PLC Insurance Blog

Hard Insurance Market? Time to shop!

Mon, 23 Apr 2012 18:08:37 GMT

Our customer Frank from Bellevue had been with one of our companies for over 10 years. With the hard insurance market causing prices to go up we flagged Franks account for review to see if we had a better market. We shopped his entire insurance portfolio with all of our insurance companies and we were able to save them over $650 a year by moving part of his account to a new market while leaving a portion of his account with his long time carrier.

When was the last time you shopped your car insurance? How about your home insurance? Now may be just the right time to find a new place to call home for all your insurance needs. Give us a call!

(888) 455-7554

(425) 712-3664

(425) 712-3786 fax

Ask us about our Referral Rewards Program!

PLC's 2nd Annual Shred Event!

Thu, 19 Apr 2012 17:27:00 GMT

FREE SHRED EVENT!!!!

COME JOIN US SATURDAY, JUNE 23rd 10AM to 1PM

PLC INSURANCE PARKING LOT

4211 Alderwood Mall Blvd

Lynnwood, WA 98036

Bring your confidential documents and watch them get shredded on-site by professionals.

PLC Clients are welcome to bring all they have, while the general public is limited to 4 banker boxes per person. We Shred through pins, staples, fasteners, floppy disks, CD ROMs and most other file related material, so no sorting is required. Please do not include hanging files, ring binders or hard drives, and make sure that your boxes are free of household items.

A Thank You to PLC from Northwest Harvest

Mon, 09 Apr 2012 16:54:10 GMT

Please find attached a letter from Northwest Harvest thanking us for our donation. And we at PLC want to thank you for taking part in our Referral Rewards Program! Since so many of you complimented us by sending in a Referral, we were able to donate $500 to Northwest Harvest!!

Thank_You_from_Northwest_Harvest.pdf

If you'd like to take part in our Referral Rewards Program please visit our website for more details:

Referral Reward Program

Hands on the Wheel

Tue, 03 Apr 2012 19:52:19 GMT

When I learned how to drive a car I was taught to put my hands at 10 and 2 on the wheel. According to research, things have changed. Take a look at the article below written by Mark Bello from the Injury Board Blog Network:

"Where To Put Your Hands on the Steering Wheel: Times Have Changed"

"Have you recently watched a NASCAR or Formula One race? Have you noticed where drivers position their hands on the wheel? They always have two hands on the wheel, don't they? You don't even think about it, do you? Does hand positioning matter? Research says it does; times have changed.

Years ago, the common advice was to position your hands on the wheel at 10 and 2 o’clock for the greatest control and maneuverability in an emergency. Today, it is recommended that hand positioning should be 9 and 3 or 8 and 4. Before the days of powering steering, gripping the top of the wheel provided more leverage to turn. Additionally, holding the wheel in a lower position can keep your hands and arms out of the way if the airbag deploys on impact. Holding the wheel in a lower position also means your elbows will be slightly bent. This means they won’t lock and you have a reduced risk to broken arms and elbows in the event of an auto accident. During an auto accident, the air bag will explode, protecting the driver’s head and chest from slamming into the front of the vehicle. With hands at 9 and 3, a driver’s arms stay out of the way allowing the air bag to do function properly. Hands and fingers should not be inside the spokes of the wheels. This is a risk to breaking fingers or a wrist. It also ensures minimal interaction with the air bag in the event of deployment.

Here’s another question for you: Do you know the correct seat position for driving? Contrary to popular belief, it is not where you feel the most comfortable. The seat position should be adjusted for your size and shape. The level of the driver’s eyesight must be at the center between the dash and the steering wheel. The driver’s seat should be slightly reclined with your body comfortably on the back of the seat. It should also be as far back as possible while still remaining in control of the vehicle. Typically a distance of 10” – 12” between your chest and the steering wheel is recommended.

Many drivers heed none of these recommendations. Some drive with one hand while eating with the other or using a hand-held cell phone (or their knees, holding both!). Others lean against the driver door, slouch, or have one hand on the window rim. We have become too relaxed behind the wheel and that is when our bad habits become dangerous. When behind the wheel, you must be in control of your vehicle at all times. The only way to do this is to improve your driving skills, this begins with good hand positions and proper seating position. And, of course, you must reduce the use, while driving, of those things that distract you from your principal task: Safe driving.

No matter how prepared you may be before you hit the roadways, unforeseen situations happen. Just because you are in control of your vehicle, doesn’t mean the other guy is. If you find yourself or a loved one seriously injured in an auto accident due to the negligence of another, you may be eligible for compensation due to pain and suffering, medical expenses, and loss of wages. Contacting an attorney that specializes in auto accidents can help you receive the compensation that you deserve.

But what happens if your lawsuit is not settled quickly enough for you to cover your immediate or pressing financial obligations? Is there anything you can do to avoid settling your case too soon for too little? Lawsuit Financial has an option. A lawsuit cash advance offers financial support to injury victims and their families while awaiting settlement or other resolution. The objective is to reduce the financial pressure to settle a valuable case for less than you deserve. In most instances, lawsuit funding applications can be made by phone or on the internet and approvals are made in as little as 24 hours. This might be just the help you need, when you need it most."

To find this article online go to: http://voices.injuryboard.com/automobile-accidents/where-to-put-your-hands-on-the-steering-wheel-times-have-changed.aspx?googleid=280548

Insurance Rates on the Rise?

Fri, 16 Mar 2012 16:43:46 GMT

There are many different factors that affect the insurance market. Please find attached a quick insurance article from www.propertycasualty360.com that gives some reasons why insurance rates are trending up:

U.S. Reinsurers See Red in 2011 Underwriting Results

Please give our office a call if you like more information or to find out how we can help keep your insurance cost down.

