Safety Tips For Bicyclists

Posted on August 23, 2019August 28, 2021 by Shield Insurance Agency

Cycling has grown significantly in popularity over the past decade. Towns across the country are adding bike lanes to their roads to become more bike-friendly, and more and more people are ditching their cars and using a bike as their primary form of transportation. According to USA Today, larger cities like Portland, Ore., and Minneapolis have more than doubled their rate of bike commuters since 2014 – and as a cyclist, I can’t help but get excited.

Now, with bike riding growing in popularity across the U.S. – it may be a good idea to brush up on some traffic guidelines to avoid any accidents.

When you purchase a bike, you’re likely not required to take a safety class before you ride it. And, for drivers, the instructors touched on bike safety as part of Drivers Ed, but who remembers details from a course they took in their teens?

My point is, adults aren’t given much guidance when it comes to cyclists and cars coexisting on the roads. And as a bicyclist and a driver, I did some research because honestly, I needed a refresher myself.

Safety tips for DRIVERS:

Try to be 3 feet or more away from a bike.
Try to pass on the left when possible.
Blind spots are always lurking, make sure to watch for bikes.
Only pass a bicyclist when your passing lane is free and clear.
Look in your mirror for cyclists when you’re parking.
Always think of cyclists as equals – remember, they have rights on the road too!

Safety tips for BICYCLISTS:

Make sure to ride with the flow of traffic.
Traffic signs and signals aren’t just for cars. Stop on red to be safe.
Use marked bike paths or lanes if they’re available.
Use your arm to make turn signals and take advantage of turn lanes so cars are aware of what you’re doing.
Consider using a mirror to monitor the cars behind you.
If you’re riding at night or in a storm, make sure to use some sort of flashers.
Watch for parked cars.
And most importantly – stay alert at all times.

If you’re unsure about your city’s or state’s traffic laws, it doesn’t hurt to look them up beforehand. No matter what you drive, be sure to enjoy the roads out there safely!

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It’s Hot Out There. Are You Staying Cool?

Posted on August 14, 2019August 29, 2021 by Shield Insurance Agency

It’s Hot Out There. Are You Staying Cool?

All you have to do is turn on the news, or leave air conditioning, to know that it’s hot outside all over our country. I learned firsthand because I spent six hours outside yesterday when the Foremost Chopper visited our office park in Michigan.

This was about halfway through the day. Can you tell that my hair doesn’t cooperate with humidity? I was exhausted at the end of the day and fell asleep well before 10 p.m. and for a person who’s usually up to 11:30, that’s strange. So while I had time to prepare for an afternoon out in the heat, I wasn’t prepared for the heat. Let’s review where I went right and where I went wrong yesterday using the following heat-related illness preventative tips from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The CDC recommends… “Drink more fluids (nonalcoholic), regardless of your activity level. Don’t wait until you’re thirsty to drink.”

This was my first failure. While I brought a bottle of water, I rarely drank from it because of that second sentence. I didn’t feel thirsty. If you are outside, remember to keep hydrated, regardless of thirst level. So I’m 0-1.

The CDC recommends… “Don’t drink liquids that contain alcohol or large amounts of sugar—these actually cause you to lose more body fluid. Also, avoid very cold drinks, because they can cause stomach cramps.”

I usually only drink water, so I had this right. My water was also outside with me, so it wasn’t cold. BUT, and it’s a big but, I’ve already mentioned that I rarely drank my water. So I’m saying that I’m 0-2.

The CDC recommends… “Wear lightweight, light-colored, loose-fitting clothing.”

Well, as you can see in the photo, that dress I’m wearing is both light-colored and loose-fitting. I can also attest that it’s pretty lightweight. I’m 1-3.

The CDC recommends… “If you must be out in the heat, limit your outdoor activity to morning and evening hours.”

I was outdoors from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., so I’m 1-4.

The CDC recommends… “Protect yourself from the sun by wearing a wide-brimmed hat,…sunglasses, and by putting on sunscreen of SPF 15 or higher…”

I wasn’t wearing a hat, but I was wearing sunglasses and I did wear a broad-spectrum SPF 70 sunscreen. If that is three items, I’m 3-7. 43% is not even close to a passing grade.

So while I was fortunate not to suffer from heat exhaustion, severe sunburn, heat cramps, or worse, hopefully, you’ll learn from my errors—especially if you’re trying to beat the heat while in your RV, on your boat, or PWC. Your safety is important to us.

