During the summer months pedestrians, cyclists and drivers all share the road. Sounds a little scary, doesn’t it? That’s why during these great few months in New England it’s extremely important to be attentive and aware of your surroundings. When walking, biking or driving, it’s essential that you know and obey the rules of the road, to ensure the safety of yourself and others around you. Be friendly to others – the road belongs to everyone!
Did you know that when you’re riding a bicycle that you’re required to adhere to all the same traffic laws as cars? It’s true! Actually, you’ll want to take a few extra precautions since automobiles are the dominant beast out on the road. Be sure that you’re taking all the precautions necessary to make your outdoor experience a great one. When riding a bicycle near public roadways, be sure to stay as far as possible to the right. Also, you’ll want to ride against traffic. What’s this mean? You want to be able to see cars driving at you, that way any potential dangers are visible and can be managed. Riding with traffic isn’t the best idea since cars would be approaching from behind, leaving you vulnerable.
In Massachusetts, June and August are statistically the highest when it comes to bicycle injury and deaths. Children are among the largest demographic injured each year on bicycles. School aged children 5-18 years old accounted for more than 50% of non-fatal bike injuries throughout the Commonwealth. When operating a motor vehicle, it’s especially important to watch for children on bicycles since injury and fatalities are not uncommon. Walkers, cyclists and boarders need to learn and obey the rules of the road in order to be defensive; so be sure to spend some time teaching your children the proper rules of the road.
In January 2009, Massachusetts enacted a helmet law stating children under 16-years old would be required to wear properly approved head protection when on any bike, skateboard, scooter or other device of this nature. This includes being a passenger on a bike also. This was enacted to curb the uprising trend of head injury due to injury from activities like this, which can and often is the cause of bike-related death or serious head injury. Ensuring that a helmet fits properly is crucial; a helmet that fits improperly is not serving its purpose, which is to protect the head and brain. Proper helmets for children are certified by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, which ensures the proper safety testing and controls are present (when a helmet is worn correctly they can reduce head injury by 85%). Regardless of age it’s recommended that everyone wears a helmet when riding a bike, it could be the difference between a small scratch and a serious brain injury.
Cyclists really have to be defensive on the road, since an automobile will always win in a fight. Bikers should be sure to wear bright colored clothing especially if biking at night or early morning. Having lights and reflectors that are visible helps drivers to see you and take the proper precautions before it’s too late. Be sure to pay attention, head phones greatly limit your ability to hear, making you vulnerable to dangers.
You can read more about biking and bike safety in Massachusetts on the City of Boston website. A little extra attention can go a long way. Stay safe out there!
Hurricane Irene’s damage to the east coast is undeniable. This was one of the most damaging hurricanes to hit the east coast in a very long time. Although all weather stations throughout Rhode Island, Massachusetts, New York, and New Jersey attempted to have residents prepare for the hurricane, significant damage was still done. Irene downed power lines, caused widespread power outages, and also some flooding. But the most expensive damage was because of fallen trees and branches.
So when is a fallen tree covered under your insurance policy? Well, the guidelines are pretty clear. No matter where the tree falls from, if a fallen tree strikes an insured structure on your property causing damage, it’s covered under your homeowners’ policy. If a tree just falls onto your property, but does no damage, chances are slim that removal coverage would be provided unless this is blocking the driveway or an emergency escape route.
If a fallen tree were to strike a detached garage, the incident is covered as long as the building is insured under the homeowners’ policy. Depending upon the company in which your homeowners insurance is written, you might have some additional coverage available for the clean-up of the fallen tree. Usually this is anywhere from $500 to $1,000 depending upon the specific policy. The whole ordeal will likely count as one occurrence in your insurance company’s eyes, so in the case of a deductible, it would only be paid one time.
Automobiles that are destroyed or damaged by falling trees are covered under the insured’s auto policy. A claim like this would be covered under the comprehensive portion of the auto policy (which is an optional coverage). If you’ve elected not to purchase this coverage, the damage to your vehicle will not be covered in this case.
