Texas Insurance Advisors Blog

Texas Insurance Advisors Bloghttp://www.mytexasagent.com/blog/View Texas Insurance Advisors's Website Blogen-uspostmaster@www.mytexasagent.comInsurance Website Builder - www.insurancewebsitebuilder.comurn:uuid:342b196b-43f2-43bb-85fc-6fb724b372dcurn:uuid:953a1826-fd02-4423-b5f0-808e26ab657dUninsured Drivers being sent letters by TexasSureTexasSure Auto Insurance Database Launches Letter Campaign December 8, 2009 AUSTIN - TexasSure, the statewide database that provides law enforcement with another tool to confirm whether a Texas registered passenger vehicle has valid auto liabi...Thu, 10 Dec 2009 15:58:55 -0600<div style="text-align: left; color: #a17514; font-size: 18pt;">TexasSure Auto Insurance Database Launches Letter Campaign </div> <div>December 8, 2009 </div> <div> </div> <div>AUSTIN - TexasSure, the statewide database that provides law enforcement with another tool to confirm whether a Texas registered passenger vehicle has valid auto liability insurance, recently began a new phase in which customers with insurance who can't be matched are contacted to help resolve the matching issue. </div> <div> TexasSure has been available to all 254 countyTax Assessor-Collectors since June 2008 and to Texas law enforcement since October 2008. The database is able to match over 99% of all reported auto insurance policies to a registered vehicle. The purpose of the letter campaign is to contact the less than 1% of insured customers who can't be matched in the database matching process. Mailing of the one-page letters, in both English and Spanish, began at the end of November 2009 to approximately 100,000 Texas drivers.</div> <div> Reasons that an insured vehicle may not match to a registered vehicle include: </div> <div> <div> The insurance company does not have accurate information</div> </div> <div> <div> The vehicle registration is expired, or the information is not current</div> </div> <div> <div> The vehicle is not registered in Texas</div> </div> <div> <div> The vehicle was recently sold and the insurer was not notified</div> <div> </div> </div> <div>Letters will only be sent to customers that have been unmatched for at least 60 days, to allow time for any recent changes to vehicle registration information. Customers will be provided with the insurance information on file and specific guidance to help them determine the reason for the non-match. Customers may respond by mail, website, or phone. While there is no penalty for not responding, insured customers who are not accurately reflected in the TexasSure data may be inconvenienced by this inaccuracy. A call center will be available to assist customers who receive letters.</div> <div> In the spring, TexasSure expects to begin a second phase letter campaign, sending notices to owners of registered vehicles that appear to be uninsured. </div> <div> The TexasSure Vehicle Insurance Verification program was created by Senate Bill 1670, 79th Texas Legislature, and is designed to reduce the number of uninsured motorists in the state. According to the TexasSure database, as of 11/23/2009, 22% of registered passenger vehicles in Texas were not matched to an insurance policy. This statewide average varied by region; a county-level breakdown is attached. </div> <div> More information about the program can be found at www.TexasSure.com, or by calling TDI's Consumer Help Line at 1-800-252-3439. For more information contact: PIO@tdi.state.tx.us </div> urn:uuid:7cb4199f-e94a-416c-b784-c8c769bfc6646500.00 Tax Credit for existing Homeowners6500.00 Tax Credit for existing Homeowners   Good News for existing Homeowners and prospective buyers. Existing Homeowners can now take advantage of the Home Buyer tax credit if they have owned and lived in their current home for the past 5 year...Tue, 24 Nov 2009 14:03:46 -06006500.00 Tax Credit for existing Homeowners   Good News for existing Homeowners and prospective buyers. Existing Homeowners can now take advantage of the Home Buyer tax credit if they have owned and lived in their current home for the past 5 years. The Worker, Homeownership, and Business Assistance Act of 2009 extends the deadline for qualifying home purchases from Nov. 30, 2009, to April 30, 2010. Additionally, if a buyer enters into a binding contract by April 30, 2010, the buyer has until June 30, 2010, to settle on the purchase.   The maximum credit amount remains at $8,000 for a first-time homebuyer –– that is, a buyer who has not owned a primary residence during the three years up to the date of purchase. But the new law also provides a “long-time resident” credit of up to $6,500 to others who do not qualify as “first-time homebuyers.” To qualify this way, a buyer must have owned and used the same home as a principal or primary residence for at least five consecutive years of the eight-year period ending on the date of purchase of a new home as a primary residence. For all qualifying purchases in 2010, taxpayers have the option of claiming the credit on either their 2009 or 2010 tax returns. A new version of Form 5405, First-Time Homebuyer Credit, will be available in the next few weeks. A taxpayer who purchases a home after Nov. 6 must use this new version of the form to claim the credit. Likewise, taxpayers claiming the credit on their 2009 returns, no matter when the house was purchased, must also use the new version of Form 5405. Taxpayers who claim the credit on their 2009 tax return will not be able to file electronically but instead will need to file a paper return. A taxpayer who purchased a home on or before Nov. 6 and chooses to claim the credit on an original or amended 2008 return may continue to use the current version of Form 5405.   Income Limits Rise The new law raises the income limits for people who purchase homes after Nov. 6. The full credit will be available to taxpayers with modified adjusted gross incomes (MAGI) up to $125,000, or $225,000 for joint filers. Those with MAGI between $125,000 and $145,000, or $225,000 and $245,000 for joint filers, are eligible for a reduced credit. Those with higher incomes do not qualify. For homes purchased prior to Nov. 7, 2009, existing MAGI limits remain in place. The full credit is available to taxpayers with MAGI up to $75,000, or $150,000 for joint filers. Those with MAGI between $75,000 and $95,000, or $150,000 and $170,000 for joint filers, are eligible for a reduced credit. Those with higher incomes do not qualify.   New Requirements Several new restrictions on purchases that occur after Nov. 6 go into effect with the new law:   (a) Dependents are not eligible to claim the credit. (b) No credit is available if the purchase price of a home is more than $800,000. (c) A purchaser must be at least 18 years of age on the date of purchase.   For Members of the Military Members of the Armed Forces and certain federal employees serving outside the U.S. have an extra year to buy a principal residence in the U.S. and still qualify for the credit. An eligible taxpayer must buy or enter into a binding contract to buy a home by April 30, 2011, and settle on the purchase by June 30, 2011. To Summarize: In summary, here are the requirements for the $6,500 home buyer tax credit: <ul style="list-style-type: disc;"> <li style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Your new home must have a signed contract by April 30, 2010 and you must close on the new home by June 30, 2010.</li> <li style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Income phase outs will begin at $125,000 for single filers and $225,000 for married filing joint. </li> <li style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">The credit is for primary homes that cost $800,000 or less.</li> <li style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">You must have owned and resided in your current home for at least 5 years.</li> <li style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">The credit is for the purchase of a primary residence.</li> </ul> Ahsan Bashir Texas Insurance Advisors <a href="http://www.MyTexasAgent.com">www.MyTexasAgent.com</a> urn:uuid:7dd22c87-a600-4cc5-91bb-3dc1f3deb909Business Liability Insurance BasicsGeneral liability (G/L) insurance protects business owners from a variety of negative possibilities at they relate to lawsuits. Some businesses may be adequately covered by other insurance, while other businesses may require additional coverage in or...Thu, 24 Sep 2009 13:44:33 -0500General liability (G/L) insurance protects business owners from a variety of negative possibilities at they relate to lawsuits. Some businesses may be adequately covered by other insurance, while other businesses may require additional coverage in order to be sufficiently protected. As a business owner, it’s important to have the minimum amount of insurance to cover business necessities. G/L is meant to cover and protect business owners or operators for many different circumstances. Some of these situations may include accidents that occur on the business premises, incidents that occur from using a product sold by the business, as well as covering any contractual liability. For example, general liability insurance may protect the business if someone slips, falls or trips on the business property. The insurance can pay for the cost of the injury as well as protect the business owner from financial ruin. It basically covers any events in which the business owner is sued for something that happened as a result of a person's dealing with the business. G/L covers not only the business owner in the case of someone suing the business, but also protects others that are on the premises or otherwise have contact with the business. General liability insurance protects customers, suppliers, delivery people, vendors and visitors to the business property. Basic general liability insurances coverage includes bodily injury or damage that occurs at the covered business as a result of an employees negligence. Therefore, it’s important that a business owner has at least the minimum required amount of general liability insurance. Most companies recommend that owners carry at least one million dollars in general liability insurance coverage for each business they own. Experts say that in our litigious society, two to three million dollars in general liability insurances is even better. While some business owners may think they cannot afford such a great amount of insurance, maintaining more than one million in coverage is not that much more expensive. Adding one to two million dollars in general liability coverage does not double or triple the price; thereby making it relatively more affordable for even the smaller business owners and operators. G/L insurance is a fundamental need of a business, regardless of size. Business owners need to protect themselves, as well as to protect those who will be on their business property, or using their product. Therefore, general liability insurance is necessary and is more