According to Safe Kids USA, over a recent five-year period, twice as many child pedestrians have been killed on Halloween as have been killed on average throughout the rest of the year in the United States. With the days getting shorter, children are likely to be trick-or-treating in the dark when it is harder to see them and the excitement of the holiday can make everyone less cautious.
When people get ready to walk across a public road, they usually look both ways first to see if any motor vehicles are coming. Unfortunately, this isn't the case with animals, including certain large ones.
Too often, the result is a motorist's nightmare: a collision with a deer! The animal usually comes out second-best in the type of close encounter, but the toll on vehicles and their occupants can also be substantial.
According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, more than 150 people die in animal-vehicle collisions each year. The Insurance Information Institute estimates some 1.5 million such collisions cause about over $1 billion in damage annually.
While animal-vehicle collisions can happen any time of year, fall is the peak season for deer-car crashes. That's mainly because autumn is both mating season and hunting season, so deer are more active and more likely to roam beyond their normal territory.
No foolproof way has been found to keep deer off highways and away from vehicles. Deer whistles have their advocates, but the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety says there's no scientific evidence to support claims they work as intended. Some studies suggest roadside reflectors- designed to reflect light from vehicle headlamps and cause deer to "freeze" rather than cross the road- reducing crash frequency to some extent.
There are ways you can lessen an unplanned meeting with a deer.......
Here's How
Be aware of your surroundings. Pay attention to "deer crossings" signs. Look well down the road and far off to each side. At night, use your high beams if possible to illuminate the road edges. Be especially watchful in areas near woods and water. If you see one deer, there may be several others nearby.
Be particularly alert at dusk and dawn, when these animals venture out to feed.
If you see a deer near the roadway and think you have time to avoid hitting it, reduce your speed, tap your brakes to warn other drivers and sound your horn. Deer tend to fixate on headlights, so flashing them may cause the animal to move. If there's no vehicle close behind you, brake hard.
If a collision seems inevitable, don't swerve to avoid the animal; your risk of injury may be greater if you do. Hit it, but control the vehicle. Report the crash to police.
Always obey the speed limit and wear safety belts.
Being alert at all times while driving is your best defense against any type of accident.
Katie Reed
Nick Reed State Farm: 913-422-0123 6632 Monticello Rd, Shawnee KS 66226
Whether it's the work of an elaborate theft rings or random individual crime, auto theft is big business. On average, according to the Insurance Information Institute (III) a vehicle is stolen every 29 seconds in the United States at a cost of about $7.4 billion a year in 2007. Insurance for theft is included in the comprehensive part of your auto insurance policy that also covers fire, vandalism and weather related damage.
The number of insured cars stolen and their cost directly affect insurance premiums. By taking a few precautions you can reduce the chances of having your vehicle stolen.
Always remove your keys from your parked vehicle.
Park with your front wheels turned sharply to the right or left and apply the emergency brake. This will make it difficult for a thief to tow your car.
Consider installing an antitheft device or buying a car with an immobilizer system that prevents a thief from driving off with the car.
Park in a locked garage, patrolled or well-lit area whenever possible.
Unfortunately, carjacking has become a more common method of vehicle theft. Carjacking is the attempted or completed robbery of a vehicle by a stranger that includes the use of a threat or force. You can protect yourself from this crime.
Don't roll down your car window to a suspicious person.
Keep your car doors locked and windows rolled up
If a suspicious person is near your parked car, don't approach it. Keep walking and contact area security or policy.
Insurance companies work together with the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) to crack down on criminal operations. If you suspect vehicle theft activity, notify your local police, call the NICB anonymously at 1-800-TEL- NICB (800-835-6422) or report a crime at www.nicb.org.
For more information contact Katie Reed at 913-422-0123
Many of our dreams are dependent upon the choices we make throughout our lives. That's why planning carefully and making smart choices will help ensure you realize your financial dreams and goals.
Are you saving for a child's college eduction or a new house? Dreaming about starting a new business or hoping to retire by age 55?