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Seeking Shelter During a Tornado - Shield Insurance Agency Blog

Stay Safe During a Tornado: Essential Tips for Seeking Shelter

Posted on August 14, 2019August 30, 2023 by Shield Insurance Agency

Shield Insurance Blog | Seeking Shelter | Start A Quote Today

Seeking Shelter: Tornadoes are some of the most devastating storms anyone can witness – and they’re also a reminder that a disaster can strike quickly, with little warning. What makes these storms extremely dangerous is that they are in a concentrated area, and although they appear to move slowly, tornadoes can have wind speeds up to 100 mph or more. Even if you’re not in the path of the tornado, you still have the chance to get hit with flying debris, which can cause serious injury or death.

It’s hard not to worry about the safety of my own family and consider what I would do if my house is in the path of a tornado. But I counter that fear by telling myself I don’t live in tornado alley, so it can’t happen where I live.

Wrong.

Tornadoes can happen anywhere in the U.S. at any time of the year. According to the National Weather Service, 46 different states experienced a tornado in 2012 with property and crop damage of an estimated $1.6 billion. OK, but the greatest threat for tornadoes is in Tornado Alley and I don’t live there.

Well, where exactly is Tornado Alley? It typically includes the plains states from South Dakota down through central Texas. But did you know that as of last year, researchers at CoreLogic Storm Prediction Center have questioned the geography of Tornado Alley and suggest expanding its footprint? According to their data, only one tornado alley state —Kansas — fell in the top five states for tornado occurrences from 1980 to 2009. The others in the top five were Florida, Iowa, Louisiana, and Mississippi. Based on that frequency and the severity of the storms, here’s an article from USA Today that illustrates CoreLogic’s suggested “new tornado alley.”

While the new tornado alley doesn’t encompass my home in Michigan, this graphic from the National Weather Service does. It maps the EF5/F5 tornadoes in this country since 1950. See number eight, that tornado’s path was about fifteen miles from my house. Just ask the resilient people of Moore, OK if a tornado can strike the same place twice.

What’s your plan should a tornado strike quickly? Take some time to become “Red Cross Ready” for disasters. Preparing now could be the difference when you only have seconds to respond. For me, I would go to the basement. While it’s completely below ground, it has a few basement windows to get away from. My tornado plan now includes taking shelter in this small bathroom.

We do have plans to do some work on our basement eventually, so I will definitely make it a priority to have a safe place to hide. Where will you take shelter? I can’t reiterate how important it is for you to know where you will go should disaster strike. Your safety is important to us.

Flood Insurance: What is Covered

Posted on June 22, 2019August 31, 2023 by Shield Insurance Agency

Shield Insurance Blog | Flood Insurance | Contact our office!

Back in August we talked about the definition of a flood and how it affects clients in Michigan. I would like to continue that topic and discuss what is actually covered by a flood insurance policy. According to the NFIP, generally, physical damage to your building or personal property “directly” caused by a flood are covered by your flood insurance policy. Here is a brief list (not limited to) of what is covered under “Building” coverage:

The insured building and it’s foundation
The electrical and plumbing systems
Central air conditioning equipment, furnace and water heaters
Refrigerators, cooking stoves and built-in appliances like dishwashers
Permanently installed carpet over an unfinished floor
Detached garage (up to 10% of building coverage)
Debris removal

A brief list of what is covered under the “Personal Property” coverage:

Personal belongings such as clothing, furniture and electronic equipment
Curtains
Portable and window air conditioners
Portable microwave ovens and portable dishwashers
Carpets not included in building coverage
Clothes washers and dryers
Food freezers and the food in them

What is not covered by either Building or Property Coverage:

Damage caused by moisture, mildew or mold that could have been avoided by the property owner.
Currency, precious metals and valuable papers such as stock certificates.
Property and belongings outside of a building such as trees, plants, wells, septic systems, walks, patios, fences, seawalls, hot tubs and swimming pools.
Living expenses such as temporary housing
Financial loss caused by business interruption
Most self propelled vehicles such as cars, including their parts.

Now, with all of the above being said, we will discuss next time the coverage limitations in a basement. Stay tuned because I think you will be surprised.

*Lists taken from the FEMA National Flood Insurance Program Summary of Coverage.*

Submitted by Tammy

RANT: Why Do Some People Hate Insurance Companies?

Posted on June 22, 2019August 31, 2023 by Shield Insurance Agency

Shield Insurance Blog | Insurance Companies | Contact Us Today!

Why do some people hate insurance companies?

