Select Insurance, LLC Blog

Select Insurance, LLC Bloghttp://www.selectins.net/blog/View Select Insurance, LLC's Website Blogen-uspostmaster@www.selectins.netInsurance Website Builder - www.insurancewebsitebuilder.comurn:uuid:b155f610-793d-449a-b50d-d0464eed4c06urn:uuid:6a3ba50f-2627-49e0-b4aa-1b5201deab2cFive Steps to Take After an Accident Five Steps to Take After an Accident If you're ever in an accident, it's easy to forget what to do right away. Follow these five steps to ensure the safety of you, your passengers and everyone else ...Thu, 29 Sep 2011 13:13:25 -0500<table width="650" id="yui_3_2_0_1_1317306227250643" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"> <tbody id="yui_3_2_0_1_1317306227250642"> <tr id="yui_3_2_0_1_1317306227250641"> <td id="yui_3_2_0_1_1317306227250659" style="line-height: 17px; color: #464646; font-size: 14px;">Five Steps to Take After an Accident If you're ever in an accident, it's easy to forget what to do right away. Follow these five steps to ensure the safety of you, your passengers and everyone else involved: <ol id="yui_3_2_0_1_1317306227250658"> <li>Call the Police. Even for small accidents, call 911. Police will help redirect traffic and document the incident.</li> <li>Avoid Additional Damage. Move your car from the roadway as soon as possible to prevent additional collisions. </li> <li>Get the Right Information for the Insurance Process. You'll need the other driver's name, license, phone number, insurance information and license plate number. </li> <li>Document the Accident. From taking pictures of the damage and the overall accident to interviewing witnesses and taking down their information. The more accident evidence you can gather for the insurance claim, the better.</li> <li id="yui_3_2_0_1_1317306227250657">File an Accident Report. File a state vehicle accident report (available at police stations and DMV websites) to help speed up the claims process.</li> </ol> Be a safe driver. Take the National Drivers Test! Share and compare your scores with your family and friends and determine who the smartest and safest driver is! Visit <a href="http://click.service.gmacinsurance.com/?qs=e96a94d01fc8660b1ad486d0b68f02486e7150bebcd1d7a101415809f04dd995" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">www.gmacinsurance.com</a> and click on the National Drivers Test button to see how you size up. If you're on Facebook, don't forget to check out the National Drivers Test <a href="http://click.service.gmacinsurance.com/?qs=e96a94d01fc8660bfd1dfb9b0a7088ff631539c25c4f699279490443f4923c5c" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Facebook App</a> where you and your policyholders can "challenge a friend" to take the test! "Like" Select Insurance, LLC on Facebook. </td> <td style="width: 25px;"> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table>urn:uuid:f1124a25-db3b-4a2c-a6b5-7f92a538fd9cQuiz to get you ready for your drivers testEach year, millions of Americans fail the GMAC Insurance National Drivers Test. Looking back, what are the most common mistakes folks make? To a great number of drivers, it seems that yellow lights, yellow lines and knowing the safe following distanc...Wed, 18 May 2011 13:58:57 -0500Each year, millions of Americans fail the GMAC Insurance National Drivers Test. Looking back, what are the most common mistakes folks make? To a great number of drivers, it seems that yellow lights, yellow lines and knowing the safe following distance when driving behind another vehicle are the topics in the most difficult questions on the National Drivers Test. Below are the three questions most often answered incorrectly each year. Take this mini-test and see how you'd do... 1. Under most conditions what is a safe following distance? A. 3 seconds B. 10 seconds C. 20 seconds 2. A solid yellow line, on your side of the center line, means: A. Reduce speed B. Traffic light ahead C. Do not pass 3. When you approach a traffic signal displaying a steady yellow light, you must: A. Go through the intersection before it turns red B. Stop if it is safe to do so C. Be prepared to stop D. Slow down and proceed with caution Answer key is listed below. How'd you do? GMAC Insurance hopes this mini-test helped you refresh your driving credentials so that you will be a safer driver. Look for more emails to follow and get ready to test your driving knowledge! Answers: 1. A. 3 seconds 2. C. Do not pass 3. B. Stop if it is safe to do so urn:uuid:8ee58359-3a97-4363-a42a-7d0ad7cf3917GMAC 7th Annual National Drivers TestIf you needed to take your drivers test again today - could you pass? As it turns out, millions of people across the nation, driving on the roads each and every day, may fail the standard DMV 20-question written test. Are you one of them? This ye...Wed, 18 May 2011 13:57:42 -0500If you needed to take your drivers test again today - could you pass? As it turns out, millions of people across the nation, driving on the roads each and every day, may fail the standard DMV 20-question written test. Are you one of them? This year, our office is teaming up with GMAC Insurance to ask the American driving public this very question and encourage people to take a test that will help keep the rules of the road and safe driving habits on their minds. It's all part of the 7th Annual GMAC Insurance National Drivers Test. This year's results will be revealed on May 26th, right before Memorial Day weekend - the start of the summer driving season. We're partnering with GMAC Insurance for this fun and simple way to refresh your driving credentials and make you a better, safer driver. Look for more blogs to follow and get ready to brush