Business signs tell their customers their name, address, hours of operation and so on. Signs may be simple or complex and many businesses typically use lighted signs. The Sign policy created by Insurance Services Office is available to insure against the loss or destruction of signs, including fluorescent, neon, automatic or mechanical sign. Coverage also extends to lamps. However, fixed, non-lighted signs (such as billboards) are not eligible under a sign policy, even if they are illuminated by separate electric lights.

A policy requires that, in order to be covered, each sign must be specifically described including lettering information, the sign's location and coverage amount (limit). If the business buying the coverage wants to reduce its coverage cost by using a deductible, it has to accept one equal to 5% of the applicable coverage limit.
Example: An insured’s Sign policy has a limit of $10,000 and a 5% deductible applies. Later, the insured files a loss and the insurer determines total damages of $1,329. Because of the deductible and limit, the insured is paid $829 ($1,329 - $500 [10,000 X 5%]).
​
The policy protects against any risk of tangible damage that is not excluded or limited in the coverage form. Some of the events that could cause loss that is not covered include:

• Governmental Action - such as property seized by authorities for emergency use
• Nuclear Hazard
• War and Military Action
• Consequential (indirect) loss - such as a storm destroys a source of power and a company's sign can't be lit for several weeks
• Any breakage that occurs during transportation, installation, repairing or dismantling
• Dishonest acts - such as a custom sign made of expense, in-laid glass panels is stolen by an employee of the covered business
• Short-circuiting or electrical surges
• Tricks or fraud - such as crooks take the sign by posing as municipal electrical inspectors

The size, geographic location and specific location are all elements that an insurance company would study before deciding whether to provide sign coverage. The larger the sign, the more potential damage can occur. Signs that are located away from the main premises are more vulnerable to vandalism and theft. Signs are very easily damaged by windstorm and hail so geographic considerations must be made.
​
If your business has made a significant investment in its electric signs, be sure that they are properly covered.

​HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF—AND YOUR ASSETS

​If you plan to host a Halloween party and serve alcohol, the I.I.I. offers the following tips on how to have a successful and safe party:


​

• Consider hiring a professional bartender or reliable friend to serve drinks. This will discourage your friends from mixing their own drinks and help to keep track of the size and number of drinks they consume. Most bartenders are trained to recognize signs of intoxication and will limit consumption by partygoers who have had too much.
• Be a responsible host. Limiting your own alcohol intake will allow you to better determine if a guest is sober enough to drive at the end of the night.
• Serve non-alcoholic beverages. Always have soft drinks, juices and other non-alcoholic beverages available for those guests who are driving or choose not to drink. 
• Don’t serve alcohol to minors. Period. The legal drinking age in every state is 21 and, as a host, it is your responsibility to abide by it.
• Don’t force drinks on your guests or rush to refill their glasses when empty. Be a smart host; push the food, not the alcohol on your guests.
• Always serve food with alcohol. It is proven that food can help counter the effects of alcohol.
• Don’t admit individuals into your home who are already intoxicated. Access to more alcohol will likely create negative outcomes that you could be held liable for, such as fighting, alcohol poisoning and drunk driving.
• Stop serving alcohol at least one hour before the party ends. Serve only coffee, tea and non-alcoholic beverages toward the end of your party. As the host or hostess, it is your responsibility to help your guests get home safely, so limit the amount of alcohol served toward the end of the party as guests prepare to go home. 
• Speak to each of your guests before they leave the party. If you think someone is unable to drive, call a cab and pay for it yourself, arrange a ride with a sober friend, drive your guest home, or encourage that person to stay over. This will protect your guest as well as other drivers on the road. 
• Encourage all your guests to wear seatbelts as they drive home. Studies show that seatbelts do safe lives.

The Long and Winding Road ...

By and large, drivers over 55 are a safe bet: They’re less likely to exceed speed limits; more likely to wear seatbelts and drive when conditions are most favorable; and generally do what they feel but keep both hands on the wheel--but not always.
 
In spite of the plusses, drivers “of a certain age” should be aware that as wisdom behind the wheel increases, certain faculties diminish with the passing of time. With this in mind, here are a few handy facts (courtesy of IIHS) for senior drivers and their families:
 

• The number of drivers age 70 and older is growing. As baby boomers age, older people make up a bigger proportion of the population than they used to. In addition, older drivers are keeping their licenses longer.
  
  
• Drivers age 70 and older have higher crash rates per mile traveled than middle-aged drivers—though not as high as that of young drivers.
  
  
• Older drivers are involved in fewer fatal collisions than in the past. A total of 4,079 people ages 70 and older died in crashes in 2012. (That’s 31 percent fewer than in 1997.)
  
  
• Surveys show that many people drive fewer miles and are more likely to avoid challenging driving situations as they get older.

 
Some states require in-person license renewal for older drivers to help identify those who shouldn’t be driving or should have restricted licenses. Still, the best defense is common sense. Seniors who drive when they are not physically able to do so safely may lose their insurance coverage, not to mention endangering themselves and others on the road—so it’s important for families to step in to monitor and help. ​

Storm Victims With The Most Severe Damage Will Be Given Priority

Insurance adjusters, catastrophe personnel and mobile claim centers have already been deployed to staging areas along the East Coast and are ready to respond to customers impacted by Hurricane Matthew, according the Insurance Information Institute (I.I.I.).

Whether reporting damage to your property over the phone or through your mobile device, the I.I.I. offers the following tips on how to file an insurance claim:

1. Contact your insurer as soon as possible to begin the process.  Provide your insurer with your policy number and the best phone number and email address at which to reach you. After a major storm, insurers visit those with the most severe damage first, so prepare to provide an accurate description of the extent of the property damage. Be sure to explain any special needs of your family, particularly if personal circumstances require that you get priority. Ask your insurer when you can expect to be contacted by an insurance adjuster so that you can be prepared for the visit. Since adjusters may be in areas in which cell phone towers are damaged, it is also a good idea to get the phone number of your adjuster’s supervisor so you have an additional contact. If you have a flood insurance claim, contact the agent or broker who sold you the policy to start the claims filing process.

