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Today is our office dog’s 6th birthday! Gabi is a Petit Bassett Griffon Vendeen (PBGV). She is a French hunting dog. Happy Birthday, Gabi!!!
The National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration provides car seat recommendations for children to help any parent with the responsibility of driving a child:
Birth-12 months: Your child under age 1 should always ride in a rear-facing car seat. There are different types of rear-facing car seats: Infant-only seats can only be used rear-facing. Convertible and 3-in-1 car seats typically have higher height and weight limits for the rear-facing position, allowing you to keep your child rear-facing for a longer period of time.
1-3 years: Keep your child rear-facing as long as possible. It’s the best way to keep him or her safe. Your child should remain in a rear-facing car seat until he or she reaches the top height or weight limit allowed by your car seat’s manufacturer. Once your child outgrows the rear-facing car seat, your child is ready to travel in a forward-facing car seat with a harness.
4-7 years: Keep your child in a forward-facing car seat with a harness until he or she reaches the top height or weight limit allowed by your car seat’s manufacturer. Once your child outgrows the forward-facing car seat with a harness, it’s time to travel 
in a booster seat, but still in the back seat.
8-12 years: Keep your child in a booster seat until he or she is big enough to fit in a seat belt properly. For a seat belt to fit properly the lap belt must lie snugly across the upper thighs, not the stomach. The shoulder belt should lie snug across the shoulder and chest and not cross the neck or face. Remember, your child should still ride in the back seat because it’s safer there.
What is Renters Insurance?
If you rent your home, having insurance protection for yourself and your possessions is still important. Similar to home insurance, renters insurance protects you in situations that everyone can face: fire, theft, water damage and other unforeseen circumstances your landlord’s policy doesn’t cover.
Renters insurance typically provides coverage, up to the limits you select, for specified items and situations, including:
- Personal property (furniture, electronics, computer equipment, clothing, etc.)
- Personal liability if someone is hurt, whether in your home or away from it
- Damage to your apartment or home caused by a covered loss
Building fires and damage can happen anytime, anywhere, but with proper renters insurance, your personal property inside your apartment will generally be covered if it’s affected by any of the following:
- Fire
- Smoke damage
- Theft
- Collapse of the building due to weather
- Water leakage or overflow
- Freezing of plumbing, air conditioning and more
Renters insurance will protect you from incidents that occur while you’re at home, too, such as a toaster catching on fire or a friend slipping and falling while visiting you. Renters insurance provides coverage for your own items, and it provides coverage for other people’s injuries or damages in situations for which you’re liable, as well.
You can’t rely on your landlord’s insurance to cover your valuables — landlord insurance only covers the building structure and not your personal property.
Before you shop for renters insurance, take an inventory of what you own to decide what level of coverage makes you comfortable. Then, call us at (865) 483-3200 or visit www.sandrinsurance.com for a free quote!
36 states offer price reductions or discounts on auto insurance to motorists who complete the AARP Driver Safety Program.
Participating states offer price reductions or discounts on auto insurance to motorists who complete the AARP Driver Safety Program, whether in the classroom or by taking the online course:
Then call us at (865) 483-3200 to see if your auto insurance company offers the AARP Driver’s Safety Discount.
For additional information, go to:
http://www.aarp.org/home-garden/transportation/info-05-2010/auto_insurance_discounts.html
Rent a Car With Confidence
Approach the rental counter with confidence knowing whether you really need to get the supplemental insurance offered by the rental car company. Car insurance group Progressive offers these tips to help you make a smart decision.
- Before you leave on your trip, call your agent or insurance company. They’ll give you the details for your policy. Generally, if you have liability and physical damage coverages, there’s a good chance you don’t need to buy the supplemental coverage.
If you review your policy, you might see a coverage called rental reimbursement listed. Keep in mind that this coverage doesn’t protect you in a rental car; rather, it pays for a rental in case your car needs to be repaired following a claim.
- Check with your credit card company. Some credit cards provide free coverage if you use their card to pay for the rental. This coverage applies in many, but not all situations, so be sure to ask for an exact description of what’s covered.
- If you end up choosing to buy insurance from the rental car company, check to see what’s covered. If personal effects aren’t covered, they’ll likely be covered by your homeowners or renters insurance. You may also want to bring a copy of your insurance declarations page with you as a reference.
If you don’t need supplemental insurance, pass it up and put the money towards your trip.
For more information, talk to your independent agent, S & R Insurance Services, Inc. at (865) 483-3200.
Reposted with permission from Progressive.com
Anyone who has ridden a motorcycle knows that it can be exhilarating and fun. And there are times when a biker may want to travel with a passenger. Riding with a passenger can be a great experience for both the driver and the passenger, but it is important that the proper preparations are made to ensure your safety. The most important thing to remember when considering riding with a passenger is that both of you must be comfortable. You should be an experienced motorcyclist and comfortable with your skills and your bike before adding a passenger to the mix. If your riding companion is scared or nervous, it can make a big difference in the way they react, which can affect the bike’s handling. The passenger must be able to relax and work with the driver. The passenger should also be alert and act as another set of eyes and ears out on the road.