affordable that many business owners may think. For more information: Ahsan Bashir (972) 256-1800 <a href="http://www.MyTexasAgent.com">www.MyTexasAgent.com</a> urn:uuid:ab05283c-bf16-48de-a77f-74f8ee4e5c2fImproved bumpers still result in low safety ratingBUMPERS ON 4 OF 6 MIDSIZE SEDANS IMPROVE; NONE EARNS GOOD RATING IN LOW-SPEED TESTS ARLINGTON, VA — Bumpers on 2009 models of the Honda Accord, Hyundai Sonata, Mazda 6, and Nissan Maxima performed better than their 2007 predecessors in low-speed cra...Thu, 03 Sep 2009 16:56:11 -0500BUMPERS ON 4 OF 6 MIDSIZE SEDANS IMPROVE; NONE EARNS GOOD RATING IN LOW-SPEED TESTS ARLINGTON, VA — Bumpers on 2009 models of the Honda Accord, Hyundai Sonata, Mazda 6, and Nissan Maxima performed better than their 2007 predecessors in low-speed crash tests conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. Bumpers on the 2009 Chevrolet Malibu and 2010 Ford Fusion did worse than earlier models. None of the 6 popular midsize sedans earns the top rating of good in a recent series of tests designed to assess and compare how well bumpers resist damage in everyday fender-benders. The Mazda 6 improves to acceptable from marginal, with an average repair cost of less than $900 after 4 tests at 3 and 6 mph. The Accord and Sonata improve to marginal from poor. The Fusion slips to poor from mar-ginal, and the Maxima and Malibu remain poor. “Consumers buy midsize cars for practical reasons. There’s nothing practical about a $1,000-plus re-pair bill after a minor bump in commuter traffic,” says Joe Nolan, Institute senior vice president. This is the second group of vehicles the Institute has evaluated under a new bumper ratings protocol based on repair costs averaged and weighted to reflect real-world damage patterns and insurance claims frequency. The Institute rates bumpers good, acceptable, marginal, or poor based on performance in 4 tests — front and rear full-width impacts at 6 mph and front and rear corner impacts at 3 mph. Each vehicle is run into a steel barrier designed to mimic the design of a car bumper, with the barrier’s plastic absorber and flexible cover simulating typical cars’ energy absorbers and plastic bumper covers. These tests are designed to drive bumper improvements that lead to better damage resistance in a range of real-world crashes. “Although midsize car bumpers still allow way too much damage in minor impacts, it’s encouraging that some manufacturers are designing better ones,” Nolan says. He points out that the front and rear bumpers of the 2009 Mazda 6 are wider, taller, and higher off the ground than the 2007 model. The Mazda 6 is only the fourth car tested under the new protocol to earn an acceptable rating for its bumpers. The others are the Ford Focus, Scion xB, and Smart Fortwo. “Mazda is trying to protect buyers’ pocketbooks while many other carmakers are letting them take a big hit in low-speed crashes,” Nolan says. Mazda, Honda, Nissan, and Hyundai improved the bumpers on their 2009 midsize cars so the bumpers would better resist front underride, which exacerbates collision damage. Bumpers have to be tall enough to engage, and to stay engaged, with the bumpers on other vehicles in collisions, even during emergency braking, or they’ll bypass each other when the vehicles collide. Preventing override and underride means crash energy is absorbed by bumpers instead of pricey vehicle parts such as hoods, grilles, and fenders, or safety gear such as headlights and taillights. The 2009 Accord, for example, has sharply lower repair costs in the full front and full rear tests, compared with the 2007 model, because its bumpers are higher than the previous version, plus the front bumper’s reinforcement bar now is bolstered with metal pieces that extend upward from the bar to prevent underride. The changes helped the Accord earn a marginal rating instead of poor, but another change held back the car’s overall performance. The 2009 Accord’s bumpers aren’t as wide as the 2007 model’s, resulting in higher repair costs in both the front and rear corner tests. Weaker bumpers mean bigger repair bills: Ford and General Motors made design changes that increased repair costs for the 2010 Fusion and 2009 Malibu over repair estimates for 2007 models. “Ford fit the Fusion’s front and rear with weaker bumper beams, and this had a big effect on the test performance,” Nolan explains. The difference is easy to see in the 6 mph full rear test, which simulates a common parking mishap like backing into another vehicle. The Fusion’s bumper buckled, which caused it to underride the test barrier, resulting in twice as much damage as the 2007 model in the rear test. In the full front test, the Fusion had $2,529 in damage, more than any other vehicle. GM raised the Malibu’s rear bumper so it’s higher than on the earlier model, but it’s still the lowest among recently tested bumpers. In the full rear test, the bumper underrode the barrier, resulting in almost $3,500 in damage, the highest among the midsize cars evaluated. GM lowered the front bumper, which didn’t help in the full front test. Damage totaled $2,092, partly because the Malibu’s front grille overlays the center of the bumper. The result is that the grille, Chevy emblem, and decorative chromed plastic trim get hit before the bumper does in this test. “Essentially you have to go through them to get to the bumper,” Nolan says. “Replacing just the front grille and emblem cost more than $625.” Ford and GM, along with other automakers who sell the same vehicles in both the US and Canadian markets, no longer have to meet a tougher Canadian bumper standard. The Canadian government last year weakened bumper rules to match US regulations, which require only minimal protection. The previous Canadian standard required bumpers to prevent damage to vehicle safety equipment such as headlights in 5 mph impacts. Under the new rules, full front and rear tests are run at 2.5 mph and corner tests are run at 1.5 mph. How 11 other sedans rate: The designs of 11 other midsize cars haven’t changed since their bumpers last were tested in the 2007 model year (see attached ratings). Performance in those tests earns the Mitsubishi Galant and Toyota Camry marginal ratings. The Chrysler Sebring, Kia Optima, Nissan Altima, Pontiac G6, Saturn AURA, Subaru Legacy, Volkswagen Jetta, Volkswagen Passat, and Volvo S40 earn poor ratings. Besides the amount of damage sustained in a low-speed impact, repair costs are influenced by both the price of replacement parts and the complexity of repairs. The Volvo S40’s poor rating reflects recent increases in parts and labor costs. At $335 the S40’s rear reinforcement bar has nearly tripled in price since 2006, while the front bar now sells for $311, up from $195 in 2006. How they’re rated: Bumpers are evaluated under a ratings protocol based on repair costs averaged and weighted to reflect real-world damage patterns. These averaged and weighted repair costs determine each vehicle’s overall rating of good, acceptable, marginal, or poor in 4 bumper tests representing full-width and corner crashes at low speeds. Weighted average repairs must be less than $500 for a good rating, less than $1,000 for acceptable, and less than $1,500 for marginal. Repairs of $1,500 or more earn bumpers a poor rating. Both the full front and rear test results are given double the weight of the corner test results because in the real world full-width impacts occur roughly twice as often as corner impacts. The weighted average of the repair costs determines the overall rating. No vehicle can earn a good or acceptable rating if it’s unsafe to drive afterward or can’t be driven at all because of headlight or taillight damage, severely buckled hoods, or a compromised engine cooling system. urn:uuid:bf0f12bc-b07d-4dff-a75b-fa0317866fb8Tips on buying low cost InsuranceAuto Insurance Buying Tips There are several factors which impact insurance premiums, some of which you can control. Starting with the ones you can't, know that demographics are one. Males pay more than females, and the middle-aged pay less than the...Mon, 13 Jul 2009 22:56:40 -0500Auto Insurance Buying Tips There are several factors which impact insurance premiums, some of which you can control. Starting with the ones you can't, know that demographics are one. Males pay more than females, and the middle-aged pay less than the young or the old (ages 25 and 56 seem to be milestones). If you want to decrease your rates, it certainly helps to move to a better neighborhood (less theft and/or traffic congestion) or get married (only responsible people tie the knot, right?) Now for what you can control. As far as they type of car, dullness pays. The lowest rates go to the most innocuous vehicles – minivans and low/mid-priced <a href="http://www.automotive.com/auto-insurance/73/insurance-tips/auto-insurance-buying-tips.html" target=_blank>sedans</a> – because of what they imply about their drivers: mild personalities make for mild risks. Another element at work is how much damage one vehicle can do to another. Battering ram-like trucks and SUVs do not fare well. These factors mostly impact liability, which in nearly ll states, is the mandatory piece of the insurance equation. Consequently, ultra-cheap lightweights like the Kia Rio don't have stellar rates either because they do a mediocre job of protecting the driver. Another major point is the value of the car. This impacts collision coverage, which covers repairs to your car. It also reduces another type of coverage called comprehensive, which basically covers your car in any loss that doesn't involve crashing. Another way to lower comprehensive is to pick a car with a low theft rate. Example: a recent study found the Ford Taurus <a href="http://www.automotive.com/auto-insurance/73/insurance-tips/auto-insurance-buying-tips.html" target=_blank>wagon</a> and Saturn LS at the bottom of the theft list. Don't get tickets. Insurance companies look for any excuse to raise those premiums, of which tickets are the most common and reviled. Remember, this is the industry that gives radar detectors away for free so that cops can take down your speed. It shouldn't be hard to trace the motivation. Don't wreck. As if you needed another reason not to, getting involved in a crash (even ones that aren't officially your fault, in some cases) is the most sure-fire way to inflate your premiums. The label of "high-risk driver" stains your record, typically for about three years. Get a car packed with safety features. Like air bags, traction control, antilock brakes, and stability control. Don't drive excessively. Risk increases with exposure and premiums increase with risk, so if you can, don't drive more miles per year than you have to. Don't get too caught up in this point, though; it's broken down by brackets of every few thousand miles, the impact isn't tremendous, and there isn't always a discount for driving below average. If you have kids, cover them under your