Rich Hauswirth - Agent for Plymouth Rock Assurance Co.

Plymouth Rock Assurance Company (formerly Palisades Insurance) has added a new feature for all of their personal auto insurance policyholders.

The Get Home Safe Program is a new addition to their policies at no cost to the policy holder. In short, policyholders may be reimbursed up to $50 for cab service fees when utilized for transportation if they find themselves in a situation where it would be unsafe to operate their vehicle.  This will be a free service that can be used once per year for a cab ride up to a maximum of $50.  The policyholder must have a written receipt for the expense.

Many times, you may find yourself in a situation where you just don’t feel up to driving and this free service for Plymouth Rock customers will give you that extra option to not get behind the wheel of the car.

We’re proud to be agents for Plymouth Rock (formally Palisades) and if you’re not a Plymouth Rock customer, why not stop by our web site or call our office (877-329-3261) and let us show you what other great services we have to offer!

Rich Hauswirth - No More Texting!

This past weekend, Margareth and I attended a wedding in a small Monmouth County town. While driving up Route 71, the municipality had a very large flashing sign which showed six words: 

You Talk -  You Text – You Pay!

What I have since learned is that in addition to state laws on texting and talking while driving, several municipalities have also started enacting local ordinances banning the practice of using a cell phone while driving.

Several states now prohibit motorists from using hand-held cell phones while driving—and 19 states prohibit text messaging while driving. Many more, like Connecticut, have restrictions on the use of hand-held devices by teenage drivers. These are common-sense precautions, but until this weekend I did not know that local governments are also getting in the act.

Take it from one who got “caught” last year talking on the cell while driving on the Garden State Parkway.  I was not paying attention to what I should have been doing and I paid a hefty price for that action.

Hauswirth & Sons Insurance Consultants proudly represents Plymouth Rock Assurance Company

Palisades Insurance Company has announced their name will be changing to Plymouth Rock Assurance Company within the next week. Palisades and their sister company, High Point Insurance, are both owned by the parent company, Plymouth Rock Insurance of Massachusetts. The plan to consolidate the two companies here in New Jersey has been in the works for two years.

We want to assure all our customers that the responsive and efficient service you currently receive from Palisades will continue.  While certain back office operations are being consolidated with the name change; their employees, products, and services will remain the same.

We expect a couple of months for the name change to fully transition from Palisades Insurance Company to Plymouth Rock Assurance Company. During this time,  our customers will receive materials displaying one or both names. All of us at Hauswirth & Sons Insurance Consultants can assure you nothing else will change.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us at 609-693-3123.

Steve Hauswirth & Dad preparing a seafood dinner while NOT driving!

I love reading lists!  So when I found this one that was written by a leading insurance company and was spread around the news wires, I felt it my obligation to share, especially when I just recently paid a  $130 fine for using my cell phone while driving.

Eating while driving is one of the most distracting things you can do, according to a study released by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute. Eighty percent of crashes and 65 percent of near-crashes involve driver distraction.

According to NHTSA, “Distraction was most likely to be involved in rear-end collisions in which the lead vehicle was stopped, as well as in single-vehicle crashes.” Distractions like eating can become a problem for drivers who can’t react quickly to a sharp curve or another driver’s sudden stop. Unfortunately, just one accident may increase your car insurance rates as much as 25 percent.

Top 10 foods to avoid while driving

1.     Coffee. Even with a travel lid, hot coffee can find its way out of the opening when you hit a bump.

2.     Hot soup. Many people drink it like coffee and run the same risks.

3.     Tacos. Any food that can disassemble itself will leave your car looking like a salad bar.

4.     Chili dogs. Huge potential for drips and slops down the front of clothing.

5.     Hamburgers. From the grease to the toppings, it could end up on your hands and the steering wheel.

6.     Ribs and wings. What’s more distracting than licking your fingers?

7.     Fried chicken. More greasy hands. You’ve got to wipe them off while you’re driving.

8.     Jelly donuts. It’s not possible to eat one without watching the center ooze out.

9.     Soda. Carbonation. Fizz in the nose. Lids that leak. Disaster.

10.   Chocolate. Try to clean melted chocolate off the steering wheel without swerving.

Exxon surveyed 1,000 drivers and discovered more than 70 percent of drivers eat while driving and 83 percent drink beverages. The NHTSA study cites these driver distractions as the top reasons for car crashes – and ultimately higher auto insurance rates.

