Gooood Morning!!! Its a lovely day for a cookie! (well, I guess thats every day!)

Today we have Chocolate Chip cookies for our friends. 

If you would like to make them at home, here is our recipe. 

So stop in for a few cookies, and while you are here, why not sit down and review your PA insurance policies?  We would love to make sure you are getting the best coverage possible.  Can’t make it in?  Give us a call at 215-757-0816. 

Six good reasons to have a personal umbrella

There is no question that the ownership and use of our autos present us with the greatest personal liability exposure. But our normal daily activities can expose us to the potential of a large liability claim that could threaten our personal assets.

One of the best ways to understand the need for a personal umbrella policy (PUP) is to review actual claim examples. Listed below are actual personal liability claims that illustrate the need for higher personal liability limits.

Loss #1

A couple hosted a pool party for their teenage children. They did not provide any alcohol, but it was brought by some of the guests and was available. After leaving the party, one of the guests was severely injured in an auto accident, and the injury was attributed to his consumption of alcohol. This case went to the Wisconsin Supreme Court which decided that anyone who sells or furnishes alcohol to a minor is responsible for the minor’s injuries as well as any injuries caused by the minor. The opinion of the court was that the homeowners should have prevented the consumption of alcohol by minors on their premises. Both the homeowners’ and personal umbrella policies responded to this claim.

Loss #2:

The insured hosted a party at his home. Among the guests was a family friend, who was also the insured’s financial advisor. The friend brought his wife, their 2-year-old child and their baby to the party. The insured gave them a jug of spring water to mix formula for the baby. The 2-year-old child also had a drink of the water. Shortly thereafter, both children became ill. The family left the party and took the children to the hospital. The hospital confiscated the water jug which was found to contain arsenic. An old label was found wrapped around the handle with the words “weed killer” printed on it. The insured had mistakenly given the jug, which was similar to the ones containing spring water, to the family. The baby died and the 2 year old survived after being in critical condition several days. The personal umbrella liability limit was paid.

Loss #3:

The insured’s 18-year-old son was driving his parents’ car to the store with his 19-year-old girlfriend. He left the roadway and hit a tree. The son told the police that another car cut him off, but there were no witnesses, and the girlfriend had no recollection of the accident. She was hospitalized for over a month with multiple fractures and internal injuries and received extensive physical therapy. The personal umbrella insurer settled with the girlfriend for the policy limit.

Loss #4:

An 18-year-old college student was struck by a fraternity paddle during initiation. He sustained facial fractures and blindness in his left eye. The fellow fraternity members and their families were sued. The court awarded $1,300,000.

Loss #5:

A 28-year-old engineer dove into a friend’s above-ground swimming pool, struck his head on the bottom and, as a result, became a quadriplegic. He sued both the homeowner and the pool manufacturer. The court found the homeowner to be 60 percent responsible and the pool manufacturer to be 40 percent responsible, and awarded $10,000,000.

Loss #6:

A babysitter left a 5-month-old infant unattended in a walker. The infant toppled the walker, struck her head on the floor and suffered brain damage. The parents of the infant sued the teenage babysitter and her parents. The court awarded the parents $11,000,000.

The above losses show the consequences of situations that can quickly exhaust the liability limits of the underlying policies.

For less than the cost of a cup of coffee a day, most folks can purchase a personal umbrella policy with a limit of $1,000,000, possibly $2,000,000 or even $5,000,000.

Why not allow us to quote this very important policy for you! Give us a call at 215-757-0816, or visit our website at www.websterins.com.

Hello Webbloggers!

It is Cookie Wednesday again!  Gives us something to look forward to this time of year! 

Sue and Eileen made a cookie that should make you look forward to summer and the tropics- White Chip Island Cookies….YUMMMMM 

To recreate this awesome cookie, here is what you need.   

Come in to the office to try our sample! We are in Langhorne Boro and encourage everyone to stop by and say hello! 

We would love to earn your business.   Why not contact us through our website at www.websterins.com and request a free quote?  Or call us anytime at 215-757-0816.  We specialize in Pennsylvania home and Pennsylvania auto insurance, and also offer Pennsylvania business insurance.  Give us a call or click today! 