up on your driving knowledge! Thank you for your business! Bryan O. DeVoreurn:uuid:37f3b49e-a873-482a-be4e-a78101e8d467Renters Need Insurance Too Renters need insurance, too when it comes to insurance. Only 43% of renters in 2006 had insurance, compared with 96% of homeowners, according to a 2006 poll by the Insurance Research Council. Most apartment dwellers aren’t being intentionally ...Tue, 29 Mar 2011 11:42:23 -0500 Renters need insurance, too when it comes to insurance. Only 43% of renters in 2006 had insurance, compared with 96% of homeowners, according to a 2006 poll by the Insurance Research Council. Most apartment dwellers aren’t being intentionally irresponsible on this front but simply don’t know that they need it, says Jeanne Salvatore, senior vice president of public affairs at the organization. "Tip No. 1 for a renter is simply to get the insurance," says Salvatore. STORY: Balancing act for best insurance ratesSTORY: Protect your family from lawsuits even if you aren't richSTORY: Ignorance is not bliss on homeowners coverage A few popular misconceptions are the culprits behind renters forgoing coverage for the belongings in their home, industry experts say. "People say, ‘I don’t think I have a lot of stuff. I don’t want to pay money to insure it.’ They don’t think it’s very valuable," says Amy Danise, senior managing editor of <a href="http://insure.com/">Insure.com</a>. But even the sparsest of apartments could have at least $1,000 worth of stuff after things such as a bed, computer and clothing items. "It would really be a financial disaster to renters to lose all of your things in something like a fire and not have insurance for it. That kind of financial blow can affect you for the rest of your life," she says. Many renters also wrongfully assume they fall under the protection of their landlord’s insurance, Salvatore says. Landlord policies would take care of the actual building and common areas in the case of a disaster, but not the belongings of the tenants. Unlike homeowners, renters policies don’t come with an automatic percentage for covering possessions, leaving the tenants the choice of determining the appropriate amount of coverage. Renters should photograph belongings and tally up their value to make sure the policy would take care of replacing everything they own. Beyond the loss of personal possessions, a renter could face litigation if a guest gets hurt in the apartment and the renter is at fault. Renters insurance policies offer liability coverage in much the same way that homeowners policies do, and even cover medical costs. "If you have a party, and somebody trips on your rug and has to go to the hospital and get an X-ray, they can file a claim and don’t have to sue you," Salvatore says. The immediate survival expenses can quickly add up if a fire or other mishap displaces a renter. A renters insurance policy will cover additional living expenses, such as essentials you need to buy and other living expenses that surpass your typical rental costs, Salvatore says. Renters insurance can cover a lot, but it doesn’t actually cost much. Average costs for the coverage ran about $176 in 2008. "That’s probably a fancy coffee drink a week," says Salvatore. So forgo the Starbucks and put the money into one of these policies, which can typically be purchased from the same provider of your auto coverage. "It’s a small amount to pay for peace of mind," says 61-year-old Suzette Eaddy of Corona, N.Y., who says she’s had the coverage for many years — and hasn’t had to use it yet, luckily.This story has been sent from the mobile device of bryan@selectins.net. For real-time mobile news, go to . Renters need insurance, too when it comes to insurance. Only 43% of renters in 2006 had insurance, compared with 96% of homeowners, according to a 2006 poll by the Insurance Research Council. Most apartment dwellers aren’t being intentionally irresponsible on this front but simply don’t know that they need it, says Jeanne Salvatore, senior vice president of public affairs at the organization. "Tip No. 1 for a renter is simply to get the insurance," says Salvatore. STORY: Balancing act for best insurance ratesSTORY: Protect your family from lawsuits even if you aren't richSTORY: Ignorance is not bliss on homeowners coverage A few popular misconceptions are the culprits behind renters forgoing coverage for the belongings in their home, industry experts say. "People say, ‘I don’t think I have a lot of stuff. I don’t want to pay money to insure it.’ They don’t think it’s very valuable," says Amy Danise, senior managing editor of Insure.com. But even the sparsest of apartments could have at least $1,000 worth of stuff after things such as a bed, computer and clothing items. "It would really be a financial disaster to renters to lose all of your things in something like a fire and not have insurance for it. That kind of financial blow can affect you for the rest of your life," she says. Many renters also wrongfully assume they fall under the protection of their landlord’s insurance, Salvatore says. Landlord policies would take care of the actual building and common areas in the case of a disaster, but not the belongings of the tenants. Unlike homeowners, renters policies don’t come with an automatic percentage for covering possessions, leaving the tenants the choice of determining the appropriate amount of coverage. Renters should photograph belongings and tally up their value to make sure the policy would take care of replacing everything they own. Beyond the loss of personal possessions, a renter could face litigation if a guest gets hurt in the apartment and the renter is at