Taken in Albion, Rhode Island by Amanda Spittell during the chaos of Hurricane Irene
During hurricane-like conditions, even branches or shrubs can be damaging to homes and other structures. If your property is damaged by flying braches or shrubs, you should submit a claim through your insurance company in order to receive payment as quickly as possible. Even if you know that a neighbors shrub/tree is what did the damage, during a storm they may not be liable to cover the damage. If a neighbor was negligent, and did not properly maintain the tree, it’s more likely their insurance policy will pay out.
When submitting a property damage claim to your insurance company, tell them what happened. Now’s the time to mention another party might be at fault, and your insurance company will further investigate this on your behalf. Depending upon the circumstances, the insurance company may seek payout from that person’s insurance company, in a process called subrogation (but this is a longer more drawn out process, so you’ll likely be reimbursed for damages by your own insurance company).
Need some help fully understanding your insurance coverages? Give a Berry Insurance independent insurance agent a call today, we can help!
For more information about this topic, or to get some answers about your current insurance situation, please visit our virtual insurance agency at www.berryinsurance.com, stop by one of our two locations, or give us a call at (800) 941-3317.
You can also find us on all your favorite social networking sites!
With money tight, and times a little rough, a tax free weekend might be just what you’ve been waiting for. This weekend, August 13th and 14th, we’re having a Massachusetts sales tax holiday weekend. What does this mean? It’s time to go shopping! Any personal tangible product costing $2,500 or less will be tax exempt for the weekend.
Any motor vehicles, boats, telecommunication services, tobacco products, gas, and prepared food, along with some other excluded items won’t be included in the Massachusetts tax free fun (just click here to see the full list of Massachusetts sales tax holiday excluded items). Remember that personal purchases are tax free, but businesses or corporations making purchases will still be taxed.
Purchases that are made outside of Massachusetts but are intended for personal use within the state that are purchased on the tax free weekend can also save you some cash. Items purchased in other states are exempt from use tax. The Massachusetts Department of Revenue has released some more specific guidelines for this Massachusetts tax free weekend 2011.
For more information about this topic, or to get some answers about your current insurance situation, please visit our virtual insurance agency at www.berryinsurance.com, stop by one of our two locations, or give us a call at (800) 941-3317.
You can also find us on all your favorite social networking sites!
The scorching heat is just winding down, but living in New England means we know the heat will be back. When the sun is shining and the weather is hot, getting dehydrated isn’t hard. You’ll want to make sure you drink plenty of water to keep yourself hydrated, especially on these super hot days. On very warm days experts say you should consume 2-4 drinks per hour, but try to leave out the caffeinated, sugary, or alcoholic beverages since these won’t help your situation. Ice cold water is the best option, along with finding some shade.
The brutal summer heat can get the best of people. Massachusetts hospitals treat citizens for heat exhaustion every summer. Recognizing the warning signs and making the proper changes can be the difference between feeling a little under the weather and taking a trip to the hospital. Evidence of sun over-exposure can be minor as in a sun burn or sweating, but can also be much more serious, such as being lethargic or dizzy. Being lethargic and the reduction of sweating could mean someone has heat stroke. A person in this condition should be removed from the sun and given medical attention.
The effects of extreme heat can quickly take a toll on any person, but it’s especially crippling for pregnant women and the elderly. If you notice someone affected by heat exhaustion, remain calm and help. This may involve getting the person medical attention or an ambulance depending upon the severity of the situation. You’ll want to get the person out of the sun and preferably into an air conditioned place. Sitting is a good idea since the person might be dizzy or light headed. Make sure the person drinks plenty of water; cold packs can be used to cool down.
For more information about this topic, or to get some answers about your current insurance situation, please visit our virtual insurance agency at www.berryinsurance.com, stop by one of our two locations, or give us a call at (800) 941-3317.
You can also find us on all your favorite social networking sites!
