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Is Your Teen Ready To Drive

Is your teen ready to drive? Teenagers are typically anxious to get behind the wheel. Driving offers teens a sense of freedom and independence. Being able to drive is like a tangible symbol that gives teens affirmation that they have grown up and are on their way to adulthood. However, it’s very important for parents to recognize when their teen is indeed ready for this great responsibility. Check these five rules and considerations before you allow your teen to drive.

Meets State Requirements

Of course, your teen needs to meet your state’s requirements to drive. Different states have different driving ages, curfews, passenger limits, etc. Be certain that your teen meets these state requirements.

Your Teen Is Mature & Responsible

Teens reach maturity at different ages. Some teens can be very mature at 14. Others take longer. Mature teens know how to manage frustrations, are able to stay calm in challenging circumstances, can disagree without being disagreeable, and are willing to learn from others and is not ashamed to seek advice and wisdom from parents, teachers and coaches.

Follows Your Rules

Make sure your teen is following your rules. If they are unable to follow these rules, they are likely unable to follow traffic laws. The rules can include anything from not allowing other passengers in the car to calling home once they’ve arrived at a destination. If your teen doesn’t demonstrate responsibility, by accepting and following house rules, they may not have the maturity necessary to get behind the wheel.

Does Not Use Phones While Driving

Parents should implement a strict “No Cell Phone” rule while teens are driving. They can stop, park and then call or text back if it is urgent.

Is Prepared For the Costs

It’s important that both you and your teen are prepared for the financial burden that accompanies the privilege of being able to drive. Many parents insist that their teen keeps a job while they drive, so that they may take some responsibility for the cost.

Every time your teen drives, you are essentially entrusting your home and assets to them. Just because a teen has reached the youngest age at which they could get a license, does not entitle them to drive. Teens change and grow quickly. Often, it is just a matter of six months before a parent begins to feel more comfortable with allowing their teen to drive.

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5 Reasons You Need Cyber Liability Insurance

Cyber criminal acts on small businesses are growing, some experts say. Sixty percent of all online attacks in 2014 targeted small and midsize businesses, according to Timothy C. Francis, enterprise leader of cyber insurance at Travelers.

“Smaller companies are easier to hack,” said Clay Calvert, director of security at MetroStar Systems, a Virginia-based firm. “They don’t have the resources to set up protective barriers.” Big companies, which have the financial resources to upgrade their security, have become less vulnerable.

Imagine for a moment that your company has come under attack by a skilled hacker. The hacker has accessed your customers’ names and contact information–and worse–your employees’ social security numbers. On top of that, your website is disabled so that you can’t take orders or collect the payments you need to stay in business.

Wouldn’t it be nice to have cyber liability insurance right about now?

Insurance that protects you in case of a cyber attack may seem like something only large corporations would ever need, or could ever afford. But believe it or not, cyber liability insurance makes lots of sense for small companies as well. Here’s why:

1. It’s more affordable than you think.

Here at AMSkier Insurance, one of our business insurance agent partners, Kim Latsch states, “we’ve written quotes for small non-profit organizations for just $1200. Cyber Liability Insurance is very important, because when something happens you’re surrounded by experts in the field. They are able to help you get done what needs to get done. Every state has its own set of rules, so it’s nice to have an organization to not only pay the bills, but to help you take the right steps.” Other businesses may need coverage as high as $30 million and deductibles as low as $10,000, depending on your needs and what you’re willing to pay. Cyber liability insurance is still a fairly new concept, so there’s a lot of variation among policies, and room for negotiation.

2. It can cover more than you think.

Many policies offer “first party” coverage–that is, they will pay you for things like business interruption, the cost of notifying customers of a breach, and even the expense of hiring a public relations firm to repair any damage done to your image as a result of a cyber attack. Having this cash available in the event of a crippling hack can keep the lights on till you’re able to resume your normal cash flow. A good policy can even cover any regulatory fines or penalties you might incur because of a data breach.

Business interruption coverage can be especially important for a small business, which may not be as diversified as a larger one, or have the same financial resources. “If a larger company has one line of business shut down by a data breach, it may be able to depend on its other lines for revenue. A smaller company may only have one line of business.”

3. You probably don’t have a risk management team.

Big corporations have entire departments devoted to analyzing the risks the company could face and helping set policies and procedures to protect against them. You don’t–but a good insurance carrier can perform a similar function.

“There are a couple of ways insurance can bridge that gap,” Miller says. “An insurer might work with a small company to make sure a firewall is in place to protect your network, and make sure you have social media policies that reduce risk.” Your insurer may well be willing to help with these areas because the better protected you are, the less likely you are to have a breach that could result in a claim.

4. Even if you don’t host your data yourself, you’re still responsible.

Is your website and any of your data hosted or stored in the cloud? Take a good look at your contracts: You’re still legally responsible. “There’s a significant risk,” says Karen L. Stevenson, senior counsel at Buchalter Nemer, a law firm with offices in California and Arizona. You can’t fully control how a cloud provider handles your data but an insurance policy can protect you if your cloud provider screws up.

5. Your general policy won’t cover you.

Typically, a general liability policy specifically excludes losses incurred because of the Internet, Miller says. So a good cyber liability policy can pick up where your general policy leaves off.

Make sure your cyber policy covers laptops and mobile devices as well, to give yourself coverage in as many situations as you can. “Work with your broker to integrate cyber liability with your general policy and employment liability policy,” Miller advises. “You want to give yourself the most seamless coverage possible.”