Whatever your financial goals and dreams may be, you need a road map-an action plan-to help reach your destination. If you have a road map outlining how you'll achieve your financial goals, how long has it been since you reviewed it? As your family circumstances and finances change, the plans you have in place may need to be adjusted- to make sure you're still headed in the right direction.
If you don't have an action plan in place, you may be asking yourself, "Where do I start?"
Consider enlisting the help of your insurance agent or a qualified financial services specialist. Today, several companies offer personalized services designed to help you come up with practical solutions for achieving your financial goals.
The important thing is to get started today. The sooner you clarify and prioritize your goals and create a road map for how you'll get there, the greater success you'll have at achieving what's most important to you.
As you may or may not know one of my passions is health insurance. There is no reason that anyone should take the risk of not having coverage. There are so many options available, at reasonable costs.
One of the many reasons health insurance costs have continued to climb is due to the rising health issues of many Americans. The number one health crisis facing Americans is being overweight. Over the past few decades the number of overweight adults has nearly tripled.
As part of my New Year's Resolution both my husband and I have committed ourselves to joining Shawnee Fitness Club, and working out a minimum of 4 times a week. So if you are ever up at Shawnee Fitness Club in the morning about 7:30ish odds are you will run into me or my husband.
Not up to joining a gym yet? You're not alone. You can start simple.
Step 1- Stop by our office to get your FREE pedometer.
Step 2-Try to increase the number of steps you take each day, thereby increasing the number of calories you are burning.
If someone depends on you, you probably need life insurance. If you were to die today, life insurance would provide cash to your dependents that can help meet everyday living expenses, pay down the mortgage, finance longer-term goals like education and retirement, and generally maintain their quality of life.
Where do I begin?
Start by evaluating your family's needs. Gather all your personal financial information and estimate what your family members would need to meet current and future financial obligations and maintain their quality of life if you were gone. Include ongoing expenses (such as day care, tuition, continuation of a business or retirement), and immediate expenses at the time of death (such as debts, medical bills, burial costs and estate taxes.)
How much life insurance do I need?
While there is no substitute for evaluating one's needs with the aid of an insurance and financial adviser, one rule of thumb is to buy life insurance equal to five to ten times your annual gross income. To get a sense of how much coverage you need, you can visit the Insurance Needs Calculator at Nick Reed Agency.
What are the different types of life insurance?
There are many kinds of life insurance, but they generally fall into two categories; term insurance and permanent insurance. Term insurance provides protection for a specific period of time (the "term") and pays a benefit if you die during the term. A permanent insurance plan provides lifelong protection. As long as you pay the premiums, and no loans, withdrawals or surrenders are taken, the full face amount will be paid.
As a small business owner you have a lot riding of your success. Chances are you've invested an enormous amount of money and effort to get it - and keep it - going. So one of the most important things you can do for yourself is to make sure it's all properly protected.
What insurance do I need?
In general, you should expect to have comprehensive protection for your building or location, business personal property, loss of income and business liability. You may also want to consider protecting your business in the event of your death or that of a key employee. There are a wide variety of policies available for owners and operators of retail, wholesale and service businesses, plus optional coverage that will allow you to tailor the insurance to your specific needs. Katie Reed of Nick Reed State Farm can explain the various kinds, including our Business in the Home program, to make sure your business can handle the unexpected.
As small business owners themselves, the Reed's understand the demands of running a business. A typical day consists of running yourself in at least a 1,000 different directions. Sound familiar? Well, it's time to give your business a free review and make sure you have it properly protected. Katie and Nick specialize helping business in Kansas City and Shawnee area. Call them at 913-422-0123 for a free quote or to schedule a free review.
Stop by and visit us today. We are located at the corner of Shawnee Mission Parkway and Monticello. (Right next to Starbucks)
Most of us have been recieving our open enrollment notification from employers. This is the time year when we review our health insurance, 401k, and other benefits. Many people are seeing an option being offered for the first time. Many employers are now offering what is called a High Deductible Health Plan.
Should you switch?
It depends. A High Deductible plan is great for people who are not chronically ill. For a healthy family, it is a great plan.