OK… The big giant asterisk here first… Some of what I’m about to say is unproven, although I believe it to be true. Feel free to email me to dispute what I say and I will be happy to listen to what you have to say about this. Education on a topic is sometimes skewed by one’s beliefs, so I’m going to try to be unbiased. 🙂

Insurance company’s profits are usually around 3% !!! They are highly regulated by the States. People complain that their rates are too high. Can people see that insurance companies are simply a pass-through for our money?

Car crashes… SOME car repair companies sometimes over-quote since they know insurance is involved. We tell people to please get 3 quotes. Sometimes, they are 50% apart!! I KNOW this is true SOMETIMES for glass companies too. You can tell them that there’s no insurance involved and get a quote for $180 for a windshield, and someone else calls back on the same day for the same exact car and they say there is insurance involved and it’s over $400?? The list of examples goes on and on and on.

How about Fraud.

Insurance companies have to employ people to fight this! I don’t have a lot of stats on this, but I know it’s a HUGE deal and it makes our premiums go up and up and up! Some fraud is black and white, but others… not so much… did you have a fire? how much was that watch that got burned up worth? Even some good people will stretch the truth!

Frivolous lawsuits.

Yep, they’re out there… lots and lots and lots of them. Here again, I don’t have stats at hand, but I know it’s another big deal that the insurance companies have to hire people to fight against and many times just payout to settle to reduce court costs whether right or wrong! Not to mention valid lawsuits where people get more than they deserve? OK… I know this is debatable on many levels, so please don’t grill me or razz me on this one!!

You can apply these issues to any type of insurance! Car, Home, and Health (have you seen pharmaceutical profits!!??) are probably the big ones. I know Medical Malpractice is a big one too, but I’m not much of an expert on this one, but I heard 1/3 of doctor’s salaries go to pay for this.

So the next time you want to complain about your insurance rates, trust me, I completely agree…. but please don’t blame the insurance companies!!!

Submitted by Andy

Captive vs Independent Agents

Posted on June 22, 2019August 31, 2023 by Shield Insurance Agency

Shield Insurance Blog | Captive vs Independent Agents |

Written by Shield Insurance Agency on Apr 11, 2018

Captive vs Independent Agents

Hello Friends, Family, Clients, Potential Clients.

I am writing this Blog Entry today, because my Dad, Andy, the owner of the Agency, is asking me to. We believe that a website with Blog entries every so often will get more views than one that has none. We are always looking for ways to get our Business more Business, and if a Blog is one, then we will have a Blog!

I was struggling very hard on what to write about for this blog, as I am not exactly a person who just writes for fun by any means. I thought that I would tackle the thought process of buying from an Independent Agency, versus Buying from a Captive Agency. Not a lot of people know the difference, and not a lot of people even know there IS a difference.

First, let me explain the Difference between Independent Agency and a Captive Agency. A Captive Agency is an agency that can only sell one single Insurance Company Product. For example; State Farm, Farm Bureau, Farmers. These type of Captive Agents sell their Customers that specific companies Products, and then after the Policy renews, they renew with that Specific company. Year after year the customer stays with that specific company no matter what happens to the Price or coverage because that Captive Agency only sells that company. Captive Agencies have the Majority of Personal lines, customers, in the United States, but I personally think that is because of the Marketing these captive Agencies do.

An Independent Agency sells many company’s products to their customers. Shield Insurance is an Independent Agency, we sell 8 different Home and Auto Companies to our Customers. Here is the List; Wolverine Mutual Insurance, Fremont Insurance, State Auto Insurance, Foremost Specialty Insurance, Progressive Insurance, AAA Insurance, Safe-co Insurance, Grange Insurance. When an Independent Agency Writes a policy for a client, they quote all of their companies to figure out which one is going to give that client the lowest price, with the best coverage, and that is who they put the client with. After 6 months when the Policy Renews, the agent will evaluate the Price, and if there is any sort of Increase, the agent will check all of the Other companies they Represent, and see if any of them have a cheaper price, and if they do, they will present that to their Client, and save them money on the renewal. (Some agencies don’t check, but we do!).

This is the Process of a Captive Agency, Versus an Independent Agency. The Independent Agent Shops for you, Year after Year. The Captive agent, keeps you as a Client Year after year, while your Policies are stuck with one Company. Obviously, I am a bit bias being an Independent Agent, but just think about the Thought process, would someone want to go somewhere they can only receive the same quote, or would they want to go somewhere that shops for them, and find the best price for them. I have yet to find More Benefits to being with a Captive Agency, versus an Independent Agency, but if anyone knows any, feel free to email me about it! Thanks for reading my Blog Entry today Folks, Hope everyone has a wonderful day.

submitted by TJ

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