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Reducing Employee Theft

Business owners and store-owners don’t like thinking about employee theft, but it happens everyday. In order to reduce this risk, store-owners need to surround themselves with staff they can truly trust. Here are 5 tips to help reduce or cut theft among employees:

1. Run a background screening and a drug test on all potential hires. Employees with drug addictions are at higher risk for stealing to support their habit.

2. Use the buddy system. Theft happens most often when employees are alone. Try having two employees working for both the opening and closing shifts to limit opportunities to steal. Always have refunds and voids witnessed by a second employee or a manager as well. Make sure the two employees on shift together are not best buddies as one may feel they need to cover for the other.

3. Keeping video surveillance system helps deter employees as well as catch theft after it happens. Make sure to include cameras in storage rooms and loading areas as well as in the store. Use high-definition video so you can clearly identify employees and transactions along with allowing integration with facial recognition software.

4. Monitor trash removal. Employees often steal merchandise by concealing it in the outgoing trash and then retrieving it later from the outside trashcan or dumpster. In order to deal with these situations, use clear garbage bags, require all boxes to be flattened and keep dumpsters locked.

5. Get to know your employees. It’s much easier to steal from someone you don’t know very well, but it is much harder to steal from someone with whom you have a relationship. If your employees are going through financial difficulties or experiencing high levels of stress, which can increase the impulse to steal, perhaps you can give them extra work or connect them with a charitable service that can help them. When staff feel like their employers care, they’re more likely to be honest.

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Prevent Water Damage

According to the Insurance Industry Institute, water damage accounts for billions of dollars in losses to homeowners and renters each year. It is also responsible for about 25 percent of all property insurance claims. In fact, our claims data suggests that water is ten times more likely to damage your home than fire.

Fortunately, there are steps that you can take to help prevent water damage from appliances, and protect your home. It is helpful to understand some of the common causes of water damage, which include leaky baseboard heating, air conditioning condensation drains, and failed water heaters, washing machine hoses and plumbing.

These household appliances do not always offer warning signs until the damage has already occurred. That is why it is important to check them regularly. The simple steps below can help you protect your home from the most common causes of water damage:

First, know where the main water supply is located in case of emergency.
If you will be away from home for an extended period, shut off the water supply and drain the pipes. During the heating season, if your home is heated by an older steam heating system, consult with your heating professional to determine if it is safe to turn off the water supply for your particular heating system. Also, if your home is protected by a fire sprinkler system, do not turn off the water to this system, and maintain sufficient heat to prevent a freeze-up.
Consider having your air conditioning system inspected regularly by a professional. Check the drain lines annually and clean them if they are clogged.
Inspect water heaters, showers, tubs, toilets, sinks, and dishwashers annually, and have them repaired if there are any signs of leaks or corrosion. When possible, install water heaters in areas with floor drains to minimize damage if leaks should occur.
Check caulking around showers, bathtubs, sinks and toilet bases, and make repairs as needed.
If your refrigerator has an ice machine or water dispenser, the hose between the wall and the refrigerator should be made of braided copper, which has greater cracking and corrosion resistance.
Check pipes for cracks and leaks. Have pipe damage fixed immediately to prevent more costly repairs in the future.
Check appliance hoses and plumbing fittings for breakage, crimping or bending.

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National Safety Awareness Month – Be Prepared

June is National Safety Awareness month and it also marks the beginning of summer storm season. In light of this, we hope to provide you with 3 steps for disaster preparedness.

3 Steps for Disaster Preparedness

1. Create a survival kit

In creating a survival kit, think about what you would need if you were stranded away from home for three to seven days. Prepare your kit well in advance so that if you have to evacuate quickly, you are able to take your essentials with you.

Canned food and other nonperishable food, along with a non-electric can opener
Enough water for a gallon of water per person, per day
Toiletries and personal items
Flashlights and plenty of batteries
A portable radio and/or television
Prescription medications
Extra clothing and blankets
A first-aid kit
Emergency cash and credit cards
A copy of your homeowners insurance policy
A copy of an inventory of your home’s contents
Other personal documents

2. Have a plan

Well before a disaster strikes, you should be thinking about your evacuation plan. An evacuation plan that is spelled out and distributed to everyone in the family well in advance is a good strategy for success in case of disaster.

Designate a place for all family members to meet. Make sure the meeting place is outside the impacted area.
Map out an evacuation route. While there may be one welltraveled route to your meeting place, make sure you have alternate routes mapped out in case your main route is blocked.
Keep your fuel tank filled in your car. Determine how much fuel you will need to reach your meeting place.
Identify a contact person outside the affected area. Give their contact information to everyone in the family so they can serve as a point of contact should you get separated.

3. Build an inventory

In the event of severe damage to your home or business, having a current inventory of your possessions – including make and model numbers – can help you get your insurance claim settled faster, verify losses for your income tax return and help you purchase the correct amount of insurance.

Take pictures. Take pictures of rooms and important individual items. Label pictures with a description, including where you bought it and the make, model and serial number.
Create an electronic file. Use your computer to make your inventory list. Personal finance software packages often include a homeowner’s room-by-room inventory program.
Store the list, photos and tapes. Regardless of how you create it (written list, flash drive, photos, video or audio), keep your inventory, along with receipts, in your safe deposit box or at a friend’s or colleague’s home.
Consider expensive items. Valuable items like jewelry, art and collectibles may have increased in value since you received them. Check with your agent to make sure that you have adequate insurance for these items. They may need to be insured separately.

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