Cameron's Home & Auto Insurance Blog

NC Auto Insurance Rate Decrease!

Cameron Bagherpour ~ North Carolina Insurance (Cary & Raleigh, NC Insurance) — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 15:32:40 -0500

Who would have thunk it?

We're finally getting lower auto insurance rates in North Carolina! Yipee! So is this cause for celebration? Not really. The final negotiated rate reduction is 0.5%. Yep, one half of one percent. Kind of a downer, huh?

So starting with policies renewing November 1st, you may see your North Carolina Auto Insurance rate come down, at least a little bit. Did you catch that? You rate MAY go down. That's because the 0.5% reduction is an AVERAGE reduction. Some might go up, some might go down. Ugh, we can't catch a break here.

But that's not the good news anyway. The really good news is that this rate reduction is RETROACTIVE back to January 1, 2009 meaning that if your insurance carrier decided to take a rate increase back then, you'll be getting a refund.

And that really is some good news.

Cameron Bagherpour
Allstate Insurance Agent
150 Cornerstone Dr. #202
Cary, NC 25719
(919) 460-0606

NC Beach Plan is fixed, or is it?

Cameron Bagherpour ~ North Carolina Insurance (Cary & Raleigh, NC Insurance) — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 15:50:47 -0500

So, you might want to compare the discovery of seedless watermelons with the 'fix' that our wise leaders in Raleigh came up with for the beach plan. As in, we have seedless watermelons now - it's done, case closed, for now and forever, with no need to look back.

Not quite.

So what did they do to 'fix' the Beach Plan? Let's take a closer look:

1) Only $750,000 of coverage will be available to Beach Plan homes as compared to $1,500,000 before.

2) The home insurance companies will have to pay the first $1,000,000,000 (Billion) of excess hurricane damages.

3) After the first $1 billion in excess storm damages, ALL NC HOMEOWNERS ACROSS THE STATE WILL BE SURCHARGED 10% ON THEIR HOMEOWNERS INSURANCE. So, yet again, the consumer is on the hook for the beach plan.

4) After that, the home insurance companies will pay the remaining excess damages.

So they essentially put a band-aid on the problem

Ok, so how bad could it be? The beach plan has reserves of approximately $1.5 billion available to pay for hurricane losses. However, a large storm could potentially wreak over $7 billion in damages, leaving over $5 billion in excess losses.

But that's the good news. If we get hit by a SECOND or THIRD storm, ALL OF THE LOSSES ARE CONSIDERED EXCESS and we will end up with bankrupt home insurance carriers across the state. Our home insurance market will closely resemble Florida's of a few years ago where there was one carrier - the state sponsored one. And that isn't an environment that anyone looks forward to.

Cameron Bagherpour
Agent
Allstate Insurance
Cary, NC
919.460.0606

Cameron Bagherpour
Allstate Insurance Agent
150 Cornerstone Dr. #202
Cary, NC 25719
(919) 460-0606

Should I lower the amount I insure my home for?

Cameron Bagherpour ~ North Carolina Insurance (Cary & Raleigh, NC Insurance) — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 11:19:16 -0500

Since housing prices have dropped, I've been getting more and more inquiries from homeowners about whether they should lower the amount they insure their home for. Great question.

The price that most homeowners see going down is the market value of their home. The 'market' value of the home is really the value the house and land together can fetch if it were sold to a buyer on the open market.

On your insurance policy, your home is normally insured to its replacement cost. This price is considered to be the amount it would cost to rebuild the home if it were to burn down to the ground. Remember, home insurance does NOT insure the land, only the structure.

So as you can see, market value can be dramatically different from replacement cost, or the amount it would cost to rebuild the house.

A good example of the difference between market value and replacement cost is this:

Take an average 2500 square foot home in Any-City, USA. The market value of this home in Any-City is $350,000. The replacement cost for this home is calculated to be $200,000.
Now, imagine that same home being located in Any-Rural, USA. The market value of that same home may now only be $250,000, but the replacement cost will remain the same at $200,000 because it would cost essentially the same to rebuild the home in a rural area.

So regardless of market value, if your insurance agent set your policy up correctly when you bought the insurance policy, you shouldn't need to reduce the insured amount of the home. There are exceptions to this, so seek the advice of your insurance professional to address your unique situation.

Cameron Bagherpour
Allstate Insurance Agent
150 Cornerstone Dr. #202
Cary, NC 25719
(919) 460-0606

NC Uninsured Underinsured Motorist Insurance now required

Cameron Bagherpour ~ North Carolina Insurance (Cary & Raleigh, NC Insurance) — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 09:55:41 -0600

It's about time!

Effective 1/1/09, all NC auto insurance policies are required to carry Uninsured +/or Underinsured Motorist (UM/UIM) coverage. It was part of NC HB 738.

What does this mean to you and me?

Whatever your current Bodily Injury and Property Damage limits are on your auto insurance, your UM/UIM coverage must now meet or exceed those limits. You're being required to protect yourself (um/uim) to the same degree that you're protecting others (liability).

If you weren't carrying um/uim before, you must carry it now. You insurance carrier will automatically add it or increase it to match your liability limits. And no, they don't need your approval or your signature. Additionally, the cost of the UM/UIM coverage will go up as well.

I think this change is long overdue since as many as 1 in 5 North Carolinians drive without insurance.

