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‘Tis the season to be Jolly. But it is also the season to be safe on the roadways. Nothing could change your Holiday spirit to bedlam faster then a DUI. Every year there are nearly 17,000 alcohol related traffic fatalities; or one death every 31 minutes. The social and financial implications of a DUI can be devastating; from expensive lawyer fees, to bail, and other court fees. MADD estimates a DUI could cost a first time offender over $10,000. A DUI conviction could double, or even triple your current car insurance rates. Shopping around for car insurance rates after a DUI is the best way to find an affordable car insurance rate and help you move past a DUI.

A DUI’s Impact on Your Car Insurance
All emotions aside: a DUI dramatically increases the degree of risk an insurance company assumes in order to underwrite your car insurance policy. After a DUI, you will be categorized as a high risk driver and can expect your current premiums to double—if your carrier doesn’t just simply non-renew your policy.

MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving) reports that the average first time DUI offender can expect his/her car insurance rates to range between $3,600 and $6,600 a year. Depending on how long a DUI remains on your state’s driving record, these rates are known to continue for up to 7 years. Furthermore, any additional accidents and tickets (past or future) can easily make the situation exponentially more difficult—like tripled insurance costs!

Other Mandatory Costs of a DUI
Aside from increased car insurance rates, there are many other financial implications that come with a DUI. Unless you live in a major city, there really is no substitute to driving. From the perspective of life’s real world priorities, being able to drive ranks just below air, water, food, and shelter. Salvaging this privilege after a DUI though involves more than just expensive car insurance rates. Depending on the state you live in, additional costs can include:

• Towing: $300 - $1,200
• Bail: $250 - $2,500
• Fines and Court Fees: $500 - $2,500
• Attorney Fees (average): $2,500
• Mandatory Education and Treatment: $350 - $2,000
• Electronic Home Monitoring: $150 - $2,250
• Ignition Lock: $730 - $2,800
Total Cost: approximately $10,828

What the above estimates fail to account for are the daylight hours it takes to satisfy all the corresponding obligations. Time spent in court, at classes and treatment, restitution services, and even jail time can turn a person’s world upside-down. Interestingly, states like Washington make matters more complicated by automatically suspending driving privileges for 90 days upon the first offence. Think of how you would even get to court?

Furthermore, since a DUI is criminal offence, your driving record will be complemented by a criminal record. If your vocation values the integrity of such a mark (medical, transportation, finance, etc.) finding a new job can become as complicated as finding affordable car insurance.

Moving On After a DUI
Although a DUI is a mistake that ravishes a person’s finances, it is possible to bounce back after a conviction. Every day that passes after your DUI conviction can lower your rates, because older charges have less of an impact on your risk profile, especially if you were a teenager or young adult at the time of your conviction. Comparison shopping for car insurance is essential for a driver with a DUI on their record.

Although you won’t have as many options, don’t fall into the trap of signing on with the first company that approves your application. Conduct research, compare quotes, and make a careful decision. In the meantime, take a conservative approach to driving and don’t get any tickets or become involved in accidents. Party smart and enjoy your Holiday season.

Posted by InsZo at 9:36 AM | Permalink

December is usually a time for families to come together and enjoy one another’s company. However, there are extra risks associated with the Holiday season. The yearly estimated fire loss for December 24, 25, and 26 is estimated at over $80 million*. Each year, these losses result from an estimated 11,600 fires that required a fire department response.

The first thing you should do to protect your home is to have the proper homeowners insurance coverage. If a Holiday disaster does happen to you, a homeowners insurance policy can help you get back to normal more quickly then if you are uninsured.

More Decorations Means Higher Fire Risk
December is the deadliest month for home fires. In fact, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and New Year's Eve are the top three days for home fires. Although unattended cooking and heating are the primary causes of such fires, almost half (48%) were attributed to Christmas trees, which were caused by some type of electrical failure or malfunction. December is the peak time of year for home candle fires. In December, 13% of home candle fires began with decorations compared to 4% the rest of the year.

