CNA offers information risk insurance options

Posted by Farmer-Leavitt Insurance Agency on May 17, 2012 in Cyber Liability Insurance, Liability Insurance, Property/Casualty | 0 comments

CNA NetProtect ®, a family of information risk insurance products available internationally, sets a high industry standard for network security, content and privacy liability protection — coverages critical to businesses of all types.

NetProtect 360 SM offers both first- and third-party cyber coverage as separate coverage parts. First-party coverage is available for extortion, business interruption, loss or damage to a network, extra expense and e-theft. Third-party liability is available for electronic media content, privacy liability and security liability.

NetProtect Essential SM provides the basic liability coverage necessary for any company that relies on computer networks to run its business. Admitted coverage designed for small- to mid-size companies, NetProtect Essential SM provides cyber coverage when a security breach results in privacy injury; identity theft; network damage resulting in theft of others’ information in your care, including trade secrets; and infection of others’ networks. NetProtect Essential SM also covers costs to comply with applicable laws requiring you to notify customers or users if a security breach could potentially compromise private information

Click here for more information.

To learn more about CNA information risk insurance, please contact Farmer-Leavitt Insurance Agency at 602-264-0566, www.farmerleavitt.com

Teen Driver Safety Tips, Is your Teen Safe?

Posted by Farmer-Leavitt Insurance Agency on May 17, 2012 in Auto Insurance, News, Property/Casualty | 0 comments

May is National Youth Traffic Safety Month, and with an average of 45 youths lost every summer weekend in motor vehicle crashes. AutoMD.com is providing teen drivers with important tips to stay safe both on and off the road if they encounter a breakdown. "According to parents, a majority of teen drivers are relatively 'clueless' about general auto repair and vehicle maintenance, including the simple task of filling the gas tank. We suspect that because teen drivers have limited experience on the road, they may also be 'clueless' on what to do and how to stay safe on the roadside if their car breaks down," said Brian Hafer, VP of Marketing for AutoMD.com. "Our Teen Auto Repair and Maintenance Guide not only includes important tips on vehicle repair and maintenance, but also offers advice on what to do in the event of a break down while driving, and how to stay safe while they are on the side of the road."

Here are some tips to remember if your car breaks down,

Get your car off of the road- If your car stops running properly, and if you can, move your vehicle to the right-hand side of the roadway as soon as possible. Avoid stopping your car in an active traffic lane. Once you have moved your car safely to the side of the road, apply your parking brake and turn your steering wheel in the opposite direction of the road so your vehicle doesn't accidentally roll into traffic.

Call for help- Make sure to have a working cell phone in your possession at all times, in case of an emergency. Have emergency assistance / roadside assistance numbers handy if your insurance provides it, or if you belong to AAA. AutoMD Mobile also offers auto repair info on-the-go, giving stranded drivers clues to diagnose their problem, and helps them find a local repair shop. And, like every good boy or girl scout, always be prepared – carry items such as flashlights, flares or hazard triangles, a first aid kit and blankets in your car – in case of a roadside breakdown.

Alert others with lights and signals- Remember to immediately turn on your emergency flashers to signal a problem. Once stopped, if it is safe to exit the vehicle, use flares or hazard triangles to alert other motorists of a problem and place the flare or triangle approximately 50 feet behind your car to give other motorists adequate notice.

Stay in your car unless it is absolutely unsafe to do so- It is best to stay in your car while waiting for help to arrive if your car is safely out of traffic. Stay inside the vehicle with your doors locked and your seatbelt fastened. Getting out of your car, even when parked along the roadside makes you a pedestrian and the roadway is no place for a pedestrian.

To learn more about automotive insurance, please contact Farmer-Leavitt Insurance Agency at 602-264-0566, www.farmerleavitt.com

Improve your Roadway Visiblity and Driving Safety

Posted by Farmer-Leavitt Insurance Agency on May 17, 2012 in Auto Insurance, Life Insurance, News, Property/Casualty | 0 comments

When darkness and rain fall, it’s not the best time to discover that your car has a major visibility problem on the road. To help car owners assess their risks on the road and make the improvements needed to improve their visibility, 3M Car Care and its spokespeople, automotive experts Sam Memmolo and Courtney Hansen, have teamed up to raise awareness of roadway visibility and driving safety. “Driving a car that has major visibility problems can be like getting behind the wheel without your glasses,” says Memmolo, who has spent three decades restoring and repairing cars in his garage and as the host of major automotive broadcast programs.  “You just aren’t going to be able to see well.  This may put you and the people in your car at risk, as well as everyone on the road around you.”