Cameron Bagherpour
Allstate Insurance Agent
150 Cornerstone Dr. #202
Cary, NC 25719
(919) 460-0606

NC Beach Insurance Plan Update

Cameron Bagherpour ~ North Carolina Insurance (Cary & Raleigh, NC Insurance) — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 10:54:29 -0600

Finally, the NC Department of Insurance has decided to take on the mounting financial problem facing North Carolina's Beach Plan. A second major carrier has withdrawn from the home insurance market and more are getting ready to follow. Our newly appointed, er, elected commissioner, Wayne Goodwyn vows to take the bull by the horns. The problem is that the only solution entails raising premiums and lowering coverages. Not good choices when you're an elected official.

But here's the good news: since the election is over, he can push through any unsavory elements and still have enough time before the next election to lower rates in other areas (like auto and non-coastal homes) in order to get re-elected.

Cameron Bagherpour
Agent
Allstate Insurance
919.460.0606
150 Cornerstone Dr. #202
Cary, NC 27519

Cameron Bagherpour
Allstate Insurance Agent
150 Cornerstone Dr. #202
Cary, NC 25719
(919) 460-0606

Auto Insurance rates in NC set to rise

Cameron Bagherpour ~ North Carolina Insurance (Cary & Raleigh, NC Insurance) — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 09:27:53 -0600

Here' an update about North Carolina Auto Insurance rates. The NC Rate Bureau has approved an 11% rate increase effective January 1st, 2009. When your auto policy renews next year you will notice an increase in the rate unless you are with one of the few carriers that deviated from the rate (Allstate, Geico and a couple others) and kept their rates for the most part unchanged.

Now, if you have read my prior post about how the process works, you'll understand that this is just the way the insurance rates are established here in North Carolina. The final rate change might be higher or lower than 11%, but we won't know until later next year.

Cameron Bagherpour
Agent
Allstate Insurance
919.460.0606
150 Cornerstone Dr. #202
Cary, NC 27519

Cameron Bagherpour
Allstate Insurance Agent
150 Cornerstone Dr. #202
Cary, NC 25719
(919) 460-0606

Two Fortune 100 Insurance Companies In Trouble

Cameron Bagherpour ~ North Carolina Insurance (Cary & Raleigh, NC Insurance) — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 13:38:21 -0600

This week, TWO FORTUNE 100 INSURANCE COMPANIES are out looking for capital to shore up their books. Both companies suffered losses in their investment portfolios and now need cash infusions to remain solvent. This is a pretty scary situation given that insurance companies are supposed to be the most risk-averse and conservative when it comes to investing their money. I can't say this any more clearly: Make sure you look at the most recent financial rating of any insurance company you plan to purchase insurance from. If they've been recently downgraded, that is a warning sign to all investors and customers.

I'll say it again: MAKE SURE YOU LOOK AT THE MOST RECENT FINANCIAL RATING OF ANY INSURANCE COMPANY YOU PLAN TO PURCHASE INSURANCE FROM. They may not be there when the time comes to pay out claims.

Cameron Bagherpour
Insurance Agent
Cary, NC
919-460-0606

Cameron Bagherpour
Allstate Insurance Agent
150 Cornerstone Dr. #202
Cary, NC 25719
(919) 460-0606

Ghosts and Goblins Aren't The Only Things to Think About on Halloween

Cameron Bagherpour ~ North Carolina Insurance (Cary & Raleigh, NC Insurance) — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 15:35:31 -0500

Trick or treating is a time honored tradition each October 31. But before homeowners open their doors to the witches and superheroes that live on their block, they should consider taking precautions to make their property as safe as possible for potential trick-or-treaters.

Check your Outdoor Lighting: Make sure your property is adequately lit before trick-or-treaters arrive.
Inspect Your Property: Make sure the path to your door is safe. Look for cracks in the sidewalk and loose stair railings. Remove any obstacles that can lead to a trip or fall.
Watch the Decorations: Make sure Halloween decorations are not obscuring walkways and causing hazards. Use artificial lighting instead of candles to reduce the risk of fire-related accidents. If you do use candles, make sure you extinguish them before going to bed.
Drive Carefully: With nearly 25 million families participating in trick-or-treating each year, neighborhood streets are going to be crowded. Use extra caution while driving and if you are planning to drive, steer clear of alcohol.
Keep Your Pets Inside: Even if your dog enjoys the parade of children that arrives on your doorstep each year, the neighborhood children may not enjoy meeting your family pet.

Homeowners can be held liable should a trick-or-treater be injured on their property. Each October many invite neighborhood children onto their property and drive on crowded neighborhood streets. Everyone needs to be extra vigilant about safety during this time and make sure they have the right amount of insurance protection.

While a homeowners policy provides a level of liability protection, it may not be sufficient protection if injuries are severe. A personal umbrella policy (PUP) works with the homeowners and auto liability coverages and provides additional protection.

Additional benefits for homeowners who may be considering purchasing a PUP policy include:

You will not have to face court alone. If you are sued over an incident covered under your personal umbrella policy, Allstate will retain and pay for an attorney to represent you in court.
Your coverage goes everywhere. So, you are covered no matter where you are, including outside the U.S.
Helps with gaps in your coverage. Homeowners and auto policies do not cover certain types of incidents, like those alleging slander. But a personal umbrella policy helps provide protection for this kind of incident as well as others.
Allstate pays on your behalf. In the event of a covered claim, you will not have to pay out of your own pocket first and submit for reimbursement.
Reimbursement for lost wages. You will be reimbursed for the wages lost for your absence from work for a court appearance, up to the limits specified for this benefit in the policy.