The Deadly Side of Christmas Trees
The NFPA also warns us about Christmas tree fires, as they contribute to over 300 home fires and 14 deaths every year. Christmas tree fires are generally caused by malfunctioning tree lights, and by the tree being too close to a heat source (fireplace, heater, candle, etc.) When decorating your tree, you should never use lights with worn cords or loose bulb connections, and always unplug the lights before going to bed or leaving the house

10 Tips For Holiday Fire Safety

1) Use Caution With Holiday Decorations
Try to choose decorations that are flame-resistant, non-combustible, or made from flame retardant material.

2) Watch Where You Place Candles
Keep candles away from decorations and other combustible materials. Also, don’t use candles to decorate your Christmas tree.

3) Buy Lights that have been Tested
When purchasing your Holiday lights and electrical decorations, buy those that have a label that they were tested by an independent research lab. Make sure you follow the instructions that come with the decorations.

4) Inspect Your Lights
Inspect new and used light strands and replace damaged items before plugging them in. Also make sure you don’t overload extension cords.

5) Unplug Your Lights When Changing Bulbs
If you have to replace a bulb, make sure you unplug the strand of lights before you change the bulb. Also, if you blew a fuse trying to get Rudolph’s nose brighter, unplug the decoration before checking the fuse box.

6) Check the Number of Strands You Need
Check to see how many strands of lights need to be connected. Make sure you don’t connect more than three strands of push-in-bulbs and a maximum of 50 screw-in-bulbs.

7) Carefully Hang Your Lights
When hanging your lights, make sure you do so in a way that won’t damage the cords wire insulation. An example would be using clips instead of nails.

8) Keep Children and Pets Away From Lights
Make sure that children and pets can’t get to electrical decorations and strands of lights.

9) Turn Off Decorations When Going to Bed
Make sure you unplug and turn off your Holiday decorations when you turn in.

10) Watch the Stove
The number one cause of home fires is unattended cooking. Make sure you don’t lose track of what you’re cooking when spending time with your family or guests.

With all the joys that come with the Holidays, make sure you take the extra precautions to make your Holiday season as safe and joyous as possible. And as the New Year approaches, it’s a good time to start thinking about updating your homeowners insurance policy.

*Content provided by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA.org)

Posted by InsZo at 9:28 AM | Permalink

The year 2007 is almost over. Think of all that has happened this past year; gas and housing prices fluctuated all year, the final installment of the Harry Potter series by J.K Rowling was released, and Bob Barker stepped down as the host of the famous game show The Price Is Right. Now think of all the changes that happened in your life. Maybe you got married or divorced, started a family, or retired this year. But have you updated your life insurance policy?

Newlyweds Need New Life Insurance
Congratulations if you got married in 2007. Perhaps you and your significant other felt lucky and tied the knot on 7/7/07. The average number of weddings registered on the website The Knot for any Saturday in July is about 12,000, but for 7/7/07 the number tripled to 38,000. Even if you are feeling lucky after your triple sevens wedding, you shouldn’t gamble by not having life insurance.

Most newlywed couples do not need extremely high levels of life insurance coverage; however, securing extra coverage at a younger age is a sound financial decision. As you begin to purchase things together (such as a house) and acquire debt, it is important to make sure you are adequately covered in the event of a catastrophe. Many find it easy to pay their mortgage when they are part of a two-income household, but those same people could find themselves in a financial pinch if something were to happen to their partner and they had to survive on their income alone.

Divorced or Widowed in 2007? Why You Don't Want to be Like Mike
Famous Chicago Bull Michael Jordan is getting divorced from once wife Juanita. What makes this an atypical divorce is that if Juanita gets the customary half of everything, she could get more then $150 million in the settlement, making it the most expensive divorce in entertainment history.

Being newly divorced or widowed is a difficult time. As much as you may be hurting, you must also consider practical matters such as life insurance. You may have increased financial obligations now (for example, paying for accommodations and expenses on one salary instead of two, etc.), and you may have lost life insurance coverage you previously had through your spouse. Getting divorced means a change in your life insurance coverage needs; make sure you update your coverage if you did get divorced or widowed this past year.

