Archive
Refrigerator hoses are common cause of serious water damage
Melanie found a puddle of water on the kitchen floor, but discovered a much larger problem when she investigated. Going downstairs, she found water pouring out of the soffit, running down a wall and spilling everywhere. Half of the ceiling tiles were saturated and had fallen to the floor. Melanie guesses that the refrigerator water hose had begun leaking 4-5 days before. The damage was extensive. Read move about this disaster and how you can avoid it!
Warren is glad he’s back. REALLY glad he’s back.
This little story is from John Bell, one of our many great agents. There are a lot of ways that we bring value to our customers, but sometimes it just boils down to the fact that we can save you a lot of money. Such is the story of Warren. “Warren was a client of ours and last year and moved his polices to All*. He called me a few weeks ago wanting a quote for his auto and condo. Said he was unhappy with the service and wanted to come back to Al Bourdeau Insurance. I put together a package with Citizens. When he called originally he did not have his current policy but last year his premium was $1,451/yr on the auto and $431 on the Condo. My quote for the auto was $727/6 mo. or $1,054/yr and $295 on the Condo. The savings for both was $533 per year. We set the appointment up last week and when he came in today, he brought his newly received auto renewal which now was $1,934.18!! Now his total savings jumped to $1,016!!!! He was very happy and said, “I should never have left”. I told him that even though he left All*, he would still be in ‘good hands!’ “
iPhone plunges to death from hot air balloon
Admittedly, “plunges to death” might be a little dramatic, but that is apparently but one example of the many unusual iPhone claims reported to U.K. gadget insurer ProtectYourBubble. If you ask me, these explanations could just as easily have been offered up by kids as reasons for not turning in their homework assignments. I guess we just never grow up!
The top 10 most bizarre iPhone Claims from ProtectYourBubble:
1. I dropped it from a hot air balloon
2. I lost it while skydiving
3. It broke when my son used it as a table tennis racket
4. I lost it while building a sand castle for the kids
5. I accidentally buried it in the garden
6. It fell into the kettle
7. I dropped it in a food blender
8. My dog chewed it to pieces
9. Juice from a defrosting piece of meat leaked into it
10. It flew out of the car window
We do get frequent calls asking for gadgets like iPhone, and similar devices to be added to the homeowners policy. Sometimes this can be done. The cell phone providers often offer insurance plans at the time of purchase, but other less expensive alternatives exist. One thing to consider is that replacing a phone can be costly. For example, where you might pay $299 for a new iPhone4 with a two-year contract, you might need to pay the full retail price of $599 or $699 to replace a phone in the middle of the contract.
It’s at least worth reading about your options.
Of course, having us look at your home and auto insurance could save you enough to buy that new iPhone. Food for thought!
Renter’s Insurance – A Very Small Price For A HUGE Safety Net!
When you are renting an apartment, it is important to understand that your landlord’s insurance does not provide coverage for you. If your personal property is stolen, destroyed in a fire, or damaged by other unexpected situations, it would not be covered or replaced by your landlord’s insurance company. You would need your own renter’s insurance policy to provide you with coverage.
Renter’s insurance provides many coverages designed to protect you. First, renter’s insurance provides you with property coverage. Property coverage protects you from damage or loss to your things. For example, if your property is stolen or destroyed, your insurance company would replace or repair these items for you.
Renter’s insurance provides liability coverage. If someone were to injury themselves while on your propertyor if your dog were to bite somebody, your renter’s insurance would provide legal defense if you were put in a position that required it. It also provides for small medical payments for such injuries to others – a “good-will” gesture to avoid a lawsuit.
If you accidentally caused damage to property of others like negligently leaving a curling iron on and causing a fire that spreads through the complex, or allowing your bathtub to overflow and causing water damage to the apartment below and its contents (this would also potentially be covered by the liability protection on your renter’s insurance).
Renter’s insurance protects you against the liabilities regarding damage to the building and the personal property of others.
If something happened to your apartment, smoke damage for example, and the condition of your apartment was considered uninhabitable and you had to relocate for a period of time, this would be considered ‘loss of use’. These costs are also covered by your renter’s insurance.
The average Renter’s Insurance ranges from about $15 to $30 a month. The cost is based on size and location of the apartment and also the policy holder’s possessions.
