But that does not mean that ordinary vigilance by parents and others
concerned with teenagers should be ignored. Contrary, we must redouble our
efforts to make sure our young drivers know how dangerous getting behind a
wheel is.

For more of this story, click on or type the URL below:

http://www.dailylocal.com/articles/2012/01/02/opinion/srv0000016419930

The new law adds 15 hours of supervised, behind-the-wheel training for driver’s license permit holders younger than 18, bringing the total to 65 hours. Ten of the additional hours must include driving at night and five hours must occur during poor weather conditions. Current permit-holders younger than 18 who have not yet passed the driving skills test before Dec. 24 will have to meet the requirements of the new law.

For more of this story, click on or type the URL below:

http://www.dailylocal.com/articles/2011/12/19/news/doc4eefb9b41db64391012965.txt

There are many well-known services that keep records of vehicle history and try to report any possibly damaging incidents that a car has encountered. Make sure to request these reports from the dealership, and do some independent research yourself, too.

In addition to these reports, most cars that have been through floods will exhibit some physical signs. The Insurance Information Institute has created a list of spots to check on the car itself before making a purchase:

• Mildew, debris and silt in places where it wouldn’t normally be found, such as under the carpeting in the trunk, or around the engine compartment
• Rust on screws and other metal parts
• Waterstains or faded upholstery; discoloration of seatbelts and door panels
• Dampness in the floor and carpeting; moisture on the inside of the instrument panel
• A moldy odor or an intense smell of Lysol or deodorizer; this is a tactic frequently used by dealers to cover up an odor problem
• If you suspect that your local car dealer is committing fraud by knowingly selling flooded cars as regular used cars, contact your insurance company, local law enforcement agency or the NICB at 800-TEL-NICB.

If you have concerns about the vehicle, don’t buy it and consider avoiding the dealership in question altogether. If you have questions about your auto insurance coverage or want to get a quote on coverage for a recently-purchased vehicle, contact a knowledgeable insurance agent today.

The Insurance Information Institute has complied a list of things you can do to keep your house safe and your risk for major repairs low.

• Keep the house warm. Set the thermostat for at least 65 degrees—since the temperature inside the walls, where the pipes are located, is substantially colder a lower temperature will not keep the pipes from freezing.
• Add extra insulation to attics, basements and crawl spaces. If too much heat escapes through the attic, it can cause snow or ice to melt on the roof. Water can then re-freeze, causing more snow and ice to build up. This can result in a collapsed roof, and can contribute to ice damming. Ideally, the attic should be five to 10 degrees warmer than the outside air. Well-insulated basements and crawl spaces can help protect pipes from freezing. You may also consider insulating unfinished rooms such as garages to keep pipes from freezing.
• Have the heating system serviced. Furnaces, boilers and chimneys should be serviced at least once a year to prevent fire and smoke damage.
• Check pipes. Look closely for cracks and leaks and have the pipes repaired immediately. Wrap exposed pipes with heating tape.
• Install an emergency pressure release valve in your plumbing system. This will protect the system against increased pressure caused by freezing pipes and can help prevent your pipes from bursting.
• Make sure that smoke and fire alarms are working properly. Residential fires increase in the winter, so it is important to protect your family with working alarm systems. Also, consider installing a carbon monoxide detector, since a well sealed home can trap this toxic gas.
• Learn how to shut the water off and know where your pipes are located. If your pipes freeze, time is of the essence. The quicker you can shut off the water or direct your plumber to the problem, the better chance you have to prevent pipes from bursting.
• Hire a licensed contractor to look for structural damage. If damage is discovered, have it repaired now rather than waiting for a problem to occur. Also, ask about ways to prevent water damage due to snow-related flooding. Plastic coatings for internal basement walls, sump pumps and other methods can prevent flood damage to your home and belongings.

The Insurance Information Institute has complied a list of just some of the reasons life insurance can be an important decision for you and the people you love:

1. Replace income for dependents
   If people depend on your income, life insurance can replace that income for them if you die. The most commonly recognized case of this is parents with young children. However, it can also apply to couples in which the survivor would be financially stricken by the income lost through the death of a partner, and to dependent adults, such as parents, siblings or adult children who continue to rely on you financially. Insurance to replace your income can be especially useful if the government- or employer-sponsored benefits of your surviving spouse or domestic partner will be reduced after your death.
2. Pay final expenses
   Life insurance can pay your funeral and burial costs, probate and other estate administration costs, debts and medical expenses not covered by health insurance.
3. Create an inheritance for your heirs
   Even if you have no other assets to pass to your heirs, you can create an inheritance by buying a life insurance policy and naming them as beneficiaries.
4. Pay federal “death” taxes and state “death” taxes
   Life insurance benefits can pay estate taxes so that your heirs will not have to liquidate other assets or take a smaller inheritance. Changes in the federal “death” tax rules between now and January 1, 2011 will likely lessen the impact of this tax on some people, but some states are offsetting those federal decreases with increases in their state-level “death” taxes.
5. Make significant charitable contributions
   By making a charity the beneficiary of your life insurance, you can make a much larger contribution than if you donated the cash equivalent of the policy’s premiums.
6. Create a source of savings
   Some types of life insurance create a cash value that, if not paid out as a death benefit, can be borrowed or withdrawn on the owner’s request. Since most people make paying their life insurance policy premiums a high priority, buying a cash-value type policy can create a kind of “forced” savings plan. Furthermore, the interest credited is tax deferred (and tax exempt if the money is paid as a death claim).

If you decide that life insurance is an important part of your financial planning, please contact us for a quote. Get your FREE custom insurance quote today by going to http://www.whitfordinsurance.com.

Anyone who lives in a location that has four seasons will tell you that it is both a blessing and a curse. Cold weather may bring warm feelings of holiday cheer, but it also brings snowstorms and a variety of dangerous weather conditions.