The ability to pay for purchases online using the internet has created a vast amount of emerging technologies, such as smartcard credit card readers. But as with everything, we need to be careful be using some of these new technologies. Below are a few tips to keep you protected:
Use a credit card, not a debit card when making online purchases. Using a debit card for internet purchases is not recommended as the card is directly linked to your bank account. Credit card companies often will provide greater reimbursement for fraudulent charges than will your bank debit card.
Shred your pre-approved credit card offers that you receive through the mail. Leaving these items in tact can present the opportunity for someone to take advantage of your name and line of credit.
Don’t sign the back of your credit cards. This way, cashiers will ask to see identification, in the case where someone else does have your credit card, they will not be able to use it.
Track usage on both credit and debit cards via monthly statements or online billing. Monitoring lets you catch any unwanted charges immediately and will give you an immediate chance to rectify the situation.
Have all credit card numbers and service telephone numbers written down and tucked away. In the case your credit card is stolen, it’s sometimes harder to report if you are not sure of the credit card number.
For more information about this topic, or to get some answers about your current insurance situation, please visit our virtual insurance agency at www.berryinsurance.com, stop by one of our two locations, or give us a call at (800) 941-3317.
You can also find us on all your favorite social networking sites!
The Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV) has decided to extend their hours of operation (mostly earlier opening times) to better service the Massachusetts residents. Extending service hours at some locations ought to reduce overall wait times throughout the day. MassDOT hopes these changes will lighten lines at the affected branches. Varied changes will take place at the Brockton, Lawrence, Milford, and Worcester Registry’s; the Boston, Springfield, and Watertown locations will be following suit in the future if everything goes as planned.
Brockton, MA:
Hours of operation: 8AM-5PM on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday. With extended hours Thursday’s until 6PM. Road tests begin daily at 9AM and suspension hearing’s will now be heard from 9AM-5PM Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday, and also, beginning at 10AM on Thursday’s.
Lawrence, MA:
Hours of operation: 8AM-5PM on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday, and 8AM-6PM on Thursday’s. Road tests begin at 9AM. Suspension hearing’s will be heard from 9AM-5PM Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday, and beginning at 10AM Thursday’s.
Milford, MA:
Hours of operation: 8AM-5PM, Monday through Friday. Road tests are offered beginning at 9AM daily.
Taunton, MA:
Hours of operation: 8AM-5PM, Monday through Friday. Road tests are offered beginning at 9AM.
Worcester, MA:
Hours of operation: 8AM-5PM on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday. 8AM-6PM on Thursday’s. Road tests begin at 9AM. Suspension hearing will be heard from 9AM-5PM Monday through Friday.
For more information about this topic, or to get some answers about your current insurance situation, please visit our virtual insurance agency at www.berryinsurance.com, stop by one of our two locations, or give us a call at (800) 941-3317.
You can also find us on all your favorite social networking sites!
The summer months always seem to leave a dent in your wallet. Spending money here, there, and everywhere, trying to enjoy the outdoors with family and friends. We wouldn’t recommend halting the summer fun, but taking time to learn how to save some energy and money, may help make your fun go further.
Road trips are a family favorite in the summer months. Even though you might not venture far, expenses can add up quickly. Don’t make road trips more expensive than they should be. Always be sure to plan ahead. Make sure your automobile is ready for these adventures – check that your tires are filled to the correct pressure, be on the look-out for low gas prices, and don’t have the air conditioning on the entire time. Remembering to pack food and drinks versus purchasing meals and snacks on the road can be a huge source of savings. Packing food from home doesn’t have to be a drag either. A picnic lunch outside with some gorgeous scenery isn’t a punishment, especially if you’re spending that money on another fun activity!
On those summer days when you’re just hanging around the house, there are ways to conserve energy. If you have central air conditioning, don’t put the thermostat under 78 degrees, and be sure to clean the filter to maximize efficiency. Leave ceiling fans on to circulate air; this is a great way to create a cool breeze (make sure you have the fans running counterclockwise). Close all blinds and curtains during the hottest times of the day in order to eliminate the sun heating the windows. When cooking, try recipes that don’t involve using the stove or hot appliances. Instead use the microwave or an outdoor grill. Saving the laundry and dishes until a little later in the night will keep the heat out, and not force the air conditioning to work harder than necessary.
