Los “días lluviosos” que se pueden llegar a experimentar son muchos- como tener un hijo enfermo, un automóvil averiado o un retraso en el pago de la hipoteca.
Pero ¿que tal una demanda legal?
Hoy en día, más y más demandas legales se están interponiendo, y no solo contra grandes corporativos, pero también contra personas como usted y como yo. En un abrir y cerrar de ojos, usted se puede verse involucrado en un accidente de automóvil o de embarcación, o alguien puede lesionarse en su propiedad lo cual puede resultar en un litigio en su contra que busque una remuneración de miles o hasta de millones de dólares.
Aún y cuando sus pólizas de seguro principales, tales como la de Automóvil, Propietarios de Vivienda, Propietarios de Embarcaciones, etc., le pueden proporcionar cobertura de responsabilidad civil substancial, puede no ser suficiente. Una Póliza Sombrilla de Responsabilidad Personal le proporciona cantidades adicionales en cobertura de responsabilidad civil a un precio accesible.
¿Qué es una póliza sombrilla?
Una Póliza Sombrilla de Responsabilidad Personal le proporciona capas de cobertura de responsabilidad civil adicionales a las pólizas subyacentes. Las cantidades de cobertura de una póliza sombrilla personal típicamente empiezan en un millón de dólares y pueden incrementarse en incrementos de mil dólares.
He aquí un ejemplo de como puede funcionar una póliza sombrilla: Digamos que su automóvil está asegurado con límites de responsabilidad civil de $250,000 por persona. Usted conduce por una intersección, impacta a otro vehículo y le causa lesiones graves al otro conductor. La persona lesionada lo demanda y el fallo del tribunal en su contra suma un total de $800,000. Su póliza de automóvil pagará los primeros $250,000, pero una póliza sombrilla respondería por los $550,000 restantes.
En ocasiones, una póliza sombrilla también ofrece un seguro contra pérdidas para las cuales no existe cobertura en la póliza subyacente. Ejemplos de tales pérdidas incluyen, injuria, calumnia y difamación.
¿Porqué tener una póliza sombrilla?
El valor de una póliza sombrilla de responsabilidad personal está en poder proporcionarle mayores cantidades de cobertura de responsabilidad civil a cambio de una prima accesible. Puede ayudarle a proteger los bienes económicos de su hogar cuando más lo necesite y le puede dar la tranquilidad de saber que usted cuenta con la cobertura necesaria para ayudarle a proteger a su familia.
Para saber si este es un tipo de póliza que puede beneficiarle, hable con su agente de seguros.
November 22, 2008
November 10, 2008
Kid Safety – Back to School
By J.R. Orenstein
State Farm® agent
Tel: (866) FOR-COVERAGE
Web: www.JRorenstein.com or www.SeguroNuevaYork.com or www.Shop4Insurance.net
It’s time for school again. Kids will be out in greater numbers on the streets and sidewalks. As parents, we want our children to enjoy their years in school and return safely home each afternoon.
Whether your child is riding a bike, walking or taking a bus, there are a few simple safety rules you should discuss before school starts.
· Riding a bike or walking will give your child a chance to get some exercise during the day. But children face possible dangers riding or biking. Children between the ages of 5 and 9 have probably not developed the skills and experience to navigate traffic safely and judge speed and distance. Before school starts, practice safe pedestrian skills with your child and provide adult supervision to and from school if possible. Tell your child to:
· Mind all traffic signals and/or the crossing guard.
· Never cross the street against a light, even if there’s no traffic coming.
· Walk your bike through intersections.
· Ride or walk with a buddy.
· Wear reflective material to be more visible to street traffic.
Taking the bus is a safe mode of transportation. However, according to the National Safety Council, about 9,000 children are injured each year in incidents involving school buses. Surprisingly, these injuries occur as children enter and exit the bus. Review these safety tips with your child:
· Have a safe place to wait for the bus, away from traffic and the street.
· Stay away from the bus until it comes to a complete stop and the driver signals you to enter.
· When being dropped off, exit the bus and walk several giant steps away from the bus. Keep a safe distance between you and the bus. Also, remember that the bus driver can see you best when you are away from the bus.
· Use the handrail to enter and exit the bus.
· Stay away from the bus until the driver gives a signal that it’s okay to approach.
· Be aware of the street traffic around you. Drivers are required to follow certain rules of the road concerning school buses but not all do.