Welcoming a New Addition to Your Family in 2007
This one may seem a little more obvious, but in the excitement of planning for their new baby, many people forget to adjust their life insurance to their new needs. In addition to other important forms of insurance, such as health insurance and coverage for catastrophes such as fire, flooding or burglary, it is also important to make sure that you will be able to take care of your kids financially.

If your spouse were to pass away, would you be able to provide for your children's many needs? Or, if you were a stay at home parent and the major breadwinner of the household were to pass away, how would you take care of your children? Make sure you and your spouse have adequate life insurance coverage to protect both yourselves and your children. And make sure to adjust your beneficiaries as your family grows.

Enjoying the Prime Years of Life
Maybe 2007 was the last year you had to work. Now you can’t start relaxing and living the good life in 2008. But, it is also true that most new retirees do need to think about maintaining an adequate level of life insurance coverage. Consider your children or spouse you may leave behind. Even though your children may be grown and on their own, and your spouse may be able to live comfortably on his or her retirement savings, there are many special circumstances in which they may find themselves in financial trouble if you were to pass, or vice versa, you if they were to.

Life insurance is made to protect your loved ones financially in the event of your passing; keeping them financially secure and avoiding debt caused by funeral expenses. As your life changes, so does the amount of coverage you need. The beginning of the year is an excellent time to either shop around for new life insurance or reflect on the past year to update your coverage. As you ring in the New Year with your family and friends, think about how you could financially protect them with the right amount of life insurance.

Many people may feel they don't need life insurance when they are young. While your financial needs may be lower at a younger age, the rates are also substantially less expensive when you're young. Remember, the goal is to cover your primary assets so should something happen to you; your beneficiaries would be able to persevere financially. The best advice is to lock in as much protection at a young age while your health is good and the price is right.

Posted by InsZo at 9:20 AM | Permalink

The Holiday season usually means decorating your home or apartment and spending time with your family and friends. If you live in a rented home and see someone coming down your chimney, chances are he/she isn’t there to bring you gifts. Rented homes are 79% more likely to be victimized by burglary then a home that is owned. Although renters insurance is affordable, only 43% of renters have a renters insurance policy. It is important to take measures to protect your home or apartment from break-ins with proper security and a renters insurance policy.

Why You Need Renters Insurance
Take a mental inventory of all your personal belongings. When you consider the value of your furniture, clothing, electronic equipment, CDs, DVDs, etc. the numbers really begin to add up quickly. What if your home were burglarized? Could you afford to replace all the property that was stolen? Most people simply can't afford to replace all their belongings at once. So you can dip into your savings and begin the slow and expensive process of replacing your stolen items one-by-one. Or, you can protect your personal property with a renters insurance policy.

What About Your Landlord's Policy?
While your landlord might not be Ebenezer Scrooge, you as a renter will not be covered under your landlords insurance policy. Many renters mistakenly presume that their landlord's policy will cover their property losses. Unfortunately, this is not the case. Most landlords' policies only cover the building and the building infrastructure. They do not extend to their tenants personal belongings. What's more, once a guest enters your home, you're liable for any injuries they may sustain while in your home.

What Renters Insurance Covers
Renters insurance is the most viable solution to protecting your belongings. Renters insurance covers personal property losses against a variety of perils including theft, vandalism, fire or lightning, windstorm or hail, smoke, water-related damage from home utilities, electrical surge damage and more. Renters insurance also provides liability coverage against a claim or lawsuit resulting from a bodily injury or property damage to others caused by an accident on your property. In addition, most policies will provide living expense assistance if your home becomes uninhabitable due to a covered peril.

Renters Insurance Is Affordable
Renters insurance is relatively inexpensive and you may well qualify for a variety of premium discounts. The average premium for $30,000 of property coverage and $100,000 of liability coverage is only $16 per month. When you do the quick math you can see that you can buy a policy that will protect tens of thousands of dollars in possessions for only a few hundred dollars a year.

You can take measures to lessen the risk of having your home broken into. Installing a deadbolt lock on your front door (if you don't have one already), adding window locks and installing a burglar alarm are great ways to ward off potential intruders. But even if you are victimized by a thief, at least you can take some comfort knowing that your personal belongings will be protected with a renters insurance policy.

Posted by InsZo at 9:07 AM | Permalink