Insurance Claim

Car insurance claim scams happen in cities and rural areas. They happen at both day and night. They happen in sunshine and rain, at rush hour and on quiet roads. You need to know that there are people out on the roads that are planning and looking for someone just like you to catch in their scams. It’s all about filing fraudulent claims and collecting money from you and your insurance company.

Here’s just one example of a claim scam...The Staged Rear-End Collision.

A driver will quickly merge into your lane of traffic directly in front of you, then slam on their brakes. They are hoping that your car will hit their car in the rear end.

It doesn’t matter if they have Collision insurance coverage on their car, because if you hit their car, you’re at fault. Here in the state of Georgia, a traffic ticket for “failure to yield” is almost a certainty if you rear-end another car for any reason. And, if you’re ticketed, your insurance company is going to have a hard time proving that it wasn’t your fault.

The Car Repairs Scam

The other driver will collect money from your insurance company for repairs to his car. He may take his car to the body shop of his choice. Sometimes, the body shop is a partner in the scam, writing a huge estimate for repairs that may or may not ever get done. This part of the scam happens pretty quickly, and settlement usually happens pretty fast.

The Bodily Injury Scam

The driver will usually fake an injury. If there are other people in the car, it is likely that all of them will fake injury. These rear-end collisions are perfect for scammers, since injuries like whiplash are soft-tissue injuries and very difficult to prove. So, they might drag out an injury claim for months. Sometimes, the driver/claimant’s doctor, chiropractor or attorney may be part of the scam. The medical bills will mount up and the attorney will make a settlement demand, usually far in excess of the medical bills alone. For example, the claimant’s medical bills might total $10,000, and the attorney will make a demand for $50,000.

Another part of the Bodily Injury Scam is loss of income for the claimant. They might try to hit you for partial disability, either temporary or permanent. They might even try total disability. Remember, in this scam, ALL of the passengers will make the same claim for damages.

Can you see how fast the claim can go from a fender-bender to a huge claim with a demand of hundreds of thousands of dollars?

You can prevent this type of scam befalling you. Here are some tips:

• Keep plenty of distance between you and the car ahead of you AT ALL TIMES.

• Stay alert while driving, don’t allow yourself to be distracted inside your own car.

• Keep cell phone use while driving at a minimum. People develop “attention blindness” when they’re using their cell phones.

• Make sure you have a disposable camera in your glovebox at all times. If you do find yourself in a rear-end collision, use your disposable or cell phone camera to take plenty of photos of the damages on both cars. Take photos of the driver and all passengers.

Only YOU can protect yourself from being a victim of a Car Insurance Claim Scam.

If you have experienced a car insurance loss, you need to know winning insurance claim strategies. The insurance company will not tell you the claims process, but I will. I will show you how to take control of your insurance claim, and add hundreds or even thousands more dollars to your claim settlement. For more information, go to the website listed below.

Vehicle theft is the number one property crime in the United States, and it costs consumers more than eight billion dollars a year. Much of that cost is borne by insurance companies, and they pass along the costs in the form of higher insurance premiums.

Let’s face it. If a criminal wants your car, he’s likely going to get it. But there are things you can do to lower your chances of a car highjacking.

1. Be aware of your surroundings. Notice the physical area around you. When you park in the daylight, and you know you’ll be coming back to your car after dark, try to park in a well-lighted area.

2. Be aware of the people around you. Notice if anyone is following you, or coming toward you from any angle. Look at them directly! Criminals are cowards. They would rather not deal with someone who can give police a good description of them.

3. Keep your car doors locked when you are driving. If you are at an isolated stop light, you are vulnerable to a highjacking. At least a locked door will slow a highjacker down a bit. But if ANYBODY taps on your window, drive away immediately.

4. Here’s a HUGE TIP for the ladies, but this scam works on men, too. One of the oldest tricks is that a highjacker drives up behind you and runs into the rear bumper of your car...just enough so that you feel it. Both of you stop your cars. If anybody from the other car gets out of that car and comes to your window, DO NOT ROLL DOWN THE WINDOW! Immediately drive to a well-lighted, high traffic location, like a convenience store, gas station or the closest fire or police station. If you have your cell phone with you, call the police and tell them what you’re doing.