If you’re driving in a school area or along bus routes, be sure to watch out for children on the streets and sidewalks. Slow down in school areas. Stop at crosswalks and intersections when children are present. Obey all laws regarding school buses. Whether your have a child in school or not, help make sure all school children arrive at school and home safely.
Give your kid a “boost” with child passenger safety
By J.R. Orenstein
State Farm® agent
Tel: 516-466-FARM (3276)
Web: JRorenstein.com or SeguroNuevaYork.com
As parents, grandparents or caregivers, we always want to do the best thing for our child’s health and safety. We make sure that they don’t eat too much candy. We teach them to look both ways before crossing the street.
But when our kids are riding in the car, are we making sure they are buckled up correctly?
Even though experts for years have stressed the importance of child safety seats, the number one killer in the United States for children ages 2-14 is car crashes.
Partners for Child Passenger Safety (PCPS) is a joint effort between State Farm Insurance and The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia®. The partnership is dedicated to understanding how and why children are injured or killed in auto crashes. PCPS began in 1997 and continues to be the largest study of its kind, having recently been expanded to include crashes in Texas.
One of the earliest findings of the study was that children ages 2 to 5 who use adult seat belts are 3.5 times more likely to suffer significant injury than those correctly restrained in a child safety seat or belt-positioning booster seat. In 2004, PCPS data showed more than 61 percent of children ages 4 to 8 were not optimally restrained and were often using only a seat belt.
Seat belts are designed to fit adults, not children. A belt-positioning booster seat, which is the next step after a child has completely outgrown a child safety seat, gives kids a lift so that a lap and shoulder belt fits them properly.
Besides emphasizing the need for the intermediate step of the belt-positioning booster seat, findings from the PCPS study show that boosters reduce the risk of injury for 4 to 7 year-olds by 59 percent compared to those using only adult safety belts. Another recent discovery by PCPS researcher is children are 40 percent less likely to be injured in a crash if they are seated in the rear seat versus the front seat. This supports the recommendation of the American Academy of Pediatrics that all children under age 13 should ride in the back seat. Based on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s recommendations, the following tips are critical to help ensure the safety of children riding in vehicles.
If the Child is:
A newborn up to at least 1 year AND at least 20 pounds
· Use a rear-facing infant seat or rear-facing convertible seat.
· Keep the child in the rear-facing seat until he or she has completely outgrown the seat.
· Never place a rear-facing infant in the front seat with an airbag.
· Follow the child safety seat and vehicle manufacturers’ instructions on correct restraint use and installation.
Over at least 1 year AND over at least 20 pounds, up to 40 pounds.
· Use a forward-facing convertible seat or forward-facing combination seat with harness straps.
· Keep the child in the forward-facing child safety seat until he or she has completely outgrown it.
· Follow the child safety seat and vehicle manufacturers’ instructions on correct restraint use and installation.
Over 40 pounds AND up to at least age 8, unless 4’9” tall
· Use a belt-positioning booster seat with lap and shoulder seat belt.
· Follow the child safety seat and vehicle manufacturers’ instructions on correct restraint use and installation.
Over age 8 or 4’9” tall
· Use a lap and shoulder safety belt.
· Follow vehicle manufacturers’ instructions on correct restraint use.
If you would like to learn more about the correct way children should be seated in a car or about the Partners for Child Passenger Safety study, visit www.statefarm.com/kidsafety.htm.
Anatomy of an Auto Policy
Picture this scenario: A woman leaves her car securely locked and safely parked on a quiet side street. But the unexpected happens. When she returns, her car is severely damaged.
This scenario has a happy ending. After the initial shock, she calls her insurance agent. The agent guides the woman through the claim process and explains that her car policy’s collision coverage will pay the cost, after the deductible is met, to repair her car.
Why insurance?
State laws require owners and drivers of motor vehicles to be financially responsible for damages they cause in a car accident. Insurance satisfies this requirement. In addition, optional coverages are available that can further reduce your risk of significant financial loss from a car crash, even if it is not your fault.
Types of coverage available
There are various types of coverage available when purchasing an Auto insurance policy.
· Liability: Pays damages for bodily injury to others and damage to property that result from a wreck that is caused by an insured under your policy. Also pays for other costs including legal defense and court fees in the event an insured is sued because of a car wreck.