policy. Utilize the standard practice of giving discounts for insuring multiple cars on one policy. Try to not make those accident-prone minors the stated primary driver of any car – especially an expensive one. Do your homework. Literally. This can give a much-needed discount for drivers who are stuck with the lowest incomes and the highest rates: students. Maintaining a 3.0 GPA is the common requirement, and maintaining is a must, since applicants will be prompted to send in annual proof of their good study habits. Shop for the best company. Some consumers stay with the same insurance company for life. But, they could be missing out on hundreds of dollars in savings per year. Once you've found an ideal match, try to stick around because loyalty discounts eventually kick in. Pay your bills on-time. It might seem odd, but many companies, insurance premiums vary with credit scores. The belief is that someone irresponsible with money would be irresponsible behind the wheel. This has aroused all sorts of controversy. Take a class. A certified driver training or defensive driving class can lower your rates. Texas Insurance Advisors 3585 N Beltline Rd Irving, TX 75062urn:uuid:4b47b3d5-667f-48d6-a8f8-5740cb02f1f6Business Insurance for EntrepreneursWhy Specialty Business Insurance? Business insurance quotes are a vital step in obtaining the liability coverage that is right for your needs. Whether you have a large business, partnership, or home-based company; business liability insurance is cruc...Wed, 17 Jun 2009 13:45:22 -0500Why Specialty Business Insurance? Business insurance quotes are a vital step in obtaining the liability coverage that is right for your needs. Whether you have a large business, partnership, or home-based company; business liability insurance is crucial to your survival. Business insurance quotes are usually a means to help owners find a middle ground. That is because the quotes are completely objective, and sometimes an eye-opener to some uninformed entrepreneur. By simply answering questions about your business and its products or services -- you will get a quote that should contain not only the type of coverage that is best for you, but also the amount that you should pay for your premium. By first identifying the type of risks that your establishment faces, this type of quotes will help you and the insurer both, come up with better policy. Since a business may face a wide range of liability related risks, the quote helps tailor the liability coverage offered to your business to your particular risks. For example, Company Y may need contractual liability as a part of their overall liability coverage, whereas, Company Z may require a component for their directors and officers. Under the umbrella of general business liability insurance there can be a number of smaller provisions meant to address your specific needs. Though the particular needs of your establishment will be unique, some of the most common insurance products that can be included within business liability insurance are cyber liability, professional liability, auto liability, and contractual liability. Business liability insurance was created to protect owners from lawsuits or claims in which their establishment causes damage or injury. This protection is created by shifting the financial risk to a third party for a monthly or annual fee. And, with the number of people becoming more and more litigious, the need for this type of liability coverage has sky-rocketed. Let's face it; even frivolous lawsuits cost money to defend. With all of the advantages they provide many business-owners still forget the important step of getting a business insurance quote. But, you can get a free quote online, which allows you to contact a broker through online forms, or phone calls which gets you one step ahead of the game. Business insurance quotes give you power, by giving you options. Yet, you are also equipped with knowledge about the type of liability coverage and additional insurance products that you may need. Good business quotes will show you the potential premium from a number of underwriters -- so you know that you are getting the best coverage possible. And, getting a free business liability quote is often quick and simple. Though you may be tempted to cut corners in order to get the lowest premium, quotes are only effective if there is an accurate presentation of your company's potential liability. In these days of economic upheaval, who wouldn't want to protect their belongings? Getting the right business liability insurance coverage is like staying one step ahead of risk -- it's just plain common sense. By: Ahsan Bashir Texas Insurance Advisors Inc. 3585 N Beltline Rd Irving, TX 75062 <a href="http://www.MyTexasAgent.com">www.MyTexasAgent.com</a>urn:uuid:63c2a4c4-3752-4798-aa46-a58470a8328dHow to Lower Home Insurance RatesBy: Ahsan Bashir; www.MyTexasAgent.comHow to Save Money On Homeowners Insurance If you are looking for a cheap homeowners insurance, you often may have to compromise the price; the more expensive the better policy. Although this is the main rule, the...Thu, 04 Jun 2009 18:37:37 -0500By: Ahsan Bashir; <a href="http://www.MyTexasAgent.com">www.MyTexasAgent.com</a> How to Save Money On Homeowners Insurance If you are looking for a cheap homeowners insurance, you often may have to compromise the price; the more expensive the better policy. Although this is the main rule, there are some exceptions. One of these exceptions is to get discounts on homeowners insurance. Have You Filed claims the last couple of years? If you haven't filed any claims for a couple of years or so, you might be able to save up to 15% on your premiums. Also, if you use the same insurance company for a couple of years, that will also look good and you can save really save big bucks. Are You Really Protected? Many companies will offer you a discount if you have things like burglar alarms or smoke detectors installed. You might also have one that is connected to a third party monitoring company. That will save you even more! Why Not Receive Multiple Policies From The Same Company? It might be a great solution to get it all together.. auto, home, recreational, travel and whatever other coverage you need to get under the same company .. you can save a lot. This can chop off a whopping 10-15% of your premium. All it takes is just a little bit of planning! Know Where The Nearest Fire Station Is Located There are a few things in terms of location that can alter your premiums. If you live far from a fire station or fire hydrant, you'll normally have to pay more. The opposite is the case if you live within the city limits; then you will pay less on your premiums, compared with living in a more rural area. The Building Materials of Your House Can Impact Rates What your house is made of will actually make a difference in how much you pay. For example, wood houses carry higher premiums than good, solid concrete or brick structures. Higher Payments On The Deductible If you can afford it, you should pay as much as possible on your deductible, thus your premium will be lower. If you are able to pay something like $200 or $1000, you can bring that premium down as much as 20%! Stop Smoking! Non-smokers will save cash; even as much as 15% in many cases. Check out if the company you use offers a deal for non-smokers. Smoking accidents account for more than 23,000 residential fires every year. Some insurers offer to reduce premiums if no one in the home smokes. These are just a few pointers to help you save cash on your homeowners insurance. Remember, you should always consult your independent insurance agent for the right advice for your situation. urn:uuid:674d5a7b-2c0e-4e72-a03f-25c75a8d3682Flood InsuranceBy: Ahsan Bashir, www.MyTexasAgent.comWhat is Food Insurance?Flood Insurance, as the name states is Insurance for damage caused by Floods. Flooding is defined by the National Flood Insurance Program as a general and temporary condition of partial or ...Thu, 28 May 2009 17:44:49 -0500By: Ahsan Bashir, <a href="http://www.MyTexasAgent.com">www.MyTexasAgent.com</a> What is Food Insurance? Flood Insurance, as the name states is Insurance for damage caused by Floods. Flooding is defined by the National Flood Insurance Program as a general and temporary condition of partial or incomplete inundation of two or more acres of normally dry land area or two or more properties (at least one of which is your property from: Overflow of inland waters, unusual and rapid accumulation or runoff of surface waters from ANY SOURCE, and mudflows. This can be brought on by landslides, hurricanes, earthquakes, or other natural disasters that influence flooding, but while a homeowner may, for example, have earthquake coverage, that coverage may not cover floods as a result of earthquakes. The loss resulting due to a Flood is not covered by a Homeowners Insurance policy. Private Insurers in the United States do not provide Flood Insurance coverage. To determine the risk factors for certain properties, Insurers often refer to the topographical maps that show lowlands and flood plains that are susceptible to flooding. Why Private Insurers do not provide Flood Coverage? Adverse selection, anti selection, or negative selection is a term used in economics, insurance, statistics and risk management. It refers to a market process in which "bad" results occur when buyers and sellers have assymetric information (i.e. access to different information): the "bad" products or customers are more likely to be selected. A bank that sets one price for all its checking account customers runs the risk of being adversely selected against by its low-balance, high-activity (and hence least profitable) customers. The term adverse selection is a term originally used in the Insurance concepts. It describes a situation where an individual's demand for insurance (either the propensity to buy insurance, or the quantity purchased, or both) is positively correlated with the individual's risk of loss (e.g. higher risks buy more insurance), and the insurer is unable to allow for this correlation in the price of insurance. This may be because of private information known only to the individual (<a title="Information asymmetry" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Information_asymmetry">information asymmetry</a>), or because of regulations or social norms which prevent the insurer from using certain categories of known information to set prices (e.g. the insurer may be prohibited from using information such as gender or ethnic origin or genetic test results). The latter scenario is sometimes referred to as 'regulatory adverse selection'. Nationwide, only 20% of American homes at risk for floods are covered by flood insurance. Private insurers are unable to insure against the peril of flood due to the prevalence of adverse selection which is the purchase of insurance by persons most affected by the specific peril of flood. In