Today, the number of blogs and social media sites on the web is at an all-time high. I visit and read many of them myself, including the ones developed by the insurance companies we represent. While many businesses can use these social media outlets to their advantage (for example, to announce sales or to promote one’s services) there is also the risk of employees misrepresenting your business.
Employees who blog or post comments on behalf of your company are representing your company. If done improperly, posts can damage a business’s reputation, cause harassment or copyright infringement claims, or perhaps disclose confidential information. Employers may be liable for any activities on business blogs, websites, and social media sites posted by employees they hire to do this work.
I suggest that you lay out specific ground rules about your business blogging. Discuss any article or media ideas before they go live on the web, and strictly enforce your policies on disclosing information to the public.
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
National Teen Driver Safety Week; Education for Parents and Teens
We all remember the feeling we had when we received our first drivers license. While our parents worried, we delighted in our new-found freedom. Our parents’ anxiety wasn’t unjustified; teens are often involved in (or the cause of) accidents. In fact:
• Car crashes are still the leading killer of people age 15 to 20.
• Young drivers are three times as likely to die in a crash as those aged 25 to 64
• The younger the driver, the more accidents. The crash rate for 16 year olds per
million miles driven is nearly three times as high as for 19 year olds, and nearly six times as high as drivers aged 20 to 24.
The O’Neill Group supports National Teen Driver Safety Week (NTDSW) which is scheduled annually in October. NTDSW is designed to spotlight the risks and hazards associated with teen driving as well as provide education. Part of NTDSW stresses the creation of a contract between parents and teen drivers.
We have developed such a contract for families with teen drivers as part of our total protection initiative because we believe it is an important step in preventing devastating teen accidents. The contract contains such items as the number of friends allowed in a vehicle at one time, and other rules teens should abide by.
Your teen is probably becoming more independent, too. Even if your teen isn’t driving quite yet, they are often passengers. It is important to start the conversation early with your teen about their new-found independence and driving responsibilities, as well as about riding with their friends who might be newly licensed.
To find even more helpful advice on the subject as well as discussion tips, we highly recommend visiting www.teendriverinsurance.com/Oneill. We also urge you to request a free copy of the parent-teen contract by calling our office at 330-334-1561 and speaking with your Personal Protection Specialist. Please help us make our streets safer, and keep your teen safe, by reminding them that with their independence comes great responsibility, too.
• Car crashes are still the leading killer of people age 15 to 20.
• Young drivers are three times as likely to die in a crash as those aged 25 to 64
• The younger the driver, the more accidents. The crash rate for 16 year olds per
million miles driven is nearly three times as high as for 19 year olds, and nearly six times as high as drivers aged 20 to 24.
The O’Neill Group supports National Teen Driver Safety Week (NTDSW) which is scheduled annually in October. NTDSW is designed to spotlight the risks and hazards associated with teen driving as well as provide education. Part of NTDSW stresses the creation of a contract between parents and teen drivers.
We have developed such a contract for families with teen drivers as part of our total protection initiative because we believe it is an important step in preventing devastating teen accidents. The contract contains such items as the number of friends allowed in a vehicle at one time, and other rules teens should abide by.
Your teen is probably becoming more independent, too. Even if your teen isn’t driving quite yet, they are often passengers. It is important to start the conversation early with your teen about their new-found independence and driving responsibilities, as well as about riding with their friends who might be newly licensed.
To find even more helpful advice on the subject as well as discussion tips, we highly recommend visiting www.teendriverinsurance.com/Oneill. We also urge you to request a free copy of the parent-teen contract by calling our office at 330-334-1561 and speaking with your Personal Protection Specialist. Please help us make our streets safer, and keep your teen safe, by reminding them that with their independence comes great responsibility, too.
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Big Wrestler--- Little Protection
I was shocked to hear that Hulk Hogan, a retired professional wrestling star and entertainer, is in deep financial trouble after his son’s car accident. After all, Hogan is worth millions of dollars, and can surely afford appropriate insurance coverage to protect himself, right?
So what was the problem you ask? He did not have an umbrella. Hogan was worth an estimated $30 million in August 2007 when his son Nick crashed Hogan’s car and left his passenger with a serious brain injury. Hogan was way underinsured and will have to pay out of his pocket anything over the $250,000 limit he carried.
Now most of us don’t have quite that much wealth to protect, but imagine if it were you in a similar situation. Could you afford to pay a claim against you out-of-pocket… even if you’re underinsured by only an extra hundred thousand or two? It’s very unlikely that most of us could.
These situations are exactly why we always recommend at least $1 million umbrella liability protection. The low premium of just a few dollars a week is a very small price to pay when it could protect you and your family’s financial future in the event of a serious accident and subsequent lawsuit. Contact us today to find out how little it would cost you to invest in an umbrella policy.
So what was the problem you ask? He did not have an umbrella. Hogan was worth an estimated $30 million in August 2007 when his son Nick crashed Hogan’s car and left his passenger with a serious brain injury. Hogan was way underinsured and will have to pay out of his pocket anything over the $250,000 limit he carried.
Now most of us don’t have quite that much wealth to protect, but imagine if it were you in a similar situation. Could you afford to pay a claim against you out-of-pocket… even if you’re underinsured by only an extra hundred thousand or two? It’s very unlikely that most of us could.
These situations are exactly why we always recommend at least $1 million umbrella liability protection. The low premium of just a few dollars a week is a very small price to pay when it could protect you and your family’s financial future in the event of a serious accident and subsequent lawsuit. Contact us today to find out how little it would cost you to invest in an umbrella policy.
Heating Things Up
Can you believe it? It’s already time to think about getting out the extra blankets! That’s right… winter will be here before you know it, and you may be getting ready to add some “supplemental heating” to your home or office.
Unfortunately, heating causes most fires during the winter months. The good news is that most heating fires can be avoided through proper maintenance and use of equipment. When using a space heater, be sure that the units are at least three feet from other objects such as draperies, throw rugs, or even walls. Never leave the units unattended, especially with pets or children who can burn themselves or knock the units over. Never use an extension cord with these devices, as the high heat could actually melt the cord and ignite a fire.
As for fireplaces and wood burning stoves, be sure that they are properly cleaned and inspected before snuggling in front of them. Never burn paper or pine boughs which easily spark out of the fireplace hearth, and remember to use a protective screen. Be sure to keep highly flammable items such as blankets, decorations, and rugs far from the fire, too.
Lastly, but very importantly, I test and replace the batteries in my smoke detectors and carbon monoxide alarms before the start of the winter season. This easy step provides me with peace of mind that my family and guests will be alerted should an accidental fire occur.
Unfortunately, heating causes most fires during the winter months. The good news is that most heating fires can be avoided through proper maintenance and use of equipment. When using a space heater, be sure that the units are at least three feet from other objects such as draperies, throw rugs, or even walls. Never leave the units unattended, especially with pets or children who can burn themselves or knock the units over. Never use an extension cord with these devices, as the high heat could actually melt the cord and ignite a fire.
As for fireplaces and wood burning stoves, be sure that they are properly cleaned and inspected before snuggling in front of them. Never burn paper or pine boughs which easily spark out of the fireplace hearth, and remember to use a protective screen. Be sure to keep highly flammable items such as blankets, decorations, and rugs far from the fire, too.
Lastly, but very importantly, I test and replace the batteries in my smoke detectors and carbon monoxide alarms before the start of the winter season. This easy step provides me with peace of mind that my family and guests will be alerted should an accidental fire occur.
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