MORE SUMMER INSURANCE AND SAFETY TOPICS

Most ATV fatalities preventable

Public service campaigns, road signage and citations address the dangers of texting and driving. “Distracted” driving is as dangerous as driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol. However, the rules of the road are not always the rules of the off-road, and risky behavior is oft cited in all terrain vehicle fatalities.

According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, in recent years 87 percent of the individuals involved in fatal ATV crashes were not wearing helmets, and almost half were drunk with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08 percent or higher. In comparison, only a third of killed drivers of passenger vehicles or motorcycles were inebriated, and less than half of motorcycle drivers wore helmets. Moreover, the vast majority of ATV riders killed in crashes are males who are age 16 or older.

With the abundance of beautiful wooded and rural areas, it’s no surprise that off-roading on an ATV is a popular recreational choice.To partake in your favorite activity safely, keep in mind that most ATV related fatalities occur on public or private roads, especially when engaging in risky behavior. ATVs are designed to allow you to ride in conditions that normal vehicles cannot handle. Rocky and grassy terrain and steep trails are no
challenge for an ATV, however, while these vehicles can reach highway speeds, the low pressure tires are not designed for paved surfaces, and can overturn. Important safety tips:

• First, drive an ATV in the way it was meant to be driven—off road.
  
  
• Second, treat driving your ATV the way you would treat driving your car or your motorcycle: sober, and with safety gear, i.e., helmets.
  
  
• Finally, consider a dedicated ATV insurance policy which could cover the following:
  
  
  • Collision. Collision pays for damages to an ATV caused by impact with another ATV, tree, other vehicle, etc. However, collision does not cover cosmetic issues only structural damage.
    
    
  • Comprehensive. This coverage pays for what collision doesn’t subject to exclusions in the policy.
    
    
  • Bodily injury/property liability. This coverage offers protection in the event of injury to people or damaged property.
    
    
  • Uninsured/underinsured motorist. This protection will cover injuries and damage an uninsured or underinsured individual is liable for legally, but can’t pay.
    

New York State has had relatively few ATV rider deaths on public roads since 2007, but the risk is clear: Overall, only 13 percent of drivers and 6 percent of passengers killed wore helmets, and around 75 percent of fatal ATV crashes involved only one vehicle, 56 percent of which involved a rollover. Give your agency a call to discuss ATV insurance, and ride safely!

Trampolines and insurance

If you own a trampoline and someone is injured on it, your standard homeowners insurance policy should cover the incident. When your policy is new, or when it’s renewed, you might be asked if you have a trampoline. If you don’t maintain the trampoline, the insurance company may reject or nonrenew your policy. Some companies may refuse to insure a homeowner with a trampoline altogether.

Trampoline injuries, e.g., sprains and fractures, paralysis or death, are a leading cause of emergency room trips in the U.S. each year. The dangerous nature of trampolines is the reason your insurance company scrutinizes the use of them.

Play it safe. Make sure children have adult supervision:

• only let one person jump on the device at a time;
  
  
• designate spotters;
  
  
• cover all metal with padding; and
  
  
• remove ladders to prevent unauthorized use.
  

If you want to purchase a trampoline call your agent and discuss your coverage options. If you’ve already purchased the trampoline give them a call too. A trampoline creates the kind of exposure, like swimming pools and dogs, that calls for higher policy limits. Make sure you have the proper coverage to protect yourself and those you allow on your trampoline.

More on Boating [continued from last month] -
Put safety first

Each year hundreds of lives are lost, thousands are injured and millions of dollars in property damage occurs because of preventable recreational boating accidents on U.S. waterways. Before you pack the boating gear consider this: Most boating accidents occur because people don’t stop to think about safety.

More than 50 percent of all boating fatalities are alcohol related. Alcohol impairs your judgment, balance and coordination, especially in the water. New York state law
prohibits operation of a boat on state waters while one is impaired by drugs or alcohol or is intoxicated with a blood alcohol content of 0.08 percent or more. Violators charged with boating while intoxicated face up to:

• a $1,000 fine;
  
  
• up to one year in jail;
  
  
• loss of boat operating privileges for one year; and
  
  
• it also will show up on your driving history and could affect your personal auto insurance policy.
  

The most tragic accident is the one that could have been prevented. By observing safety guidelines you can reduce the incidence of boating accidents and keep your family safe. Some safety tips to consider include the following:

• Everyone should wear a U.S. Coast Guard approved personal floatation device.
  
  
• Keep a safe distance from other watercraft, anglers, canoeists and swimmers. Collisions are the most common type of personal watercraft accidents.
  
  
• Have a first aid kit on your boat, and bring along any prescription medicines you may need.
  
  
• Equip your boat with a ship-to-shore radio in case of emergency.
  
  
• Take a Red Cross course in water safety and attend a boating safety class.
  

According to the U.S. Coast Guard, lack of boater safety training is a major factor in the number of accidents on the water. In fact, 80 percent of all boating accidents are attributed to boaters who lack adequate safety skills.

New York State requires that anyone operating a personal watercraft completes an approved course in boating safety or otherwise be accompanied on board by someone 18 years of age or older who is the holder of an approved boating safety certificate. Certificates are required to be carried at all times when operating the personal watercraft.