5. Final tip. Buy a handgun, get a concealed weapons permit, and learn how to shoot your gun. Then you will be able to protect yourself and your property with a firearm. Remember that criminals are cowards. But if the criminal is the only one with a gun, your future doesn’t look to good.

Follow these five tips, and you’ll likely never have to deal with a vehicle theft.

If you have experienced an auto theft loss, you need to know winning insurance claim strategies. The insurance company will not tell you the claims process, but I will. I will show you how to take control of your insurance claim, and add hundreds or even thousands more dollars to your claim settlement. For more information, go to the website listed below.

According to the United States Fire Administration (USFA), fires occurring during the holiday season claim the lives of over 400 people each year, injure 1,650 more, and cause over $990 million in damage. By following these tips, you can be sure of a safe and happy holiday.

Holiday Decorations

• If you use an artificial Christmas tree, be sure it is flame retardant.

• Don’t use flammable decorations.

• Keep decorations away from heat vents and other heat sources.

• Don’t burn gift wrapping paper in the fireplace. Wrapping paper tends to burn hotly and fast, and can throw off sparks that could start a chimney fire.

Christmas Tree Care

A Christmas tree on fire can quickly fill a room with fire and deadly toxic gases. Take special precautions when you bring a live tree into your home.

• Picking a tree: Needles should be green and not easy to be pulled from the branches. The trunk of the tree should be sticky from sap. When you’re picking a tree, stand it upright and bounce the tree trunk on the ground. If needles fall off, it’s probably too dry to buy.

• Tree care: Never stand a tree near a heat source, like a heat vent or fireplace. Heat will dry out the tree and make it a fire hazard. Keep the tree stand filled with water. Don’t keep a Christmas tree in your home longer than about two weeks.

• Tree disposal: Don’t burn it in the woodstove or fireplace. Best to take it to a local recycling center, where they will run it through a wood chipper. You might even be able to scoop up some wood chips and take them home for landscaping.

Holiday Lights

• Before you install lights: check each strand of lights for cracked wires, frayed wires, broken light sockets or kinks in the wires. Lights are really cheap. When in doubt, throw out the old lights and buy new.

• No overloaded electrical outlets. Connect all your strings of lights to an extension cord, and then plug the extension cord into the electrical outlet. Come back a little later and check the lights. If you feel the cords or plugs and they are warm to the touch, unplug them and change outlets. Plugs and wires should never be warm.

• Don’t leave holiday lights unattended. I handled a claim for some people who placed those single electric candles in each window. It sure was beautiful...but one of the candles caught the drapes on fire and burned the house down. Hundreds of house fires happen each year from unattended decorative lights.


Candles

• There are few things as pretty as lit candles. But only use lit candles when you’re present to care for them.

• Make sure the candles are in candle holders that are stable, and not placed where they could easily be knocked over.

• Never use lit candles on a Christmas tree. Never.

• Never leave the house when candles are burning.

Finally, make sure you have working smoke alarms installed on every level of your home. Test them once a month and keep them clean. Make sure they have fresh batteries at all times. Then, Have a Merry Christmas!

If you have experienced a property loss, whether fire, wind, flood or other, you need to know winning insurance claim strategies. The insurance company will not tell you the claims process, but I will. I will show you how to take control of your insurance claim, and add hundreds or even thousands more dollars to your claim settlement. For more information, go to my website at: www.insurance-claim-secrets.com

Holidays are happy times...for criminals. Your property is far more vulnerable to theft than you realize during the holiday season. Let me show you some ways you can get ripped off, and how you can prevent it.

1. Christmas shopping. Many people go to malls and other shopping centers, and park their cars in the expansive parking lots. Shoppers take their packages back to their cars so they can shop more. Criminals watch this behavior and target those cars. If you leave your packages inside the car...even if it’s locked...you’re only a quick smashed window away from stolen packages. Put your packages in the trunk. I’m not saying that your packages are completely safe in the trunk. I’ve seen motivated criminals pop a trunk and get the loot within seconds. But you have a better chance if your stuff is in your trunk.

2. And while you were Christmas shopping....other criminals are stalking your neighborhoods looking for houses that look like nobody’s home. When you spend all day at a mall on the weekend, you might get a surprise when you arrive home. So, make sure that you have a monitored security system at home, and make sure it’s armed while you’re gone.