Cameron Bagherpour
Allstate Insurance Agent
150 Cornerstone Dr. #202
Cary, NC 25719
(919) 460-0606

Local Teens put Brakes on Unsafe Driving at "Keep the drive Raleigh"

Cameron Bagherpour ~ North Carolina Insurance (Cary & Raleigh, NC Insurance) — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 13:30:18 -0500

More than 100 teens representing Mary E. Phillips, Enloe and Apex High Schools joined together for an Allstate Foundation Keep the Drive Summit and Rally on Tuesday, October 14, 2008. Keep the Drive Raleigh is a teen-to-teen movement to help students change the way they think and act in a car. It empowers teens to be smart driving activists among their peers. As one of 14 summits nationwide sponsored by The Allstate Foundation this year, the event encourages teens to help reduce the more than 5,000 teen deaths caused by car crashes each year. After the event, student leaders at Mary E. Phillips High School staged a rally to take on the No. 1 killer of teens and recruit fellow students to join them. These students left behind their mark on school grounds through a memorial to represent the teens that die each day in motor vehicle crashes, as well as banners and signs reminding their peers to drive smart.

Cameron Bagherpour
Allstate Insurance Agent
150 Cornerstone Dr. #202
Cary, NC 25719
(919) 460-0606

NC Beach Plan in Peril

Cameron Bagherpour ~ North Carolina Insurance (Cary & Raleigh, NC Insurance) — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 09:48:23 -0500

Have you ever seen the series 'Planet in Peril' on CNN? Well, we've got our very own perilous situation right here in North Carolina. Our insurer of last resort along the coast, 'The Beach Plan' is in trouble. A new independent study performed by The Property & Casualty Insurers Association of America finds that the Beach Plan is not financially prepared to handle even a single severe storm.

What does this have to do with you? Well, nothing if you don't live in North Carolina. But if you are lucky enough to call The Old North State home, then it has a lot to do with you, especially if you own a home here.

The problem is overexposure to risk and underfunded catastrophic reserves. The Beach Plan insures about $70 Billion in property and is growing by $1 Billion every month.

According to their own records, the Beach Plan has about $1.5 Billion in reserves while a severe storm could easily cost over $7 Billion.

So I'm sure you're wondering where the other $5.5 Billion will come from. Well, when there's a shortfall, the plan is designed to spread risk among all the private homeowner insurers throughout the state - even among those that are smart enough not to insure homes along the coast. That means that in the event of a major storm, many homeowner insurance companies will go out of business. There is no disputing this fact.

Companies are scared. Scared enough to pull out of the state altogether, as we've seen with Farmer's Insurance this past year. Scared enough to raise rates statewide, as most major carriers have already done this year.

ALL NORTH CAROLINA HOMEOWNERS are being forced to pay higher insurance premiums because of the Beach Plan's exposure along the coast. NC homeowners are paying to insure coastal properties even if they don't own property on the coast.

We have about 8 more months to get this worked out before our next hurricane season, and remember, we get a chance to elect a new Insurance Commissioner this year - make sure your vote counts!

Cameron Bagherpour
Allstate Insurance Agent
150 Cornerstone Dr. #202
Cary, NC 25719
(919) 460-0606

Insurance Purchasing Basics

Cameron Bagherpour ~ North Carolina Insurance (Cary & Raleigh, NC Insurance) — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 11:20:34 -0500

Finally, a mainstream news article that tells it like it is about buying insurance. Although the article is written specifically for purchasing auto insurance, you can quite easily translate the advice into home insurance buying or any kind of insurance purchase for that matter. The two most important points in the article in my opinion are:

1.) Insurance shouldn't be treated as a commodity like buying gas where you look for the best price no matter what.

2.) Always buy from a reputable agent who offers all lines of coverage.

I can't tell you how many prospects we come across who are only interested in price and pay very little attention to the details of the policy. Too much is at stake come claim time. Please remind your clients to get themselves the best insurance they can afford to carry.

The article can be read in its entirety here.

Cameron Bagherpour
Home & Auto Insurance
150 Cornerstone Dr. #202
Cary, NC 27519
919-460-0606

Cameron Bagherpour
Allstate Insurance Agent
150 Cornerstone Dr. #202
Cary, NC 25719
(919) 460-0606

DUI Related Driving Deaths Down Nationwide

Cameron Bagherpour ~ North Carolina Insurance (Cary & Raleigh, NC Insurance) — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 12:41:04 -0500

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration announced that there were 493 fewer DUI related driving fatalaties in 2007 compared to 2006. That amounts to a 3.7% drop nationwide. 37 states had declines in DUI deaths.

Hidden in the details were some disturbing figures for North Carolinians. Even though fatalaties were down ON AVERAGE nationally, North Carolina's fatality rate actually INCREASED. Not only that, but the state had the LARGEST increase in the number of people killed in DUI related accidents year over year at 66. South Carolina had the second largest increase (44).

Also hidden in the figures was the fact that MOTORCYCLE DUI deaths went up nationally by 7.5%. And here in NC? The increase was 29.5%.

I'm not laughing. I have two pictures posted in my office. The first is the picture of a 36 year old father of two. The second is the picture of his 10 year old son. Both were killed by one of my policyholders this year while driving drunk. Coincidentally, the father and son are the same ages as myself and my son.

Cameron Bagherpour
Home & Auto Insurance Agent
Cary, NC 27519
919.460.0606

Cameron Bagherpour
Allstate Insurance Agent
150 Cornerstone Dr. #202
Cary, NC 25719
(919) 460-0606

NC Farmers Homeowners Insurance no longer available!