Hansen, automotive enthusiast, author and host of “Powerblock” on Spike TV, says she regularly sees cars with hazy headlight lens, dim bulbs, worn windshield wipers, and damaged rear and side view mirrors, all factors that contribute to reduced visibility on the road.  These problems can be easily repaired with some simple solutions. Both Memmolo and Hansen encourage all car owners to perform the following vehicle visibility safety check when winter darkness and and rainy or snow weather conspire to increase driving dangers:

• Check your wipers – Change at least once a year or more if they are streaking
• Check your headlight brightness – Headlight bulbs dim over time. Park on a level surface facing five feet from a wall and check the light display.  The circles of light should be bright or soft white, not yellow or dim, and the circles should be even and aligned straight forward on the wall.
• Change the bulbs – A high-quality bulb will burn brighter and last longer.  Be sure to replace both bulbs at the same time, even if it doesn’t seem that they both need it.
• Check your headlight lens – If you see a cloudy, milky surface and can’t see the bulb through the plastic, you have damage that can limit your visibility on the highway. In this case, Restore your headlights using an at-home kit like the 3M Headlight Lens Restoration System, which allows you to easily remove the hazy layer of damage and polish your lens back to crystal clear condition.
• Check your mirrors – Ensure they are in good working condition without cracks.  Damaged mirrors can be cost-effectively replaced by visiting a local salvage yard.
• Check your tail lights, brake lights, backup lights and tag illumination lights – Back your vehicle against the wall again and activate your rear lights while watching in your rearview mirror. You can replace these easily – and even save yourself a traffic ticket.

To learn more about insurance, please contact Farmer-Leavitt Insurance Agency at 602-264-0566, www.farmerleavitt.com

Saving Money on Auto Insurance: Tips and Tricks

Posted by Farmer-Leavitt Insurance Agency on May 17, 2012 in Auto Insurance, News | 0 comments

While most drivers know that auto insurance is important—and in many states, a legal requirement for all drivers—no one wants to pay more than necessary to insure their vehicles. Whether you are shopping for auto insurance for the first time, or if you already have an auto insurance policy, considering the tips included here could save you money on your insurance premium costs. A little time spent on research can save you a significant amount on your insurance premiums, if you know what aspects to consider.

The Basics:

• A higher deductible can keep your premium costs down. Auto insurance companies charge more for low deductibles. If you keep your deductible higher, you will pay higher out-of-pocket costs should an accident occur; however, a small increase in your deductible may equal significant savings on your premium—it may even exceed the cost of your deductible.
• Consider the types of vehicles you insure. A very expensive vehicle, a vehicle with a poor safety record, or a vehicle that is popular with car thieves may cost you more to insure. A safe, moderately-priced vehicle is likely to cost less to insure. If you sell a vehicle or own one that you no longer drive, be sure to take it off of your policy.
• Drop unnecessary coverage. It may make sense to insure a new vehicle or a vehicle that is still being financed—this may even be a requirement of your lender—but it might not make sense to carry coverage such as collision or comprehensive on an older vehicle. If you are paying more for these types of insurance than the vehicle is worth, consider discontinuing this type of coverage. Also, make sure to keep the list of drivers on your policy current and to remove drivers who no longer need coverage on your policy—for example, adult children who purchase their own auto insurance should be removed.
• Ask your insurer about eligibility for discounts. Many auto insurance policy holders are eligible for various discounts. Some insurers offer discounts for long-time customers, for safe or accident-free driving records, and for having safety features on your vehicle (such as air bags or anti-lock brakes) or theft-protection devices installed in your vehicle. For the notoriously expensive-to-insure teen drivers, some companies may offer discounts for good grades and driver education or safety classes. Older drivers may also qualify for discounts by attending safe driving classes or staying accident-free.

 To learn more about auto insurance, please contact Farmer-Leavitt Insurance Agency at 602-264-0566, www.farmerleavitt.com

Prepare for June 2012: National Employee Wellness Month

Posted by Farmer-Leavitt Editor on May 15, 2012 in Community News, Employee/Group Benefits, News, Property/Casualty | 0 comments

National Employee Wellness Month is an annual initiative that helps business leaders learn how companies have developed successful strategies around prevention and good health. It is a showcase of supportive social communities, such as the workplace, which can help improve employee health and productivity and lower healthcare costs; and how leveraging an individuals social connections helps create and sustain a workplace culture of health.