3. And when you went to Grandma’s house for a couple of days...the criminals might notice that your home is dark. Make sure you have the mail held at the Post Office, and tell your paperboy to stop delivery while you’re gone. Ask your neighbors to check on your home each day while you’re gone. Finally, call your local police and tell them the dates you will be out of town.

4. Remember that personal items stolen from your car are NOT COVERED by your auto insurance. You'll have to submit any claim through your Homeowners or Renters insurance.

The year-end holidays can be wonderful times of family closeness, joy and deep religious meaning. Be careful, vigilant, and you stand a much better chance that your holiday won’t be spoiled by theft or burglary.

If you have experienced a property theft loss, you need to know winning insurance claim strategies. The insurance company will not tell you the claims process, but I will. I will show you how to take control of your insurance claim, and add hundreds or even thousands more dollars to your claim settlement. For more information, go to my website at: www.insurance-claim-secrets.com

Winter insurance claims happen with different frequency, and for different reasons, than claims in other seasons of the year.

Spring and summer bring thunderstorms, tornadoes, heavy rain and wildfires. Hurricane season lasts until November 30th.

In Autumn and Winter, people begin to think about staying warm. So, heating-related insurance claims rise in frequency, like

• Central heating systems – be sure you have a Heating, Ventilating and Air Conditioning (HVAC) contractor come check out your heating system to prevent fires that are caused by system malfunctions.

• Fireplaces – who doesn’t like the scene of a quiet, romantic fire in the fireplace? But before you build that first fire, have a chimney sweep clean the chimney. It will help prevent chimney fires, which are terribly destructive. Logs in the firebox can also roll out onto the floor, and flying sparks can start fires which can spread to the whole house. So make sure that you use a firescreen or some other fireguard for protection.

• Heating Appliances – I’m talking about kerosene and propane heaters, electric baseboard heaters, portable electric heaters...even electric blankets. Remember that when you pull these appliances out to be used, they haven’t been used for months. Take the time to check them carefully. Look at electrical cords and plugs, heating elements, and fuel reservoirs. Make sure everything works safely. Also remember that these appliances should not be left on for extended periods of time, nor placed near flammable goods.

Take the danger out of keeping warm by practicing simple safety measures.

The opposite of heating claims is the frozen pipe loss. Cold temperatures can cause plumbing systems to burst, causing water damage that can be as extensive as a fire claim. For those who live in the North and spend their winters in the South, please take extra precautions that heat remains on in your northern house while you're away. Have someone check on your house weekly.

What about winter transportation? Slippery and icy roads make driving hazardous. Here are a couple tips about driving in winter:

• Drive a little slower.

• Keep more distance between your vehicle and the vehicle ahead of you. Stopping distances are much longer on slippery roads.

• Turn your headlights on every time you use the car. Daytime running lights increase your visibility by about 70%.

Winter doesn’t have to include an insurance claim for you! Be safe and be aware of the perils around you. Then, you can enjoy winter with peace of mind!

If you have experienced an insured loss, whether auto, business, fire, wind, flood or other, you need to know winning insurance claim strategies. The insurance company will not tell you the claims process, but I will. I will show you how to take control of your insurance claim, and add hundreds or even thousands more dollars to your claim settlement. For more information, go to the website at:
www.insurance-claim-secrets.com

The annual holiday office party can be joyous, festive, memorable...and hazardous to the financial health of the business. But without careful planning, you could end up getting sued for what happens at your party...or what happens AFTER your party.

I’m defining “office party” as an employer-sponsored party, including parties where business associates, employee spouses or “significant others” are invited. As an insurance adjuster, I know many vendors, such as accounting firms and fire restoration contractors, that invite adjusters and insurance company personnel to their parties. The adult beverages flow freely at these parties.

If you are hosting a business holiday party, here are Top Tips to keep you out of a lawsuit.

1. Before holiday parties, send out interoffice memos, do bulletin board postings or have meetings in which you urge moderation, and gently explain the measures that will be taken to ensure a safe and successful party. It would be a good idea to distribute your party plan in writing to all employees and invitees.

2. Schedule the party on a weekend or after normal business hours.

3. Hold the party at an offsite location. Better if problems arise away from the business premises.

4. Don't require employees to attend as a condition of their employment.

5. Don't take attendance at the party.

6. Make the party a family event, including spouses and children.

7. Assign certain supervisors or managers as “hosts” to oversee the event.

8. Don't pay for drinks. Guest will drink less if they have to pay for drinks themselves.

9. If you feel you must furnish alcoholic beverages, consider a drink voucher system to limit the number of drinks served. Or, serve alcohol for only a short period.