Cameron Bagherpour ~ North Carolina Insurance (Cary & Raleigh, NC Insurance) — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 11:50:36 -0500

In September, Farmers Insurance will no longer issue new homeowners insurance policies in North Carolina. Then in November, Farmers will begin non-renewing their ENTIRE homeowners book in the state, month by month. This is not necessarily good news for insurance consumers. One less carrier means one less option to get your rates down.

Even though I am an Allstate Insurance agent, it's never good to see another carrier pull out of the state. Although I now have one less competitor, it also means the state as a whole has one less carrier to spread catastrophic risk upon.

The reason cited by Farmers is that they cannot bear the potential risk of hurricane assesment if there were to be a major hurricane in the state. The article in its entirety can be found here:

http://www.insurancejournal.com/news/southeast/2008/08/14/92787.htm

Cameron Bagherpour
Allstate Insurance Agent
150 Cornerstone Dr. #202
Cary, NC 25719
(919) 460-0606

Landlord insurance or homeowners insurance?

Cameron Bagherpour ~ North Carolina Insurance (Cary & Raleigh, NC Insurance) — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 14:53:26 -0500

Many homeowners become landlords at some point in their real estate ownership careers.

When they do, they often overlook a critical step: To replace their homeowner's insurance policy with a landlord insurance policy.

A homeowners insurance policy does not provide the same kind of protection that a landlords policy will.

For example, if the rental house burns down, the landlord will need protection for lost rental income but will need little protection for contents.

Most new landlords don't make the switch because they either don't know they need to or because they think the landlord policy will be more expensive than their homeowners policy.

Surprisingly, most of the time the cost of a landlord policy ends up less than the cost of the original homeowner policy.

Cameron Bagherpour
Home & Auto Insurance Agent
Cary, NC
919-460-0606

Cameron Bagherpour
Allstate Insurance Agent
150 Cornerstone Dr. #202
Cary, NC 25719
(919) 460-0606

Follow-up to the 2008 Hurricane Season Begins

Cameron Bagherpour ~ North Carolina Insurance (Cary & Raleigh, NC Insurance) — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 23:17:37 -0500

I'm writing this as a follow up to my earlier post about hurricane Bertha. It got me thinking. If we ever get another season with a few major storms like Katrina and Andrew making landfall in the US, who will end up footing the bill for all the damage? The answer may surprise you.

Of course the insurance companies get to pay for their share of losses. But insurance companies have become pretty smart. They don't like going bankrupt just because of one storm. So the smart ones have gone out and purchased catastrophe policies to cover their losses above $1 or $2 billion.

But what about for FLOOD? Every good Realtor, lender and insurance agent knows that homeowner's policies won't cover for FLOOD.

Well, when the NFIP runs out of money, it borrows money from the federal government. So do you know what just happened earlier this year? FEMA (parent of NFIP) requested that its flood-related debts be forgiven and the feds granted the request.

Whoa! Stop the press! Did I hear that right?

So who do you think ends up footing the bill for the excess FLOOD LOSSES: Every taxpayer in the nation. That's right - even if you don't live anywhere near the coast - you get to pay for it through your taxes.

You see, if we don't come up with some sort of national catastrophic insurance plan, the precedent has been set. We will all be made to act as the defacto stop-gap for catastrophic flood losses.

Just thought I'd share.

Cameron Bagherpour
Allstate Insurance Agent
150 Cornerstone Dr. #202
Cary, NC 25719
(919) 460-0606

2008 Hurricane Season Begins

Cameron Bagherpour ~ North Carolina Insurance (Cary & Raleigh, NC Insurance) — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 22:06:28 -0500

Here we go again. Bertha is churning in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean and within just a few hours has now been classified as a Category 3 hurricane with maximum wind speeds of 115 mph. This means that we have just entered the 2008 Hurricane Season!

Woohoo!

Although the National Hurricane Center (NHC) predicts that Bertha will blow harmlessly out to sea over the coming days and weeks, let's hope that she doesn't foreshadow a more active hurricane season this year. The official NHC prediction is that this year will be 'above average' in hurricane activity.

A different prediction is being made by the Colorado State University forecast team. I've included a link to it here: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080409133718.htm

No matter what happens this year, make sure your clients buy enough insurance to protect their homes and other possessions against the damage from the storm and resulting floods or storm surges that come with them.

Cameron Bagherpour
Allstate Insurance Agent
150 Cornerstone Dr. #202
Cary, NC 25719
(919) 460-0606

Allstate insurance ranks Sioux Falls, SD drivers the safest.

Cameron Bagherpour ~ North Carolina Insurance (Cary & Raleigh, NC Insurance) — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 09:12:03 -0500

Residents in Sioux Falls, S.D., continued to top the chart as the safest drivers in the U.S., according to the fourth annual "Allstate America's Best Drivers Report™." The average driver in Sioux Falls experiences an auto collision every 14.6 years. Compared to the national likelihood of a collision every 10 years - Sioux Falls motorists are 31.6 percent less likely to have an accident than the national average.

"I am happy to know that our residents are continuing to drive safely, particularly with the July 4th holiday approaching," said Dave Munson, mayor of Sioux Falls. "The quality of our community driver education programs, combined with the careful consideration of our traffic engineering department, goes a long way to make our roadways safe for everyone."