We get this question a lot.!!

There are many factors that affect the premium (cost) you will pay for insurance. The key to saving money and maximizing coverage is having good communication between yourself and your agent. Here are a few items to consider:

Your Driving Record

Your agent will ask routine questions about accidents and moving violations for any driver covered by the policy for the previous five years. If you have previous violations, or have been in an accident where you were determined to be at fault, there may be an adjustment to the premium to offset the perceived risk. That’s why it’s so important to get all the information you need to accurately compare policy quotes.

Where you Live

This may seem strange to you. Why would where you live effect how much you pay? Insurance companies know that increased traffic leads to more accidents; therefore living and driving in a city may result in more accidents than living and driving in a rural area. It doesn’t mean you need to move to a farm, but you definitely need to pay attention when driving. A good driving record is the best defense against increased premiums.

Gender and Age

That may not seem fair, but it’s based on statistics. History shows that males still have more accidents than females. So rule number one: as a group, the guys need to slow down and pay attention, because they are paying a little more for their insurance. Insurers also have statistics that show a higher number of claims for some age groups than for others.

Marital Status

Once again, this is based on statistics. Insurance company claims records show a lower rate of auto insurance claims among married policyholders. So, if you prefer to remain single, nothing beats a good driving record.

Prior Insurance Coverage

 If you’ve previously been canceled for non-payment of premiums, insurers want to know. If you’ve had insurance, your new insurer may ask your prior company about any claims you had. The key is to provide as much as information as you can to your agent. This will allow your agent to place you with the carrier (insurance company) who has the best rates for you. One carrier may be competitive on one type of policy, but not on another. Your agent should have access to multiple carriers in order to get you the right coverage and the lowest rates. Not all agents and all policies are created equal.

Mileage

The more miles you drive, the more opportunity for an accident. In other words, if you do a lot of driving, you may pay a slightly higher premium. Your agent will know which carrier is best for drivers who spend a lot of time behind the wheel.

Type of Vehicle

 If you want to drive an exotic car, you will pay more for the insurance. As the price of your vehicle goes up, so does the potential costs to repair it. The physical damage premium will be increased to cover the additional risk.

For a second opinion on your current policy, or a free quote visit our website at www.websterins.com.  Or call us at 215-757-0816.  We are here to assist you with all of your insurance needs.

      Winter hasn’t hit us here yet, but we all know its coming!  Why not take advantage of the nicer weather and have a look at your car now.  Make sure it is prepared for the winter before it’s too late.    We have compiled a list of some winter driving tips. 

To keep yourself safe on the road in winter weather, follow these driving tips:

1. Winterize your vehicle to make sure your brakes, wipers, defroster, headlights and heater are all working properly.
2. Stop gently to avoid skidding. If your wheels start to lock up, ease off the brake.
3. Turn on your headlights to increase your visibility to other motorists, and keep your lights clean and free of ice or debris.
4. In unfavorable driving conditions, reduce your speed and increase the distance between your car and the one in front of you. Remember that it takes more time to stop on icy roads.
5. Stay alert. Look ahead to give yourself more time to react safely to situations without suddenly braking or skidding.
6. Before driving, clear snow and ice from your vehicle’s hood, windows and roof.
7. Use snow or all-season tires or chains for better traction and smoother slowing. But remember that regeardless of the tires you use, no tire allows you to drive on snow or ice at normal speeds.
8. Take extra precautions on bridges, overpasses and shaded areas, which can freeze first and remain icy longer than roadways do. A road on which ice and snow are completely frozen is pretty slippery, even though it provides more traction than a road with melting ice.
9. In wet driving conditions avoid driving faster than the windshield wipers can clear water from the windshield. Make sure your wiper blades are in good shape and replace them yearly.
10. Equip your car with emergency supplies, such as a blanket, food, water, spare fuses, a flashlight with batteries, an ice scraper, flares and a first-aid kit.

Would you like a personalized policy review?  Perhaps a second opinion on your current Pennsylvania auto insurance policy?  Give us a call today! 215-757-0816