Stay safe on the road in inclement weather by following the advice of the Insurance Information Institute:

• Give yourself enough time to arrive at your destination. Trips can take longer during winter than other times of the year, especially if you encounter storm conditions or icy roads.
• Bring a cell phone so that those awaiting your arrival can get in touch with you, or you can notify them, if you are running late. But avoid the temptation of using the phone while driving, as it can be a dangerous distraction—pull over first.
• Drive slowly because accelerating, stopping and turning all take longer on snow-covered roads.
• Leave more distance than usual between your vehicle and the one just ahead of you, giving yourself at least 10 seconds to come to a complete stop. Cars and motorcycles usually need at least 3 seconds to halt completely even when traveling on dry pavement.
• Be careful when driving over bridges, as well as roadways rarely exposed to sunlight—they are often icy when other areas are not.
• Avoid sudden stops and quick direction changes.
• Be sure to keep your gas tank full. Stormy weather or traffic delays may force you to change routes or turn back. A fuller gas tank also averts the potential freezing of your car’s gas-line.
• Keep windshield and windows clear. Drivers in cold-weather states should have a snow brush or scraper in their vehicle at all times. Your car’s defroster can be supplemented by wiping the windows with a clean cloth to improve visibility.
• Do not activate your cruise control when driving on a slippery surface.
• Do not warm up a vehicle in an enclosed area, such as a garage.
• Keep your tires properly inflated and remember that good tread on your tires is essential to safe winter driving.
• Check your exhaust pipe to make sure it is clear. A blocked pipe could cause a leakage of carbon monoxide gas into your car when the engine is running.
• Monitor the weather conditions at your destination before beginning your trip. If conditions look as though they are going to be too hazardous, just stay home.

Remember, sometimes the best choice for driving safety in bad weather is not to get on the road in the first place. If you’re able to postpone your trip, or even to get off the road when unexpected weather begins, you may want to consider it.

Get your FREE custom insurance quote today by going to http://www.whitfordinsurance.com.

http://www.fema.gov/news/newsrelease.fema?id=58310  amd  http://www.fema.gov/news/newsrelease.fema?id=58312

As always, being aware of your surroundings and focused on safe driving is the key to avoiding any accident. The III (Insurance Information Institute) has some additional tips for avoiding deer specifically:

• Be especially attentive from sunset to midnight and during the hours shortly before and after sunrise. These are the highest risk times for deer-vehicle collisions.
• Drive with caution when moving through deer-crossing zones, in areas known to have a large deer population and in areas where roads divide agricultural fields from forestland. Deer seldom run alone. If you see one deer, others may be nearby.
• When driving at night, use high beam headlights when there is no oncoming traffic. The high beams will better illuminate the eyes of deer on or near the roadway.
• Slow down and blow your horn with one long blast to frighten the deer away.
• Brake firmly when you notice a deer in or near your path, but stay in your lane. Many serious crashes occur when drivers swerve to avoid a deer and hit another vehicle or lose control of their cars.
• Always wear your seat belt. Most people injured in car/deer crashes were not wearing their seat belt.
• Do not rely on devices such as deer whistles, deer fences and reflectors to deter deer. These devices have not been proven to reduce deer-vehicle collisions.
• If your vehicle strikes a deer, do not touch the animal. A frightened and wounded deer can hurt you or further injure itself. The best procedure is to get your car off the road, if possible, and call the police.

Even taking all of the correct precautions doesn’t always protect you from an accident. If you are involved in a deer collision, or any other automobile accident, make sure to contact your insurance provider as soon as possible.

For more information or to get your FREE custom insurance quote today, go to: http://www.whitfordinsurance.com.

Whitford strives to alleviate some of that confusion by providing our clients with helpful tips, as well as making ourselves available to you for questions or concerns during difficult times.

The Insurance Information Institute offers a few helpful tips:

• Be prepared to give your agent or insurance company representative a description of the damage to your property. Your agent will report the loss immediately to your insurance company or to a qualified adjuster, who will contact you as soon as possible in order to arrange an inspection of the damage. Make sure you give your agent a telephone number where you can be reached.
• If it is safe to access the area, take photographs of the damaged property. Visual documentation will help with the claims process and will assist the adjuster in the investigation.
• Prepare a detailed inventory of all damaged or destroyed personal property. Make two copies—one for yourself and one for the adjuster. Your list should be as complete as possible, including a description of the items, dates of purchase or approximate age, cost at time of purchase and estimated replacement cost.
• Collect canceled checks, invoices, receipts or other papers that will assist the adjuster in assessing the value of the destroyed property.
• Make whatever temporary repairs you can without endangering yourself. Cover broken windows and damaged roofs and walls to prevent further destruction. Save the receipts for any supplies and materials you purchase as your insurance company will reimburse you for reasonable expenses in making temporary repairs.
• Secure a detailed estimate for permanent repairs to your home or business from a licensed contractor and give it to the adjuster. The estimate should contain the proposed repairs, repair costs and replacement prices.
• If your home is severely damaged and you need to find other accommodations while repairs are being made, keep a record of all expenses, such as hotel and restaurant receipts.

If you still need assistance, or have questions about your claims, please don’t hesitate to contact Whitford Insurane Network. We’d be happy to discuss the issue with you and provide any assistance we are able to.

If you have property damage and need to report a claim,  use your insurance company’s 24/7  toll free  reporting number (posted on our web site under “Current Clients” http://www.whitfordinsurance.com/current/) for the fastest response time.  In this kind of  anticipated weather event our A rated companies are putting extra service personnel in place to respond to your needs.  Our office staff will be on hand to help, too! http://www.whitfordinsurance.com/meet-our-staff/