traditional insurance, insurers use the economic law of large numbers to charge a relatively small fee to large numbers of people in order to pay the claims of the small numbers of claimants who have suffered a loss. Unfortunately, in flood insurance, the numbers of claimants is larger than the available number of persons interested in protecting their property from the peril, which means that insurers are unable to cover their costs in flood insurance. In certain flood-prone areas, the Federal Government requires flood insurance to secure mortgage loans backed by federal agencies such as the FHA and VA. However, the program has never worked as insurance, because of adverse selection. It has never priced people out of living in very risky areas by charging an appropriate premium, instead, too few places are included in the must-insure category, and premiums are artificially low." The lack of flood insurance can be detrimental to many homeowners who may discover only after the damage has been done that their standard insurance policies do not cover flooding. The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) found that 33 percent of U.S. heads of household still hold the false belief that flood damage is covered by a standard homeowners policy. FEMA states approximately 50% of low flood zone risk borrowers think they are ineligible and CAN NOT buy flood insurance. Anyone can buy flood insurance as long as their community participates in the NFIP, even renters. If you are eligible, you must purchase a separate flood insurance policy through an insurance company that participates in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). Flood insurance is available for residents of approximately 19,000 communities nationwide.urn:uuid:3a4160c7-b37f-4eb5-b590-33224dc03600Auto Insurance for Military PersonnelAuto Insurance for Military Personnel If you, or your spouse, are married and presently serving your country in the Air Force, Army, Navy, Marines, Army Reserve or National Guard, there is a chance that you may be eligible for a discount on your aut...Thu, 07 May 2009 14:19:56 -0500Auto Insurance for Military Personnel If you, or your spouse, are married and presently serving your country in the Air Force, Army, Navy, Marines, Army Reserve or National Guard, there is a chance that you may be eligible for a discount on your automobile insurance, depending on the company who provides your policy. Anyone who is currently on active duty should find out from their insurance agent if they have any kind of discount program in place for men and women who are in the military. Many <a title="automobile insurance" href="http://www.ridoe.net/">automobile insurance</a> companies will offer discounts to anyone who is military personnel, whether active or retired. There are some insurance companies who will agree to let you drop all of the coverage you have and just keep the comprehensive if you find out you have to go overseas with the military and you will be storing your car, which means no one will be using it while you are gone. In addition, if you will be shipped to a country where the government gives you hostile fire pay, occasionally an insurance company will discount the amount you must pay for your comprehensive policy by as much as 25% as long as it stays in storage. If you know you will be overseas for 30 days or more, and will be storing your car for at least that long, you can find insurance companies that will reduce the amount of your coverage, or suspend it altogether as a temporary fix. This can save you quite a lot of money, and also lets your insurance record show that you have kept continuous coverage. Insurance companies prefer to see this, as they tend to prefer customers who have a record of a policy that has not been interrupted for any reason. Generally, a record with gaps of time in it can get you labeled as someone who is “high risk” as far as the insurance company is concerned, and this makes your premium cost more. You should notify your insurance agent the moment you find out that you are going to be deployed so that you can discuss what should be done about your policy while you are gone. If you should forget, and your policy is canceled for lack of payment, don’t just assume you can explain the matter and get it back when you return home. You might have trouble getting a policy with the company at all. If by chance they do decide to let you have one, you can expect to pay a much higher price than you were paying before. Don’t let this happen! Talk to your agent and give him or her all the details of your deployment so that you can keep your insurance at a low rate while you are gone.urn:uuid:2204c682-e2c6-4933-9d54-bcefda6734edHow extra vehicle size and weight impact SafetyNEW CRASH TESTS DEMONSTRATE THE INFLUENCE OF VEHICLE SIZE AND WEIGHT ON SAFETY IN CRASHES; RESULTS ARE RELEVANT TO FUEL ECONOMY POLICIES ARLINGTON, VA —Three front-to-front crash tests, each involving a micro car or minicar into a midsize model from ...Sat, 25 Apr 2009 13:16:46 -0500NEW CRASH TESTS DEMONSTRATE THE INFLUENCE OF VEHICLE SIZE AND WEIGHT ON SAFETY IN CRASHES; RESULTS ARE RELEVANT TO FUEL ECONOMY POLICIES ARLINGTON, VA —Three front-to-front crash tests, each involving a micro car or minicar into a midsize model from the same manufacturer, show how extra vehicle size and weight enhance occupant protection in collisions. These Insurance Institute for Highway Safety tests are about the physics of car crashes, which dictate that very small cars generally can’t protect people in crashes as well as bigger, heavier models.   “There are good reasons people buy minicars,” says Institute president Adrian Lund. “They’re more affordable, and they use less gas. But the safety tradeoffs are clear from our new tests. Equally clear are the implications when it comes to fuel economy. If automakers downsize cars so their fleets use less fuel, occupant safety will be compromised. However, there are ways to serve fuel economy and safety at the same time.” The Institute didn’t choose SUVs or pickup trucks, or even large cars, to pair with the micro and minis in the new crash tests. The choice of midsize cars reveals how much influence some extra size and weight can have on crash outcomes. The Institute chose pairs of 2009 models from Daimler, Honda, and Toyota because these automakers have micro and mini models that earn good frontal crashworthiness ratings, based on the Institute’s offset test into a deformable barrier. Researchers rated performance in the 40 mph car-to-car tests, like the front-into-barrier tests, based on measured intrusion into the occupant compartment, forces recorded on the driver dummy, and movement of the dummy during the impact. Laws of physics prevail: The Honda Fit, Smart Fortwo, and Toyota Yaris are good performers in the Institute’s frontal offset barrier test, but all three are poor performers in the frontal collisions with midsize cars. These results reflect the laws of the physical universe, specifically principles related to force and distance. Although the physics of frontal car crashes usually are described in terms of what happens to the vehicles, injuries depend on the forces that act on the occupants, and these forces are affected by two key physical factors. One is the weight of a crashing vehicle, which determines how much its velocity will change during impact. The greater the change, the greater the forces on the people inside and the higher the injury risk. The second factor is vehicle size, specifically the distance from the front of a vehicle to its occupant compartment. The longer this is, the lower the forces on the occupants. Size and weight affect injury likelihood in all kinds of crashes. In a collision involving two vehicles that differ in size and weight, the people in the smaller, lighter vehicle will be at a disadvantage. The bigger, heavier vehicle will push the smaller, lighter one backward during the impact. This means there will be less force on the occupants of the heavier vehicle and more on the people in the lighter vehicle. Greater force means greater risk, so the likelihood of injury goes up in the smaller, lighter vehicle. Crash statistics confirm this. The death rate in 1-3-year-old minicars in multiple vehicle crashes during 2007 was almost twice as high as the rate in very large cars.“Though much safer than they were a few years ago, minicars as a group do a comparatively poor job of protecting people in crashes, simply because they’re smaller and lighter,” Lund says. “In collisions with bigger vehicles, the forces acting on the smaller ones are higher, and there’s less distance from the front of a small car to the occupant compartment to ‘ride down’ the impact. These and other factors increase injury likelihood.” The death rate per million 1-3-year-old minis in single-vehicle crashes during 2007 was 35 compared with 11 per million for very large cars. Even in midsize cars, the death rate in single-vehicle crashes was 17 percent lower than in minicars. The lower death rate is because many objects that vehicles hit aren’t solid, and vehicles that are big and heavy have a better chance of moving or deforming the objects they strike. This dissipates some of the energy of the impact. Some proponents of mini and small cars claim they’re as safe as bigger, heavier cars. But the claims don’t hold up. For example, there’s a claim that the addition of safety features to the smallest cars in recent years reduces injury risk, and this is true as far as it goes. Airbags, advanced belts, electronic stability control, and other features are helping. They’ve been added to cars of all sizes, though, so the smallest cars still don’t match the bigger cars in terms of occupant protection. Would hazards be reduced if all passenger vehicles were as small as the smallest ones? This would help in vehicle-to-vehicle crashes, but occupants of smaller cars are at increased risk in all kinds of crashes, not just ones with heavier vehicles. Almost half of all crash deaths in minicars occur in single-vehicle crashes, and these deaths wouldn’t be reduced if all cars became smaller and lighter. In fact, the result would be to afford less occupant protection fleetwide in single-vehicle crashes. Yet another claim is that minicars are easier to maneuver, so their drivers can avoid crashes in the first place. Insurance claims experience says otherwise. The frequency of claims filed for crash damage is higher for mini 4-door cars than for midsize ones. Here’s how the pairs of cars fared in the Institute’s new crash tests: Honda Accord versus Fit: The structure of the Accord held up well in the crash test into the Fit, and all except one measure of injury likelihood recorded on the driver dummy’s head, neck, chest, and both legs were good. In contrast, a number of injury measures on the dummy in the Fit were less than good. Forces on the left lower leg and right upper leg were in the marginal range, while