Preventing Water Damage

Sat, 10 Mar 2012 00:53:28 GMT

The winter season brings the potential of water damage from frozen or broken pipes, snow buildup and ice dams. Follow these tips during the winter season, especially when it snows or freezes to prevent winter water damage.

Frozen Pipes –Any time the temperature drops below 32 degrees, there is potential for frozen pipes, especially outdoor pipes or indoor pipes located in poorly insulated areas. Frozen pipes can cause thousands of dollars in damage. To prevent damage:

- Seal any cracks and holes to the outside of your home using a foam sealant. Use a high quality caulking to seal around water, gas and other pipes.

- Disconnect outdoor hoses.

- Install foam rubber pipe insulation over pipes under your sinks, pipes in poorly insulated areas such as the garage, crawlspaces, attics and outdoor faucets.

- If you’re home, let cold and hot water faucets drip. Running water helps prevent freezing pipes and reduces pressure build up.

- Open kitchen and bathroom cabinet doors to promote warm air circulation around the plumbing.

- Install a water leak detection system to provide early frozen pipe warnings.

- If you are going to leave your property unattended for a long period of time, be sure to drain the water supply system and shut off the water supply.

Snow Buildup – Snow buildup can occur in several ways, but can result in costly water damage if left unattended. To prevent damage:

- If there is too much snow accumulation on your roof, use a snow rake or contact a professional contractor to remove the snow.

- Snow buildup around windows and against walls can lead to water damage inside the property. Be sure to remove snow when large amounts begin to accumulate.

Ice Dams – ice dams occur when snow on a roof melts then refreezes at the edge of the roof or in the gutters. Snow refreezing at the roofs edge creates an ice damn that blocks snowmelt from properly draining; this can allow water to seep in through the roof. To prevent damage:

- Add more insulation above ceilings to prevent heat from traveling to the roof and melting snow.

- Maintain gutters and drains by removing all debris and vegetation. Prune over hanging trees to prevent accumulation of debris and eventual clogs.

Winter isn’t the only time to think about prevention of costly water problems. Keeping on top of potential water damage can save you time and money. Even a small leak can turn into a major problem.

The best protection is to install an automatic leak detection and shutoff system. These systems sense and detect water leaks and can be programmed to shut off water supply if it exceeds a certain level.

See Safeco’s website for tips to prevent water damage any time of year:

http://www.safeco.com/insurance-101/consumer-tips/your-home/prevent-water-damage-in-your-home

Are You Covered For Employment Practices Liability?

Sat, 10 Mar 2012 00:34:30 GMT

Employment Practices Liability Insurance or “EPLI” is insurance that covers certain employment related claims made by employees.

EPLI is a critical coverage for any business that has employees, but it is particularly important for those businesses with employees that work with the public or even on-site at other businesses. Even though business owners strive to be fair and non-discriminatory, you never know when miscommunication or circumstances will lead to a lawsuit. Often, the Defense Costs portion of the policy is the most valuable.

You might be asking, “Aren’t EPLI related claims something isolated to large corporations?” We’re all familiar with the headline cases, but 41% of all EPLI suits are brought against small employers with 15 to 100 employees, and those don’t often make the news.

EPLI related charges have been on the rise for years. In 2007, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) recorded nearly 83,000 charges. In 2010, that number rose to nearly 100,000 with an average award of $182,500. Over half of all suits came in the Service, Retail, Manufacturing and Wholesale segments.

While EPLI policies vary (review your policy for details), they generally cover:

Sexual harassment
Discrimination or workplace harassment
Wrongful discharge or termination
Failure to employ or promote
Wrongful demotion or discipline
Wrongful failure or refusal to hire or promote
Defense costs for breach of employment contract allegations
Third Party allegations of discrimination or sexual harassment

Contact your PLC agent to learn more about EPLI insurance for your business.

Referral Rewards February Winner

Mon, 05 Mar 2012 20:28:26 GMT

We are pleased to announce that Kim C. from Spanaway has won our monthly referral rewards drawing!! Kim had the choice of a $50 gift card from Macy's Home Depot, Target or Shell and she chose the gas card (Makes sense the way gas prices are shooting up!).

Kim has been a client of ours since 2004 and we want to say a big “Thank You” to Kim for referring a new client to us!

If you haven't checked out PLC’s Referral Reward Program, take a look: http://www.plcins.com/refer-a-friend

Value from Our Independence

Mon, 27 Feb 2012 18:34:34 GMT

Since PLC Insurance is an Independent Insurance Agency we are not stuck with one company to work with and therefore, if your insurance rates increase, for any reason, we can move you from one company to another.

We have a client, Mr. Young from Seattle, who has been with us since 2002. His car insurance increased by over $650 a year! Seeing the increase Cyndi Jewett, Mr. Young's Account Manager at PLC, went into action and quoted the rest of our markets. Cyndi was able to place Mr. Young's entire account with a new market with better coverage and also save them $1,423.00 a year!

Always nice to have options!

Here are some other reasons to choose an independent insurance agency for not only your car insurance but any of your insurance needs:

http://staging.iiaba.net/WA/01_ConsumerInformation/01_WhyChooseAnIndependentAgent/NAV_CIWhyChooseAnIndependentAgent?ContentPreference=WA&ActiveState=WA&ActiveTab=STATE&ContentLevel1=CONSINFO&ContentLevel2=CIWHY

Another Success!

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 17:25:42 GMT

Another Success - Jeff from Bonney Lake added his 16 year old son to his auto policy and saw his premium increase big time. So we shopped his insurance with the rest of our markets and moved them to a new company and ended up saving them $2,042.00!!