Holding fast to the number two spot for the third consecutive year is Fort Collins, Colo. On average, motorists in Fort Collins experience a car collision every 13.4 years.

For the past four years, Allstate actuaries have conducted an in-depth analysis of company claim data to determine the likelihood drivers in America's 200 largest cities will experience a vehicle collision compared to the national average. Allstate's auto policies represent about 12 percent of all U.S. auto policies, making this report a realistic snapshot of what's happening on America's roadways. This year's report also includes data on male vs. female drivers, and compares drivers in different generations: pre-baby boomer, baby boomers, generation X and generation Y.

"Allstate's America's Best Driver's Report was created to boost the country's discussion on safe driving. Each year, we hope that the report will increase awareness on the importance of being tolerant and attentive behind the wheel. This is also a critical message we must communicate with teen drivers," said Mike Roche, senior vice president, Allstate's Claim Organization.

America's Safest Cities based on Gender And Generation

To add to the country's interest of comparing male vs. female, pre-baby boomer vs. boomer, generation X vs. generation Y, Allstate's Best Drivers report delivers a new category and recognizes the safest cities based on gender and generation. Allstate compared the top 20 cities where Allstate writes auto insurance policies to determine the safest cities based on gender and generation. Tucson, Ariz. received top honors as the safest city for males, females, pre-baby boomers, baby boomers and Gen X. El Paso, TX, landed the number one spot as the safest city for Gen Y drivers, according to Allstate's data.

Males		Females
City	Average Years Between Collisions	City	Average Years Between Collisions
1. Tucson, Ariz.	11.8	1. Tucson, Ariz.	10.1
2. El Paso, TX	10.6	2. El Paso, TX	9.5
3. Salt Lake City, UT	10.0	3. Jacksonville, Fla.	9.2
4. Jacksonville, Fla.	10.0	4. Salt Lake City, UT	9.1
5. Fort Lauderdale, Fla.	9.7	5. Fort Lauderdale, Fla.	8.8
6. Fort Worth, TX	9.2	6. Fort Worth, TX	8.8
7. San Diego, Calif.	8.9	7. San Diego, Calif.	8.7
8. New York, N.Y.	8.9	8. New York, N.Y.	8.6
9. San Jose, Calif.	8.5	9. Charlotte, N.C.	8.3
10. Charlotte, N.C.	8.4	10. San Jose, Calif.	8.2

Pre Baby Boomers		Baby Boomers
City	Average Years Between Collisions	City	Average Years Between Collisions
1. Tucson, Ariz.	11.9	1. Tucson, Ariz.	12.2
2. Salt Lake City, UT	11.9	2. Jacksonville, Fla.	11.0
3. El Paso, TX	11.8	3. Salt Lake City, UT	10.8
4. Charlotte, N.C.	11.0	4. El Paso, TX	10.4
5. San Diego, Calif.	10.9	5. Fort Lauderdale, Fla.	10.3
6. Jacksonville, Fla.	10.9	6. Fort Worth, TX	10.1
7. Fort Worth, TX	10.8	7. Charlotte, N.C.	9.8
8. San Jose, Calif.	10.7	8. San Diego, Calif.	9.8
9. Orlando, Fla.	9.7	9. Orlando, Fla.	9.1
10. Fort Lauderdale, Fla.	9.6	10. New York, N.Y.	9.0

Generation X		Generation Y
City	Average Years Between Collisions	City	Average Years Between Collisions
1. Tucson, Ariz.	11.2	1. El Paso, TX	7.5
2. El Paso, TX	10.5	2. Tucson, Ariz.	7.0
3. Salt Lake City, UT	9.7	3. Salt Lake City, UT	6.9
4. Jacksonville, Fla.	9.6	4. New York, N.Y.	6.6
5. Fort Lauderdale, Fla.	9.3	5. San Diego, Calif.	6.3
6. Fort Worth, TX	9.1	6. San Jose, Calif.	6.2
7. San Diego, Calif.	8.8	7. Jacksonville, Fla.	6.2
8. New York, N.Y.	8.7	8. Fort Worth, TX	6.0
9. San Jose, Calif.	8.5	9. Chicago, Ill.	5.8
10. Orlando, Fla.	8.5	10. Fort Lauderdale, Fla.	5.8

"Arizona is one of the fastest growing states in the country, and over the years, vehicle miles traveled have naturally increased. In 2004, Governor Napolitano created the Governor's Traffic Safety Advisory Council (GTSAC) to bring together safety organizations to develop, promote, and implement cost-effective traffic safety strategies to save lives on all public roads in Arizona. The increased educational programs from state agencies and community safety partners, along with law enforcement details and activities to remove dangerous drivers, have helped create safer motorist behaviors," said Richard Fimbres, director of Governor's Office of Highway Safety in Arizona.

The Top 10

Drivers from Sioux Falls maintained their status as the safest city in this year's report, in addition to increasing their average years between collisions, from 13.7 to 14.6. However, four cities, including three from Michigan, have found a spot on the top 10 list for the first time in the history of the report. Midwestern drivers appear to continue to recognize the importance of driving safely. Half of the 10 top cities are in America's heartland, according to the report.

