Volunteering is something near and dear to our hearts here at Rinehart-Walters-Danner Insurance. Our owners, partners and staff participate in numerous volunteering events each year. We take great pride in supporting and helping out in our community. And we encourage you to join us. 

Volunteer Work

In addition to boosting your social well-being, volunteering can make you feel physically stronger, increase mental sharpness, aid in reducing stress and even help you live longer. Wow! Despite these proven positive effects, only 1 in 4 Americans regularly volunteer. (According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics). If you’re curious about the specific benefits of volunteering or how to get started, read on.

Health Benefits of Volunteering

As previously mentioned, volunteering has proven health benefits. A few of those benefits include:

• Increased mental and physical activity – Participating in volunteer activities gives you the opportunity to move and think in different ways than you’re used to doing. Both at home or at work. And, there’s a good chance that you’ll be on the move while volunteering. This will increases your overall physical activity level, too.
• Reduced stress levels – Giving back to those in need is said to enhance one’s sense of belonging, meaning and appreciation. Those are all elements that can help reduce your stress levels.
• Increased social well-being – By going out and volunteering in your community, you’re broadening your social circle and forging new relationships. As well as giving back to those who are in need. All of these activities can increase your social well-being, a component that plays a large role in your overall health.

Volunteers may work full time, part time or be retired. Some may volunteer with one organization a few hours a week. Others with multiple organizations several hours a week. No matter what amount of time that is contributed, studies show that volunteers have an overall healthier, happier outlook on life.

How to Get Started

There are many organizations that can benefit from your volunteer time. A good place to start looking is within your community. Pick one that complements your talents, interests, schedule and physical abilities. When you’re thinking about what you’d like to do as a volunteer, it may be helpful to think about what’s motivating you. Some volunteers are motivated by the following:

• Helping others
• Learning about the community
• Meeting new and interesting people
• Working in a team environment
• Feeling like they made a difference
• Gaining valuable life experiences
• Acquiring new skills

Once you’ve determined what’s motivating you to volunteer, you’ll be able to narrow down your search for local volunteer programs. For example, if you enjoy helping others, it may be beneficial to try to volunteer at a hospital or clinic. If you want to learn more about your community, volunteer on a community council or committee.

How to Have a Successful Experience

Online listings or a newspaper are great options to identify volunteer programs. To ensure a successful outcome for both you and the volunteer program, ask yourself the following questions:

• When can I begin?
• What skills can I offer? 
• What skills can I gain?
• How much time can I commit?
• What would I not want to do as a volunteer?
• How often do I want to participate?
• What community issue do I want to affect through my volunteer service?
• What group or population do I want to serve?

Making the decision to volunteer is greatly appreciated by those in need. A small task for you can make the world of difference to someone else. From one community member to another, we Thank You! 

There seems to be a tip or trick to everything these days. But have you ever heard of the tire tread penny test? You can use a penny to check if it is time to replace your tires. Yes, you read that right, a penny! Here’s how it works.

Tire Tread Penny Test

Conduct the test by placing the coin upside down with Lincoln facing you in the center of the tread.

• If you can see the top of Lincoln’s head, replace your tires immediately.
• If Lincoln’s hair is partially visible, start comparing tire prices, as you will need new ones soon.

Use the following tops to help keep your tires in the best shape possible

• Rotate your tires from the front to the rear in pairs.
• If you drive a four-wheel drive or all-wheel drive vehicle, replace all four tires when it is recommenced in your service manual.
• Since tires do not wear evenly, perform the tire tread penny test at several points from the outside to the inside of the tires.
• Test and replace your tires at the same time.
• Always keep your tires properly inflated.

Your cars performance is essential to both it’s safety and its efficiency. Make sure your tires are in good condition and replace then as soon as they show too much wear. 

As temperatures drop, the risk of frozen pipes increases in your home. If your pipes freeze, they may burst, causing sever damage. To prevent frozen pipes this winter, follow these tips:

#1

Set your thermostat to at least 55F. The lower the temperature of your home, the more likely your pipes will freeze. 

#2

Insulate exposed pipes with insulation material such as foam rubber or fiberglass sleeves.

#3

Open any cabinets that contain exposed pipes to allow warm air from your home to circulate around the pipes. 

#4

Allow your faucets to drip to help relieve pressure in the pipes and prevent them from bursting. 

