Beat the Heat

Anybody can be at risk for a heat-related illness. Follow these summer safety tips, like taking extra breaks and drinking lots of water.

Bug Safety

Mosquitoes can cause a number of illnesses, including Zika Virus and West Nile Virus. Learn what you can do to protect yourself at work and play.

Playgrounds

Emergency departments see more than 20,000 children ages 14 and younger for playground-related traumatic brain injury each year.

Fireworks

Summer is synonymous with barbecues, parades, fireworks displays – and plenty of visits to emergency rooms, especially during July.

Water Safety

Drowning caused 3,709 deaths in 2017. The younger the child, the greater the risk.

Bicycling

Bicyclists must take extra precautions when they ride. They often share the road with vehicles, but injuries can happen even on a bike path.

Skateboarding

Everyone falls, but there’s a right way to do it. In 2017, 98,486 people were treated in hospital emergency rooms after being injured skateboarding.

Boating

Most boating experiences are positive. But joyful times quickly can turn deadly if boaters are not vigilant about safety – at all times.

Pedestrian Safety

Cell phone distracted walking is a huge problem, and rarely are we more vulnerable than when walking, crossing streets and negotiating traffic.

The minutes right after a car accident are a blur. What just happened!? What am I supposed to do now?

Well, first, take a deep breath then:

1. Move to a safe location

If you are able to move your vehicle, get to a safe location off the road and put your hazard lights on.

2. Check on everybody involved 

Are you okay? Any pain when you move? What about the other vehicle(s)? It’s important to check to see if anybody needs immediate help.

3. Call 911 

The dispatcher will ask where you are and if anybody is hurt. Give them the best description of your location. Landmarks such as nearby gas stations or mile markers are helpful. This is important to do even for minor collisions. If the police are able to come to the scene, they will file a report of your car accident. This will help your insurance claim process.

4. Exchange insurance information with anyone involved

Whether law enforcement is able to come to the scene or not, documentation is crucial. Make sure you record important details, like:

• Driver’s contact information (name, phone number and address)
• License plate numbers
• Driver’s license numbers
• Car insurance information (name of insurer, address and phone number)

Additionally, if you or someone else in your vehicle can safely take photos of the accident scene and involved vehicles it can help with documentation. Lastly, try to limit your conversations with involved parties. An auto accident is likely to lead to a liability dispute and the accident scene is not the appropriate forum for those discussions.

5. Call your insurance agent

After the police arrive, call your local independent agent that services your policy. If the accident happens after your insurance agent’s operating hours, some carriers offer an after-hours 1-800 number. For Auto-Owners policies, we have our 1-888-252-4626 number for after-hours claims.

6. Call your veterinarian if your pet was in the car, and was injured, during the accident

At Auto-Owners, we believe that pets are family. That’s why our auto policies come with Pet Medical Coverage. This coverage may pay up to $750 for your injured pet’s medical expenses, with no extra charge or deductible.

We’ll Take It from Here

After you call your agent, one of the first things that will happen is a claim number will be assigned. Soon after that, a claim representative will be assigned to your claim. The claim representative assigned to your claim will guide you through the process of getting an estimate for your vehicle. The method of inspection will be determined by the severity of the damages to your vehicle.

Whether your car needs a minor repair or is a total loss, the claim representative’s job is to answer any questions and help get you back on the road.

Depending upon your state of residence, some insurance companies may require you to choose from a list of preselected body shops for repairs. At Auto-Owners, we let you choose where you want your repairs done and then work with them to come to an agreed price.

 

Getting Behind the Wheel Again

Your auto policy may include a rental car reimbursement. With Auto-Owners, your claim representative will work with you and the rental agency to bill us directly, subject to your policy limits. Your policy will keep you in the rental for a reasonable time to conduct the repairs or until any total loss offer. We may also cover food and lodging for a short time immediately following the accident if you are on vacation or out of town on business when the accident happens.

It is good to have a local support when you’re involved in a car accident. With over 100 claim offices in 26 states, we believe our claims branches should be as close as possible to our policyholders and agents.

Posted by AutoOwners Insurance, April 2020

Your ability to earn a living is far and away your largest asset. Learn how to protect your paycheck if you become unable to work in the event of sudden injury or illness.

Disability Insurance

Think about it. What would happen if suddenly, due to an illness or injury, you were unable to work?