Hauswirth & Sons Insurance Consultants

A few short years ago, my friend Jim was commuting to his office in Trenton. From Forked River, he takes the back roads out to Route 195 outside of Allentown along Route 539.  The area is amazingly beautiful in the fall of the year with farms and forests in a blaze of color and hungry deer looking for food.

His Toyota Pick-Up truck just happened to get in the way of a deer crossing the highway as he drove by. When Jim came by the office later that day with his wife Julie, his head was bandaged and both hands covered in gauze.  The deer tried to jump the pick-up and landed in his lap.  The windshield imploded into Jim causing lacerations to his hands and scalp.  He was lucky to be alive!  While Jim’s case was severe (the pick-up was totaled), the average claim for an animal collision now runs about $3,100 according to the Insurance Information Institute.

Some Steps you can take to decrease the likelihood of being involved in a deer-collision:

• Drive with caution in areas where large deer populations are known, such as where roads divide farmland and forestland.
• Always wear your seatbelt. The Institute for Highway Safety reports that in a study of fatal animal crashes, 60% of those killed were not wearing seat belts.
• When driving in the evening, use high beam headlights when there is no oncoming traffic. This will better illuminate the eyes of a deer on the highway
• Sunset and early morning hours are the high risk times for collisions
• Break firmly when you notice a deer and try to stay in your lane. Many serious crashes occur when a driver swerves to avoid hitting a deer and instead hits another vehicle.

In the event your vehicle strikes a deer, try to avoid going near or touching the animal, it can further hurt you and injure itself.  Call the police immediately and then call your insurance agent if there is any damage to your car.

Rich Hauswirth CIC, CPIA Insurance Consultant, Author & Law Breaker

We’ve had a lot going on the last two weeks.  Chicago and our annual meeting with our agency software vendor to discuss updates and work flow suggestions, and then back to New Jersey last Monday to meet with some of our insurance companies.  I packed and left Monday afternoon to drive to Albany, New York to attend a continuing education seminar and catch up with some friends.  So life was pretty hectic!

The last I remember Monday was leaving Lacey Township and heading north on the Garden State Parkway listening to Dave Matthews on a CD looking forward  to meeting up with friends when I remembered I needed to talk to Margareth about “stuff”’.  One hand on the wheel, one on the phone and the music blaring when I looked in the rear view mirror to see a State Trooper’s lights on and siren blaring,  pointing me to pull over. “Sir, were you talking on your cell phone?” he asked.  What could I say?  “Yes, officer, I was”.

It appears he was trailing me for a mile with his lights on and I did not even notice him. Totally not paying attention to what I should be doing: concentrating on my driving. Breaking every rule I tell my co-workers and clients even after writing a blog about cell phones and driving.  The worst part of this experience was the Trooper was about the same age as my sons.  Imagine being chewed out by your kids!  While the officer was very polite, he got his point across…”turn the darn phone off and concentrate on the road”.

My phone is now turned off while in the car. Yes, I did get a sizable fine for my actions and it was a lesson  that I did learn.

Rich Hauswirth

Let me open this week’s blog by stating that I have immense respect for the Progressive Insurance Companies.  In fact, we have been very proud to represent them in our agency for the past four years, and look forward to a long partnership with them.  They are a top rated carrier and handle their claims quickly and fairly and they have good rates for certain classes of the New Jersey driving public.

But what I strongly disagree with them on is the advertising claim being made on TV by our buddy, “Flo”, who says that you, the public can name your own price for car insurance. There is a perilous danger you need to be aware of when it comes to “Naming Your Own Price”.

All insurance companies must, and let me repeat myself, MUST use the rates they have on file with the state insurance department.  It would be illegal for them to do otherwise.  All of the discounts that are offered by any insurance company are also part of the rate filing they have with the state.

So what does that mean to you?  When you “name your own price” if you have already gotten the lowest rate the carrier offers, gotten all of the discounts, and increased your deductibles to the max, there is only one more way to “name your price” and that is to cut coverage.  That’s all well and good if you’re never going to have an accident, but one wrong move on the road and you could lose everything you own.

Imagine driving around with $25,000 or $50,000 worth of liability coverage and plowing into a Mercedes loaded with lawyers?  Maybe that does not sound realistic but how about skidding on black ice and hitting a car with little kids in the back and causing some permanent injuries to Mom and the kids.  You may actually have named your price and in return received a liability limit of $25,000.  How far do you think that will get you with people suing for permanent injuries?

I’ve seen many people call up the 1-800 or internet insurance providers, and come back with what they think are great savings, until we explain that the limits that they were sold on the phone are far less coverage than what they had before. That “fifteen minute” phone call to you-know-who could save you up to 15% . . . or it could cost you your house.