#5

Seal any cracks in the foundation or any outside walls to prevent cold air from seeping into your home. 

#6

Locate all shut-off valves, so if  a pipe were to burst, you could quickly turn off water to prevent water damage. 

Renting instead of buying is a preferred way of living for many. Moving to a new location and being unsure of where you want to stay permanently. Not wanting or having the extra money for a down payment. Or simply wanting the ease of knowing you don’t have to worry about home maintenance or repairs. Those are all common reasons you may rent instead of purchasing a home. However, just because your landlord has insurance coverage, doesn’t mean that you should not purchase renters insurance. 

Insurance is an important protection you need for yourself and your family. There are many myths out there when it comes to renters insurance. We’re here to discuss those myths and make sure you have all the information you need to make an informed decision. 

I don’t have enough stuff to get renters insurance

Things add up fast! Your electronics, appliances, clothes and even food are all large expenses that can be protected under your policy. 

My landlord’s insurance will cover the damages to my belongings

Typically, a landlord’s insurance policy only covers the physical building. Not anything that’s within the walls or that belong to a tenant. 

Personal belongings are the only things covered under renters insurance

Renters insurance can also cover damages to someone’s property within your home. And, depending on the limits of your liability coverage, it can cover some or all of the medical expenses if someone happens to get injured on your property. 

I can’t afford renters insurance

Renters insurance can be incredibly affordable. Although pricing can always vary, some policies can cost as little as a couple cups of coffee at your favorite cafe. 

Did you know that if your home becomes uninhabitable for reasons covered in your policy, the insurance company will reimburse you for your temporary living expenses until you are able to find a new place to live? Your insurance policy is there not only to protect your belongings, but so much more. 

Don’t wait until it’s too late to start thinking about renters insurance

We spend a lot of time and energy filling our living spaces with items that make it feel like home. It only takes one unexpected event to have it all stripped away. Renters insurance can give you peace of mind knowing that you and all of your belongings are covered. 

Click Here to learn more. 

Does your auto insurance cover rental cars?

When renting a car, the rental company will typically ask if you’d like to purchase rental car insurance coverage for the vehicle. It’s at this point when you have to ask yourself: Do my personal insurance policies provide the coverage I need, or should I purchase insurance through the rental car company?

Although standard auto insurance policies may extend to rented vehicles, you should never assume you are protected. Examining your own auto insurance policy will show you the types of coverage you already possess and where additional coverage may be needed. Since auto policies differ, it’s a good rule of thumb to contact your broker so they can help you navigate your policy and determine if you have the appropriate amount of coverage when renting a vehicle.

Examining Your Insurance Policies

When deciding whether or not your personal insurance will cover your rental car, there are a few different coverages you should have. If you answer yes to all of the following questions, you may not need to purchase additional coverage:

• Do you have liability, collision or comprehensive car insurance? Liability, collision and comprehensive insurance are the three main coverage options available when purchasing car insurance. Although it is not always required to purchase all three coverages, they can optimize your protection in the event of an accident.
  • Liability insurance provides coverage if you damage or injure another person or their personal property.
  • Collision insurance provides coverage if your vehicle is involved in a collision, either with another vehicle or object.
  • Comprehensive insurance provides coverage if your car is damaged by a variety of exposures such as theft, vandalism or natural disasters.
• Does your policy cover administrative fees, loss of use or towing charges? It’s always a good idea to check see whether your insurance company pays for—or provides a rider for—additional fees associated with rental cars. This coverage can be helpful if a car you rent is lost, stolen or damaged.
• Do you have a renters or homeowners policy that will cover your belongings if lost or damaged? Your homeowners or renters insurance policy covers your personal belongings from theft, fire or vandalism within your home. Policies often include off-premises coverage that can extend your coverage to outside your residence. Therefore, if personal belongings in your vehicle are stolen or damaged, your homeowners or renters insurance policy may be able to cover a percentage of your losses. Not all insurance carriers will extend coverage to protect personal belongings within your vehicle—always check with your broker to see what your renters or homeowners policy covers.

What Is Rental Car Insurance, and What Does It Cover?

Car rental companies provide additional coverage that is often used to supplement insurance you already possess.

