1. Don’t Let Low Traffic Fool You: Speeding-related fatalities are twice as likely to happen in rural areas as they are on urban streets. In fact, only 12 percent of speeding-related fatalities occur on Interstate highways.
2. Ten Miles Per Hour Makes a Difference: The probability of death or a debilitating injury doubles for every additional 10 mph when a vehicle is traveling 50 mph or faster.
3. Wear Your Seatbelt: One in three drivers killed in car accidents are not wearing safety restraints.
4. Talk to Your Teen: The likelihood of fatality in a speeding-related crash is highest for divers in their teen years. Young men are particularly at risk. They have twice as many fatalities from speeding when compared to women.

1. What are the state-specific rules and regulations? 
   Workers’ comp is different in every state. Ask about the laws in your state.
   How many employees do you need before workers’ comp is required?  Ask about owners, subcontractors and other types of employees such as those you’ve issued 1099’s.
2. Is there short-term coverage in another state?
   If you’re going to move or set up temporary  operations in another state, find out if you can get short-term coverage in that state.
3. How do safety programs impact rates?
   Most companies will apply a “credit” to reduce your premium if you have safety programs in place.
4. Explain how past history impacts rates.
   Your track record, called “experience modification,” compares you to other companies in your business for claims. The process varies by state, so ask.
5. Can the amount of Employer’s Liability be adjusted?
   This comes with your workers’ comp. You may be able to increase or decrease the amount based on your needs.
6. Explain how employees are cared for after a claim is submitted.
   This may be one of the most important aspects of workers’ comp. Ask about each phase of the care and recovery.
7. Is there real-time payroll reporting?
   Premiums are usually paid up-front based on estimated payroll. Real-time reporting is based on actual payroll and lets you pay as you go.
8. Which extras, above the basic minimum, are offered at no extra cost?
   Ask if the policy will pay for loss of earnings, costs for bonds and appeal bonds, litigation costs, interest on judgments. Will it give you 60 days of coverage for a new operation?
9. What is the reputation of the insurance company?
   Are they A-rated? Ask your agent or go online. Are they reputable, financially secure with a long history? Do they handleclaims quickly?

• Windshield wipers were invented by a woman named Mary Anderson. She patented them in 1903.
•  The nitromethane fuel used to power Top Fuel Dragsters costs $16 per gallon.
• The fastest known time for replacing a car engine is 42 seconds. Gareth Lloyd did so in 1985.
•  Many vehicles have an arrow on the fuel gauge that points to which side of the vehicle the gas cap is on. Take a look!
•  In Youngstown, OH, running out of gas is against the law. It’s considered a “Minor Misdemeanor.”
•  The average automobile consists of more than 2,500 ft. of electrical wiring.
•  On average, half an ounce of gas is used to start an automobile.
•  The average fuel economy for a vehicle on the road was 14 miles per gallon in 1923.
•  From a fuel economy perspective, it’s better to turn the air off at low speeds and open the windows. At highway speeds it’s more economical to use the air conditioning.
•  US 20 is the longest road in the United States, spanning 3,365 miles from Boston, MA to Newport, OR.

• Shut off the water source, if possible.
• Protect your property from further damage with temporary, reasonable and necessary repairs, like plywood or plastic covers over roof or wall openings. Move household items to an undamaged area of your home or cover them with plastic.
• Mop, blot up or wet vac as much water as possible.
• Don’t leave books, magazines or other colored items on wet carpeting.
• Remove oriental or other colored throw rugs from wet wall-to-wall carpeting. Remove the pad from under saturated carpets.
• Place wood blocks or aluminum foil between furniture legs and wet carpeting. Wipe excess water from wood furniture.
• Open drawers and cabinets to aid in faster drying.
• Open windows to speed drying. Turn on the air conditioner or fans for maximum drying in hot weather.
• Make small holes in sagging ceilings to drain trapped water, using a pan or bucket below to catch the water. Never turn on a ceiling fixture if the ceiling is wet!
• Replace any wet insulation with new, dry insulation.
• Treat minor mold growths quickly with a solution of one cup chlorine bleach to one gallon of water.
• Leave this solution on the mold for approximately 15 minutes to kill the mold spores. Wipe away the debris with a disposable cloth and discard it. Thoroughly dry the area where you applied the bleach and water.
• Make sure flooring and carpets are dry before starting any repairs or making replacements.
• Hire a professional to clean and re-lay your carpet after the carpet pad has been replaced.
• If you discover mold in the areas you are cleaning, consider calling in a professional cleaning firm.
• There is speculation that some mold may lead to health problems.