Without your paycheck, how long would you be able to make your mortgage or rent payment, buy groceries or pay your credit card bills without feeling the pinch? If you’re like most, it wouldn’t be long at all: 7 in 10 working Americans couldn’t make it a month before financial difficulties would set in, and one in four would have problems immediately, according to a Life Happens survey.¹

That’s where disability insurance comes in. Think of it as insurance for your paycheck. It ensures that if you are unable to work because of illness or injury, you will continue to receive an income and make ends meet until you’re able to return to work.

You don’t hesitate to insure your home, car and other valuable possessions, so why wouldn’t you also protect what pays for all those things—your paycheck.

Posted by LIFE HAPPENS, 2018.

Overview

The number of motorcyclists killed in crashes dropped to 4,985 in 2018, an almost 5% decrease, but motorcycle riders are still overrepresented in traffic fatalities. To keep everyone safe, we urge drivers and motorcyclists to share the road and be alert, and we’re reminding motorcyclists to make themselves visible, to use DOT-compliant motorcycle helmets, and to always ride sober.

As the arrival of warmer weather gets closer each day, you’re probably starting to think about yard work and outdoor projects you want to accomplish this year. An important machine that keeps your yard looking good is your lawn mower.

If you’re like me, you probably pushed your lawn mower into your garage or shed and left it to sit for the winter. If that’s the case, now’s the time to have some maintenance work done on it so you’re ready to start cutting when the spring grass starts growing.

To get the most out of your lawn mower this season, here are some maintenance tips:

1. Change the oil. Clean oil is critical to keeping your engine lubricated and running smoothly. If you didn’t change the oil at the end of the lawn-cutting season, make sure to do it now. Changing the oil in your lawn mower is very easy. If it doesn’t have a drain plug, simply remove the oil cap, and tip the lawn mower on its side to drain. Before refilling your mower with oil, refer to your owner’s manual to determine the correct oil type. Lastly, dispose of your oil based on municipality guidelines. It should never be thrown into your garbage.

2. Replace the air filter. The purpose of the air filter is to protect your engine from dirt and debris. An extremely dirty air filter can lead to engine problems and potentially costly repairs. While it can vary on your conditions, typically you should change your air filter on a yearly basis. If your lawn mower is dusty and dirty after each cut, inspect it regularly. Depending on the filter type, you may be able to use your air compressor or vacuum cleaner to remove the debris.

3. Sharpen the blade. Your lawn mower blade is critical to maintaining your lawn and keeping it healthy. Hitting debris such as rocks, stones, sticks, and mulch can quickly dull it. Unfortunately, dull blades tear the grass instead of cutting it which causes grass to turn brown. This can also lead to disease. If you prefer not to do this yourself, visit your local hardware store or small engine shop. To prevent downtime, consider buying extra blades to keep on hand.

4. Give it a good wash. Grass clippings and other debris can build up underneath the mowing deck. If moisture is present, it can lead to mold growth. Use a putty knife, garden hose, or pressure washer regularly to keep it clean. Don’t forget to dry it off with a rag or blower.

5. Change the spark plug. If you’re having a difficult time starting your lawn mower, it may be time to change the spark plug. Over time, deposit buildup can occur. In addition, normal wear and tear can lead to cracked porcelain or electrodes that have been burned away.

6. Look for rodents. During the winter months, mice need a nice warm place to stay. If they find their way into your garage or shed, it’s likely they’ll find a nice engine to snuggle up to. Check your lawn mower and the area around it for evidence of mice. Things to look for include nesting materials, droppings, or gnaw marks.

7. Check tire pressure. Cold weather can reduce tire pressure. Before cutting your lawn, don’t forget to check tire pressure. If a tire has more air than others, it could cause uneven mowing.

8. Inspect the battery. If you kept your battery indoors or on a trickle charger, it should be ready to go when the grass starts growing. If you kept it in your mower, check for cracks in the casing or corrosion buildup. Corrosion buildup can be removed simply with baking soda and a wire brush. Lastly, if you’re installing your battery for the first time, make sure the connections are snug.

Don’t forget about safety. According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, 80,000 people make unexpected trips to the emergency room each year because of lawn mower injuries.

Posted by Scott Stueber on Apr 7, 2020 10:29:21 AM