the measure on the right tibia was poor. These indicate a high risk of leg injury in a real-world crash of similar severity. In addition, the dummy’s head struck the steering wheel through the airbag. Intrusion into the Fit’s occupant compartment was extensive. Overall, this minicar’s rating is poor in the front-to-front crash, despite its good crashworthiness rating based on the Institute’s frontal offset test into a deformable barrier. The Accord earns good ratings for performance in both tests. Mercedes C class versus Smart Fortwo: After striking the front of the C class, the Smart went airborne and turned around 450 degrees. This contributed to excessive movement of the dummy during rebound — a dramatic indication of the Smart’s poor performance but not the only one. There was extensive intrusion into the space around the dummy from head to feet. The instrument panel moved up and toward the dummy. The steering wheel was displaced upward. Multiple measures of injury likelihood, including those on the dummy’s head, were poor, as were measures on both legs. “The Smart is the smallest car we tested, so it’s not surprising that its performance looked worse than the Fit’s. Still both fall into the poor category, and it’s hard to distinguish between poor and poorer,” Lund says. “In both the Smart and Fit, occupants would be subject to high injury risk in crashes with heavier cars.” In contrast, the C class held up well, with little to no intrusion into the occupant compartment. Nearly all measures of injury likelihood were in the good range. Toyota Camry versus Yaris: There was far more intrusion into the occupant compartment of the Yaris than the Camry. The minicar’s door was largely torn away. The driver seats in both cars tipped forward, but only in the Yaris did the steering wheel move excessively. Similar contrasts characterize the measures of injury likelihood recorded on the dummies. The heads of both struck the cars’ steering wheels through the airbags, but only the head injury measure on the dummy in the Yaris rated poor. There was extensive force on the neck and right leg plus a deep gash at the right knee of the dummy in the minicar. Like the Smart and Fit, the Yaris earns an overall rating of poor in the car-to-car test. The Camry is acceptable. Fuel economy implications: One reason people buy smaller cars is to conserve fuel. Gasoline prices skyrocketed last year, and there’s no telling what the price at the pump might be next week. Meanwhile, the gears are turning to hike federal fuel economy requirements to address environmental concerns. The conflict is that smaller vehicles use less fuel but do a relatively poor job of protecting people in crashes, so fuel conservation policies have tended to conflict with motor vehicle safety policies. A problem with the current structure of fuel economy standards for cars is that the target of 27.5 miles per gallon is applied to an automaker’s whole fleet, no matter the mix of cars an individual automaker sells. This encourages manufacturers to sell more smaller, lighter cars to offset the fuel consumed by their bigger, heavier models. Sometimes automakers even sell the smaller — and less safe — cars at a loss to ensure compliance with fleetwide requirements. In response, the Obama administration announced it is boosting the fuel economy standard for cars, beginning with 2011 models, and instituting a size-based system to set fuel economy targets like the one already in effect for SUVs, pickups, and vans. This system will mandate lower fuel consumption as cars get smaller and lighter, thus removing the incentive for automakers to downsize their lightest vehicles to comply. It also could mean that technology currently used to enhance horsepower would go instead to reduce gas consumption — a direct safety benefit because less powerful cars have lower crash rates. Another way to conserve fuel, and serve safety at the same time, is to set lower speed limits. Going slower uses less fuel to cover the same distance. The national maximum 55 mph speed limit, enacted in 1974, saved thousands of barrels of fuel per day. It also saved thousands of lives. Highway deaths declined about 20 percent the first year, from 55,511 in 1973 to 46,402 in 1974. The National Research Council estimated that most of the reduction was due to the lower speed limit, and the rest was because of reduced travel. By 1983 the national maximum 55 mph limit still was saving 2,000 to 4,000 lives annually. “Fifty-five was adopted to save fuel, but it turned out to be one of the most dramatic safety successes in motor vehicle history,” Lund  concludes. “The political will to reinstate it probably is lacking, but if policymakers want a win-win approach, lowering the speed limit is it. It saves fuel and lives at the same time.”urn:uuid:ed44edf1-4705-454e-bac9-c5ae21d71d45Individual Retirement Account, ROTH vs TraditionalBy: Ahsan Bashir, www.MyTexasAgent.com Traditional vs ROTH IRA Opening and contributing towards an Individual Retirement Account or an IRA is one of the most important decision, an individual makes for his/her financial future. An IRA is an...Sun, 12 Apr 2009 01:02:47 -0500By: Ahsan Bashir, www.MyTexasAgent.com Traditional vs ROTH IRA Opening and contributing towards an Individual Retirement Account or an IRA is one of the most important decision, an individual makes for his/her financial future. An IRA is an account or an arrangement that allows you to contribute a certain Dollar amount either Tax free or Tax Deferred annually for a future financial benefit upon retirement. There are limits each year, on the maximum amount an individual can contribute towards an IRA account. For Tax year 2008, the limit for an Individual is $5000.00. If you file a Married filing Joint return, the total amount is $10,000.00, i.e $5000.00 for each. There are two types of IRA's, both with different Tax implications. (a) Traditional IRA (b) ROTH IRA Traditional IRA If you choose the traditional IRA, you save on tax upfront. The amount you contribute towards the Traditional IRA account, you do not pay the tax on the contribution. That amount is subtracted form your taxable Income for the current Tax year in which you contribute, and therefore you pay less in taxes. However, you pay the tax on earnings when you withdraw from the account. The withdrawals can start at age 59 1/2 and are mandatory at age 70 1/2. If you choose to withdraw funds before age 59 1/2, there is a 10% penalty on the amount withdrawn. There are no Income Restrictions for the Traditional IRA regardless of your earnings. These funds can be used to purchase a variety of Investments including stocks, bonds, certificates of deposits, etc. ROTH IRA Contributions towards a ROTH IRA are not tax deductible upfront and there is no Mandatory distribution age like the Traditional IRA. However, the earnings and distributions are 100% tax free if rules and regulations are followed. Like the traditional IRA, the funds can be used to purchase stocks, bonds, certificates of deposits, etc. The principal contributions can be withdrawn at any time without any penalty, subject to some minimal conditions. The benefit is limited to single filers with a maximum Income of $95000.00 annually and married couples making a combined Income of $150,000 annually. The biggest difference between the Roth and Traditional IRA is being Tax Deductible and Tax Free, and the age restrictions for the withdrawal of the traditional IRA. There are, however, 8 exemptions to avoid the 10%  withdrawal penalty on the traditional IRA. <h3>1. Permanent disability of IRA owner </h3> Money can be withdrawn without penalty in the event the IRA holder becomes permanently disabled. <h3>2. Death of IRA owner</h3> It's small consolation, but if you kick-the-bucket before you're 59 1/2 years old, your estate won't be hit with the 10% early withdrawal fee. <h3>3. Withdrawals are used to pay non-reimbursed medical expenses</h3> In the event of serious illness or injury that requires prolonged or expensive medical treatment, Uncle Sam will waive the early withdrawal fee on the condition that the expenses are in excess of 7.5% of your adjusted gross income. <h3>4. Withdrawals used to help pay for first-time home purchase</h3> Despite a lifetime limit of $10,000, this exemption can make it much easier for an IRA owner to buy a house. <h3>5. Higher education costs</h3> College can be expensive. Thankfully, certain higher education costs for you, your spouse, children or grandchildren can be withdrawn penalty-free. You may still owe federal income tax, however. For more information, read the Internal Revenue Service article, <a href="http://www.irs.ustreas.gov/individuals/article/0%2C%2Cid=96283%2C00.html">Notice 97-60 Using IRA Withdrawals To Pay Higher Education Expenses</a>. <h3>6. Money is used to pay back taxes to the IRS after a levy has been placed against the IRA</h3> This is not the kind of exemption for which you want to qualify, but it may save you money if you find yourself in an uncomfortable position with the IRS. <h3>7. Withdrawals used to pay medical insurance premiums</h3> Out of a job? The rest of the world may be topsy-turvy, but rest assured, you won't be penalized for using retirement money to pay your medical insurance as long as you have been on unemployment for longer than twelve weeks. <h3>8. Made on or after the day the IRA owner turns 59 1/2</h3> Once you have reached the qualifying age of 59 1/2, you can make penalty-free regular withdrawals upon which to live.  IRA's of both types can be opened through a bank or brokerage house. If you are interested in holding stocks or bonds in your IRA, it may be wiser to open an account with your broker. It should require no more than a few minutes' visit to the local branch office, or a trip to their website. www.MyTexasAgent.comurn:uuid:eb698aba-75be-443a-a7c0-571fe4e17932How to Choose from Over 3000 Insurance Companies Car Insurance is a lot like a marriage Before you commit, know what you’re getting into!   With more than 3,000 auto insurers in the United States, how do you choose the one that best suits your needs? Here are four questions to help guide you ...Tue, 07 Apr 2009 00:29:40 -0500<div> Car Insurance is a lot like a marriage Before you commit, know what you’re getting into!   With more than 3,000 auto insurers in the United States, how do you choose the one that best suits your needs? Here are four questions to help guide you through the decision process.  Is the company trusted by people I trust? The best recommendations come from professionals who know their industry and know their products. In the case of auto insurance, you can count on the advice of your local, independent insurance agent or broker. He or she can evaluate your needs and point you to the companies that fit your budget and requirements.  