Rental car agencies offer four different coverage options:

1. Supplemental liability insurance: Most car rental companies need to have the minimum amount of liability coverage required by the state, but oftentimes it isn’t an adequate amount of coverage. If you have a personal car insurance policy with a high liability limit, you may not need additional protection.
2. Loss damage waiver (LDW)/collision damage waiver (CDW): This is not insurance per se, but rather a document that can alleviate your financial responsibility should your rental vehicle be damaged or stolen. This also includes loss of use coverage if the rental company charges you for the amount of time the car could not be used while being repaired, as well as other administrative fees the car rental agency assesses. The LDW may become void if the incident occurred from the driver of the rented vehicle exhibiting reckless behavior, speeding or the vehicle being driven on unpaved roads.
3. Personal accident insurance: This will cover the driver and any passengers within the rented vehicle for any medical bills caused by a car crash. This coverage is useful if you do not already have health insurance or personal injury protection insurance.
4. Personal effects coverage: This covers any personal belongings that are stolen from the rental vehicle. If you already have renters or homeowners insurance, this may already be covered under your policy.

The coverages offered are oftentimes the same as what you already have for your personal car insurance. Again, to avoid paying for coverage you already have, review your policy before renting a vehicle.

Does Your Credit Card Provide Rental Insurance?

Many reputable credit card companies offer rental insurance to their customers. To utilize this secondary form of coverage, you must put the total amount of the car rental on your credit card. In many cases, credit card companies will also require you to deny any insurance offered by the car rental agency in order to access their coverage. In the event that your rental car is in a covered incident, the credit card company will help cover costs of damage or theft up to a certain dollar amount. Various rental car fees can be covered by your credit card, but this can vary by provider.

Before purchasing any additional coverage through the car rental facility, call your credit card company to see if your card offers car rental insurance. Since most credit card rental insurance is classified as a secondary form of coverage, you may need to rely on your personal auto insurance coverage first.

Ask About Your Policy

Deciding on your rental car coverage can be a tricky endeavor. Before purchasing any extra coverage, talk to your insurance broker about your personal auto insurance policy and whether you may need to purchase any additional insurance. No one wants to pay more for their auto insurance, and you shouldn’t have too.

If you have any questions or are unsure if rental vehicles are covered under your policy, contact Rinehart, Walters & Danner today.

Click here for Auto Insurance information.

After a long day at the office, Sally is finally on her way home. Deciding she is not going to go home and cook dinner, she reaches for her cell phone to call in a takeout order. She takes a moment to look at her phone to find the number, just a few seconds, but that was all it took to miss that the car in front of her had turned on its turn signal and slowed down. Sally rear ends the car in front of her. This accident resulted in serious injuries, which turned into a lawsuit and court dates.

Sally was found at fault and ordered to pay $1,000,000 for medical expenses, lost wages and the “pain and suffering” of the injured parties. Although she had auto insurance, the policy had a limit of $300,000. That leaves Sally to make up the additional $700,000. Fortunately Sally didn’t have to drain her assets because she has personal umbrella insurance.

What is umbrella insurance?

It is a policy that will extend the limits of your auto and homeowners insurance policies. It will also provide coverage for personal injury claims. Like an umbrella that protects you from the rain, a personal umbrella insurance policy provides an extra layer of insurance coverage over your standard liability policies. It protects your personal assets by kicking in when your standard liability coverage is exhausted. Even if your assets are small, it can protect your income; in some settlements, wages can be garnished up to 10 years.  In Short: an umbrella insurance policy protects you from a downpour – that worse-case scenario where you could lose everything in a lawsuit.

Learn more about personal insurance – Click here

Who needs a umbrella insurance?

You do! contrary to popular believe, umbrella insurance is not just for the wealthy. We recommend that everyone consider carrying an umbrella insurance policy. If you have a teenage driver, own a swimming pool or entertain at your home frequently, you could have increased chances of getting sued. It is wise to supplement your insurance with umbrella insurance.

How much do I need?

That is something you should discuss with your agent to ensure you have enough coverage. You’ll want to take into consideration not only your total personal assets but your potential personal risks. Coverage starts at $1 million, and can go as high as $10 million.

How much does coverage cost?

Compared to the coverage you gain, additional liability insurance is fairly inexpensive. Depending on the policy value and your personal risk factors, such as recent auto tickets, your credit rating and more, a $1 million umbrella insurance policy typically costs about a dollar per day. Cost goes up an additional $50 to $75 for each million thereafter.