Consider the following example.
Take a couple who is 30-years-old. They can get a traditional 80/20, $1,000 deductible health insurance policy for $250 a month. If that same couple took out a High Deductible health plan they could get a similar plan for only $150 a month.
The difference is that the High Deductible Health Plan will pay 100% of the costs after the deductible. (Versus the 80% on a traditional plan). The drawback? The deductible is much higher - like $2,500. You're saving $100 a month though. ($1,200/ year) With the High Deductible Health Insurance Plan, you're also allowed to save your deductible annually into a tax-deductible savings account, and it grows tax-free.
For this type of health care insurance to work, you need to have a good emergency fund for the minor doctor's visits that will come up. You also need to take the $100 each month that you're saving and put that toward saving.
The High Dedcutible Health Insurance Plan is fantastic for people who are not chronically ill.
The other great thing about the High Deductible Health Insurance Plans is that it forces us to apply market pressure to keep medical costs reasonable. If we are responsible for minor doctors visits, we will be asking for free samples, and questioning every procedure..............."Is that really necessary?"
For more information on health insurance and Health Savings Accounts contact me at 913-422-0123
It's hard to believe that, in this age of auto safety features, the #1 killer of kids 3 to 14 is still motor vehicle crashes. State Farm spent five years investigating how booster seats help prevent injuries. The result? The use of child restraints among 3-to-8 year olds has nearly doubled.
Kansas Law
Must be in Child Restraint
All children 3 and younger must be in a child restraint
children 4 through 7 who weigh less than 80 pounds
children 4 through 7 who are less than 57 inches tall must be in a chld restraint or booster seat.
Adult Safety Belt Permissible
All children 8 through 13 years
Children 4 through 7 years who weigh more than 80 pounds
children 4 through 7 years who are taller than 57 inches.
(According to the New Your Times) now that AIG's problems have been covering the front page of the newspaper, fear has set in among policyholders at insurance companies of all kinds.
This week, the concern moved up a notch or two. First, the federal government raised its A.I.G. bailout commitment to $150 billion. Then, a Goldman Sachs research report suggested that some life insurance companies might have to exit the business altogether.
All of this raises many questions: What has happened in the past when insurance companies have gone under? What might happen to your life policy or annuity in the worst case? Is there anything you can do to protect yourself?
For life insurance companies, the state associations usually cover a policy for up to at least $300,000 in death benefits, $100,000 in cash surrender or withdrawal value for life insurance and $100,000 in withdrawal and cash values on annuities (though the investment risk in a variable annuity is yours alone to bear).
Some states offer higher caps, and others may raise theirs soon. You can look up your own state's coverage and read more about how the guaranty associations work at nolhga.com.
A payout from a guaranty association does not happen instantaneously. It can take years. But, most likely the process would take months. (Of course you are left in worry limbo in the meantime.)
So what actions should you consider taking in the coming months? One big problem with pulling money out of an insurance company is that it can cost you dearly. There might be penalties called surrender charges. Tax consequences. And there is no guarantee that you can get similar coverage elsewhere, or buy it at an affordable price.
A.M. Best, Fitch Ratings, Moody's and Standard & Poor's all rate insurance companies and have free information on their Web sites.
If you're looking to switch insurance companies, start with a top-rated one, but also keep an eye out for too-good-to-be-true terms or brand new riders or features. They may not be truly battle-tested. Also, don't stop paying premiums on your old policy until the new one is up and running. You don't want to be caught dead, literally, during a coverage gap.
I'm proud to say I work for State Farm. State Farm has received superior ratings for financial strength for over 50 years.
Have questions? Contact me to discuss at 913-422-0123
Disclaimer: ActiveRain Corp. does not necessarily endorse the real estate agents, loan officers and brokers listed on this site. These real estate profiles, blogs and blog entries are provided here as a courtesy to our visitors to help them make an informed decision when buying or selling a house. ActiveRain Corp. takes no responsibility for the content in these profiles, that are written by the members of this community.
;)
;)