Agents and brokers can tell you which companies are the best when it comes to: <ul type=DISC> <li>Issuing policies accurately <li>Filing documents  <li>Paying claims fairly and promptly </li></ul>  Will the company be there when I need it? At its heart, an insurance policy is a promise to pay a claim if necessary. The promise, and therefore the policy, is completely worthless if the company is no longer in business when you have a claim. This is why rating agencies and smart insurance buyers pay very close attention to the financial stability of insurance companies.  A.M. Best is the most well-known rating agency in the United States focused on insurance companies. Companies rated “A” or better by A.M. Best are considered to have “Excellent” financial stability and are likely to stay in good financial shape. These companies will be around when you need them.  Be sure to ask your insurance agent or broker if the company that you are considering is rated “A” or better by A.M. Best.  Does the company focus on the kind of insurance I need? It’s easy for companies to get pulled into selling dozens of different kinds of insurance policies. While some companies provide just auto insurance and some just auto and home insurance or business insurance, others insure everything from cars, motorcycles and boats to mobile homes, houses and businesses.  Just like heart patients are best served by a heart specialist rather than a general practitioner, insurance consumers are best served by agents and brokers who understand particular types of insurance. Specialty insurance providers can really focus on the needs of their customers and make sure they receive the best possible protection and service.  Is the company a leader in its field? Just as it is important to find a company that specializes, it is important to find a company that is a leader. Companies that provide a good value and a good product usually rise to the top in any industry, including insurance. Your insurance agent or broker can tell you if the company you are considering is one of the top five out of the hundreds of carriers that provide the type of insurance you need.  A top-tier company is most likely to have the best mix of products, price, service and availability to meet your needs.  </div>urn:uuid:b819d122-5e96-49cf-b8be-a1bb487119c7Parental Supervision help reduce teen crashes Parental supervision, graduated drivers’ licenses help reduce teen crashes Teen drivers have the highest crash risk per mile traveled of any age group. The problem is worst among 16 year olds, who have the most limited driving experience and an imma...Wed, 18 Mar 2009 11:39:29 -0500Parental supervision, graduated drivers’ licenses help reduce teen crashes Teen drivers have the highest crash risk per mile traveled of any age group. The problem is worst among 16 year olds, who have the most limited driving experience and an immaturity that often results in risk-taking.  Characteristics of fatal crashes of 16-year-old drivers include: <ul type=disc> <li>Driver error. Compared with older drivers’ fatal crashes, those of 16 year-olds more often involve driver error.</li> <li>Speeding. Sixteen-year-old drivers have a higher rate of fatal crashes in which excessive speed is a factor.</li> <li>Single-vehicle crashes. More of 16 year-olds’ fatal crashes involve only the teen’s vehicle. Typically these are high-speed crashes in which the driver lost control.</li> <li>Passengers. Sixteen year-olds’ fatal crashes are more likely to occur when passengers are riding in the vehicle. This risk increases with the addition of every passenger.</li> <li>Alcohol. Although this is a problem among drivers of all ages, it’s actually less of a problem for 16 year-olds. Typically, about 15 percent of fatally injured 16-year-old drivers have blood alcohol concentrations of 0.08 percent or more, but alcohol becomes more of a problem in later teen years.</li> <li>Night driving. This is a high-risk activity for beginners. Per mile driven, the nighttime fatal crash rate of 16 year-olds is about twice as high at night compared with during the day.</li> <li>Low belt use. Most teenagers who are killed in crashes aren’t using their safety belts.</li></ul> Teenagers perceive a driver’s license as a ticket to freedom. It’s momentous for parents, too. Though they often are aware of 16 year-olds’ high crash risks, they’re relieved not to have to chauffeur their children around anymore. But the price is steep. Crashes are the leading cause of death among American teens, accounting for more than one third of all deaths of 16 to 18 year-olds. An effective way to reduce this toll is to enact graduated licensing, under which driving privileges are phased in to restrict beginners’ initial experience behind the wheel to lower risk situations. The restrictions gradually are lifted, so teenagers are more experienced and mature when they get their full, unrestricted licenses. The best graduated licensing systems include a learner’s stage that begins at age 16, lasts 6 months, specifies a minimum amount of supervised driving, limits night driving and teen passengers, and sets alcohol tolerance at zero. Graduated licensing laws have reduced teens’ crash rates in the United States, Canada, and New Zealand. Almost all U.S. states have such laws, but they aren’t all strong. What parents of teenagers can do With or without a strong graduated licensing law, parents can establish effective rules. In particular: Don’t rely solely on driver education. High school driver education may be the most convenient way to learn skills, but it doesn’t produce safer drivers. Poor skills aren’t always to blame. Teenagers’ attitudes and decision-making matter more. Young people tend to rebel, and some teens seek thrills like speeding. Training and education don’t change these tendencies. Peers are influential, but parents have much more influence tha typically is credited to them. Know the law. Become familiar with restrictions on young drivers. Enforce the rules. To learn about the law in your state, go to www.iihs.org/laws/state_laws/grad_license.html. Restrict night driving. Most young drivers’ nighttime fatal crashes occur from 9 p.m. to midnight, so teens shouldn’t drive much later than 9. The problem isn’t just that such driving requires more skill. Late outings tend to be recreational, and even teens who usually follow the rules can be easily distracted or encouraged to take risks. For more tips on ways to reduce crash rates for young beginning drivers watch this short video from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. Encourage your teen to watch it with you. These tips can save lives while teenagers learn to drive and become more mature.urn:uuid:d8a560f8-353e-4884-ab0b-e523d14aa72911 vehicles earn Top Safety Pick award Four small cars, two midsize cars, two midsize SUVs, one large luxury car, one small pickup, and a midsize convertible are the latest winners of the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's Top Safety Pick award. Winners afford superior overall crash...Tue, 10 Mar 2009 22:06:12 -0500Four small cars, two midsize cars, two midsize SUVs, one large luxury car, one small pickup, and a midsize convertible are the latest winners of the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's Top Safety Pick award. Winners afford superior overall crash protection among the vehicles in their classes. To qualify, a vehicle must earn the highest rating of good in the Institute's front, side, and rear tests. It also must be equipped with electronic stability control. "Criteria to win are tough because Top Safety Pick is intended to drive continued improvements such as good crash test ratings and rapid addition of electronic stability control, which is standard equipment on 9 of the 11 new winners," says Institute president Adrian Lund. "Recognizing vehicles at the head of the class for safety helps consumers distinguish the best overall choices without having to sort through multiple test results." Winners by vehicle class Small cars: 2009 Honda Civic with optional electronic stability control,  2009 Mitsubishi Lancer with optional electronic stability control,  2008-09 Scion xB, and 2009 Volkswagen Rabbit Midsize cars: 2009 Volkswagen Jetta and 2009 Volkswagen Passat Large luxury car: 2009 Lincoln MKS Midsize SUVs: 2009 Ford Flex and 2009 Honda Pilot Small pickup: 2009 Toyota Tacoma Midsize convertible: 2009 Volkswagen Eos How vehicles are evaluated The Institute's frontal crashworthiness evaluations are based on results of 40 mph frontal offset crash tests. Each vehicle's overall evaluation is based on measurements of intrusion into the occupant compartment, injury measures recorded on a Hybrid III dummy in the driver seat, and analysis of slow-motion film to assess how well the restraint system controlled dummy movement during the test. Side evaluations are based on performance in a crash test in which the side of a vehicle is struck by a barrier moving at 31 mph. The barrier represents the front end of a pickup or SUV. Ratings reflect injury measures recorded on 2 instrumented SID-IIs dummies, assessment of head protection countermeasures, and the vehicle's structural performance during the impact. Rear crash protection is rated according to a 2-step procedure. Starting points for the ratings are measurements of head restraint geometry — the height of a restraint and its horizontal distance behind the back of the head of an average-size man. Seat/head restraints with good or acceptable geometry are tested dynamically using a dummy that measures forces on the neck.urn:uuid:e0f3c768-cabc-487d-ad68-e658f486ebdaRESULTS FROM THE INSURANCE INSTITUTE FOR 3 PICKUPS 3 LARGE PICKUPS DON’T LIVE UP TO BRAWNY IMAGE IN SIDE TESTS;NONE RATES BETTER THAN MARGINAL FOR OCCUPANT PROTECTION  ARLINGTON, VA —The Chevrolet Silverado 1500, Dodge Ram 1500, and Nissan Titanare billed as workhorses, but the side crash prote...Mon, 02 Mar 2009 16:04:52 -0600 3 LARGE PICKUPS DON’T LIVE UP TO BRAWNY IMAGE IN SIDE TESTS; NONE RATES BETTER THAN MARGINAL FOR OCCUPANT PROTECTION  ARLINGTON, VA —The Chevrolet Silverado 1500, Dodge Ram 1500, and Nissan Titanare billed as workhorses, but the side crash protection these 2009 model large pickups provide is wimpy, at best. The trio earns either poor or marginal ratings in side tests by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. Even with side airbags, occupant protection in these crew-cab pickups is no better than marginal. “The size, weight, and height of these large pickups should help them ace the side tests just like the other large pickups we’ve tested. Not these three,” says Institute senior vice president David Zuby. “They perform worse than many cars we’ve evaluated.”  