fault. Renters insurance policies offer liability coverage in much the same way that homeowners policies do, and even cover medical costs. "If you have a party, and somebody trips on your rug and has to go to the hospital and get an X-ray, they can file a claim and don’t have to sue you," Salvatore says. The immediate survival expenses can quickly add up if a fire or other mishap displaces a renter. A renters insurance policy will cover additional living expenses, such as essentials you need to buy and other living expenses that surpass your typical rental costs, Salvatore says. Renters insurance can cover a lot, but it doesn’t actually cost much. Average costs for the coverage ran about $176 in 2008. "That’s probably a fancy coffee drink a week," says Salvatore. So forgo the Starbucks and put the money into one of these policies, which can typically be purchased from the same provider of your auto coverage. "It’s a small amount to pay for peace of mind," says 61-year-old Suzette Eaddy of Corona, N.Y., who says she’s had the coverage for many years — and hasn’t had to use it yet, luckily. urn:uuid:2e0b9fac-c212-4744-932e-51c274e38477Good News South Carolina Drivers You know that accidents, traffic tickets, and even your credit score can determine your auto insurance rates. But so can the state where you live. According to a just-released ranking of state-by-state costs from the web site Insure.com, average ra...Mon, 21 Mar 2011 09:00:49 -0500 <div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: #d1d6dc 0.75pt solid; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 8pt; padding-right: 8pt; background: white; border-top: medium none; border-right: #d1d6dc 0.75pt solid; padding-top: 0in;"> You know that accidents, traffic tickets, and even your credit score can determine your auto <a href="http://autos.yahoo.com/car-insurance/">insurance</a> rates. But so can the state where you live. According to a just-released ranking of state-by-state costs from the web site Insure.com, average rates in the most expensive state—Michigan—are two and half times as high as in the cheapest state, Vermont. </div> <table width="40%" align="right" style="width: 40%; border-collapse: collapse; margin-left: 9.25pt;border: medium none;" border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="padding-bottom: 9.25pt; background-color: transparent; padding-left: 9.25pt; padding-right: 9.25pt; padding-top: 9.25pt;border: #d7deee 0.75pt solid;"> More from <a href="http://moneywatch.bnet.com/">CBS MoneyWatch.com</a>   » <a href="http://moneywatch.bnet.com/saving-money/blog/cars-money/auto-insurance-which-cars-cost-most-and-least/2158">Which Cars Cost Most to Insure?</a> » <a href="http://moneywatch.bnet.com/saving-money/blog/devil-details/top-cities-for-drunk-drivers/3049">Cities with the Most Drunk Driving</a> » <a href="http://moneywatch.bnet.com/economic-news/blog/cars-money/avoid-these-used-cars-plus-some-to-buy/1148">5 Used Cars NOT to Buy</a> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: #d1d6dc 0.75pt solid; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 8pt; padding-right: 8pt; background: white; border-top: medium none; border-right: #d1d6dc 0.75pt solid; padding-top: 0in;">   "The rankings demonstrate how factors like state laws and the judicial system can be the driving force behind high rates," says Amy Danise, senior managing editor of Insure.com. After Michigan, where the average rate is $2,541 a year, the second-highest rates are in Louisiana, where drivers pay an average of $2,453. Three other states had average rates above $2,000 a year: Oklahoma, Montana, and Washington, D.C.     Only Vermont ($995) averaged below $1,000. But South Carolina at $1,095 was not far above that mark. Both states encourage competition among auto insurers.   The high rates are roughly correlated with the proportion of uninsured drivers in a state, often in violation of state law. Uninsured drivers still have accidents, and their liability and personal injury costs are passed on to the rest of the state's drivers through higher insurance rates. In Oklahoma, nearly one-quarter of drivers on the road are uninsured. Economically hard-hit Michigan had 17% of drivers with no insurance and Louisiana 12%. "It's an economic problem. They just can't afford the rates," says Marc Eagan, president-elect of the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of Louisiana.   Both the most and least expensive states also have locally-specific stories:   • Michigan is the only state that guarantees unlimited personal injury protection payments to people injured in auto accidents. Insurance companies pay up to $480,000 in each case, plus up to three years of lost wages. A state fund chips in on higher settlements. But assessments for that fund also add to rates.   • Louisiana's judicial system tends to return large jury verdicts in cases involving auto accident injuries, according to insurance agents in that state. That means bigger payouts from insurance companies and thus higher rates.   • Oklahoma has weird weather. It is one of the worst areas for tornadoes. And a storm last year dropped softball-sized hail on Oklahoma City. Widespread damage claims for battered cars helped push rates up.     • Vermont has lots of rural territory and very little traffic congesion. And with a fairly low level of lawsuits, competing insurers offer policies there.   