by Downey Insurance Group | Nov 22, 2011 | Blog
Investing in Vermont insurance for your car may give you the peace of mind that if you are involved in an accident you’ll be protected financially. Unfortunately it won’t prevent accidents or injuries so keeping your baby as safe as possible while in your car is vital. Your baby’s safety may come down to your choice of baby car seat.
Rules and regulations regarding baby car seats change from time to time so be sure to check the current regulations in your state before you make a final purchase. Here are a few things to keep in mind.
- The size of a newborn baby and the size of a six month old baby are significantly different; even at birth babies come in many different sizes and shapes. Making sure the baby car seat you choose is the correct size for your baby is a vital first step.
- Think twice before buying or accepting a second hand baby car seat – the normal wear and tear a baby car seat is dealt often means that by the time its first little occupant has moved on to bigger things, the seat is no longer safe to use.
- Your friends and family may be excellent sources of tried and true information so don’t hesitate to ask about their baby car seat experiences.
When it comes to your baby don’t settle for less than maximum safety in your new baby car seat, and if in doubt ask your local police to inspect the seat and installation. With a quality car seat for your baby and, Vermont insurance coverage for your car in place, all you need now for trouble free motoring are your safe driving habits, and a safe and comfortable vehicle! With Downey Insurance Group, you can get the coverage you need, so contact us today for more information!
*
by Downey Insurance Group | Nov 21, 2011 | Blog
Who is venturing out for Black Friday this year? Is this your first year or are you a Black Friday veteran? While some people revel in this mayhem, others do not share their enthusiasm. But one thing is for certain, you cannot beat the deals that are offered on Black Friday! We have all heard the horror stories about Black Friday, so here are a few tips to keep yourself and your purchases safe this year, from your Massachusetts Insurance partner Downey Insurance Group.
-
Be aware of your surroundings. This may sound obvious, but people have died by being in the wrong place at the wrong time on Black Friday. Make sure you are not waiting in a “trample zone” for a store to open.
-
Don’t shop alone. Shopping with a friend or “buddy” is not only fun, you can watch out for each other.
-
Forgo your purse or wallet all together. It is just one less thing to worry about, right? Having your money and credit card in a zippered pocket on your person is the safest way to go. Thieves love an open purse with a wallet floating around inside for the taking.
-
Lock all of your purchases in your trunk. Make frequent trips to your car with purchases if you are shopping more than one store at a time. This will make you less vulnerable to theft. If you put your packages down, don’t let them out of your sight.
-
Keep your receipts with you, not in the bag. If there is a theft you want to have the proof of purchase easily accessible to you.
-
If you are shopping with children set a meeting place in case you get separated. This is always good to do but in the mass chaos of Black Friday it is even more important.
If you follow these Black Friday Safety Tips, and you are extra vigilant this Black Friday you should be able to avoid being taken advantage of. The thieves will be out in masses this year as well as the shoppers. If you do experience a theft, or break-in to your car call the police first, then your insurance agent. We can file the insurance claim with your Massachusetts Insurance company for you.
Happy shopping and stay safe!
by Downey Insurance Group | Nov 18, 2011 | Blog
General Contractors(GC) are the ringmasters for most construction projects. These projects may include the use sub-contractors and other employees of the General Contractor. Many general contractors have a construction specialty such as single or multi-family homes, commercial property, or other larger scale commercial venues. Their level of experience is crucial to effectively and efficiently completing complex construction projects. This expertise opens them up to a Commercial Liability Insurance exposure, that if not properly managed could put them in a tough spot.
General Contractors may divvy out work in some of the following ways:
-
Line up all the specialty contractors for the projects such as the plumber, electrical, HVAC, and excavation.
-
They also my use their own payrolled employees for certain jobs and tasks.
-
Schedule inspections with officials.
A design plan will be supplied by a professional architect drawn to the specifications of the general contractor and the client. The general contractor will supply most materials for the build, except for those supplied by a sub-contractor pre-arranged in their contracts. It is of utmost importance that the GC is aware of all zoning and code requirements of the project. Making sure the project is properly insured with a builders risk policy, and collecting insurance information from the subcontracts is also required of a GC.
General Contracts operate many different ways. They may be the hands on type that actively take part in the construction, or they may be more hands off and let the subcontractors handle the dirty work. General Contracts may lease equipment for certain jobs; this would also require proper insurance. General contracts do face a myriad of loss exposure through the build process. Having an insurance partner who understands their Commercial Liability Insurance and Commercial Property Insurance needs is crucial to obtaining the proper coverage.
by Downey Insurance Group | Nov 16, 2011 | Blog
Thanksgiving is always a busy time of year for everyone, with lots of traveling and spending time with loved ones and friends. Because of the economy more families will be traveling by car this year for their Thanksgiving travels. In fact according to AAA 81% of people traveling for Thanksgiving in 2011 will be traveling by car and many of them out of state.
I believe that some of these out of state drivers traveling out of Massachusetts will not be covered by their currentMassachusetts Auto Insurance Policy. How is this possible? Because, in Massachusetts the Minimum “Compulsory” Limits that many people are carrying on their policy do not carry over the Massachusetts state line. With the new “name you own price and coverage options” out there, I believe that there are many people who do not know this very important fact. Nothing can ruin your holiday season like an uninsured and unrepresented liability or property damage lawsuit.
This year if you named your own price on Massachusetts Auto Insurance and you are feeling uneasy about it, let us take a look at your policy. We can help you understand your current Massachusetts Auto Insurance Limits and help you fill any gaps that you might currently have. As a Trusted Choice® independent Insurance agency we have many insurance companies to choose from, so we can build a policy for you that you feel good about, at a price that you can afford.
by Downey Insurance Group | Nov 15, 2011 | Blog
via brickhousesecurity.com
According to The National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) around eight hundred thousand cars are stolen annually in the U.S. Older cars are usually stolen then broken down for parts while newer models are typically resold whole. According to NICB the top three most stolen cars in New Hampshire are 2000 Honda civic, 1996 Honda Accord and 1997 Dodge Caravan. The more vehicles stolen the higher your New Hampshire auto insurance rates and premiums may be. It makes considerable sense to keep your car as theft proof as possible.
1. Don’t leave your keys in your car even if you’re only stepping away for a short time.
2. When you’re not in your car keep it locked even in your driveway or garage.
3. Most modern car models come with a GPS tracking service. A prominent sticker stating that you have this service placed in your car window may be a powerful deterrent against theft.
4. Use a steering wheel immobilizing device.
5. Install a car alarm and make sure it is visible to potential thieves.
Remember if your car appears easy to steal the chances of it being stolen are probably higher. Although your car may be financially covered from theft by your New Hampshire auto insurance policy the possible inconvenience of dealing with the loss makes increasing your vehicle security well worth the effort. With Downey Insurance Group, you can get the help you need with our agency. Contact us today for maximum protection on your car!