The Dodge Ram with standard side airbags earns a marginal rating. The Nissan Titan and Chevrolet Silverado earn poor ratings when tested without their optional side airbags. The Titan’s side rating improves to marginal in models tested with side airbags, while the Silverado’s optional side airbags don’t improve the rating over models without them. The Silverado’s ratings also apply to its twin, the GMC Sierra 1500, both of which were redesigned in 2007, so the ratings apply to 2007-09 models. The Ram is a new design for the 2009 model year. The Titan was introduced in the 2004 model year, so results apply to 2004-09 models. The Institute’s side tests assess occupant protection in vehicles struck in the side by SUVs or pickups. Results can be compared across vehicle type and weight categories, while frontal crash test ratings can’t. This is because the kinetic energy involved in the side test depends on the weight and speed of the moving barrier, which are the same in every test. In contrast, the kinetic energy involved in the frontal crash test against an immovable barrier depends on the test vehicle’s speed and weight. Insurance Institute for Highway Safety  The Ram, Titan, and Silverado should have an advantage in side crash tests over smaller vehicles, not just because of their size and weight but also because the dummies’ higher seating positions put their heads and shoulders above the striking barrier. Occupants of cars, for instance, are more vulnerable because their bodies are in line with the fronts of vehicles, especially tall ones, which might hit them in the side.  “These large pickups don’t have to work as hard as smaller vehicles do to protect their occupants. Even with their characteristic advantages, the Ram, Titan, and Silverado still miss the mark when it comes to occupant protection in side crashes,” Zuby says.  Without side torso airbags, occupants are vulnerable: What’s behind the lackluster performance? In the Silverado’s case, it’s a combination of a poor side structure plus the lack of side torso airbags. The truck’s optional side curtain airbags are designed to protect occupants’ heads, and these worked well. But occupants’ upper bodies remain unprotected even with the optional side curtains. “In the Silverado tests, there was a lot of intrusion into the occupant compartment. With no torso airbags to protect the driver and rear passenger, measures recorded on the test dummies showed that rib fractures and internal organ injuries would be likely in a real-world crash of similar severity,” Zuby explains. “Chevy needs to improve the Silverado’s side structure, as well as add padding or torso airbags to better protect its occupants.”  In contrast, the Ram and Titan’s side structures are designed to better limit intrusion. The Ram’s side structure/safety cage earns a good rating, while the Titan’s earns acceptable marks. The Ram has standard head-protecting side curtain airbags but not torso airbags. Both curtain and side torso bags are optional in the Titan. Adding torso airbags might improve the Ram’s side protection. The Titan could be improved with some combination of structural, airbag, or door trim modifications. “It’s certainly possible to design a large pickup that offers good occupant protection in side crashes,” Zuby says. Three previously evaluated 2009 models are Institute TOP SAFETY PICK award winners. The Honda Ridgeline, Ford F-150, and Toyota Tundra all have standard side airbags with torso and head protection and good-rated structures.  The Ram would be a TOP SAFETY PICK contender if its side rating improves to good, Zuby notes. Dodge improved the seat/head restraints in the 2009 model to earn a good rating for protection in rear crashes, while the 2006-08 models earned a poor rating. Electronic stability control, another criterion to earn the award, also is standard. How vehicles are evaluated: The Institute’s frontal crashworthiness evaluations are based on results of 40 mph frontal offset crash tests. Each vehicle’s overall evaluation is based on measurements of intrusion into the occupant compartment, injury measures recorded on a Hybrid III dummy in the driver seat, and analysis of slow-motion film to assess how well the restraint system controlled dummy movement during the test. Side evaluations are based on performance in a crash test in which the side of a vehicle is struck by a barrier moving at 31 mph. The barrier represents the front end of a pickup or SUV. Ratings reflect injury measures recorded on two instrumented SID-IIs dummies, assessment of head protection countermeasures, and the vehicle’s structural performance during the impact.  Rear crash protection is rated according to a two-step procedure. Starting points for the ratings are measurements of head restraint geometry — the height of a restraint and its horizontal distance behind the back of the head of an average-size man. Seat/ head restraints with good or acceptable geometry are tested dynamically using a dummy that measures forces on the neck. This test simulates a collision in which a stationary vehicle is struck in the rear at 20 mph. Seats without good or acceptable geometry are rated poor overall because they can’t be positioned to protect many people. For more information go to www.iihs.orgurn:uuid:6245ae08-e124-436f-9a24-c0874801036ePlan now for springtime weather extremesPlan now for springtime weather extremes   Spring is the time for extreme weather including tornadoes and flooding.  The affects on both your home and business can be devastating. Now is the time to plan for the unexpected. The Institute fo...Tue, 24 Feb 2009 15:02:02 -0600Plan now for springtime weather extremes   Spring is the time for extreme weather including tornadoes and flooding.  The affects on both your home and business can be devastating. Now is the time to plan for the unexpected. The Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS) has outlined key steps to help residents and business owners work toward recovery. Protect yourself.  Always be careful when entering a damaged building.  If there is serious structural damage, contact local officials before entering.  Report downed power lines or gas leaks.  Keep electricity turned off if the building has been flooded. Protect your property.  Take reasonable steps to protect your property from further damage.  This could mean boarding up windows and salvaging undamaged items.  Your insurance company can tell you what they will pay for regarding protection. Report the loss as soon as possible.  Contact your insurance agent or insurer as soon as you can.  Provide a general description of the damage and have your policy number handy if possible.  Write down the adjuster’s name, phone number and work schedule as soon as you have them. Prepare a list.  Keep damaged items or portions of them until the claim adjuster has visited, and consider photographing or videotaping the damage to document your claim.  Prepare a list of damaged or lost items for your adjuster. Keep receipts.  If you need to relocate, keep records and receipts for all additional expenses.  Most insurance policies cover emergency living arrangements. Return claim forms.  After your insurance company has been notified of your claim, it must send you the necessary claim forms within a certain number of days (time period varies by state).  Fill out and return the forms as soon as possible.  If you do not understand the process, be sure to ask questions and write down the explanation. Cleanup.  When starting the cleanup process, be careful, and use protective eyewear and gloves if available. Adjusters may tell business owners to hire a professional cleaning service. Build stronger next time.  When you’re ready to start repairs or rebuild, work with your contractor to make the new structure disaster-resistant.  This information was taken from the IBHS publications “You Can Go Home Again” and “Getting Back to Business.” For more recovery and rebuilding information, visit the IBHS website www.disastersafety.org.urn:uuid:4d436618-2341-4efd-8602-023bc4894df2MANY BOOSTER SEATS AREN’T UP TO THE JOBMANY BOOSTER SEATS AREN’T UP TO THE JOBOF IMPROVING SAFETY BELT FIT FOR CHILDRENBooster seats are meant to do one thing — elevate children so thatsafety belts designed for adults are in the right position to restrain kids duringa crash. Thirteen of ...Sun, 22 Feb 2009 00:57:44 -0600MANY BOOSTER SEATS AREN’T UP TO THE JOB OF IMPROVING SAFETY BELT FIT FOR CHILDREN Booster seats are meant to do one thing — elevate children so that safety belts designed for adults are in the right position to restrain kids during a crash. Thirteen of the 41 belt-positioning booster seats the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety evaluated with the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute last October did such a poor job of improving the fit of lap and shoulder belts for children that the Institute doesn’t recommend them at all. Ten models are best bets and 5 are good bets. These evaluations are the first to tell consumers how well boosters sold by US retailers improve belt fit for children in cars, minivans, and SUVs. The Institute plans to continue these assessments. “We evaluated the safety belt fit boosters provide, not crash protection,” says Institute president Adrian Lund. “This is because unlike child restraints, boosters don’t restrain children in crashes. They simply position children so lap and shoulder belts are in the right place to restrain them.” Good boosters route belts across a child’s bony parts, not soft parts like the abdomen, which is more vulnerable to injury. “We’d expect the 10 best bets to improve belt fit for children in almost any car, minivan, or SUV,” Lund says. “Likewise, it’s clear that kids in the 13 boosters we don’t recommend aren’t getting the full benefit of improved lap belt fit. These boosters may increase restraint use by making children more comfortable, but they don’t position belts for optimal protection.” Researchers at the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute assessed 2 types of boosters, backless and highback, under conditions representing a range of 2001-06 model vehicles. Some highbacks convert to backless, and some boosters, called combination seats, can be used as child restraints. Highback and backless modes were evaluated separately because each mode affects how belts fit. More importance was assigned to lap belt fit. All of the best-bet boosters locate this belt on children’s upper thighs. The main problem for the boosters that aren’t recommended is they leave the lap belt partially or fully on the abdomen. Fit is important because a correctly positioned lap belt loads pelvic bones during a crash, not the abdomen. A good booster also positions the shoulder belt at midshoulder, keeping the webbing away from the neck so it won’t chafe and reducing the likelihood that kids will endanger themselves by putting the belt behind their back or under an arm. “Our data show it’s possible to design a booster with good lap and shoulder belt fit,” says Matt Reed, the study’s lead author and research associate professor at the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute. “Boosters that can’t do that should be redesigned.” Not Recommended Safety Angel Ride Ryte backless Cosco/Dorel (Eddie