The fatal fire and explosion at the West Fertilizer Co. plant in Texas in 2013 calls attention to the issue of workplace safety in the state. A massive 1947 fire in the S.S. Grandcamp and Monsanto Chemical Company plant in Texas City, Texas ranked eight among the top 20 multiple death fires in U.S. history according to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA).

Workers compensation insurance provides for the cost of medical care and rehabilitation for injured workers and lost wages and death benefits for the dependents of persons killed in work-related accidents. Workers compensation systems vary from state to state. Workers compensation combined ratios are expressed in two ways. Calendar year results reflect claim payments and changes in reserves for accidents that happened in that year or earlier. Accident year results only include losses from a particular year.

All employers should protect their employees with Workers Compensation.

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Water damage is one of the most common and costly disasters affecting U.S. residences, accounting for billions of dollars in losses to homeowners and renters annually. However, consumers can protect themselves with the right amount and type of insurance coverage. 

Standard homeowners and renters insurance provides coverage for burst pipes, wind driven rain and damage resulting from ice dams on your roof. Some policies cover sewer and drain backups, but many do not; however, you can purchase a sewer backup rider to a homeowners or renters policy for approximately an additional $50 each year, with the policy limits varying depending upon the insurer.

Generally speaking, water that comes from the top down, such as rainfall, is covered by a standard homeowners insurance policy, while water that comes from the bottom up, such as an overflowing river, is covered by a separate flood insurance policy. Flood insurance can be purchased from the federal government’s National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), and from some private insurers.
 
The average flood insurance policy costs $540 a year, according to the NFIP. For homeowners, the maximum amount of coverage available from the NFIP is $250,000 for damages to the home’s structure, and $100,000 for losses to its contents. There is a 30-day waiting period for a flood insurance policy to go into effect. For those who want coverage beyond the limits offered by an NFIP policy, excess flood insurance is available from a number of private insurance companies.
 
Properly maintaining a home is one of the best ways to prevent water damage.  A homeowner can prevent water seepage by painting water-sealant around the basement, and avert a sewer backup by installing and maintaining a backwater valve which allows sewage to go out, but not come back in.

Property insurance protects small business owners from losses due to damage to physical space or equipment and as a result of theft. For insurance purposes, a business’ property includes the physical building in which it resides, as well as its other assets. All of the following, owned or leased, can be considered business property:

• The actual building
• Inventory
• Furniture, equipment and supplies
• Machinery
• Computers and other data processing equipment
• Valuable papers, books and documents
• Artwork and antiques
• Television sets, VCRs, DVD players, satellite dishes
• Signs, fences and outdoor property not attached to a building
• Non-tangible items such as trademarks and copyrights

Sixty-two percent of U.S. households, or 72.9 million homes, own a pet, according to a 2011 survey from by the American Pet Products Association.

Over the years, many states have passed laws with stiff penalties for owners of dogs that cause serious injuries or deaths. In about one-third of states, owners are "strictly liable" for their dogs' behavior, while in the rest of the country they are liable only if they knew or should have known their dogs had a propensity to bite (known as the "one free bite" principle).

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We are always here to answer your questions.

Generic replacement auto parts can look and perform the same as the products produced by the original auto companies, but cost 25-40 percent less. These parts can help the consumer by keeping prices down.

Victims of disasters such as a hurricane or wildfire should watch out for dishonest service providers when it is time to repair or rebuild their home. A guide to protecting yourself from crooked contractors.

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Parents of Teen Drivers:  
Prepare your teens for safe driving

If you are a parent of a teenage driver, your child's safety is your first concern. Though you cannot always be by their side, there are things you can do to help keep them safe behind the wheel. Educating yourself and your new teen driver about the risks and insurance implications of unsafe driving can save lives and money.

Set Expectations
While teen driving statistics are troubling, research suggests parents who set rules cut accident risk in half. Talk openly about your expectations for behind-the-wheel behavior.

• Draw up a formal Teen Driving Contract that clearly defines the rules and consequences associated with driving privileges.
• Set a driving curfew. More than 40 percent of teen auto deaths occur between the hours of 9 p.m. and 6 a.m.
• Limit the number of passengers allowed in your teen’s car. For teenagers, the relative risk of a fatal crash increases as the number of passengers increases.
• Make all cell phone use off-limits while driving. Texting or talking on a cell phone can double the likelihood of an accident.
• Encourage your teen to exercise his or her rights as a passenger. Only 44 percent of teens say they would speak up if someone were driving in a way that scared them.

Fact: Surge arresters and suppressors are important components of a complete lightning protection system, but can do nothing to protect a structure against a direct lightning strike. These items must be installed in conjunction with a lightning protection system to provide whole house protection.

With 1,800 thunderstorms in progress at any given time on Earth, it’s important to be able to sort out the myths from the facts when it comes to lightning safety. And keep in mind that the best lightning safety plan of all is to take shelter in a house or other structure, or a hard-topped fully enclosed vehicle during a storm: “When thunder roars, go indoors!”

It’s no myth that our agency can save you money on all your insurance needs.

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Fact: While a house is the safest place you can be during a storm, just going inside isn’t enough. You must avoid any conducting path leading outside, such as corded telephones, electrical appliances, wires, TV cables, plumbing, metal doors or window frames, etc. Don’t stand near a window to watch the lightning. An inside room is generally safe, but a home equipped with a professionally installed lightning protection system is the safest shelter available.

With 1,800 thunderstorms in progress at any given time on Earth, it’s important to be able to sort out the myths from the facts when it comes to lightning safety. And keep in mind that the best lightning safety plan of all is to take shelter in a house or other structure, or a hard-topped fully enclosed vehicle during a storm: “When thunder roars, go indoors!”

It’s no myth that our agency can save you money on all your insurance needs.

Please contact our agency for a no-obligation review of all your insurance needs.