Rank/City	Collision Likelihood Compared to National Average	Average Years Between Collisions
1. Sioux Falls, S.D.	31.6% less likely	14.6
2. Fort Collins, Colo.	25.5% less likely	13.4
3. Chattanooga, Tenn.	25.1% less likely	13.3
4. Sterling Heights, Mich.	24.4% less likely	13.2
5. Warren, Mich.	24.0% less likely	13.2
6. Knoxville, Tenn.	23.4% less likely	13.1
7. Grand Rapids, Mich.	22.7% less likely	12.9
8. Cedar Rapids, IA	22.3% less likely	12.9
9. Lexington, Ky.	22.0% less likely	12.8
10. Detroit, Mich.	19.5% less likely	12.4

2007 Competent Commuters by Population

Cities with More Than One Million Residents...

For the fourth consecutive year, drivers in Phoenix, Ariz., are the safest big city commuters, according to Allstate. Phoenix motorists can expect to bump into another vehicle on the roadway every 9.8 years - slightly more frequently than the national average.

Rank/City	Collision Likelihood Compared to National Average	Average Years Between Collisions
84. Phoenix, Ariz.	1.5% more likely	9.8
112. San Diego, Calif.	9.9% more likely	9.1
126. New York, N.Y.	13.2% more likely	8.8
153. Houston, TX	23.5% more likely	8.1
161. San Antonio, TX	25.7% more likely	8.0
167. Dallas, TX	27.6% more likely	7.8
176. Chicago, Ill.	32.3% more likely	7.6
182. Los Angeles, Calif.	41.5% more likely	7.1
187. Philadelphia, Pa.	50.4% more likely	6.6

Cities with 500,000 to One Million Residents...

Detroit drivers kept their motors roaring safely and topped the list of safest drivers in mid-sized cities with populations between 500,000 to 1,000,000 residents. In addition to making the top 10 list for the first time, drivers in the Motor City increased their average years between collisions to once every 12.4 years. Drivers in all the top 10 cities in this list for mid-sized cities are less likely than the national average to experience a collision.

Rank/City	Collision Likelihood Compared to National Average	Average Years Between Collisions
10. Detroit, Mich.	19.5 less likely	12.4
25. Milwaukee, Wis.	15.0 less likely	11.8
30. Louisville, Ky.	12.2 less likely	11.4
33. Nashville, Tenn.	10.0 less likely	11.1
39. Tucson, Ariz.	9.3 less likely	11.0
44. Memphis, Tenn.	8.6 less likely	10.9
48. Denver, Colo.	6.6 less likely	10.7
54. Oklahoma City, Okla.	4.9 less likely	10.5
60. Indianapolis, Ind.	3.6 less likely	10.4
67. El Paso, TX	2.2 less likely	10.2

All Pumped Up For Free Gas!

Allstate pumped out free gas today to reward Sioux Falls residents for three consecutive years of safe driving habits according to "Allstate America's Best Drivers Report." Eager drivers lined up before dawn for the chance to get free gas, compliments of Allstate Insurance Company. The mayor of Sioux Falls and other city officials joined local Allstate agents to pump petrol for happy commuters - delivering some unexpected relief from record high gas prices.

Allstate Safety Leadership Award®

Allstate will honor motorists in Sioux Falls, SD., today by presenting Sioux Falls Mayor Dave Munson with the Allstate Safety Leadership Award® as recognition for the safe driving habits of the city's residents.

The City of Sioux Falls will accept the Allstate Safety Leadership Award in recognition of the contributions made by the city to create and foster a safe driving environment for its residents. The award is Allstate's highest public honor, recognizing and promoting public awareness for successful public safety programs. Allstate presents the "Allstate America's Best Driver's Report" and the Allstate Safety Leadership Award to inspire others to take a leadership role in the safety arena.

Crashes Happen

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), more fatal crashes occur on Saturdays than any other day of the week. Sunday ranked second and Friday came in third. Additionally, most collisions happen between 6 and 9 p.m. From 3 to 6 p.m. ranked second, and 9 p.m. to midnight finished third. The fewest crashes occur between 3 and 6 a.m.

Safe-Driving Tips

Auto crashes in general have declined over the last few years, but crash fatalities still average around an alarming 40,000 every year (source: NHTSA), despite technological advances. A much higher number of crashes result in permanent disability. With the main accident causes being human errors, following are some basic but life-saving reminders drivers should consider:

Avoid disastrous distractions - Safe driving takes concentration. If a driver is talking on a cell phone or changing the radio station, that driver isn't paying enough attention to the road. Distracted driving is a factor in 25 to 30 percent of all traffic crashes (source: Network of Employers for Traffic Safety).
Take extra care in wild weather - Sometimes, bad weather conditions will contribute to an accident by interfering with visibility, diminishing traction on the surface of the road, or otherwise making it difficult to keep the car under control. A driver always should take the effects of the weather, such as strong cross winds or slippery roads, into consideration when driving.
If you snooze, you lose - Drowsy driving causes more than 100,000 crashes each year, resulting in 40,000 injuries and 1,550 deaths on average (source: Network of Employers for Traffic Safety). On summer road trips, set realistic goals for the number of miles traveled each day. Stop at regular intervals when driving long distances.
Steer clear of road rage - If one tailgates, flashes high beams, changes lanes without signaling or drives on the shoulder, then he or she is practicing aggressive driving or road rage. Reduce stress on the road by allowing plenty of time for travel, planning your route in advance, and altering your schedule or route to avoid congested roads. Remember not to challenge aggressive drivers and stay as far away from them as possible.
Maintenance matters - Ultimately, safety also depends on the maintenance of one's car. Ensure that car brakes, exhaust system, tires, lights, battery and hoses are in good working order.