So don’t limit the fun this summer, instead limit the energy you’re using for that fun. Being energy efficient allows your money to go further.
For more information about this topic, or to get some answers about your current insurance situation, please visit our virtual insurance agency at www.berryinsurance.com, stop by one of our two locations, or give us a call at (800) 941-3317.
You can also find us on all your favorite social networking sites!
JN Phillips opened their first location in Chelsea, Massachusetts in the 1940’s. Today over 40 locations and 140 mobile service vans exist throughout New England. This family-owned business is now the largest auto glass provider in the New England Area. Having knowledgeable, trained technicians, a great local reputation, and a strong desire to improve the environment for their clients; are just a few reasons that people choose to do business with JN Phillips Auto Glass.
Going the extra mile for you when it comes to helping to conserve the earth. JN Phillips launches the GreenShieldSM Windshield Recycling Guarantee. This Guarantee, offered exclusively to JN Phillips customers, ensures that 100% of the windshields replaced by JN Phillips are recycled, and not thrown to landfills, as is typically done. JN Phillips has contracted with E.L Harvey and Sons of Westborough, MA to perform a majority of the glass hauling for more than 40 retail stores across New England. The glass is then shipped to a windshield recycling facility in the Midwest where it is recycled. The byproducts of the recycled windshield, glass cullet, and polyvinyl butyral (the plastic laminate that helps make up a windshield), are reused in a variety of industrial applications.
If your windshield is damaged, call JN Phillips to schedule the repairs. A technician can assist you at the nearest JN Phillips location, or even at your office, or in your driveway at home. Each JN Phillips service van is equipped with everything needed for on-the-go installation or on the spot repair (weather permitting). After service is complete, a red tag will be hung from the rearview mirror, informing the customer the exact time they may drive their vehicle. Service technician’s measure humidity and temperature when calculating this length of time.
To find Google driving directions to JN Phillips Auto Glass in Franklin, MA; just click here or dial 1-877-AUTOGLASS to find the location nearest you.
Through the Partners of Berry Insurance program, JN Phillips Auto Glass is offering a Complimentary VIN Etching at any location. Click here to view and print the coupon.
For more information about this topic, or if you have any questions about our Partners Program or any of your Massachusetts business insurance needs, our agents at Berry Insurance would love to help! Call us at (800) 941-3317, visit our virtual insurance office at http://www.berryinsurance.com/ or stop by one of our locations in Franklin and Quincy, MA.
You can also find us on all your favorite social networking sites!
In the wake of the June 1, 2011 tornadoes affecting Massachusetts residents, people all over the state (and some out of the state) are finding pictures and documents in the midst of scattered debris. Some of these items were reported to have traveled over 60 miles in the winds of the tornado. While news reports are flowing in from people throughout the state trying to locate the owners of the items found on their property, residents should be mindful of the potential for identity theft occurring.
The tornadoes that struck Massachusetts not only destroyed homes. They also scattered possessions, including people’s personal documents possibly containing sensitive and personal data. Unfortunately, the potential for identity theft from these lost documents is often overlooked by residents who are busy rebuilding and getting back on track after the storm.
If you were a victim of the tornado, and some of your personal documents were lost in the storm, there are a few steps you may want to take to reduce or prevent your risk of identity theft. If you believe your personal information has been lost, compromised or stolen, you should immediately do the following:
1. If you have been displaced from your home, set up a mail forwarding service to your new address or have your mail held at the Post Office. You can set up these services at your local Post Office branch or online here: http://www.usps.com/all/optionsforreceivingmail/welcome.htm.