If you own a boat, you probably need specialized coverage, e.g., increased liability limits with an umbrella policy. Most homeowners insurance policies provide liability insurance for smaller motorboats with outboard motors of 25 horsepower or less, and for sailboats less than 26 feet long. Typically, there is $1,500 coverage for damage to the boat for specified perils. However, theft and windstorm coverage is limited and sinking is not covered at all.

Before you sail off into the sunset give your agency a call. It will help you obtain and secure the coverage you will need.

Mold coverage for homeowners

Mold is everywhere. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention molds can be found indoors and outdoors. They grow best in warm and humid conditions, but they can survive harsh, dry environmental conditions for years.

Not all mold rises to the level of concern seemingly warranted by media hysteria. Many thousands of mold varieties exist and experts classify them three ways according to human responses to exposure:

• allergenic,
  
  
• pathogenic, and
  
  
• toxigenic molds.
  
  
  1. People with allergies or asthma are most affected by allergenic molds. This type of mold can produce scratchy throats, eye and nose irritations and rashes. This is the most common variety of mold.
     
     
  2. Pathogenic molds can cause infections in those with weakened immune systems, but healthy people usually can resist infection.
     
     
  3. Toxigenic molds can cause serious health effects in almost anybody. These are the molds television news warns you about, most famously, black mold. Its effects can range from short term irritation to immunosuppression and even cancer.
     

The majority of molds do not represent a mortal danger. However, generally speaking, it is fair to say that mold is not something you want in your home. Thus the real question is: Is mold clean up covered by my homeowners policy? Unfortunately, the answer is: Probably not.

The standard homeowners policy is designed to protect against sudden and accidental loses. Mold commonly arises from long term issues, e.g., ongoing water seepage, humidity problems, faulty drainage or condensation. Mold from any of these sources would be considered a “maintenance” problem and not covered ordinarily by a standard homeowners insurance policy.

On the other hand, mold that stems from burst pipes or similar incidents may be covered by your insurance policy. For more comprehensive mold coverage some policies offer mold endorsements which allow you to pay an additional premium in exchange for limited mold coverage. The trend, however, is away from coverage. Some insurance companies exclude coverage of mold related damage completely, regardless of the source. Many more carriers write their policies to cap the amount of mold coverage or pay only for certain provisions such as cleanup or testing.

If nothing else, this article should make clear that today’s insurance/mold situation is murky at best. Give us a call with your mold concerns, or stop by the office. Review your
policy and discuss the options available with your agent.

Umbrella insurance and a rainy day

Often, we hear about a jury that awards hundreds of thousands of dollars in damages to an accident victim. Consider the following example: A commuter on his way home runs a red light, and accidently hits and severely injures a bicyclist. The bicyclist sues the commuter for $750,000 and wins.

This could be you.

If you are thinking you’re the unfortunate bicycle rider, think again: You could be the commuter who, at the end of a long day, flirted with the tail end of a yellow light, and now you’re wondering where you going to find several hundred thousand dollars. You see, while your auto policy covered $500,000 of the tab, you’re left holding the bag for the balance.

Don’t worry: You aren’t doomed to a life of financial ruin. Our story is only demonstrative, and there’s still time to call us to see if personal umbrella insurance is right for you.

First of all, a PERSONAL Umbrella policy does NOT cover commercial vehicles including Taxi, Limos and Livery vehicles.

What is personal umbrella insurance? Personal umbrella insurance is designed precisely for the far too plausible scenario outlined above. It is protection above and beyond your auto, homeowners and boating policies. Since umbrella policies are only accessed after the liability coverage from your homeowners, automobile or boating policies are exceeded, umbrella policies usually are inexpensive. A policy limit of one million dollar or more costs about $200 to $300 dollars per year.

Below are two of the coverages typically offered by a personal umbrella policy:

• Personal liability. This is the coverage illustrated in the example above. However, it covers more than bodily injury, for example, property damage and damages caused by slander, libel, defamation, detention, confinement and related allegations. Most of these policies cover some exposures not covered by your auto and homeowner policies, such as your liability for a vehicle rented out of the country or damage to property of others in your care and control.
  
  
• Defense. This coverage will pay to defend claims or lawsuits for damages based on personal injury or property damage, e.g., expenses incurred in defense, premiums on bonds required in the lawsuit, reimbursement for lost earning and more.
  

Of course, this brief overview is, in no way, all inclusive. Work closely with your agent and review the insurance policies you have to determine whether or not a personal umbrella policy is right for you.

Your Professional Insurance Agent …
We want you to know about the insurance you’re buying.

Alan Plafker

• President of Member Brokerage Service LLC, A Melrose Credit Union Service Organization
  

• •Licensed Insurance Broker
  

• President and Member of the Board of Directors, PIANY, Professional Insurance Agents Association of New York

• Active Member of CIBGNY, Council of Insurance Brokers of Greater New York

• Treasurer, New York Independent Livery Driver Benefit Fund Board of Directors
  

His agency insures thousands of policies for Taxi Limousine Commission insurance as well as many policies for all types of personal and commercial insurance. He can be reached in his Briarwood, Queens office at 718-523-1300 X1082, or www.MemberBrokerage.com.

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