Bauer) Summit Graco CarGo Zephyr Evenflo Big Kid Confidence Cosco/Dorel Traveler Compass B505 Compass B510 Evenflo Generations Dorel/Safety 1st (Eddie Bauer) Prospect Cosco Highback Booster Cosco/Dorel Alpha Omega Evenflo Chase Comfort Touch Safety 1st/Dorel Intera Note: Unless the booster name indicates that it is a backless seat, all boosters are highbacks. Go to iihs.org for the full list of model numbers and manufacture dates. Best Bets Graco TurboBooster backless with clip Fisher-Price Safe Voyage backless with clip Combi Kobuk backless with clip Fisher-Price Safe Voyage Britax Parkway LaRoche Bros. Teddy Bear Safeguard Go backless with clip Volvo booster cushion Recaro Young Style Britax Monarch Good Bets Graco TurboBooster Safety Angel Ride Ryte Recaro Young Sport Combi Kobuk Safety 1st/Dorel Apex 65 urn:uuid:b4c2eda3-3f5a-4cd0-a09b-357312b291012008 Tax tipsBy: Ahsan Bashir - Texas Insurance Advisors-MyTexasAgent.com2008 Tax TipsWhats new for the tax year?Recovery Rebate & avoiding a common ErrorAs we approach the peak of the tax season, per IRS records, more than 15% of the tax returns in...Mon, 09 Feb 2009 23:22:17 -0600By: Ahsan Bashir - Texas Insurance Advisors-<a href="http://www.mytexasagent.com/">MyTexasAgent.com</a> 2008 Tax Tips Whats new for the tax year? Recovery Rebate & avoiding a common Error As we approach the peak of the tax season, per IRS records, more than 15% of the tax returns initially filed were submitted with an incorrect Rebate amount for the prior year. To calculate the recovery rebate correctly, you must submit your 2008 Tax return with the correct Stimulus Payment received in the prior year. There are two ways to find out the correct Stimulus Amount received in the prior year. (a) Visit the IRS Website  <a href="https://sa.www4.irs.gov/irfof/IRServlet?app=IRACTC&selectLanguage=en">https://sa.www4.irs.gov/irfof/IRServlet?app=IRACTC&selectLanguage=en</a> (b) Individuals can call the IRS at 1-866-234-2942. After a brief recorded announcement they can select option one to find out the amount of their economic stimulus payment. They will need to provide their filing status, Social Security Number and number of exemptions. Some of the major factors that could qualify you for the recovery rebate credit include: <ul> <li> <div>Your financial situation changed dramatically from 2007 to 2008.</div> <li> <div>You did not file a 2007 tax return.</div> <li> <div>Your family gained an additional qualifying child in 2008.</div> <li> <div>You were claimed as a dependent on someone else’s return in 2007 but cannot be claimed as dependent by someone else in 2008.</div></li></ul> Increased Standard Deduction If you choose to use the Standard deduction vs the Itemized deduction, following are the Standard Deduction rates for the tax season: (a) Single or amrried filing seperately: $5450.00 (b) Married filing jointly or qualifying widow (er): $10,900.00 (c) Head of Household: $8000.00 Increased Standard Mileage Deduction If you use your vehicle for business, you may be eligible to deduct your vehicle expenses. You can choose either to write off the actual expenses incurred or a standard mileage deduction per the IRS regulations. For the 2008 Tax year, following are the standard mileage deduction rates. (a) January 1st 2008 thru June 30th, 2008: 50.5 cents a ile (b) July 1st 2008 thru December 31st, 2008: 58.50 cents a mile First-time Homebuyer Credit The Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008 provides a new refundable tax credit for individuals who are qualified first-time homebuyers of a principal residence in the United States. The provision applies to a principal residence purchased by the taxpayer on or after April 9, 2008, and before July 1, 2009. Homebuyers who qualify are allowed a one-time credit against their income tax for the year of purchase. Unlike some past credits, this one must be repaid over a 15-year period. As a result, the new tax credit works like an interest free loan. You take the full credit in either 2008 or 2009, and then repay the credit amount in equal payments over 15 years, with no interest charges.  A "first-time homebuyer" is any individual (and spouse if married) who had no present ownership interest in a qualifying principal residence during the 3-year period ending on the date of purchase of the principal residence for which a first-time homebuyer credit is being claimed.  The following taxpayers do not qualify for the first-time homebuyer credit: <ul> <li>A homebuyer who qualifies for the District of Columbia First-time Homebuyer Credit in the year of purchase or in any prior year <li>A homebuyer whose home was financed by the proceeds of tax-exempt mortgage revenue bonds <li>A homebuyer who is a nonresident alien <li>A homebuyer who disposes of the residence (or it ceases to be the taxpayer's principal residence) before the close of a taxable year for which a credit otherwise would be allowable </li></ul> The term "purchase price" means the adjusted basis of the principal residence on the date such residence is purchased. The initial credit for qualified buyers is equal to 10% of the purchase price of the principal residence, but cannot exceed $7,500 ($3,750 for married individuals filing a separate return). The credit phases out for individuals with modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) between $75,000 and $95,000 ($150,000–$170,000 for joint filers) for the year of purchase. The credit is completely phased out for an individual with a MAGI equal to or more than $95,000 ($170,000 for joint filers). To determine the allowable credit, subtract the limit threshold of $75,000 ($150,000 in the case of a joint return) from your MAGI. Divide the difference by $20,000 to get your reduction ratio. Multiply your initial credit by your reduction ratio to arrive at the credit reduction amount. Subtract the credit reduction amount from the initial credit to arrive at the allowable credit amount.  urn:uuid:a92d6c53-90fc-4007-9c70-33395daca058Dallas-Enforcement of Uninsured Motorist OrdinanceDALLAS – Drivers with no proof of insurance will have their vehicles towed under a new policy that goes into effect Jan. 1. On that date, the Dallas Police Department will enforce the Uninsured Motorist Ordinance approved by the Dallas City Council o...Mon, 09 Feb 2009 21:30:37 -0600DALLAS – Drivers with no proof of insurance will have their vehicles towed under a new policy that goes into effect Jan. 1. On that date, the Dallas Police Department will enforce the Uninsured Motorist Ordinance approved by the Dallas City Council on May 28.   Under this ordinance drivers stopped for a traffic violation who cannot show proof of auto insurance meeting state requirements will be issued a citation and will have his or her vehicle towed at the owner’s expense to the Dallas Auto Pound. The City already tows the vehicles of uninsured drivers involved in traffic accidents.   “The Dallas Police Department currently issues about 75,000 citations a year to motorists with no auto insurance,” said Dallas Police Chief David Kunkle. “In addition, officers towed over 3000 vehicles from accident scenes in 2007 where the driver did not have insurance. Motorists are urged to obtain the proper state required auto insurance to avoid having their vehicles towed.”    The new ordinance is in response to the large number of people driving in the City of Dallas without the proper state required auto insurance. These uninsured drivers place an unfair burden on those who comply with state law and maintain auto insurance. With the new ordinance, the city anticipates fewer of these citations as more drivers comply with the law to avoid having their vehicles towed.   More information on the Uninsured Motorist Ordinance is at <a href="http://www.dallascityhall.com/">www.dallascityhall.com</a>. Persons with questions about the policy can call (214) 670-5111.   FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Dec. 1, 2008 Provided by the City of Dallasurn:uuid:d94eb6af-0c24-4592-a705-3bd969e9d48cFree VIN checkThe National Insurance Crime Bureau Announces Free “VINCheck” for Unrecovered Stolen Vehicles              For the second time in as many years, the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) i...Mon, 26 Jan 2009 21:57:49 -0600The National Insurance Crime Bureau Announces Free “VINCheck” for Unrecovered Stolen Vehicles              For the second time in as many years, the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) is launching another free service to help protect the nation’s consumers.        Over one million vehicles have been stolen annually in the United States since 1986.  With an annual average recovery rate of just 63 percent, several million vehicles remain unaccounted for and could possibly end up being purchased by unsuspecting consumers.        To help prevent innocent people from buying a stolen vehicle and to help recover stolen vehicles that may enter the commerce stream in the future, NICB today is activating the nation’s first Unrecovered Stolen Vehicle Database as a free service to the public.        Anyone anywhere can now run a Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) through this database and determine if it has been reported stolen by one of NICB’s over 1000 member insurance companies.         To check a vehicle simply visit the NICB web site, <a href="http://www.nicb.org/" target=_blank>www.nicb.org</a>, and follow the on-screen directions for the VINCheck search feature which is located on the home page.        In recent months, NICB Special Agents have identified numerous stolen vehicles that were in the process of being sold by auto dealers or restored by collectors.  These examples demonstrate how even car-savvy people can be duped into unknowingly buying a stolen vehicle.  If it happens to experts then the risks are even greater for ordinary consumers.        Seeing a way to help mitigate that risk and to provide another free service to help protect the nation’s drivers, NICB sought and received the cooperation of its member companies to make this feature possible.        It was in this same spirit of cooperation and assistance that NICB’s member companies provided their Hurricane Katrina-related auto claims information to create the flood vehicle database.  This unprecedented effort was launched on October 17, 2005, and amassed over 300,000 vehicle and boat records which gave prospective buyers critical information to prevent the fraudulent sale of potentially flood-damaged vehicles.            The National Insurance Crime Bureau is the nation’s leading non-profit organization exclusively dedicated to preventing, detecting and defeating insurance fraud and vehicle theft through information analysis, investigations, training and public awareness.        Anyone with information concerning auto theft and insurance fraud can report it anonymously by calling toll-free 1-800-TEL-NICB (1-800-835-6422) or by visiting our web site.