To see how your state ranks, here is the full list of states and average insurance costs for each:   1. Michigan, $2,541 2. Louisiana, $2,453 3. Oklahoma, $2,197 4. Montana, $2,190 5. Washington, D.C., $2,146 6. California, $1,991 7. Mississippi, $1,896 8. New Mexico, $1,896 9. Arkansas, $1,836 10. Maryland, $1,807 11. North Dakota, $1,794 12. Connecticut, $1,786 13. Rhode Island, $1,747 14. Wyoming, $1,714 15. Hawaii, $1,707 16. South Dakota, $1,707 17. Georgia, $1,670 18. New Jersey, $1,663 19. West Virginia, $1,633 20. Kentucky, $1,629 21. New York, $1,627 22. Minnesota, $1,614 23. Washington, $1,584 24. Missouri, $1,563 25. Indiana, $1,518 26. Colorado, $1,508 27. Texas, $1,492 28. Delaware, $1,489 29. Florida, $1,476 30. Nebraska, $1,470 31. Pennsylvania, $1,468 32. Kansas, $1,461 33. Alaska, $1,454 34. New Hampshire, $1,334 35. Massachusetts, $1,328 36. Idaho, $1,325 37. Alabama, $1,306 38. Oregon, $1,306 39. Nevada, $1,300 40. Illinois, $1,290 41. Arizona, $1,280 42. Utah, $1,272 43. Virginia, $1,237 44. Iowa, $1,179 45. North Carolina, $1,154 46. Ohio, $1,152 47. Tennessee, $1,146 48. Wisconsin, $1,128 49. Maine, $1,126 50. South Carolina, $1,095 51. Vermont, $995 </div>   urn:uuid:f2d81502-fb03-4ab8-8062-80d616a400b8Local Edge and YellowbookSelect Insurance has online advertisements with both Yellowbook and Local Edge.  Check us out on either search site. Click Here for Local Edge Click Here for YellowbookMon, 10 Jan 2011 15:57:24 -0600Select Insurance has online advertisements with both Yellowbook and Local Edge.  Check us out on either search site. <a href="http://www.localedge.com/listing/159683/100399/Select+Insurance+LLC/8649640622/1026+South+Main+St/Anderson/SC/29624" target="_blank">Click Here </a>for Local Edge <a href="http://www.yellowbook.com/profile/select-insurance-llc_1854384800.html?classid=4643" target="_blank">Click Here </a>for Yellowbookurn:uuid:4010baab-5d52-4ee8-a205-81ac76a1b0a5Select Insurance, LLC on FacebookSelect Insurance, LLC is now on Facebook. Check us out and become a fan. Wed, 24 Mar 2010 15:42:20 -0500Select Insurance, LLC is now on Facebook. Check us out and become a fan. urn:uuid:d9002b9b-8f62-44a7-a482-d0d883c2c662Travelers NEWS RELEASE Contact: Bryan O. DeVore (864) 964-0622   Select Insurance, LLC Now Offers Insurance from Travelers Anderson, SC April 8, 2009 – Select Insurance has been appointed to sell personal lines insurance coverage from...Wed, 08 Apr 2009 10:25:43 -0500 NEWS RELEASE Contact: Bryan O. DeVore (864) 964-0622   Select Insurance, LLC Now Offers Insurance from Travelers Anderson, SC April 8, 2009 – Select Insurance has been appointed to sell personal lines insurance coverage from Travelers. Bryan DeVore of Select Insurance said that the agency will now be able to offer customers Travelers coverage for their AUTOMOBILES, HOMES OR CONDOMINIUMS. "Select Insurance is pleased that customers can now select insurance coverage from Travelers," said DeVore. "Travelers is one of the largest and most respected insurance companies in the nation. They offer a range of products at competitive prices. In addition, Travelers shares our commitment to providing the highest level of responsiveness and service to customers." Established in 2005, Select Insurance is an independent insurance agency offering a full range of insurance products including AUTO, HOME, LIFE, ETC.   For information and quotes on insurance coverage, please visit <a href="http://www.selectins.net">www.selectins.net</a> or Select Insurance, LLC at 1026 South Main Street, Anderson, SC  29624 or 111 North Main Street, Honea Path, SC  29654 or call (864) 964-0622. About Travelers Travelers understands that life and business are inherently dynamic and that the best way to serve agents and policyholders is to deliver insurance that evolves to stay in-synch with life and business as they change. For more information on being in-synch, visit www.travelers.com. The Travelers Companies, Inc. (NYSE: TRV) is a leading property casualty insurer selling primarily through independent agents and brokers. The company’s diverse business lines offer its global customers a wide range of coverage in both the personal and commercial settings, including automobile, homeowners, construction, small business, oil and gas, ocean marine, surety and management liability, global technology and public sector services. Travelers is a Fortune 100 company, with 2007 revenues of $26 billion and total assets of $115 billion. The company has approximately 33,000 employees. ###urn:uuid:f53eb670-63d9-4f27-aa79-7ca8736e6ca311 WAYS TO SAVE MONEY ON YOUR CAR INSURANCE... The circle of safety: How Do You Get the Most for Your Money?  11 Ways to Save Money on Your Car Insurance...   By Bryan O. DeVore    Select Insurance, LLC    11 Ways to Save Money… S o you’re shopping aro...Thu, 02 Apr 2009 18:27:53 -0500<div class=Section1> <h1><a name=_Toc494159924></a> <div class=Section1> <a name=_Toc494159933></a><a name=_Toc494158177>The circle of safety: How Do You Get the Most for Your Money?  11 Ways to Save Money on Your Car Insurance...</a>   <h4>By Bryan O. DeVore    </h4> Select Insurance, LLC    <h1>11 Ways to Save Money…</h1> <div> <table cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 align=left vspace="0" hspace="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #d4d0c8; BORDER-LEFT: #d4d0c8; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; PADDING-LEFT: 0in; PADDING-RIGHT: 0in; BORDER-TOP: #d4d0c8; BORDER-RIGHT: #d4d0c8; PADDING-TOP: 0in" vAlign=top align=left> S</td></tr></tbody></table></div> o you’re shopping around for auto insurance. What do you need to know? Well, there are lots of ways – at least 11 – that you can save money. Many of these money-saving ideas may apply to you. 1.      