Tis The Season
As we approach the holiday season, we thought it might be good to provide you with a few insurance tips on how to protect yourself and your family during this season. The holiday season usually sees an increase in homeowners and other personal types of accidents and claims. Here are a few examples.
Identity Theft Increases during November and December
With more online shopping identity thieves target online shoppers. Criminals access public Wi-Fi systems to hack into your computer and smartphone.
Identity Theft Prevention Tips
- Only use a trusted site when online shopping
- Never use public Wi-Fi systems
- Don’t open an email you don’t recognize
- Check your credit card statements and credit reports
Common Insurance Claims During The Holiday Season
- Damage to home as a result of holiday party mishaps
- Theft of personal property
- Food poisoning and illness
- Stolen gifts out of mall parking lot
- House fires as a result of dry trees or candles
- Auto accidents due to rain or bad weather
- Drunk driving accidents
- Guests trip and fall claims during a holiday party
- Falling while decorating
- Winter sports activities
- Falling trees due to wind storms
- Ice and snow damages
- Travel mishaps
How To Mitigate Holiday Losses And Accidents
- Keep all walkways free of snow and other obstacles.
- Make sure outside of your home is well lite at night.
- Install handrails on all outdoor stairways.
- Inspect holiday lights for frayed wires.
- Only use lights that have an approval label from an independent testing facility.
- Water your tree daily.
- Limit the use of alcohol.
- Keep any obstructions away from open flames. Candles and fireplaces should stay clear of other decorations.
- Never leave candles burning unattended.
- When shopping take only the credit cards, you need.
- Park your car in well-lit parts of the mall parking lot.
- When using a turkey fryer, follow all safety instructions. Never use the fryer in a home or garage.
- Plan out your travel and let others know when you are leaving and returning.
- Avoid leaving towels ad oven mitts near heat sources, and always turn off the stove before leaving the kitchen.
- Keep plants out of the reach of small children and animals. If children or pets do sample these plants, call poison control.
- When hitting the slopes, dress appropriately, and wear protective goggles or glasses to block the sun’s glare.
How Your Personal Insurance Can Protect You During The Holiday Season
Homeowners Insurance
A standard homeowner’s insurance policy can offer protection from many of the trips, spills, and holiday mishaps. If your home insurance is written properly it can offer insurance coverage for;
- Trips and falls
- Theft of personal property
- Personal liability risks for third party claims
- Theft of personal property from your vehicle
- Fire and other property damage
- Damage to your home as a result of a covered loss
Some homeowner’s insurance can offer a limited amount of identity theft protection. We do recommend you consider identity theft insurance, which can protect your online identity.
Renters or Condo Insurance
Renters insurance can also provide coverage during the holidays.
- Trips and falls
- Theft of personal property
- Personal liability risks for third party claims
- Theft of personal property from your vehicle
- Fire and other property damage not insured by the owner
Auto Insurance
Auto insurance can provide coverage for you and your passengers while driving during the holiday season. There is a variety of different auto coverage options to suit different people, family situations, financial statuses and more. While state law requires certain coverages and minimum limits, most drivers should carry much higher limits to protect themselves and family should an accident take place. The primary coverages included the following:
Collision Coverage – Covers the costs of repairs or replacement of a vehicle in the event of an accident.
Comprehensive Coverage – Pays for the costs and damages associated with events such as engine fires, hail damage, hitting a deer and other damages not caused by a collision.
Bodily Injury Coverage – Provides financial compensation for injuries or death due to an auto accident, within the policy’s coverage limits.
Property Damage – Reimburses for damage to property, such as another vehicle, a fence, a building, and other types of features.
Personal Injury Protection or PIP – Because Kansas is a no-fault state, you are required to carry PIP coverage to pay for initial medical costs, any resulting disability, and other related costs.
Let us help you by providing a free, no obligation, auto insurance quote, including various coverage options to choose from. We’ll help you identify the right insurance policy, and the best insurance company, to financially protect your car, truck, and other passenger vehicles. Call or fill out our online insurance quote request tod