National Employee Wellness Month was created in 2009 by Virgin HealthMiles, and the 2012 initiative is once again sponsored by Virgin HealthMiles, along with Obesity alliance STOP (The Strategies to Overcome and Prevent Obesity), the Partnership to fight chronic disease, and WorldatWork.

National Employee Wellness Month is held in June, which is an ideal month as it marks the mid-point of the year and is a meaningful milestone to reflect back on corporate and personal health goals in your office.

Why recognize National Employee Wellness Month?

Out of control healthcare costs are a board level issue for virtually every U.S organization. Forward-thinking organizations across the U.S are taking action to control rising healthcare costs and are focusing on prevention as one of the best strategies to counter the trend. This month raises awareness about the critical role the private sector must play in positively impacting employee health, and offers tops on approaches business leaders can take to build a culture of health in their workplace. Together, the participating organization and employees understand that proactive health decisions can create a healthier, more productive workforce.

To learn more about business insurance, please contact Farmer-Leavitt Insurance Agency at 602-264-0566, www.farmerleavitt.com

5 Tips for Choosing Energy Efficent Lighting

Posted by Farmer-Leavitt Editor on May 15, 2012 in Community News, News, Property/Casualty | 0 comments

If you want to conserve energy, help the environment and lower your electric bill, Phoenix area electric utilities can help. In this video, made by APS, you’ll see how changing your light bulbs to CFLs reduces the amount energy you use.

One of the first steps that you have to know if you plan on going green, is selecting the proper light bulb. Here we will provide you with some essential tips for your light sources.

LEDs are incredibly energy efficent, have long rated live, are dimmable, generate little heat and are very small in size.

• Light emitting diodes (LEDs) are the latest technology in the lighting world. Like fluorescent lights, youll want to take a close look at the color rendering index (CRI) and the color temperature of any LED. (CRI is the measure of any light source’s ability to render colors accurately. You want a CRI of at least 80.

Use Lumen output to choose a LED

• Some LEDs on the market claim to be incredibly efficent and they are, in that they use very little energy. However, its no use replacing inefficient incandescents with LEDs if you mistakenly select an LED that doesnt emit enough light. Most people judge by watts, but for energy efficent sources, this is an inadequate measure. What you really need to look for is lumens (light output)

Flourescent light is one of the most efficent lighting sources.

• For the minimal amount of energy consumed, flourescent lights give off a surprising amount of light output. If your buying flourescent bulbs for your home, find bulb with a color rendering index greater than 80 and a color temperature of 3000k or less.

Incandescent light is the least energy efficient lighting.

• These bulbs create light by heating a metal filament wire until it glows; not exactly brilliant technology. That being said, many people prefer the warm glow of incandescent bulbs over energy efficent alternatives.

Halogen and Xenon lights are a bit more efficent than the standard incandescent.

• By adding halogen or xenon gas into the glass envelope of an incandescent bulb the rated life of the bulb in increased. A typical halogen lamp has a rated life of 2,000 hours and a typical xenon lamp has a rated life of 10,000 hours.

Now that you have scratched the surface with energy efficient lighting, you can try to turn your home into a more energy efficient place and see if you can spot a difference in your electric bill.

To learn more about homeowners insurance, please contact Farmer-Leavitt Insurance Agency at 602-264-0566, www.farmerleavitt.com

Be more safe around the home this summer

Posted by Farmer-Leavitt Editor on May 15, 2012 in Community News, News, Property/Casualty | 0 comments

As the weather heats up, the risk for fire or electrical related injuries around the house increases with more people grilling outside and trying to stay cool inside. As the month of June marks Home Safety Month, people need to be conscious of potential hazards around the home. Here are some home safety tips to help ensure a safe summer season:

Be responsible when firing up the grill: Propane and charcoal grills should only be used outdoors and should be placed at least 10 feet away from your home, deck railings and out from under leaves and overhanging branches. Never grill indoors or in a garage and keep children and pets away from the grill. Never leave your grill unattended and keep a spray bottle with water nearby for any flare ups that could occur.

Air Conditioners and Fans: Be sure to check any equipment for frayed wires and keep all cooling equipment clean. Fans can accumulate dust and dirt around the motor, which can cause a fire, so vacuum the fan to keep the motor clean. Air conditioning units should be maintained by a qualified technician as well.