One Insurer, Multiple Policies – Do you have a homeowners or renters insurance policy? If so, is it with the same insurance company that provides your auto insurance? If the answer is no, you’re paying too much – for both policies. Almost every insurance company that sells auto insurance wants its policyholders to also buy homeowners or renters insurance from that company. These insurers offer so-called multi-policy discounts. Usually, these discounts are at least 10% and some insurers apply the discounts to both the auto and the homeowners/renters policy. * Tip.  Talk to your agent about multi-policy discounts. 2.      Good Driver, Good Price? – It’s no secret that the better your driving record, the less you will pay for auto insurance. But did you know that most people qualify as “good drivers” and are eligible for discounted premiums? Some good drivers pay a lot more than others, however. Many auto insurers are actually a collection of several insurance companies in which each caters to a certain type of driver. The worst drivers go in one company, the best in another, and a lot of people wind up in one of the middle companies. These middle people pay less than the worst drivers, but more than the best. The thing is, many of these middle people have driving records that are just as good as those who are insured by the companies that offer the lowest rates. Yet these middle people are paying more. Why? The usual reason is that they don’t know any better. No one told them which insurance company in the group had the best prices. And, probably, no one told them there was even a group of insurance companies. If you have a spotless driving record, there’s no reason you shouldn’t be paying the lowest price a group of insurance companies has to offer. * Tip.  Make sure you’re getting the best discount for your driving record.  Talk to your agent.  And remember, be a safe driver.  It will save you money. 3.      The Beauty of the Bus (or Other Mass Transit) – Do you drive to and from work? If you do, you are literally paying a premium to do so. Insurance companies charge you significantly higher premiums if you drive to work. And, the longer your commute (in miles, not minutes), the higher the premium. * Tip.   Some drivers should consider mass transit. Yes, there’s a price there, too. But you will reap the savings of gas and lower insurance costs. 4.      Low Mileage, Low Price – On average, people drive 1,000 to 1,250 miles a month. That is what insurance companies consider average use. * Tip.   If you drive less than the average, you could be eligible for low-mileage discounts, which some insurers offer. 5.      High-Profile, High-Cost – The type of car you drive is a major factor in what you pay for insurance. Is your vehicle a magnet for thieves? Is it more expensive to repair than most cars? If the answer to either of the last two questions is yes, you’re paying more than the average car owner for insurance. * Note.  To get detailed information on your vehicle(s) – or a vehicle you’re thinking of buying – write to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety at 1005 North Glebe Rd., Arlington, VA 22201 and ask for the “Highway Loss Data Chart.” 6.      Raise Your Deductible – The deductible is the amount you pay before insurance kicks in if you have a claim. For example, if you have a $250 deductible and you have an accident in which your car sustains $1,000 in damage, you pay the first $250 and your insurer pays the balance, $750. The lower the deductible you choose, the more you pay. If you have assets, you can probably afford to absorb at least $250 and probably $500 if you have a claim. * Tip.  If it’s been years since you’ve had an accident, you may be better off raising your deductible and paying less each year for insurance. 7.      Drop Unnecessary Coverages – Let’s say you have an older car, one not worth very much. There’s really little point in having collision and comprehensive coverages. You don’t have much to protect. Remember, too, that you have to subtract your deductible from any potential payout you might get. * Tip.  As a general rule, any car worth less than $1,000 shouldn’t have collision and comprehensive coverage. Between the deductible and the extra expense of these coverages, the cost is probably greater than the benefit. How much is your car worth? An auto dealer can tell you, or there are plenty of books that have values of vehicles going back many, many years. 8.      Discounts, Discounts, Discounts – Auto insurance companies offer several discounts for a variety of reasons. The car has automatic seat beats, air bags, anti-lock brakes, anti-theft devices, etc. The driver is a good student, which is especially valuable if you have teenage children who will be on your policy. * Tip.  Make sure you are taking advantage of all the discounts available to you! </div> 9.      Taking the Defensive – Many insurance companies also offer discounts to those who have taken defensive driving courses recently. 10.  Low-Cost and High-Cost Areas – Are you planning to move? If you are, you should take into account the cost of insurance. Generally, the more urban the area, the higher the premium. The costs can vary even within a community. * Fact.  Rates can really vary from state to state. If you’re living in New Jersey, Massachusetts or Hawaii, you’re paying several times more, on average, than you would in North Dakota, South Dakota or Idaho. 11.  