Make a rough sketch of your home’s floor plan and follow these tips:

Schedule home fire drills often

• Practice family fire drills so no one is confused about what to do.
• Plan at least two different escape routes from each room and designate a meeting place outside your home, such as the mailbox.
• Assign someone to help young and elderly people. Instruct children they must get outside. Teach them the worst thing they can do is hide in closets or under beds.

Keep fire extinguishers handy

• Store a multi-purpose fire extinguisher in the kitchen and another one near your furnace to be used to
  quickly douse a fire before it gets out of control.
• Make sure they’re dry-chemical extinguishers, suitable for class A, B and C fires. Teach all family members how to operate them.
• Always keep extinguishers recharged and ready to use.

Prepare your windows for fast escape

• Remove any installation clips from the outside of your windows. Your home should have two exterior doors and a quick-exit window in each bedroom.
• To exit from a window, slide it up or sideways and remove the screen. Kick the screen out if you need to. If your home has crank-out style jalousie or awning quick-exit windows, remove the interior storm sash by turning the pivot clips. Trip the exit latches at the window sill and slide the window open. Or, open it at the hinges and make your exit. If there’s no trip latch on the window or no time to open it, break it with a chair, lamp or shoe and get out. Watch out for sharp glass.

Take action if a fire strikes

• If you can douse a fire quickly using your extinguisher, go ahead. Otherwise, don’t try to fight your own fire. Leave immediately and call for help from a neighbor’s home.
• Crawl to the nearest safe exit because the clearest air is 12 to 24 inches above the floor.

Make your home looked “lived in” even when you’re not there

• Have a trusted neighbor pick up your mail and newspapers.
• Arrange for someone to mow your lawn or shovel snow.
• Ask a neighbor to park a car in your driveway while you’re gone.
• Use timed switches on your lights, TV and stereo. Look for timers that turn on and off randomly.
• Never advertise your absence by taping a note to your door or announcing it on your answering machine/voice mail.
• Turn your telephone ringer down or off. This way a burglar is less likely to hear the ringing of unanswered calls and realize no one is home.
• You can add to the security of your lighting system and cut your electric bill by installing a motion detector on outside lights. This will activate your lights when anyone comes within range of the unit’s motion sensor.

Follow these tips from law enforcement officials

• Join a Neighborhood Watch group. Most police departments have officers who will help you start a
  program. Neighbors can help watch your home when you’re gone.
• Keep valuable items in your safe deposit box, such as stocks and bonds, duplicate copies of your will,
  stamp and coin collections and jewelry you don’t frequently wear.
• Give parking lot attendants and mechanics your ignition key only, not your house key. Don’t carry
  an identification tag on your key ring. This could help a would-be thief easily identify your home
  and vehicle.
• Consider installing an alarm system for an extra level of protection. You have a variety of choices –
  from do-it-yourself kits that trigger a siren or lights to professionally installed systems connected to a
  police station or monitoring service. Post signs in your windows showing you have a security system.
• Lock your doors and windows when you leave, whether you’ll be gone a few minutes or a few days.

How do customers get this coverage?
For existing Progressive commercial customers with Collision coverage on at least one vehicle on the auto insurance policy, Pet Injury coverage will be provided at no additional cost beginning March 8, 2011. New customers who are interested in the coverage should purchase Collision for at least one vehicle on the commercial policy to get the pet benefit.

Why is Progressive offering Pet Injury Coverage to commercial customers?
One in five American companies allow dogs at work, and if they’re anything like most pet owners, Angel and Bo aren’t just pets – they’re family members. Our Pet Injury coverage protects these furry family members when traveling in a covered business auto or truck.

Is Pet Injury Coverage provided for a private passenger auto, RV and boat policy holders?

Yes, we provide free Pet Injury Coverage to auto, RV, boat and now commercial auto customers with Collision coverage.
Is the coverage available in all states?

This coverage is available in all states except New Hampshire, North Carolina and Virginia.

Do other auto insurance companies offer this?
Typically, if a person causes an accident, their car insurance policy provides benefits for pets in the other person’s car under Property Damage Liability coverage, but the person’s own pets are not covered. We are not aware of any other car insurance company that provides this type of first-party coverage for pets.

How is this different than pet insurance some companies offer?
A typical “pet insurance” policy, such as those offered by companies like Veterinary Pet Insurance, covers an owner’s pet for a variety of veterinary treatments and procedures, including injuries sustained in a car accident. Our pet benefit is very specific, paying up to $1,000 for veterinary bills related to injuries sustained by, or death of, a cat or dog riding in an insured vehicle involved in a collision.

