Grange Insurance Offers Advice to Keep Boaters Safe This Summer

Simple strategies protect people and property

(Columbus, Ohio) – Each year the U.S. Coast Guard records thousands of recreational boating accidents. So as millions of Americans gear up for another summer on the water, Grange Insurance offers simple strategies that help to protect people and their property.

• Inspect your vehicle and trailer before towing your boat. Before the boat is attached, check to make sure tires are inflated and in good condition, trailer lights function properly, lug nuts are tight and your tow vehicle has the proper amount of oil and fuel before the boat is attached.
• Stow one inspected life jacket aboard per passenger. Boat owners must test all life jackets approximately once a year. Replace jackets that are faded, waterlogged or have holes or tears. All passengers should also wear a life jacket at all times whenever they are out on the water.
• Maintain safety out of the water. Staying hydrated and wearing proper sun protection is essential while boating because the water reflection creates stronger UV rays. Using a higher SPF sunscreen, wearing sunglasses, a hat, proper deck shoes and having additional clothing for quick changes in weather are all necessary.
• Know your boat and be aware of your surroundings. Confirm all individuals responsible for driving are familiar with the controls of the boat and the area in which you are boating. Drivers should always watch the boat path and pay close attention to other boating traffic and potential obstructions.
• Utilize everybody aboard when participating in water activities. According to John Ammendola, president of personal lines for Grange Insurance, water sports, such as waterskiing or tubing, are a team sport and are related to boat owner safety. Drivers are responsible for choosing a safe place to enjoy water activities, and other participants must remain alert of other boats, people in the water and possible obstructions. “Many states require an observer be aboard to monitor water-skiers and tubers, watch the area around the boat, and help communicate to the driver,” says Ammendola. “The water-skier or tuber should be able to communicate with the boat and spotter through hand signals, and everybody aboard should understand the signals.”
• Protect your boat with a quality insurance plan. “A boat is a large investment, so make sure to protect it with the proper insurance policy,” says Ammendola. “Boaters should work with their insurance provider to identify the most appropriate protection packages.”

For more information about boating policies, contact an independent agent at www.bushins.com.

About Grange
Grange Insurance, with $2 billion in assets and in excess of $1 billion in annual revenue, is an insurance provider based in Columbus, Ohio. Through its network of independent agents, Grange offers auto, home, life and business insurance protection. Established in 1935, the company and its affiliates serve policyholders in Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and Wisconsin. For more information, visit www.grangeinsurance.com.

To help with the decision process, Kelly Blue Book (KBB) compiled a list of the Top 10 Family Cars for 2011. The criteria KBB used in determining the top picks included safety, comfort, economy of operation, child-friendliness, a reasonable purchase price and good resale value tops among others. Here are the picks of Top Family Cars for 2011, from largest to smallest.

Chevrolet Suburban
Honda Odyssey
Chevrolet Traverse
Ford Flex
Ford Explorer
Jeep Grand Cherokee
Kia Sorento
Chrysler 300
Hyundai Sonata
Volkswagen Golf

Which one would you choose? No matter what vehicle you drive, be sure that your family is protected with the right auto insurance.

With far too many Americans out of work, and others forced to make ends meet with less money, many people are looking for ways to cut costs. There are smart ways to save on home and auto insurance; however, there are also mistakes that can result in being significantly underinsured.

When money is tight, it is extremely important to be financially protected against a catastrophe with the right amount and type of insurance by taking a few simple steps, it is possible to cut costs and still be protected should disaster strike.

Following are five of the biggest insurance mistakes that consumers should look out for:

Insuring a home for its real estate value rather than for the cost of rebuilding. When real estate prices go down, some homeowners may think they can reduce the amount of insurance on their home. But insurance is designed to cover the cost of rebuilding, not the sales price of the home. You should make sure that you have enough coverage to completely rebuild your home and replace your belongings.

A better way to save: Raise your deductible. An increase from $500 to $1,000 could save up to 25 percent on your premium payments.

Selecting an insurance company by price alone. It is important to choose a company with competitive prices, but also one that is financially sound and provides good customer service.

A better way to save: Check the financial health of a company with independent rating agencies and ask friends and family for recommendations. You should select an insurance company that will respond to your needs and handle claims fairly and efficiently.

Dropping flood insurance. Damage from flooding is not covered under standard homeowners and renters insurance policies. Coverage is available from the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), as well as from some private insurance companies. Many homeowners are unaware they are at risk for flooding, but in fact 25 percent of all flood losses occur in low risk areas.

A better way to save: Before purchasing a home, check with the NFIP to check whether it is in a flood zone; if so, consider a less risky area. If you are already living in a flood zone area, look at mitigation efforts that can reduce your risk of flood damage and consider purchasing flood insurance.

Only purchasing the legally required amount of liability for your car. In today’s litigious society, buying only the minimum amount of liability means you are likely to pay more out-of-pocket—and those costs may be steep

A better way to save: Consider dropping collision and/or comprehensive coverage on older cars worth less than $1,000. The insurance industry and consumer groups generally recommend a minimum of $100,000 of bodily injury protection per person and $300,000 per accident.

If you don't own your home, neglecting to buy renters insurance. A renters policy covers your possessions and additional living expenses if you have to move out due to a disaster. Equally important, it provides liability protection in the event someone is injured in your home and decides to sue.

A better way to save: Look into multi-policy discounts. Buying several policies with the same insurer will generally provide surmountable savings.

Perhaps it's the latest electronic gadget or large screen hi-def television, or new sporting goods gear or maybe a piece of sparkling jewelry. If you happen to receive or purchase a particularly expensive item, you may consider purchasing extra protection, just in case.

Why would I need to schedule valuable items?

The protection provided for personal property under the typical homeowners, condo or renters policy is very broad, and includes coverage for your furniture, clothing, and appliances. It only provides limited coverage for valuable items such as jewelry, silverware, furs, and art. It may not cover some types of loss that may be important to you, such as the stone falling out of your diamond ring, your china being accidentally broken or your rare coins being stolen.

What types of property can be covered?

Here's a quick listing of some of the items typically covered:

cameras (video or still) and related equipment
china and crystal
coins (rare and current)
firearms
furs
golfer's equipment
jewelry
musical instruments
personal computers
stamps (rare and current)
silverware
works of fine art, including paintings, etchings, pictures and other bona fide works of art (such as oriental rugs, statuary, rare books, manuscripts and bric-a-brac) of rarity, historical value or artistic merit.

If you own something of value that is not listed above, it may still be eligible for coverage.

How to Schedule Personal Property

The process for scheduling valuable personal property differs from one insurance company to another. The insurance company keeps copies of appraisals or recent receipts for the items on file. The dollar amount of the value of the items added determines the price of scheduled property insurance.

Scheduling items allows you to purchase better protection for your special property than would be available under the typical homeowners policy. In addition to being able to purchase higher limits of coverage, more perils are covered.