· Collision: Pays for damage, after a deductible is met, to your insured car when it strikes, or is struck by, another vehicle or object.
· Comprehensive: Pays for damage to your insured car that was not caused by a collision. Some examples include damage caused fire, wind, hail, flood, vandalism, theft, or impact with an animal. There may or may not be a deductible for this coverage.
· Medical Payments Coverage: Pays the reasonable and necessary medical expenses for an insured that is injured in a car crash, regardless of who is at fault for the wreck.
· Uninsured Motorist Coverage: Pays damages to an insured that is injured in a car crash caused by a driver who does not have liability insurance.
· Underinsured Motorist Coverage: Pays damages to an insured that is injured in a car crash when the person(s) responsible for the wreck accident has insufficient liability insurance to fully compensate the insured for the injury.
· Car Rental Expense: Pays eligible rental car expenses if your car is not drivable because of a loss which would be payable under Collision Coverage or Comprehensive Coverage.
· Emergency Road Service: Pays for items such as towing expenses, the cost to deliver gasoline, and specified labor charges to unlock your car if the key is locked inside the car.
When shopping for insurance, it’s important to look at more than the total cost. Become familiar with the amount and type of coverage that is being offered. Also, note what isn’t being covered, who is covered while driving your vehicle and the quality of customer service in the event of an accident. And always remember to make sure the company you’re insured by is financially strong.
The bottom line is that you should understand your policy and buy the amount of insurance you think you need.
Tel: 516-466-FARM (3276)
Web: www.JRorenstein.com or www.SeguroNuevaYork.com
November 8, 2008
Group Life Insurance
Group Life – An affordable benefit for your employees
By: J.R. Orenstein
State Farm® agent
Tel: 516-466-FARM (3276)
Website: JRorenstein.com or SeguroNuevaYork.com
As a small business owner, you do your best to attract and keep the best employees. One benefit you can offer that may set you apart from other employers is group life insurance coverage.
Providing life insurance coverage for your employees may sound like an expensive proposition, but in reality, the coverage can be very affordable. The national average monthly premium for coverage is $.25 per $1,000 in coverage. Premiums for up to $50,000 coverage for your employees are deductible from your federal income tax and not taxable to your employees.
In addition to the benefit of providing affordable coverage to your employees, there may be other advantages to offering group life insurance. Having group life coverage may help to reduce employee turnover, reducing the costs associated with hiring and training new workers. Benefits such as group life have also been shown to improve morale and loyalty among employees.
Employees can name and change beneficiaries as needed. They may also feel more secure since funds are typically available almost immediately, if they die while covered under the policy.
Something your employees may need, at an affordable price. Contact your insurance agent today to find out more about group life insurance coverage.
Driving Drowsy
Be alert to the dangers of drowsy driving
By J.R. Orenstein
State Farm® agent
Tel: 516-466-FARM (3276)
Website: JRorenstein.com or SeguroNuevaYork.com
Driving while drowsy is an unnecessary risk you shouldn’t take.
Sleep deprivation has become widespread in North America as people try to squeeze more and more activities into each day.
One consequence: more vehicle crashes attributed partly or wholly to sleepiness.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) says about 1 million crashes a year are thought to occur because of driver inattention or lapses – and fatigue makes such inattention more likely.
In a survey by the National Sleep Foundation, 57 percent of those interviewed said they had driven while drowsy and 23 percent admitted to having fallen asleep behind the wheel.
NHTSA reports that sleep-induced crashes typically involve a driver who is alone and driving late at night or in mid-afternoon on a high-speed road (so the crash is more likely to be serious). Most of the time, it’s a single-car crash because the vehicle leaves the roadway.
Leave the driving to those who are wide awake! In other words, many of us may be susceptible to driving while sleepy, but there are some things we can do to avoid doing so. The National Sleep Foundation and other experts suggest:
- Get a good night’s sleep before starting a long drive.
- Avoid driving during your body’s natural “down time” when you’d normally be sleeping.
- Plan to drive long trips with a companion. Passengers can help look for early warning signs of fatigue and can help share the driving. Passengers should stay awake to talk to the driver.
- Sit up straight while driving; don’t slouch. Don’t stare straight ahead at all times; scan the road and nearby areas.
- Stop for a rest every 100 miles or two hours.
- If you need one, take a short nap. Or get some exercise – run in place, jump up and down.