Don’t put your savings and assets at risk. Count on our expertise and let us design an insurance plan to fit your needs.

Click here to contact us to get started today.

Everyone can probably agree that they have a pile of old electronic devices or equipment just laying around taking up space. Personal or Business alike. Most of these items you can not simply just throw in the trash, and it usually costs money to dispose of them. Because of this inconvenience, we have decided to partner with Richland Newhope Industries and Celina Insurance to hold an eWaste Recycling Day. And it will conveniently be held right at our office! 

Join us September 28, 2019 for an eWaste Recycling Day

This event will run from 8:30 am – 11:30 am or until capacity is reached. Below is a flyer that shows the accepted and not accepted materials. You can also find information on the Facebook Event Page. 

Help us spread the word about the eWaste Recycling Day event!

In today’s world, everyone is looking for ways to make the most out of every dollar. Insurance premiums can be a large expense in most households. Even though auto insurance is something you are required to have, it doesn’t have to break the bank. We have a few recommendations that could help you save money on auto insurance premiums.

Click here for auto insurance details

Consider a higher deductible

The higher the deductible the lower the premium. A deductible is the money you the insured will pay before the insurance company pays out. If you have a $250 deductible and the total cost to fix your car is $2,000, you pay $250 then the insurance company will pay the remaining $1,750. However if you have a $1,000 deductible the insurance company will pay $1,000. By paying a bigger portion of a claim, your monthly premium will be lower. You pay premiums monthly, however, you will only pay your deductible if you have a claim. Why not save yourself money every month?

Keep a good driving record

Your auto premiums are a direct result of your driving record. This amount is determined by the insurance company to cover costs of insuring you and your family as drivers on the road. If you have no accidents or moving violations on your records, you may be eligible for a lower rate or good driver discounts.

Check if you qualify for low mileage discounts

Many insurance companies have “classes” of drivers based on how many miles they drive their car annually. Check to make sure your insurance agent has the correct mileage for you and if you qualify for any low mileage discounts.

Multi Line Discounts

Many insurance carriers offer auto, home and renters insurance. As a result, if you have your auto and home or renters insurance with the same company, you could qualify for additional discounts. This is not only a good way to save money, but a great convenience as you only have to contact one company or agent for monthly payments, questions, changes or the unfortunate event of a claim.

Click here to learn about homeowners insurance

Click here to learn about renters insurance

Work with an independent insurance agent/agency

By working with an independent insurance agent/agency you have more insurance companies available to you. A captive agent works with one company, an independent agent works with multiple companies. This works in your interest as they can shop insurance companies for you and find the best fit for your needs at the best rate. They can do the work for you to help you save money on auto insurance.

We’re here to help. Whether your a current customer or not a customer at all, give us a call and we can start looking into ways to help you save money on auto insurance today.

Monday September 2, 2019 is Labor Day. Labor Day is observed the first Monday in September with many employers closing their business and giving employees the day off. 

According to History.com: 

Labor Day pays tribute to the contributions and achievements of American workers. 

Facts 

• It became a federal holiday in 1894.
• It was created by the labor movement in the late 19th century.
• In the 1800 the average work day was 12 hours long and you worked 7 days a week.
• It symbolizes the end of summer for many Americans.

Many families choose Labor Day weekend to have one last get together for the summer. Cookouts, parades, and athletic events are popular long weekend fund. Remember to recognize the hard workers in your family when celebrating this year.

If you want to learn more you can find great information by visiting History.com or Dol.gov 

With so many different types of insurance to choose from, it can be overwhelming to determine what type of small business insurance you need. We are here to help. Let us explain the types of insurance policies available and how they can help protect you, your employees and your business’s bottom line.

Commercial Property Insurance

In the case of a catastrophic event such as a fire, explosion, burst pipe, storm or theft, commercial property insurance can help. Commercial property insurance compensates you for losses or damage to your building, leased or owned equipment, and other property on the premises. In fact, commercial property insurance can cover items such as furniture, inventory, computers and anything that would be considered necessary for performing normal business operations.

Commercial property insurance is typically purchased as a stand-alone policy or as part of a comprehensive business owner’s policy that includes property and general liability coverage. Commercial property insurance is offered on either a replacement cost or actual cash value basis.