Safety Can Save Money

Allstate is recognizing drivers within Sioux Falls with a celebratory free gas giveaway today. It is also rewarding safe drivers across the country by offering its Allstate® Your Choice Auto® insurance product (not available in California, North Carolina, North Dakota or South Dakota). Allstate® Your Choice Auto® Insurance rewards safe driving through optional features such as a Safe Driver Bonus(SM) where policyholders can get cash off their renewal bill, and Deductible Rewards(SM) where accident-free drivers get $100 off their deductible just for signing up. And for those not able to stay out of harms way, Your Choice Auto® provides enhanced protection through accident forgiveness, where rates don't go up just because of an accident, and new car replacement, where policyholders can get a new car if they total their car in the first three model years. (These features are subject to terms and conditions.)

The Math Behind the Rankings

To create the report, Allstate researchers analyzed internal property damage reported claims over a two-year period (from January 2005 to December 2006) to ensure the findings would not be impacted by external influences such as weather or road construction. A weighted average of the two-year numbers determined the annual percentages. The report defines an auto crash as any collision resulting in a property damage claim.

To view the "Allstate America's Best Drivers Report" in its entirety or to see previous year's results, log onto www.allstate.com.

About Allstate

The Allstate Corporation (NYSE: ALL) is the nation's largest publicly held personal lines insurer. Widely known through the "You're In Good Hands With Allstate®" slogan, Allstate helps individuals in approximately 17 million households protect what they have today and better prepare for tomorrow through approximately 14,900 exclusive agencies and financial representatives in the U.S. and Canada. Customers can access Allstate products and services such as auto insurance and homeowners insurance through Allstate agencies, or in select states at allstate.com and 1-800 Allstate®. Encompass® and Deerbrook® Insurance brand property and casualty products are sold exclusively through independent agents. The Allstate Financial Group provides life insurance, supplemental accident and health insurance, annuity, banking and retirement products designed for individual, institutional and worksite customers that are distributed through Allstate agencies, independent agencies, financial institutions and broker-dealers.

# # #

Note: The Allstate data excludes cities in the state of Massachusetts, where Allstate Insurance Company does not offer insurance products. Other cities not represented by any zip codes found in Allstate data: West Valley, UT, Coral Springs, Fla, Lakewood, Colo., and Pembroke Pines, Fla.

Cameron Bagherpour
Allstate Insurance Agent
150 Cornerstone Dr. #202
Cary, NC 25719
(919) 460-0606

Why not buy it online?

Cameron Bagherpour ~ North Carolina Insurance (Cary & Raleigh, NC Insurance) — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 15:19:44 -0500

Let’s face it, we live in an online world. It seems like every other purchase we make nowadays takes place with a virtual vendor: Movies, music, computers, electronics, books, clothes, etc. The list goes on and on.

Obviously, the two main reasons people buy online are convenience and price. But there are many hidden disadvantages for buying online.

As service oriented industries, real estate and insurance are very similar. In both fields you have to get to know your customer by discovering their specific needs. Only then are you able to make educated recommendations regarding their purchase.

Is there a similar trend in real estate to online purchasing?

Could you imagine someone buying a house online without a realtor?

Or how about buying home or auto insurance without first having a professional diagnose your risk exposure?

Cameron Bagherpour
Agent
Home & Auto Insurance
919.460.0606

Cameron Bagherpour
Allstate Insurance Agent
150 Cornerstone Dr. #202
Cary, NC 25719
(919) 460-0606

Least Deadly Cities for Teen Drivers

Cameron Bagherpour ~ North Carolina Insurance (Cary & Raleigh, NC Insurance) — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 17:23:32 -0500

The "Allstate America's Teen Driving Hotspots" study found that interestingly, the markets scoring best in the study include some of the nation's largest cities. While these metro areas generally had more total fatal accidents than others - including the New York City area with a nation-leading 869 fatal accidents involving teen drivers from 2000 through 2006 - the scores were lower when factored against the size of local teen populations. The best scoring cities are:

San Francisco/Oakland, Calif.
San Jose, Calif.
New York City (including Long Island and northern New Jersey)
Los Angeles, Calif.
Cleveland, Ohio
Milwaukee, Wisc.
Boston, Mass.
Portland, Ore.
Salt Lake City, Utah
Chicago, Ill.

Cameron Bagherpour
Allstate Insurance Agent
150 Cornerstone Dr. #202
Cary, NC 25719
(919) 460-0606

Deadliest Cities for teen drivers

Cameron Bagherpour ~ North Carolina Insurance (Cary & Raleigh, NC Insurance) — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 17:20:18 -0500

The "Allstate America's Teen Driving Hotspots" study found that the 10 deadliest hotspots among the nation's 50 largest metro areas are concentrated in the southern United States and include three in Florida. According to the study, the metropolitan areas (a central city and its surrounding counties) that were the deadliest hotspots for fatal teen crashes are:

Tampa/St. Petersburg/Clearwater, Fla.
Orlando/Kissimmee, Fla.
Jacksonville, Fla.
Nashville, Tenn.
Birmingham, Ala.
Phoenix, Ariz.
Kansas City, Mo. (and Kan.)
Atlanta, Ga.
Charlotte, N.C.
Louisville, Ky.