Is Progressive insuring pets?
No, our pet injury coverage is part of our private passenger auto, RV, boat and commercial auto products, not a pet insurance policy. We’re only paying benefits for veterinary bills due to injuries a dog or cat sustains in a collision, or death of a pet dog or cat due to a collision.

Is it just for dogs and cats? If so, why?
While we know that Americans are fond of a lot of different kinds of pets – from dogs and cats to birds, reptiles, fish and more – we’ve limited the coverage to the most commonly-owned pets in the U.S. – dogs and cats – which are also, we believe, the most likely to be transported in a car, RV, boat or commercial vehicle.

If the customer has pet insurance with another company, would Progressive’s coverage be primary? Who would pay?
Our coverage would be primary so we would pay the first $1000 of treatment.

How did Progressive come up with $1,000 – would that really cover the average vet bill for a dog or cat injured in a crash?
We recognize that fees for some veterinary procedures may be higher – much higher – than our $1,000 limit. Our goal is to help alleviate some of that cost. We know of no other auto insurer that provides this coverage – and we’re providing it at no additional charge. We think customers will appreciate the fact that we understand how much their pets mean to them and is ready to help in case their dog or cat is injured in a collision.

Can a customer buy increased limits?
At this time, we are only paying up to $1,000. We may, in the future, consider offering an option for customers to pay extra to get increased limits.

About Pet injury Claims

What if the pet is in the back of a pickup truck and is thrown from the vehicle?
If the pet is thrown from the vehicle as the result of the collision, we would consider the pet to be in the vehicle at the time of the collision and pay the benefit as appropriate.

Is there a deductible?
There is no deductible for Pet Injury coverage. However, if the vehicle is damaged in the Collision, the Collision deductible will apply to the damaged car.

Will Progressive pay for injuries to pets sustained immediately after an accident (i.e., the pet is injured walking around the accident scene)?
No, the coverage applies only if the pet’s injury is sustained while the pet is inside the vehicle during the collision.

Will Progressive pay if the pet is injured as a result of being left in the vehicle on a hot day?
No, there must be a collision for Progressive to pay.

Will Progressive pay if the pet is injured in an accident and the owner subsequently decides to euthanize?
Yes, we’ll pay in this situation.

Will Progressive pay a third-party liability claim for veterinary bills?
Yes. If our customer causes a collision that injures someone else’s pet, we will pay claims for veterinary costs if the customer has Property Damage Liability coverage.

Does Progressive pay a first-party death benefit for dogs and cats?
If the customer’s dog or cat dies in a covered collision, we will pay up to $1,000. The pet must be in the vehicle at the time of the collision.

Will Progressive pay any kind of benefit for a dog or cat that wanders away and is lost after an accident?
We won’t pay in this situation.

To Recognize Flood Safety Awareness Week March 14 – 18, 2011, FloodSmart.gov offers the newsletter below and the many helpful links to promote flood insurance and flood awareness to consumers. There are many resources below that can be included in agency websites or used in blogs or shared via social network sites with sources listed as from FEMA or FloodSmart.gov.
Spring flooding is on its way….here are resources to help to make your clients aware of their flood risks.

With the potential for massive snow melt and rain storms, many communities nationwide face the threat of flooding this spring. It is critical that you remind home and business owners of their personal flood risk and that flood insurance can financially protect them from costly flood damage. Flood Safety Awareness Week, sponsored by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and supported by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), was created to highlight the causes and consequences of flooding and educate communities on how to prepare for and protect their homes and businesses from the devastating effects of flooding.

Tips & Tools You Can Use
The National Flood Insurance Program’s (NFIP) FloodSmart Campaign is working with FEMA and NOAA to encourage home and business owners to take the steps necessary now to guard against the risks of flooding. Please join us in promoting Flood Safety Awareness Week to your customers, community members, colleagues and partners by using the tools and resources listed below.

Ready.gov/floodawareness: Visit Ready’s Flood Safety Awareness Week landing page to download Flood Safety Awareness Week fact sheets and other important preparedness tips you can share and post to your website.

FEMA.gov/widgets: A new Flood Safety Awareness Week embeddable widget is now available. We encourage you to include this on your website to promote the week. The FloodSmart seasonal widget is also available to post and share.

FloodSmart.gov: Visit FloodSmart.gov’s homepage to find important spring preparedness and flood insurance information and outreach tools.

Blog posts and social media promotion. FEMA will be blogging and spreading the word through their social media tools (Facebook and Twitter) next week. We encourage you to join them in using social media content. Draft posts and tweets are available upon request.

Visit the National Flood Insurance Program Web sites at
www.fema.gov/business/nfip, Agents.FloodSmart.gov and FloodSmart.gov.
FEMA 500 C Street SW, Washington, D.C. 20472.