• Replacement cost: Pays the cost to replace or repair the damaged property with materials of like kind and quality, without any deduction for depreciation.
• Actual cash value: Pays the cost to repair or replace the damaged property, minus depreciation.

General Liability Insurance

General liability insurance policies typically cover an organization for claims involving bodily injuries and property damage resulting from its products, services or operations. What’s more, this form of insurance can help cover medical expenses and attorney fees resulting from bodily injury or property damage claims for which your organization may be legally responsible.

General liability insurance policies typically have four coverage elements:

Premises liability. Covers you in the event that a person who is not employed at your business becomes injured on your property. If someone sued your business because they tripped and fell on your property, liability insurance can help cover those expenses.

Products liability. Covers you if a product or service causes injury to someone’s body or inflicts damage on a consumer’s personal property. If you’re a tech company that broke a customer’s computer while performing a service on it, those damages could be covered.

A personal injury. Is when your business inflicts a physical, financial or mental injury to a third party. For instance, let’s say you take action in detaining someone who you had reason to believe was stealing from your store. If it turns out your accusations are false and the person decides to sue you, you’d be covered under your general liability policy.

Advertisement injuries. Are caused by alleged misinformation, copyright infringement or slander made by your company. For Example: If you were advertising a product that claimed it could help clear acne and it ended up making a consumer’s acne worse, That could be considered an advertisement injury.

Overall, a general liability policy is beneficial for covering any medical bills or legal costs that accrue if the injured third party decides to sue your business.

Employment Practices Liability

Employment practices liability insurance (EPLI) is a form of insurance that covers wrongful acts that occur during the employment process. The most frequent types of claims covered under an EPLI policy include:

• claims of discrimination
• wrongful termination
• sexual harassment
• retaliation.

These policies will reimburse your company against the costs of defending a lawsuit in court, and for judgments and settlements. EPLI covers legal costs, whether your company wins or loses the suit. However, these policies typically do not pay for punitive damages, or civil or criminal fines.

Workers’ Compensation

Workers’ compensation is important in the event that an employee suffers a work-related injury or illness. This type of insurance is required in most states. And it is used to cover medical bills or wage replacement for employees who experience a work-related injury.

For example, if a worker pulled a back muscle at work and was unable to perform their duties. Workers’ compensation would help in covering any physical therapy costs as well as compensating the employee for any lost wages.

Having worker’s compensation insurance can also protect your business from civil suits made by employees against your company related to their injuries.

Cyber Liability Insurance

If any part of your business is on an online platform, it is crucial to obtain cyber liability insurance. This type of coverage can protect your business from a cyber attack or interruption that can cause a loss in data, revenue and the trust between you and your customers. Cyber liability insurance is not only there to protect the internal information of your company, such as employees’ social security or financial information, but it also protects your customers’ personal and banking information.

Most cyber liability policies include both first- and third-party coverage:

• First-party coverage is for the business itself— helping the business recover from any losses after a cyber attack.
• Third-party coverage is to cover claims by people who have been injured because of your business being hacked.

Restoring compromised or lost data can be very costly. Cyber liability insurance is there to help cover financial losses to your business and the costs of claims made against your company by clients or other third parties who were affected.

Commercial Auto

Commercial auto insurance helps cover the costs of an auto accident if you or an employee is at fault. This coverage can help pay for damaged property and medical expenses.

Your business should consider a commercial auto policy if any of the following are true:

• Your business owns, leases or rents vehicles such as cars, trucks or vans.
• Your business has employees who drive their own vehicles to conduct business.
• Your business has employees who operate leased, rented or owned company vehicles.

Professional Liability Insurance

Professional liability insurance, also known as errors and omissions (E&O) insurance, can protect your business against claims that a service you provided caused a client to suffer due to a mistake on your part or because you failed to perform a service.

Professional liability insurance can cover the cost of defending your business in a civil lawsuit for an alleged error or omission. What’s more, depending on your industry, professional liability insurance may be required by law.

While many types of businesses need professional liability insurance, you should especially consider this type of insurance if your business works directly with customers while providing services.

More Information

Contact Rinehart, Walters & Danner to help you analyze your small business insurance needs. We can hlep you decide on the right coverage for you and your growing business. You can also CLICK HERE to learn more about business insurance.