1. Document your loss. The insurance adjuster most likely will inspect the damage to your home, auto and possessions in order to write a check to help you replace, repair and rebuild. It is a good idea to take photographs and document the details of damaged items, including the date of purchase and approximate value—and collect receipts, if you have them. Many companies will ask you to submit an inventory of the items. Having a home inventory will make this process easier—the I.I.I.’s free Know Your Stuff® - Home Inventory app can help you create or update your home inventory, even after a disaster.

1. Check with your insurer before discarding damaged items and materials. You will generally need to show storm damaged items to your adjuster. If, however, you are required by your local municipality to discard them for safety reasons, take photographs to help with the claims process.

1. Sign up for SMS/text alerts. Many insurance companies use SMS/text message alerts that will notify you of the status of your claim. You will receive text messages on your phone when you first report your claim, when your estimate is available and when a payment has been sent. 

1. Know what emergency services are available. In the event you need emergency services, such as removing water from your home, covering your roof, or boarding up windows or doors, many companies will dispatch an approved emergency services company to protect your home from further damage. If your home has sustained severe damage, making it unlivable, your homeowners insurer will provide you with a check for additional living expenses.

1. Keep a claim diary. Good recordkeeping is important when filing a claim. Make a list of everyone you speak to about your claim. Note their name, title and contact information. Also, keep track of the date, time and issues discussed. The better organized you are, the simpler and easier the claims process will be.

A Word About Deductibles
Keep in mind, hurricane deductibles exist in every coastal state from Maine to Texas. Unlike a typical homeowners policy deductible of $500 or $1,000, hurricane deductibles usually are listed as a percentage of the property’s insured value—generally between 1 percent to 5 percent of the total coverage. These separate deductibles are prominently located on your declarations page, and spell out specifically the specific percentage and often the dollar amount. Hurricane deductibles typically are applied to damage caused by named storms that have hit land, as determined by the National Weather Service. In Florida, for example, the deductible would be in effect for any damage incurred during the 72 hours after a hurricane warning is issued. Each insurer and state applies the deductibles differently, however, so it’s crucial for homeowners to be familiar with their policies.

​HOW TO AVOID BUYING A FLOODED CAR

Before you buy a used car, be sure you know the vehicle's history. I.I.I. gives you tips on how to identify a flooded car so you can protect yourself from purchasing a lemon.

Natural disasters can strike anywhere at any time. These resources from the NAIC may be helpful.

• Make sure you have bottled water, a first aid kit, flashlights, a battery-powered radio, non-perishable food items, blankets, clothing, prescription drugs, eyeglasses, personal hygiene supplies, and a small amount of cash or traveler’s checks.
  


• For personal safety, identify what storm shelter is available to your family and prepare an evacuation plan. Choose two meeting places: one right outside your home in case of a sudden emergency, such as a fire; and one outside your neighborhood in case you can’t return home.
  


• If you need to evacuate your home, turn off all utilities and disconnect appliances to reduce the chance of additional damage and electrical shock when utilities are restored.
  


• Mitigation - There are steps you can take to help mitigate - or lessen - some of the damage to your home caused by natural disasters. Generally a mitigation plan will begin with a survey of your home and the area around your home to identify objects like yard debris that could compound damage your home in high winds or under threat of wildfire. Your state insurance department or state department of emergency management can help you get started on a mitigation plan. Some states may even have programs to help pay for mitigation upgrades for homes in high threat areas.

• Keep a readily available list of 24-hour contact information for your insurance agent and insurance company. Make a list that includes your policy numbers, your insurance company and insurance agent's phone numbers, website addresses and mailing addresses. Also, check to see if the company or your agent has set up an emergency information hotline, in case of storm damage. It is a good idea to store this information, and a home inventory, in a waterproof/fireproof safe or a safe deposit box. Also consider sending an electronic copy to someone you trust. If you have to evacuate your home, you want this information to be easily available to you.

• A home inventory can be invaluable when deciding how much insurance your life situation requires to adequately insure your home in the path of a natural disaster. Get more homeowners insurance tips.

  
 Download Home Inventory (PDF)Download myHome Scr.APP.book for iPhone®Download myHome Scr.APP.book for Android®

Download a PDF version of this brochure.What you need to know about

• how to file a claim
• how the claim process works
• what's covered and what's not

First StepsContact your agent or company immediately. Find out:

• Whether the damage is covered under the terms of your policy
• how long you have to file a claim
• whether your claim exceeds your deductible (the amount of loss you agree to pay before insurance kicks in)
• how long it will take to process the claim
• whether you’ll need estimates for repairs

Make temporary repairs: Take reasonable steps to protect your property from further damage. Save receipts for what you spend and submit them to your insurance company for reimbursement. Remember that payments for temporary repairs are part of the total settlement. So if you pay a contractor a large sum for a temporary repair job, you may not have enough money for permanent repairs. Beware of contractors who ask for a large amount of money up front and contractors whose bids are very low -- they might cut corners and do shabby work. Don't make extensive permanent repairs until the claims adjuster has assessed the damage.     If you need to relocate, keep your receipts: If you need to find other accommodations while your home is being repaired, keep records of your expenses. Homeowners insurance policies provide coverage for the cost of additional living expenses if your home is damaged by an insured disaster.

Are you or some loved one serving in our military? See how well you do in this quiz designed for insurance subjects that affect the ones who protect us.

www.insureuonline.org/quiz_military.htm