Cameron Bagherpour
Allstate Insurance Agent
150 Cornerstone Dr. #202
Cary, NC 25719
(919) 460-0606

Homeowners insurance and renters insurance

Cameron Bagherpour ~ North Carolina Insurance (Cary & Raleigh, NC Insurance) — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 21:39:48 -0500

I have a story to share. About a year ago, one of my daughter's classmate's family was relocating from one house to another. Their new home wouldn't be ready to move into for three months after their old home closed. Their plan was to rent an apartment for three months between homes. When they sold their old home, they cancelled their homeowner's insurance because they no longer owned a home. That made sense. But when they moved into the apartment they didn't secure renter's insurance. They thought they could save a little money because they knew that they never had a claim and it was only a short stay. Their savings was around $30.

Let me stop right here and tell you that this family is not insured by my agency. I insist that clients carry continuous coverage.

They lived in an apartment building with about 11 other units. Late one night a unit ABOVE them caught on fire and the fire, smoke and resulting water damage from the fire department ruined all of their belongings. They were UNINSURED for over $30,000 of personal property lost. Furthermore, the tenant who started the fire didn't carry insurance either, so they couldn't claim under the liability portion of his policy and (surprise!) he is a low income earner and had no assets to go after.

Fortunately, no one was hurt during the incident. Unfortunately, the family will take years to recover financially.

MAKE SURE YOUR CLIENTS KEEP THEMSELVES INSURED BETWEEN HOMES.

Cameron Bagherpour
Allstate Insurance Agent
150 Cornerstone Dr. #202
Cary, NC 25719
(919) 460-0606

NC Auto Insurance Rate Hike On The Horizon

Cameron Bagherpour ~ North Carolina Insurance (Cary & Raleigh, NC Insurance) — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 13:31:27 -0500

My apologies ahead of time on this one. I know that this is a real estate site, but my business is insurance. So when a client comes to us for homeowner's insurance, they always ask us to quote their auto insurance, too. The two are usually tied at the hip.

So this is hot off the press, from today at 12:39pm:

Auto insurers in North Carolina are seeking an average 13 percent increase in rates.

Here's the link to the story: http://www.wral.com/news/news_briefs/story/3116793/

If you want some insight into the process (for home or auto insurance), it works a little like this:

1. The Rate Bureau (i.e. insurance companies) puts in for a 'request' to increase rates.
2. The Department of Insurance (DOI for short, consumer protector) doesn't want rates to go up, so they hold a hearing about the increase.
3. The Rate Bureau then has to show on an actuarial basis (insurance speak for providing real-world data on profits/claims, etc) that rates are too low to sustain profitability.
4. The DOI sometimes grants the request, sometimes rejects it, but often will grant it with modifications.
5. The Rate Bureau can then take the matter to court and the court settles it.

It's not really as complicated as it sounds and actually it works pretty well for the consumers in the state. This helps explian why North Carolina has the sixth lowest rates for car insurance in the US.

Cameron Bagherpour
Allstate Insurance Agent
150 Cornerstone Dr. #202
Cary, NC 25719
(919) 460-0606

North Carolina Motorcycle Helmet Law

Cameron Bagherpour ~ North Carolina Insurance (Cary & Raleigh, NC Insurance) — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 15:28:43 -0500

I just read this on the North Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles website and I thought I'd share. All this means is that you can't wear any of those 'novelty' or military-style helmets without the thick inner lining.

MOTORCYCLE SAFETY HELMET LAW

Effective January 1, 2008 all operators and passengers on motorcycles and mopeds must wear a motorcycle safety helmet of a type that complies with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 218

Cameron Bagherpour
Allstate Insurance Agent
150 Cornerstone Dr. #202
Cary, NC 25719
(919) 460-0606

North Carolina Car Insurance fines to double & triple

Cameron Bagherpour ~ North Carolina Insurance (Cary & Raleigh, NC Insurance) — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 15:19:04 -0500

Basically, this means that the financial responsibility law will begin to get some teeth.

VEHICLE INSURANCE COVERAGE LAPSES WILL COST MORE JULY 1

Wednesday, June 25, 2008

RALEIGH — Beginning Tuesday, July 1, the penalties charged to vehicle owners who habitually drop liability insurance coverage will increase.

The new law, passed by the General Assembly in 2007, will affect vehicle owners who have numerous insurance lapses within a three-year period. This is the first change in the insurance lapse penalty of $50 since 1957.

The new rates will be $50 for no previous lapses within three years, $100 for one previous lapse within three years, and $150 for two or more previous lapses within three years.

North Carolina law requires drivers to have liability coverage on all registered vehicles. Insurance companies are required to notify the N.C. Division of Motor Vehicles within 20 business days after they issue a new or replacement policy, terminate a policy or reinstate a policy. DMV then sends a letter to the vehicle owner requiring their response within 10 days.

Resulting actions are based on the vehicle owner’s response and their record of accidents and financial responsibility. Owners may face a combination of penalties or revocation of vehicle registration.

***NCDOT***

Cameron Bagherpour
Allstate Insurance Agent
150 Cornerstone Dr. #202
Cary, NC 25719
(919) 460-0606

Simple dill salmon

Cameron Bagherpour ~ North Carolina Insurance (Cary & Raleigh, NC Insurance) — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 17:29:09 -0500

Dill Salmon

I say simple because it can't get any simpler!

1 Pound of Salmon filet

1 tablespoon of dill

1.5 teaspoons of salt

Lemon juice

Pre-heat your grill

Mix the dill and salt in a small cup or bowl

Rub the dill/salt mixture on the salmon (not required on the skin)

Grill the salmon for 10-15 minutes, splashing with lemon juice towards the end.

Enjoy!

Cameron Bagherpour
Allstate Insurance Agent
150 Cornerstone Dr. #202
Cary, NC 25719
(919) 460-0606