With all the protection that renter’s insurance offers, your money would be well spent! Make sure you’re protected!
**At Al Bourdeau Insurance Agency, we suggest that you make a list of possessions including purchase prices, model numbers and serial numbers. If you still possess receipts for the scheduled items, then keep those as well. Also, if possible, take pictures or video footage of the items. You want to be able to prove that you possess the items you’re insuring!
Divorce Insurance – Would you dare to propose that to your spouse?
Safeguard Guaranty Corp. has designed a new insurance plan called ‘WedLock’. Wedlock is considered a form of casualty insurance that is designed to protect you against the financial hardships that come with divorce including legal fees and relocation to a new home.
Wedlock insurance is sold in “units”. Each unit provides $1,250 and costs $15.99 monthly. Suppose you’d like to start with $12,500 dollars of coverage, you’d have to buy 10 units and would then have to pay $159.90 monthly! Each year you successfully remain married, Safeguard Guaranty Corp. will add $250 to your coverage. It almost seems more logical to take $159 and put it in a savings account every month, earn interest, and go on a vacation with your spouse when you never get a divorce!
If you’re not sure whether you should purchase divorce insurance, don’t fret – Safeguard Guaranty Corp. has developed tools, specifically calculators, that can calculate how likely you are to get a divorce and how expensive your divorce will most likely cost. Wow – maybe all couples should use these calculators before they get married – that would probably end the need for divorces!
*Al Bourdeau Insurance Agency does not offer Divorce Insurance.
Heart Attacks – Attacking Your Wallet!
Your left shoulder aches, your chest tightens, you experience shortness of breath and in no time, you are being rushed through the emergency doors for a stay in the hospital all because of a heart attack. Unfortunately the worst is still to come.
The National Business Group on Health found that the average cost of a major heart attack is roughly $1 million and what would be considered a less severe heart attack is priced at around $760,000! These costs are calculated based on the care that is required during and after a heart attack including hospital stays, exams, surgeries, prescriptions, doctor appointments, work leave, and more.
Of course, health insurance will cover most of the expenses, but even a fraction of $1 million will make a dent in your bank account!
Heart attacks are the leading cause of death in both men and women in the United States but yet people still survive. That is why it is imperative that you have health insurance so that in the event that you had a heart attack and survived, you wouldn’t continue to suffer and struggle with the resulting medical bills!
Health insurance is essential but you should still eat healthy, exercise regularly, and use a little more sunscreen!
We’d the love the chance to assist you further! If you have any questions or comments feel free to post them below or call Al Bourdeau Insurance Agency directly!
Source: http://www.businessgrouphealth.org/healthtopics/womenheartdiseasearticle.cfm
Almost $1500 in savings for BETTER COVERAGE!! Read some of the details below from one of our excellent agents.
Almost $1500 in savings for BETTER COVERAGE!! Read some of the details below from one of our excellent agents.
“The client listed his coverage line by line from his Alls**** policy over the phone . I discovered his Insurance Score was spotless and thought to myself, ‘this is going to be amazing’. His home was underinsured based on MSB estimates so I raised his limit on his home. Liability limits for home were increased from $300K to $500K, and also increased his auto policy liability 100/300 to 250/500. I advised that he increase his deductible for comprehensive to $100 instead of his current $50, and offered Broad collision coverage instead of Regular collision which was on his current policy. He is currently paying $1500 on the home with Alls**** – our price $517 including all these increased coverages. He is currently paying roughly $900 every 6 months on his auto with Alls**** – our price $1430 for 12 months and with far better coverages. Client has been with Alls**** for over 5 years and needless to say he was ecstatic!”
Give Al Bourdeau Insurance Agency the chance to save you bundles of money!! Call today for your FREE, no obligation quotes!
Michigan Supreme Court reverses a key case related to Michigan No-Fault Insurance!!
Michigan Supreme Court reverses a key case related to Michigan No-Fault Insurance
A sometimes misunderstood part of the Michigan auto insurance policy are the bodily injury (BI) liability coverages and the personal injury protection (PIP) coverages. BI is your coverage for injuries caused to someone else while you drive your vehicle. However, under Michigan no-fault law, YOUR insurance policy pays for auto-related injuries to YOU, even when someone else is responsible.