- Avoid alcohol and medications that may make you sleepy; read the label on the container or ask your physician.
- Consult a doctor if you have any symptoms of a possible sleep disorder: frequent daytime sleepiness, frequent difficulty sleeping at night or loud snoring every night.
So, before you hit the road, make sure you’ve had a good night’s sleep. Then you can rest assured you’ll arrive at your destination safely.
Ways to Reduce Your Auto Insurance Premium
State Farm® agent
Tel: 516-466-FARM (3276)
Website: JRorenstein.com or SeguroNuevaYork.com
If you’re like me, you’re always looking for a smart way to save money. Sometimes, saving money can come in the most unlikely place – such as your insurance.
There are several ways you may be able to cut your auto insurance costs. Higher deductibles can lower your premium as will selecting only the coverages you feel you need. Many insurance companies offer different discounts. Here are a few. When shopping for auto insurance, be sure to ask about the availability of these discounts and whether the insurer offers them.
· New business discount: May offer you a discount as a new policyholder if you have been accident-free for a specific period of time.
· Accident-free: Policyholders who have been accident-free while being insured with the same insurance company for several years may be eligible for reduced premiums.
· Discounts for other insurance lines: Premiums may be reduced if you insure your home, life or health with the same company that covers your car.
· Multiple cars: Premiums may be reduced if there are two or more private passenger cars in the household insured by the same company.
· Air bag/passive restraint: Cars that are 1993 or older and are equipped with air bags or automatic seat belts may receive this discount. Certain makes and models of newer vehicles may receive the Vehicle Safety Discount because of the lower medical payments associated with them. The Vehicle Safety Discount is for autos 1994 or newer. Certain makes and models may have a decrease in their premiums because of lower medical payments associated with those specific makes/models.
· Antitheft devices: Some insurance companies offer discounts on comprehensive coverage premiums when certain antitheft devices are installed or built into a vehicle.
· Defensive driving course: Premium discounts sometimes are offered for the voluntary completion of specified driver improvement courses.
· Good student: Full-time students (high school or higher level) maintaining at least a “B” average may qualify for reduced premiums with many companies.
These are just a few of the common discounts offered by insurance companies. For more details contact your insurance company or agent. Above all, drive safely.
All Businesses Need Insurance
All Businesses Need Insurance
By J.R. Orenstein
State Farm® agent
Tel: 516-466-FARM (3276)
Website: JRorenstein.com
The dream of owning a business becomes a reality for thousands of people each year.
For many of these would-be captains of industry, that means starting the operation on a small scale. However, your enterprise may be in jeopardy if you don’t have business insurance.
You need business insurance because most beginning entrepreneurs don’t have the financial resources to handle adversity if it should come. Adversity can happen in many ways: fire can destroy your inventory, a power outage could cause your goods to spoil or a customer could be injured accidentally while visiting your location.
Business insurance can protect you from these hazards and others by providing many or all of the coverages listed below:
· Accidental direct physical loss coverage for business personal property,
· Broader off-premises property coverage,
· Loss of income coverage and
· Extra expense coverage.
This list above is just a sample of what’s available. You should contact your State Farm agent to see what coverages are right for your business.
Many entrepreneurs start their businesses on shoestring budgets and try to cut corners by keeping expenses at a minimum. But when you consider what you get, business insurance becomes a tool you can’t afford to work without it.
How Much Homeowner’s Insurance Do I need?
How Much Homeowner’s Insurance Do I need?
By J.R. Orenstein
State Farm Agent
Tel: 516-466-FARM (3276)
Website: JRorenstein.com
Every day people ask themselves, “How much homeowner’s insurance do I need?” The answer varies, depending on each person’s situation. Usually you should insure your home for its whole value, the actual building and all of its contents.
In order to find out exactly how much your home is worth, you should have it appraised. You can have an appraiser, builder or insurance agent give you an estimate on its value. However, if you ever remodel or add on to your home, its value will increase, and you will then need to purchase more coverage.
For any valuable possessions you have, you can purchase extended coverage, to ensure those items are covered as well. The best thing to do is take a room-by-room inventory of your valuables then keep this list somewhere outside the home, for example, a safe-deposit box.
To determine if valuable possessions, such as TVs, stereos or computers are covered, or if you have any other questions about homeowner’s insurance, contact your State Farm insurance agent.