The first step in making a passenger feel comfortable is a prepared driver. Start by making sure your bike is capable of carrying two people. You may need to adjust your suspension to accommodate the extra weight, so check your owner’s manual before heading out. Be sure you have a seat that can comfortably accommodate two. In addition, talk to your passenger about what their responsibilities are out on the road. Don’t assume they know.
Before Riding :
Protective Gear – Make sure your passenger knows that they need to wear a helmet, jacket, gloves, boots and long pants if they are going to be riding with you. The proper attire can help reduce the risk of injury in the event of an accident.
Mounting – Explain to your passenger that the rider mounts first, gets the bike pointed in the right direction and has the bike completely under control before the passenger mounts. The passenger should always mount and dismount the bike from the left side by first putting a foot on the peg and then swinging the other leg over the seat. They should try to keep their weight as evenly distributed as possible.
Feet on the Pegs – Once on the bike, it’s important that the passenger keep both feet on the pegs at all times, unless the driver indicates otherwise. If the rider takes their feet off the pegs, it can throw off the distribution of weight and cause the bike to tip. In some states, the law requires foot pegs for passengers, so make sure you know what the guidelines in your state are before you head out.
During the Ride:
Practice – Let your passenger know that their added weight can cause the bike to handle differently. Find a large parking lot or a straight section of road and take the time to practice braking and stopping so both you and your passenger can get used to the feel of it.
Braking – Weight distribution will change as the bike comes to a stop. The quicker the braking, the more sudden the change in weight distribution. As you come to a stop, your passenger will automatically lurch forward. To minimize the effects of the shift in weight, make sure your passenger keeps their feet on the foot pegs and holds on to the driver around the waist, at the hips or by the belt. As the driver, you should leave plenty of time for braking to avoid abrupt stops.
Leaning – Instruct your passenger to lean with the bike while turning or around corners. They should lean gently and avoid sudden movements. The passenger should hold on to the driver and move with the movement of the bike and driver. If your passenger has never ridden a cycle before, you should not take any high-speed turns until they understanding leaning and can do it properly.
Turning – When turning, it is important that the passenger move with the driver and help maintain the stability of the bike. Again, this is best accomplished by having the passenger hold on to the driver, counterbalance to keep the weight evenly distributed and avoid any abrupt movements.
Stop Often – Be sure that both you and your passenger have ample opportunity to get off the bike, stretch your legs and enjoy the scenery. It will help keep both of you alert and make he ride more enjoyable. Riding with a passenger can be safe and fun if you provide these tips to your passenger, talk through their responsibilities and yours, and practice until you’re both comfortable before heading out on the road. If your passenger moves in synch with the bike and the driver, maintains evenly centered weight distribution, holds on to the driver and is relaxed and comfortable, you can have a great time riding. But remember, it all starts with a prepared driver who is confident and in control.
Before heading out on the road, alone or with a companion, you should also make sure you have the right insurance policy to protect you from the unexpected. The companies of the Foremost Insurance Group have been providing specialty insurance programs for over 50 years and they have the experience and expertise to offer a superior motorcycle insurance policy. A Foremost policy offers things like Safety Apparel Coverage, Optional Equipment Coverage, Towing and Roadside Assistance including Trip Interruption Coverage, flexible payment plans and money-saving discounts.
Foremost has specially-trained claims representatives that handle only motorcycle and off-road vehicle claims – it’s not just one of the things they do, it’s all they do. We have the experience and expertise to handle claims quickly and fairly.
For more information about a specialized Motorcycle insurance policy from Foremost, you can call us at 483-3200.
Foremost 962237 12/03
What is Identity Theft Insurance?
Identity theft affects millions of Americans every year, and no one is immune to the possibility of becoming a victim of identity theft. If you are unfortunate enough to become the victim of identity theft, you will undoubtedly spend many, many hours trying to clear your name and remedy the situation. Identity theft insurance is one particular product companies have begun to offer consumers in response to the growing threat of identity theft.
Check Your Homeowner’s Policy
Some homeowner insurance policies actually include identity theft coverage . Policies vary, so check your policy first. If having identity theft insurance provides you with added peace of mind, then it is probably a good choice.
What makes a Trusted Choice Agency Stand Out?
Choice, Customization and Advocacy in insurance and financial services.
A Trusted Choice® agency represents multiple insurance companies so we can offer you a variety of coverage choices and help you customize a plan that provides the protection you want.
The choice is yours.
• Choose your insurance policy
• Compare a variety of companies
• Evaluate financial services offered
• Customize coverage for your home or business
• Assist you when you have a claim
Call us today!
Meet our newest employee, Tricia. She comes to us from NewYork – Attica, to be more specific. After high school, Tricia joined the US Marine Corps and then started her insurance career in 2001.
Tricia is licensed in Property and Casualty. She handles Commercial Lines.
She loves to spend time with her niece and nephews and doing online research.