Credit Where Is (Or Is Not) Due – Is your credit record better than your driving record? If you have a good credit record, you could be eligible for discounted premiums from several auto insurance companies. * Fact. Many insurers now use your credit history as a major factor in determining what to charge you for auto insurance. In some cases, with some companies, you could save money by shifting your business to an insurer that uses credit as a rating factor – even if you have a so-so or poor driving record. There is another side to this coin. If you have a poor credit history, you could save money by moving your auto insurance to a company that does not use credit as a rating factor. Many insurers do not use credit as a factor. * Tip.  Regardless of your credit status, you should talk to your agent to make sure you have the best situation given your credit record, good or bad. Whatever your driving record or coverage needs, you should shop around, or let an experienced insurance professional shop around, for the best deal for you. There are literally thousands and thousands of coverage options from hundreds and hundreds of insurance companies. In addition, not only should you try to get the best deal you can, you also need to make sure you have all the coverage you want/need. Using an Independent Insurance Agent is usually your best bet to get the most value for your auto insurance dollar.     At Select Insurance, LLC, we take a personal interest in our customers. We like to share information that helps you protect yourself and your family from financial loss. If you have any questions, regarding this information or your insurance coverage, please don’t hesitate to give me a call (864) 964-0622 or e-mail me personally at Bryan@selectins.net.</h1></div>urn:uuid:1ebc23ad-8296-4190-8737-b1dad3c1cf76When Filing an Auto Claim...Insurance Insider Reveals the Secrets Everyone Filing a Claim Must Know   What You Need to Do Before and After Filing an Auto Insurance Claim to Make Sure Your Claim Is Paid in Full and Promptly    Take a deep breath -- and be thankful...Mon, 12 Jan 2009 20:37:17 -0600Insurance Insider Reveals the Secrets Everyone Filing a Claim Must Know   What You Need to Do Before and After Filing an Auto Insurance Claim to Make Sure Your Claim Is Paid in Full and Promptly    Take a deep breath -- and be thankful you’re reading this now and not after you’ve already had an auto insurance claim. Think ahead for a moment. You’ve just had an accident. You’re not badly hurt, but you’re not in great shape, either, particularly mentally. Your car -- boy, you love this car -- has some significant damage, perhaps so much that you won’t be able to drive it home.   There’s a lot to remember to do, and very little time to do it. What information do you need to have from the other driver(s)? Are there any witnesses? Does someone need to call the police? Where do you take the car to have it repaired? What do you do about alternative transportation? Who do you call to make a claim? Your agent? The insurance company? The other person’s insurance company?   You are basically overwhelmed.   That’s understandable, but there are steps you can take long before you have an accident so that you are prepared and making a claim is not that difficult at all. How?   You read this report.   I want to share this information with you because I know peace of mind is so important. I am willing -- actually, I’m excited -- to reveal to you the secrets about making insurance claims. Secrets that ensure your claim is paid in full and as quickly as possible.   Why would I just give these secrets away? Because it’s just as good for my business as it is for you. I want to let you in on the knowledge I have accumulated as an insurance industry professional and insider. I want to do this because I have found, time and time again, that generosity and the willingness to provide really great service come back to me. Tenfold. In fact, that’s how I have built my business.   My clients have filed hundreds, even thousands of auto insurance claims. As a result, I know what to do, and what not to do, to get a claim resolved to the satisfaction of my clients. There are a few steps you should take right now, before you have to file a claim. With the right preparation, the accident will be a less traumatic experience because you’ll know exactly what to do right after it occurs.   <h1>What’s Covered -- And What Isn’t</h1> Have you read your auto insurance policy lately? Ever? Probably not. Few people do, in all honesty. But whether you read the policy or not, you should know what your policy covers -- and what it doesn’t. No policy can cover every possible situation, but most good policies cover just about every one. Sometimes, when they buy their policy, people decide not to have certain coverage. Maybe it’s because some coverages are too expensive or not worth having because their car is fairly old.   You should know the situations in which you don’t have coverage. Call your agent, or whomever sold you the policy, and ask him or her to explain what the policy covers, but, most important, what it doesn’t.   But there’s more to know than what the policy covers. Insurance companies have certain steps you need to follow in the event you have an accident. In the policy, these steps are called “Conditions.” You should know what these conditions are.   You should also try, ideally before you have an accident, to determine what you will do with your car if it needs repairing. Do you know of an auto body shop that does excellent work? If you do, great! But if you don’t, ask your agent or even your insurance company to recommend a body shop near where you live. Most insurance companies have what they consider to be “preferred” auto body shops -- shops that have good reputations and that insurers trust. Find out from your agent or insurance company if there are any of these body shops near you.   Ask your agent what to do and who to call when you need to report a claim.   