2. Monitor your credit report. Obtain a free copy of your credit report ASAP to see if there may be incorrect or new addresses, unidentified account information or new accounts recently established. You can request 1 report per credit bureau per year, for free, via the following methods:
- Request by Internet: https://www.annualcreditreport.com
- Request by Phone: (877) 322-8228
- Request by Mail: Complete the Annual Credit Request Form and mail to: Annual Credit Report Request Service P.O. Box 105281 Atlanta, GA 30348-5281
Note: Experts recommend you request your credit report from just one of the three major credit reporting agencies at a time. This way you can stagger your credit report requests throughout the year, unless you see something in your report that you suspect is fraudulent.
3. Contact at least one of the credit reporting bureaus and place a free ‘fraud alert’ on your credit profile. You only need to contact one of the agencies, who are required to contact the other agencies for the fraud notifications.
- There is no cost to you to place this alert
- You should contact at least one of the credit bureaus ASAP to let them know you may be a victim of identity theft, and you would like to place a ‘fraud alert’ on your credit file
- Your credit file will be flagged with a statement that says you may be a victim of fraud and that creditors should phone you before extending credit
Contact numbers for the three credit reporting agencies are:
- Equifax fraud department: (888) 766-0008, Web: www.equifax.com
- Experian fraud department: (888) EXPERIAN (888-397-3742), Web: www.experian.com/fraud
- Trans Union fraud department (800) 680-7289, Web: www.transunion.com
4. If you feel you need additional protection added to your credit file at the credit reporting agencies, you may want to also consider placing a ‘Credit Freeze’ with each of the credit reporting bureaus. A credit freeze will lock access to the your credit profile for up to ninety days and is more powerful than a Fraud Alert.
A credit freeze provides you with an effective method to stop (‘freeze out’) identity thieves from getting credit in your name. A freeze prevents a lender from seeing your credit report. And since most lenders won’t grant credit without reviewing your credit report, the credit request is effectively ‘frozen out’ – and so is the identity thief. But don’t worry, you can un-freeze your credit report at any time using a PIN (Personal Identifying Number) to unlock access to your credit file when necessary.
You can call or write to each of the three main credit bureaus to request the freeze. The freeze can later be removed by phone. The credit bureaus are required to unlock your report within three days of notification. There is usually a cost of $10 per credit reporting agency to lock and unlock a credit freeze.
5. If you have lost any credit cards, debit cards or check books you should call your financial institutions to notify them right away. You should also inquire about getting new account numbers and cards mailed to you.
6. Contact your insurance agent right away if you believe you are a victim of identity theft. In addition to being able to purchase a stand-alone identity theft policy, some homeowners insurance companies offer limited identity theft restoration and/or reparation coverages via endorsement.
“The main thing people need to know in this type of situation is that, while documents with their personal information may have been lost in the storm, anyone finding your document isn’t intending on committing identity theft,” states Craig Peterson, President and CEO of The Cyberian Group, Inc. “Your risk may be higher, so it’s prudent that at a minimum, watch your accounts over the coming months, get a copy of your most recent credit report, and file a fraud alert with one of the credit reporting agencies. These are free, easy steps to take for greater peace of mind.”
For more information about this topic, or to get some answers about your current Massachusetts home insurance situation, please visit our virtual insurance agency at www.berryinsurance.com, stop by one of our two locations, or give us a call at (800) 941-3317.
You can also find us on all your favorite social networking sites!
Berry Insurance has several clients in the central and western parts of the state, where damage was the most severe. Hearing about the destruction they incurred was hard enough, but seeing the images on the news was even harder.
Over the weekend I had a chance to visit my hometown of Southbridge, MA where I toured some of the streets struck by the devastating tornado on June 1, 2011. Roads were in disarray with trees strewn about. Some streets were still closed and some were only accessible to residents. The National Guard was there. Houses were marked for demolition. It was heart breaking.
Below are some images from my trip as well as reflections from a few of our clients who live in, or have ties to, the town of Southbridge, MA.
Our thoughts go out to all those affected by the storm, both the residents of Southbridge and the state as a whole. We encourage anyone who can help the victims of the storm to contact local government officials or the Red Cross.