10. Don’t sell alcoholic beverages at the party. No cash bar arranged by the employer. If your party is at a location that has its own liquor license, and guests buy drinks at their bar, so be it. But you still must make sure they arrive home safely.

11. Hire a separate bartender or caterer to serve alcohol. He will know better when to say ‘No’ to a guest who’s had one too many. The hired bartender should have his own liability insurance and provide you a copy of his insurance certificate BEFORE the party. Instruct the bartender/caterer to notify an appropriate event manager if he finds someone who’s had too much to drink.

12. Serve plenty of non-alcoholic beverages: water, sodas, juices, coffee, tea.

13. Arrange transportation for intoxicated employees. Call a cab, use designated drivers, or provide discounted or free rooms if the party is held at a hotel.

Remember that even if you carry adequate insurance, known as "host liquor liability insurance coverage," it will likely not afford coverage for your business if alcoholic beverages are being sold at your party. You should purchase additional liquor liability insurance coverage before the party.

13.5 Another huge potential problem is dealing with a sexual harassment lawsuit because of an incident at the party. Alcohol lowers inhibitions, and you could have an employee or guest who files a grievance or lawsuit against another employee and the business...or even against another guest...for unwanted sexual advances at YOUR party.

Mention this potential problem to your party “hosts,” and have them be alert for guests or employees who are "too friendly" with other people at the party.

Lastly, make sure you investigate ALL complaints. If you just ignore or shrug off complaints, your business could be in worse trouble than if you just deal with it.

In closing, don’t look at this article as a “buzz kill.” Consider that I’m the lighthouse on the shore, alerting you to the rocks and shoals. Avoid them, and your “voyage” will be a happy one!

A holiday party can be festive, joyous...and potentially hazardous to your financial health. You want to enjoy the company of family and friends. But, if you’re not very careful, you could end up getting sued for what happens at your party...or what happens AFTER your party.

If you are hosting a private non-business party at which alcohol is served, here are Ten Tips to keep you out of a lawsuit.

• Before the date of the party, read your homeowners, renters or condo-owners insurance policy and discuss the party with your insurance agent. Be certain it specifically provides enough liability coverage for events from the negligence of the policyholder, which is YOU.

• Consider buying a Liability Umbrella policy to supplement your regular coverage. Premiums for $1 million of coverage run about $300 to $500 annually. Be certain there’s no gap between the existing policy and coverage provided by the umbrella policy. For example, if your homeowners insurance has liability limits of $300,000 and your umbrella policy covers costs above $400,000, you’d have to make up the $100,000 difference if you have a claim. Got $100,000 just lying around?

• Consider making guests hand over their car keys when they arrive. They are more likely to hand over the car keys before they start drinking than they will be after a few party beverages.

• Don't serve alcohol to ANYBODY under the legal drinking age in your state. If you are sued, your insurance policy might not provide coverage.

• Don't let your guests behind the bar. Consider hiring a professional bartender for your party. He will know better when to say ‘No’ to a guest who’s had one too many. The hired bartender should have his own liability insurance and provide you a copy of his insurance certificate BEFORE the party.

• Serve plenty of food. This will help keep guests from drinking on an empty stomach. However, consider avoiding salty and spicy foods which make people thirsty. Why do you think bars set out pretzels and popcorn?

• Serve lots of non-alcoholic beverages.

• Stop serving alcohol at least one hour before the party ends. Forget the old wives’ tale about serving coffee to drunks. Caffeine doesn’t sober a person up...it only makes for a wide-awake drunk driving a car.

• If someone obviously has had too much to drink, drive them home, make up a bed, or call a cab. But keep them from getting behind the wheel. They may insist that they’re sober enough to drive, but don’t you believe it. Use the final tip!

• Spend about $50.00 and buy a home breath analyzer. They’re listed all over the ‘Net, including Amazon. Then, make each person leaving the party blow in the breathalyzer to see what they blood alcohol level is. Too high and they don’t drive home. PERIOD.

Follow these Top Ten Tips, and you’ll have a happy holiday party!