Now, your car. Do you have anything in the car to write with and on if you have an accident? There’s plenty of information you will need to have right at the scene. This is not information you want to have written on a candy wrapper or a golf scorecard. And what if you don’t always carry a pen or pencil with you? You need to have a pad of paper and a pen or pencil stored in the car, just in case you’re in an accident. In fact, keep at least two writing instruments in the car in case one of your pens runs out of ink. Keep the pad and pen(s) in the glove compartment or the console next to the driver’s seat. In addition, if your insurance company has a form that allows you to provide details of an accident, including a sketch of the scene, keep some of those forms in the car as well.   Now, you are prepared if you should have an accident.   <h1>What to Do After an Accident</h1> You’ve just had an accident. At the scene, you need to do the following:   1.           Stop the car and get help for any injured drivers or passengers. Give whatever help you can to the injured (covering them with blankets, making them comfortable), but don’t move them. You could aggravate the injury(ies). Have someone call the police or highway patrol. Tell the police how many are injured and the possible extent of the injuries (whether they appear serious or not). The police can then notify the nearest medical units if they are needed.   2.           Protect the accident scene. Try to prevent further damage to the vehicles involved be setting up flares or getting your car off the road.   3.           Give the police officers whatever information they require, including your version of what happened. Do not, under any circumstances, admit you were at fault, either to the police or the other driver(s). Just give the facts as you see them. Ask the investigating officer how you can get a copy of the police report. You might need the report when you submit your claim to the insurance company. Stay at the accident scene until the police have left. (If it’s a minor accident, the police may not make a report. In fact, they may not even come to the scene if there are no injuries or serious damage to any of the vehicles involved).   4.           Write down the names and addresses of all drivers and passengers involved in the accident, as well as the license number, make, model and year of each car. Make a note of the driver’s license number(s) and insurance information of the other driver(s). Write down the names and addresses of as many witnesses as possible, as well as the names and badge numbers of police officers and any emergency personnel.   5.           Write down all the details of the accident that you can remember, either on the accident form from your insurance company or in your notebook.   6.           If necessary, have your car towed to a repair shop. (It’s a good idea to have a repair shop in mind before you have an accident; this way, you already know where you want the car towed).   7.           Call your insurance agent or the local claim representative for your insurance company to report the claim. Do this as soon as possible, including, if possible, from the accident scene. (You should probably make a note in your notebook, prior to the accident, of the phone number(s) to call to report a claim). Actually, it’s a good idea to call your insurance agent in addition to the claim representative. If your agent is involved, it could help speed the claim process. You should also tell your agent if you are not satisfied with how your claim is being handled.   8.           Ask your agent or insurance company representative how to proceed and what forms or documents you will need to support your claim. Your insurer may require you to fill out a “proof of loss” form, as well as supply documents pertaining to your claim such as medical and auto repair bills, and a copy of the police report.   9.           Keep records of any expenses you have as a result of the accident, including any related to a temporary inability to work or perform basic household functions. Your policy may allow you to be reimbursed for such things as medical and hospital expenses, lost wages and some of the costs if you have to hire a temporary housekeeper.   10.       Keep copies of any paperwork related to the accident.   11.       Find out, before the auto body shop starts repairing your car, what kind of parts will be used. Will they be from the original equipment manufacturer (OEM parts) or so-called aftermarket parts that are generic (and some believe they are inferior to OEM parts)? If you want only OEM parts used, you need to tell both the repair shop and your insurance company.   12.       If you are not satisfied with how your insurer is handling/has handled your claim, make your feelings known to the company and to your agent, and see how they respond. Do not, at this point, use the word “lawyer.” Once you raise the prospect of seeking legal help, that will change the way your insurance company deals with you. When you say “lawyer,” you are basically threatening to sue your insurer. Don’t make this threat until you are absolutely convinced that your insurance company will not resolve the claim to your satisfaction. If you hire a lawyer, no one at the insurance company will be able to communicate with you directly; they must go through your attorney.   Remember, while no accident is a pleasant experience, proper preparation and following certain steps can assure that the claim process is resolved to your satisfaction. If your claim has the important documentation and all the key details, there’s no reason it won’t be paid in full and promptly.   