Wintertime and winter weather can be tremendous fun, but cold and snow can also pose danger. Slippery roads, downed power lines and limbs, and freezing cold temperatures all bring an added measure of suspense to our daily activities. There are simple steps you can take that will take the chill off your wintertime experience.

In your car. It is not enough to throw a safety kit, including emergency equipment such as blankets, candles, a shovel and traction aids into the trunk of your car and think that you are ready for operating your vehicle in inclement weather. The single most important thing we can do while driving in severe winter conditions is to slow down. A safe speed for conditions might be well under the posted speed limit. Triple the normal driving distance between you and the car in front of you. If your vehicle begins to slip, immediately take your foot off the accelerator and steer gently in the direction you want the car to go.

If your car gets stuck, clear the snow in front of and behind your tires and spread sand, kitty litter or traction mats in the front and back of your tires. Gently accelerate until you feel the tires begin to spin. Put the car in reverse and back up slowly until stopped by the snow. Rock forward again using a low, steady speed.

At home. Have your heating system inspected to make sure it is working properly. If you have an alternative heating source, it should be UL approved and inspected before using.

Good insulation will also help if power is lost. Check for possible air leaks around doors and windows. Seal electrical outlets and switches on outside walls. Stock up on easy to prepare food, first aid supplies, batteries, flashlights and a battery-operated radio.

If you do get snowed in at home and the situation isn’t dire, just relax and preserve heat by hanging blankets over windows and doors. If you use a supplemental heating device, make sure it is UL approved, in good operating condition and maintaining safe distance from flammable items.

Outside. Make sure to remove garden hoses from outside faucets. Hopefully, you remembered to clean your gutters of leaves and debris. Better yet, install gutter guards. These can help keep snow and ice from building up, which can form ice damns and damage your house. Outside heating appliances like heat pumps must be clear of snow and debris to work efficiently.

If you have to go outside, wear tight and layered clothing and sturdy watertight shoes. Make sure to cover exposed parts of the body by wearing hats, gloves and scarves. Failure to protect skin and prolonged exposure to the cold can result in frostbite. The nose, cheeks, ears, fingers and toes (your extremities) are most commonly affected.

(Source: Professional Insurance Agent)

If you were given a valuable gift, you need to take steps to protect it against loss. Although most homeowners insurance covers a certain amount of personal property, many high-value items are excluded from your policy.

Some items you should consider getting additional insurance on include:

• jewelry
• furs
• cameras
• musical instruments
• silverware
• golfer’s equipment
• fine arts
• collectible stamps
• rare and current coins
• computer equipment

Consider a Scheduled Personal Property Endorsement, or a Personal Articles Floater. These endorsements list each article separately, and assign a specific value to them for which they will be covered. Most endorsements insure for actual cash value or cost of repair. This won’t cover the total cost if you need to replace the item down the road. If you want to make sure coverage is adequate to replace it, you may want to opt for an agreed value loss settlement. That means that you and your insurance company agree on a certain amount to be paid in the event of a loss instead of the standard amount listed on the endorsement.

Fine arts are almost always insured under an agreed value, as they are usually unique and their value is difficult to determine.

As with most insurance policies, there are some things that aren’t covered, like damage due to wear and tear, or damage caused by insects.

Keeping Coverages Current

A home and its contents frequently represent a major portion of a person’s net worth. Failure to keep coverage current could result in a claim not being covered. Whose responsibility is it to maintain adequate insurance coverage? When all is said and done, it is the policyholder’s responsibility to review the policy regularly and inform his/her agent of any needed changes.

Your agent can search through the maze of complex coverages, advise you how to insure your property and help you with claim settlements, but you are the one best prepared to determine what you have that needs covered.

For instance, did you tell us about the remodeling project you did on your home or the jewelry you recently bought or inherited? Did you remember to tell us that you are now operating a business from your home? You need to notify your agent when changes like these occur. Carefully consider the type and amount of liability coverage you need. Under the standard liability coverage, if a guest slips and falls on your wet patio, you would be covered for the individual’s medical expenses, your defense costs and a specified limit for actual damages. If the amount awarded exceeds your policy’s limits, however, your personal assets could be threatened. A personal umbrella could help you in this case. The umbrella liability policy typically affords $1 million liability coverage and blankets over your auto and home policy. This provides extra coverage if your auto and home policy limits are exhausted.

Don’t be complacent and just file your renewal away. Review your policy and make notes of needed changes or questions.

Call us for an appointment so we can make sure you have the coverage that you expect.

(Source: Professional Insurance Agent Inside Insurance Newsletter)

Protecting Your Business Against Identity Theft

Guest Column by Ohio Secretary of State Jon Husted

According to a recent report by the research firm Javelin Strategy & Research, identity theft affected more than 8 million people in 2010. While identity theft has often been considered a crime targeting just consumers, business identity theft has become an increasingly alarming trend.

Business identity theft—also referred to as corporate or commercial identity theft—occurs when a business’s identity is used to transact business and establish lines of credit with banks and/or vendors. This could include establishing temporary office space and/or merchant accounts in a company’s name, or ordering merchandise or services with stolen credit card information. Like consumer identity theft, business identity theft can result in potentially ruinous consequences for the victimized business as well as those individuals associated with the business.

December is Identity Theft Prevention and Awareness Month. As the guardian of business filings in Ohio, I am encouraging all Ohio companies to take some time to evaluate and address any vulnerabilities they may have, and also to sign up for the Secretary of State’s business filing notification system, which adds another level of protection against identity theft.

For the rest of this article, go to the Ohio Secretary of State Web site.

Safety and performance come in a distant third, tied at seven percent. But whether you’re turned on or turned off by the dizzying array of car choices, trim options, “expert” reviews, incentives and other deals, it definitely pays to approach car buying strategically.

So if you’re in the market for a new vehicle and you find yourself having trouble keeping a clear head, just keep these strategies, courtesy of Rutledge Group in mind:

1. Decide how much money you can spend and what type of vehicle best suits your needs. Just looking for the basic transport capability of a small or medium sedan? Or do you need the hauling capacity of a van or SUV? Something practical? Something sporty? Something in between?

2. Research crash tests and accident data available from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

3. Shop around for financing. If you can, apply for and get approval for a loan from a bank, credit union or other financier before you even visit the dealership. Being a “cash buyer” gives you an advantage when you do finally meet with the dealership’s financing person.

4. Test drive the car. Try to drive in conditions that will be similar to those under which you’ll drive every day.

5. Check pricing for your desired make and model at two or three dealerships and use that information to help you negotiate the best deal.

6. Get a firm quote, in writing. This should include not only the cost of the car, but any fees and the sales tax.

7. Inspect your new car carefully before driving off the lot. Make sure all the options you’ve ordered are included and that the body and paint are free of scratches or dents.

Finally, it’s important to consider the cost of auto insurance, although it seems that few people realize that what they pay for insurance can add significantly to the vehicle’s total cost.

Wise car buyers know to shop around for insurance and find out how costs compare. They also know to visit an independent insurance agency – like Rutledge Group We can check with several companies to find the best combination of coverage and price.

To get a Progressive quote from Rutledge Group, visit info@rutledgegrp.com or call us at 216.561.4444.