secure the ship: Disable the boat and remove expensive equipment when not in use. When parking a boat on its trailer, use a trailer hitch lock.

5. Buy insurance: Talk to your insurance agent about purchasing coverage for your boat and personal needs.

You should also be cautious when buying a boat. Carefully review the vessel and its ownership paperwork. To avoid problems, be sure to match the HIN listed on the title and registration to the one attached to the boat.

For more information about NICB or other fraud prevention tips, visit www.nicb.org. The site includes a Boat Theft Prevention Checklist.

Contact our agency to learn more about boat insurance coverage. Erie Insurance’s coverage helps protect your boat, boating equipment and accessories. It also protects you with liability and medical payments coverage.

In your industry, there are a number of potential chemical hazards and physical risks such as ergonomic injuries, noise, fumes, cutting tools and lifts as well as oil and grease on walking surfaces.

For a safer workplace environment, start with the basics:

•Conduct routine maintenance and housekeeping measures
•Frequently check for proper ergonomic conditions
•Check all equipment for unsafe wear and tear
•Educate workers on identifying hazards and risks
•Make sure employees wear necessary protective equipment
•Create and rehearse a worksite disaster plan
•Control and eliminate toxic chemical use where you can
•Make your workplace smoke-free
•Seek support from safety experts

To help keep businesses safe, we work with Erie Insurance, which specializes in insurance coverage for small businesses. We can help you commit to safety and health practices in the workplace. An effective plan can lead to fewer worker compensation claims, a healthier staff and lower insurance premiums.

What to do when you have an accident:

1. Protect yourself, your auto and any other property from further damage as best you can.

2. Call the police as soon as possible if someone is injured, damage is extensive, your vehicle has been stolen or you need assistance.

3. Don’t say you’re liable or sign a statement unless it’s authorized by your insurance company.

4. Fill out the information on this card while you are at the accident scene. This will help you later when you fill out the formal claim report that you need to file with your Agent or your local insurance office.

5. Report the claim to your Agent or to your insurance company as soon as possible.