For example, suppose that Joe is driving down the road, stops at a stop sign, looks both ways, and proceeds through an intersection believing it is safe to do so and having properly followed all traffic laws. Suddenly, while in the intersection, Joe spots a car careening towards him. This other car fails to stop at the stop sign, and crashes into Joe damaging his car and causing him injury. Even though the other driver is probably at fault here, Joe can’t sue the other driver for his injuries unless they are very severe. Instead, the PIP coverage on Joe’s auto policy will pay for the expenses related to Joe’s injuries.
The Michigan Supreme Court issued its opinion on Sunday 8/1/2010 regarding a piece of legislation that may change all this. (http://www.freep.com/article/20100802/NEWS06/100802062/1320/New-standard-set-in-Michigan-injury-lawsuits) The case that was overturned was Kreiner v Fischer. This is likely to cause an increase in auto insurance rates in the state of Michigan according to the Insurance Institute of Michigan (IIM). In a 2007 press release from the IIM regarding the Kreiner decision (http://www.iiminfo.org/Portals/44/Position/Tort%20Threshold%20Change.pdf). Opponents of the Kreiner decision charge that the Kreiner decision drastically alters the definition of serious impairment of body function and will prohibit persons who suffer serious injuries from pursuing legitimate claims in the court. However, supporters of the Kreiner decision argue that the case upholds the original intent of the no-fault system to allow lawsuits for non-economic damages only for the most serious of injuries.
It is not hard to imagine that this decision from the Michigan Supreme Court, overturning Kreiner, will probably open the door to more lawsuits related to auto accidents.
Blind Drivers – Who would have seen that coming?
The National Federation of the Blind’s Jernigan Institute issued a challenge in 2004 that was accepted by only the Virginia Tech Blind Driver Challenge Team. The institute issued a $3000 grant to launch the project in 2006 and since then the Virginia Tech team has wasted no time in making great strides towards one common goal – to create an operable vehicle that does not require sight.
Dennis Hong, a mechanical engineering and robotic professor, and nine undergraduate students from Virginia Tech University designed and constructed a special car that caters specifically to the blind!
In order to allow the blind to navigate the car, the Virginia Tech team integrated laser range finders, voice command controls, and other sensory devices.
The multi-sensory interface includes but is not limited to a vest that either vibrates or shakes depending on whether the driver needs to slow down or completely stop, has the ability to measure how far the vehicle is from the side of the road and other objects, and is able to instruct the driver how to operate the steering wheel in response to the outside stimuli; the instructions are delivered to the driver through a verbal command.
This system will not only improve the quality of life for the vision-impaired, it has the ability to improve the quality of life for everyone! It has been proposed that such technology be included in regular cars as warning systems to help encourage safe driving techniques, farm equipment to reduce accidents, and even walkers to increase safety and ease when navigating through traffic.
Although great strides are being made towards designing a car that will allow the blind to operate a vehicle freely, it has not been proposed as to how auto insurance will be handled.
Source: http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/AheadoftheCurve/story?id=8168749&page=1
Funny Claims – “A pedestrian hit me and went under my car!”
When reporting a claim, it is imperative to choose the correct wording. Usage of ill-described claims can result in uncontrollable laughter of the claims staff. When notifying your insurance company of a claim, make sure you aren’t ambiguous or unclear like these fellow citizens!
These are alleged claims that were reported to insurance companies around the world. For your enjoyment, we present: Claims – Choose Your Words Wisely!
- “I was thrown from my car as it left the road. I was later found in a ditch by some stray cows.”
- “The accident occurred when I was trying to bring my car out of a skid by steering it into another car.”
- “I had been learning to drive with power steering. I turned the wheel to what I thought was enough and found myself in a different direction going the opposite way.”
- “I had been driving for 40 years when I fell asleep as the wheel and had an accident.”
- “A pedestrian hit me and went under my car.”
- “The car in front of me hit the pedestrian but he got up so I hit him again.”
- “The guy was all over the road. I had to swerve a number of times before I hit him.”
- “An invisible car came out of nowhere, struck my car and vanished.”
- “As I approached an intersection a sign suddenly appeared in a place where no stop sign had ever appeared before. I was unable to stop in time to avoid the accident.”
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