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Most of us are guilty of using a cell phone while driving at some time or another, and some much more often than others. But every year, more than one million accidents are caused by drivers using cell phones. Texting while driving rightfully is banned in 41 states due to the potential for distraction leading to an accident. And a dozen states have banned using cell phones altogether while most others have some sort of laws limiting the use of cell phones by drivers. Hands-free only cell phone usage by drives is a popular one.

More Than A Quarter of All Accidents Involve Cell Phone Use

Although most states ban texting while driving, a new study shows that talking while driving is more dangerous. Texting while driving accounts for far less accidents than simply talking on a cell phone while driving, according to the National Safety Council.  About 26 percent of all accidents involve at least one driver using a cell phone. But only 5 percent of accidents occur when a driver is texting. While still a significant percentage that represents thousands of accidents and likely deaths, the toll from texting is much less than that of talking on a cell phone.

Rising Accident Rates Involving Cell Phones

About 1.3 million accidents in the United States during 2013 involved using a cell phones while driving, according to the National Safety Council. That amount is about 1 percent more than during 2012 and is part of a trend of more accidents involving drivers using cell phones. And with cellular plans becoming more affordable and service more reliable, more people are using cell phones. So the percentages likely will continue to rise until states either crack down more on cell phone usage by drivers or more motorists learn better ways to manage their cell phone usage while driving. Have you ever been distracted when using a cell phone while driving and almost cause an accident?

Originally posted 2014-03-28 17:27:01.

With Valentine’s Day swiftly upon us, you may be spending a bit of your time poring over jewelry cases or browsing popular websites. After all, nothing says love quite like a piece of beautiful, unique, precious and likely expensive jewelry. If you’re going the precious metal and gemstones route this V-Day, you’re likely to score big points. But make sure you don’t lose out later; talk to us about a Las Vegas homeowners insurance rider.

You already know that homeowners insurance goes a long way in keeping your property protected. Your Las Vegas homeowners insurance policy include coverage for structure, liability and even much of the contents of your home. That said, most home insurance policies also have set limits on specific types of possessions, jewelry being one of them.

Las Vegas Homeowners Insurance Riders

If you have one or more pieces of valuable jewelry (or firearms, artwork, rugs, furs, etc.), you may want to talk to us today about adding a rider to your existing homeowners insurance policy. To issue you a jewelry rider, we’ll likely need records surrounding your jewelry, such as payment receipts, appraisals and certifications. If you do not have an appraisal of a particular piece of jewelry on hand, you can usually get one inexpensively from a local jeweler or appraisal company.

If you move from your home, remember that your jewelry rider isn’t going to follow you to your new place. Just as you’ll need to purchase new homeowners insurance when you buy a house, you’ll also need to add in a new jewelry rider.

This Valentine’s Day, give a gift that really means something – without worrying about keeping it protected. Talk to us today about adding your jewelry to your Las Vegas homeowners insurance policy with a home insurance rider.

Originally posted 2014-02-07 15:48:12.

Sure, the holidays are a joyous time. But they’re also an expensive time. That’s why, when January 1 rolls around, most of us are resolving to tighten the purse strings a bit and save some cash in the year to come. If you haven’t assessed your homeowners policy lately, January is a great time to do it. You could be able to save on home insurance and make finances a little brighter in the coming year. Here are our top tips:

Save on Home Insurance With These Tips:

Shop around: If it’s been a while since you’ve gotten a quote from a different insurance company, you may be paying too much for your homeowners policy. Save on home insurance by getting a current quote from another company or agency and comparing your current premium and coverage.

Increase your security: Installing new security feature on your property won’t just help protect your family; they also may help you save on home insurance. You could save money on your premium by installing a security alarm, deadbolt locks or even fire extinguishers.

Ask about discounts: Often, homeowners may qualify for premium discounts they didn’t even know existed! Ask your agency or provider about specific premium discounts, like multi-policy, senior citizen, low claims, marital status or security features.

Keep an inventory: You purchase home insurance to protect your possessions, right? But many policyholders fail to keep a current, accurate inventory of their personal property, which could cost them down the line. If you have not yet created an inventory (or it’s been a while since you updated it), now’s the time!

Want to learn more ways to save on home insurance in 2014? Give us a call today and a friendly agent will help determine how to get you the best policy for your budget – and keep you, your home and your family protected this year.

Originally posted 2014-01-01 09:39:42.

The holidays are a joyous time, filled with family, friends, parties, food and fun. But with all that festive jolliness also comes a few risks. The Christmas season may be all about giving and gratitude, but holiday thieves, drunk drivers and winter weather can really put a damper on an otherwise happy season. That’s why, before we sing carols and deck the halls, we want to ask an important question: Do you have car insurance, Las Vegas?

Time For Car Insurance, Las Vegas Drivers

If you don’t have insurance or it’s been a while since you checked your policy and got familiar with your coverage, now is a great time to really assess your needs. Here are three reasons you need car insurance in Las Vegas today:

Thieves: While you’re bustling around a busy mall or picking produce for a perfect holiday feast, your car could be at risk. With all the chaos that comes with the most “retail” time of year, thieves often take advantage of the constant diversions by grabbing a vehicle full of newly purchased holiday gifts. If you’re a victim of theft and you don’t have a current auto insurance Las Vegas policy, you may be out of luck.

Drunk Drivers: You may be an excellent driver, but that doesn’t mean that those around you are. The holiday season is the time of year when drunk driving increases substantially, putting you, your vehicle and your health at risk. Make sure you have adequate car insurance to help you heal and start anew if you’re the victim of a drunk driving accident.

Winter Weather: While we’re pretty lucky in Las Vegas, you may be off to grandma’s house for the holidays. And other states aren’t quite as seasonally blessed as we are. Winter weather can wreak havoc on freeways and roads, and drivers unaccustomed or unprepared for the conditions could pay a hefty price. Make sure you’re insured before taking off on your holiday road trip.

Ready to talk insurance? Give us a call today!

Originally posted 2013-11-27 12:15:09.

After the tough economic environment of the past several years, if your business is still thriving this holiday season – that’s something to be grateful for indeed! So when you’re counting your blessings this Thanksgiving, give your business a little love and make sure you have the best business insurance in Las Vegas to protect it.

Are you wondering what business insurance can do for you? We’ll give you four reasons why a Las Vegas business insurance policy is the right thing for your company.

Business Insurance in Las Vegas: A Must for Your Holiday List

Business interruption: If there’s one thing we’ve learned from the volatility of recent years, is that you can’t predict the future in business. A number of events can hinder your ability to conduct business – like natural disasters that affect your community. Business insurance in Las Vegas will help protect you against the financial repercussions that come when you can’t conduct business as usual.

Home business equipment: If you own a company and work from home, you likely have a lot invested in office equipment and other supplies. What you may not know is that typically, your homeowners insurance policy won’t cover this business equipment. That said, your business insurance can.

Company vehicle property insurance: If you own company cars, you likely already have insurance covering them. But what that policy may not cover is the business equipment or supplies that could be destroyed in the event of a vehicle accident. This insurance also covers that equipment if it’s lost or stolen from the vehicle.

Key person insurance: Is there one employee or partner that is integral to your ability to conduct business? If so, you may consider key person business insurance. This coverage will help you recover your company in the event that a vital employee dies or becomes disabled by providing funds to allow you to continue operating.

Got specific questions on our business insurance policies and options? Give us a call today.

Originally posted 2013-11-04 15:25:22.