Here’s the bottom line: First: There is a lot more to auto insurance than cutting your premiums. Second: We represent several different auto insurance carriers who can offer you not only great coverage, but can do so at affordable rates. Third:  We will shop the market for you saving you time and money.

How can Hauswirth & Sons Insurance help you today?

Rich Hauswirth

I have written about this in the past and, forgive me I will continue to do so to my friends and clients.

Multi-tasking and driving do not mix!

New Jersey is just about the most conjested state in the union.  We have more cars per square mile than any other state.  And yet we do everything while driving from eating lunch to talking on the phone.  These items do increase the potential for a serious accident.

So I came across an article written by the folks at GMAC, entitled:

  “THE TOP FIVE DRIVING MISTAKES THAT CAUSE CRASHES”

I think  they are worth sharing….

1. Multi-Tasking While Driving
2. Following the Car in Front of YOU too Closely
3. Not Yielding on a Left-Hand Turn
4. Incorrect Merging
5. Relying on the Mirror When Backing Up.  As they say, objects in the mirror are closer than they appear.

Share this with the people you care about.

Rich Hauswirth

Margareth & Rich Hauswirth

One of the most intriguing, undervalued benefits of your personal insurance is the “free” lawyer part.
It’s easy to pick on lawyers, I know, until you need one. And if you ever looked at the cost, it’s a bunch. $250-$500 an hour billed in 15 minute increments, plus “costs,” ( everything from express mail, experts, photocopies, depositions, on and on.). And should you ever have to go to court? Never mind, you can’t afford it. Settle now.

When I say “free,” I mean free to you. Your insurance company foots the bill. Let me explain.

Your insurance company (in exchange for all rights to settle claims against you) “picks and pays” for your legal defense.

Your policy is an agreement, a contract. The standard language says the insurance company agrees:

“to pay for damages for bodily injury or property damage for which any insured becomes legally responsible because of an auto accident…In addition to our limit of liability, we will pay all defense costs we incur.”

Emphasis on “all.” Naturally, the company has an interest in getting the best, experienced legal help since it’s their money on the line (i.e., your limits of liability).

In order to keep the free attorney, though, it’s important to keep your insurance company on the hook. If the insurance runs out, so does the free attorney. There’s the catch. The clause continues like this:

“Our duty to settle or defend ends when our limit of liability for this coverage had been exhausted by payment of maximum limit of liability. “

This is the “free lawyer” part I think is so valuable. If you only have, say, $100,000 of car insurance and cause an accident with five times that amount, your insurance company is going to cut you loose and pay your plaintiff it’s $100,000 and be gone. This leaves you to negotiate and pay for the remaining obligation. Legal fees and settlement.

My point is simple. You want lots of insurance-at least $250,000 for your auto and home plus a $1 million personal liability policy, at least. This way, your pretty much guaranteed your insurance company is going to stick around with the free attorney until a just settlement is reached.

Remember this, an insurance company will not defend you ’on principle.’ If they can settle and go, they will-leaving you in a lurch.

Let’s avoid this and bulk up on liability insurance.

The obvious part about your policy is that it pays for damages for bodily injury or property damage for which you become legally responsible because of an auto accident.

How do you do this?

Buy large limits of liability including a personal umbrella.

Rich Hauswirth

You heard me correct! I’m hot under the collar about these “1-800 AUTO INSURANCE ORDER TAKERS” who sit in their cubicles all day and speak to faceless consumers in all 50 states. Do you really think that these strangers in headsets care one way or another if you buy $15,000 or $500,000 worth of auto insurance? NO, they do not!

The fact remains that if you are sued because you cause an accident and the judgment exceeds the limit on your policy, you will be held personally liable. The court can grab assets, garnish wages and place a lien on your home.

Recently, our friends at Geico were found guilty on a class action law suit for not offering proper limits on their web site to NJ consumers under the Personal Injury Protection (PIP) health coverage option. Many of their customers who were involved in auto accidents had bare bones medical coverage and were stuck with huge bills to pay by themselves. The settlement was in the tens of millions of dollars. They don’t care!

We believe it is best to offer you a choice when it comes to coverage and when it comes to your insurance company. Our office has several companies to select from when it comes to your auto insurance. We offer several different coverage options to choose from for your liability, medical (PIP) and comprehensive and collision deductibles.

You do not have to settle for bare bones coverage in order to save a few bucks. At Hauswirth & Sons Insurance, you do have a choice.