But if you have any trouble, please contact your insurance agent. We are here to help you and make sure your insurance policy takes care of you as it should.urn:uuid:0295ebb6-ac51-4fbd-888e-875689614ae2Most Dangerous Concept in Insurance, Co-Insurance One of the most dangerous concepts in insurance is "co-insurance". I say dangerous because if you don't understand it, you can get burned by your own uninformed decisions. Long ago, when insurance came to be, an interesting "battle" took place...Insu...Tue, 30 Dec 2008 21:52:35 -0600One of the most dangerous concepts in insurance is "co-insurance". I say dangerous because if you don't understand it, you can get burned by your own uninformed decisions. Long ago, when insurance came to be, an interesting "battle" took place... Insurance companies determined that by taking a little bit of money (premium) from lots of people, they could afford to pay for huge losses of only a few of those people. Based on expected losses they decided how much premium to charge. And an assumption they made was that everybody would insure their property fully. Bad assumption! Policyholders quickly realized that most losses are small - rarely a total loss. So, instead of insuring their $100,000 building for $100,000, they insured it for less - risking that they wouldn't suffer a total loss. This wrecked the insurance companies' ability to pay losses and be profitable, too. So, the insurance companies invented "co-insurance" - which basically means if you don't insure the full value of your property, you're going to share in the partial losses. For example (simplified for illustrative purposes), if you have a building worth $100,000 and insure it for $80,000, you've insured 80% of value. If there's a total loss, you only get $80,000 because that's the coverage limit you chose. That's NOT co-insurance. That's coverage limits. However, that's still a pretty compelling reason to insure to full value. Now most policies require you to insure at least 80% of value to avoid a "co-insurance penalty" at the time of loss. (But, remember, your policy will never pay more than the limits of coverage. So, if you insure 80% of value and have a total loss, you're only going to get 80% of the loss from the insurance company - your policy limits.) Wait! There's one last landmine here... To determine if a co-insurance penalty will apply, the value of your property will be determined at the time of loss - NOT what it was worth when you bought it, NOT what it was worth when you bought your policy, and NOT what you say its worth. The insurance company will determine the value of your property at the time the loss occurred. Why is this important? Let's say you paid $100,000 for your building 5 years ago, and insured it for $100,000 thinking you were fully insured, no chance for a co-insurance penalty. And let's say the building is worth $150,000 today.  Let's also assume for illustrative purposes, that the replacement cost of this building is now $200,000 due to inflation, but you never increased your insurance. Now there's a $10,000 partial loss, the insurance company values the replacement cost of your building at $200,000 and says, "A co-insurance penalty applies, because you insured a value of $100,000 (100% of the old replacement value) instead of $160,000 (which is 80% of the building's current replacement value of $200,000. Co-insurance comes into play on partial losses. In this example, if you have a partial loss, of say $10,000, the insurance company will only pay $6,250 or 62.5% of the loss less your deductible, rather than $10,000 less the deductible.  The adjuster begins his calculations by determining the replacement cost at the time of loss, $200,000 in this case.  Since you had an 80% co-insurance clause you had to insure a minimum of $160,000.  Since you only insured $100,000, the adjuster now takes $100,000 (amount of insurance) divided by $160,000 (amount of insurance required) and then multiplies it by $10,000 (the amount of the loss).  Then, he apples the deductible.  That's co-insurance. What a nasty surprise! There are a number of tools to help prevent this. "Inflation Guard" protection and annual reviews are two good ones. The most important thing is for you to have a basic understanding of your exposure. Ultimately, your insurance decisions are yours. Be an educated consumer and make sure you get what you want. Give me a call if you want to discuss any of your coverage limits or get more information. urn:uuid:74243d25-4bdb-45b3-9139-1d97d94cca1dNew Web SiteSelect Insurance, LLC is an independent insurance agency.  We have insurance for all your insurance needs.  We offer Auto, Home, Life, Health and Commercial insurance policies.  We specialize in SR-22 and other high risk insurance...Fri, 31 Oct 2008 09:13:47 -0500Select Insurance, LLC is an independent insurance agency.  We have insurance for all your insurance needs.  We offer Auto, Home, Life, Health and Commercial insurance policies.  We specialize in SR-22 and other high risk insurance like commercial general liability and workers comp for roofer and car dealers.  We keep up to date with new technology and add insurance companies to be competitive in today's market place.  Check out our web site at <a href="http://www.selectins.net/">www.selectins.net</a>.  Here you can request a quote or even quote, bind and print auto policies with Safeco and Progressive.  We also have links to HPA, Golden Rule and Assurant Health for Short term and other health insurance.  We hope to add new links soon for term life and other carriers and types of coverage. Thanks, Bryan O. DeVore Select Insurance, LLC