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What Every Business Owner Should Know About Credit Card Protections

Protecting Against Consumer Identify Theft The use of credit and debit cards and electronic payments has become a way of  life for public and private businesses and their customers. With this, vulnerabilities to credit card fraud and identity theft have increased. To help improve credit and debit card security, the credit card industry and federal and state governments have set standards and regulations. Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act and Receipt Requirements Congress passed the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act of 2003 (FACTA), significantly amending the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). Effective Dec. 4, 2006, 15 U.S.C. §1681c amended the act to require any… Read More »What Every Business Owner Should Know About Credit Card Protections

Reduce the Chances of Dog Biting

With dog bite claims accounting for over one-third of all homeowners insurance liability claim dollars in 2011, we remind dog owners to take preventative measures to protect themselves from the potentially serious financial consequences of aggressive canine behavior. • Consult with a professional (e.g., veterinarian, animal behaviorist, or responsible breeder) to learn about suitable breeds of dogs for the insured’s household and neighborhood. • Spend time with a dog before buying or adopting it. Use caution when bringing a dog into a home with an infant or toddler. A dog with a history of aggression is inappropriate in a household… Read More »Reduce the Chances of Dog Biting

Top 10 Car Technologies

According to researchers at The Hartford and MIT, smart headlights, emergency response systems and reverse monitoring features rank highest in car technologies. As more and more of these features are incorporated into vehicles, we believe that it’s important for drivers to be knowledgeable of and use those technologies that can enhance safe driving capacity, comfort, and confidence. Smart headlights: adjust the range and intensity of light based on the distance of traffic and to reduce glare and improve night vision Emergency response systems: offer quick assistance to drivers in the case of a medical emergency or collision, often allowing emergency… Read More »Top 10 Car Technologies

How to Reduce Liability When Selecting Subcontractors

General contractors and/or prime contractors are designated “controlling employers” in the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) construction standard. Controlling employers are defined as those contractors who may be held responsible for the actions of subcontractors, including bodily injury and/or property damage caused by subcontractors to the public, other contractor’s employees, or for injuries to the subcontractor’s own employees. These exposures can be broken down into the following areas: Employee injuries (workers’ compensation) Job site physical injury to others or property loss (premises liability) Physical injury or property damage to the public around the site (premises/general liability) A defect arising… Read More »How to Reduce Liability When Selecting Subcontractors

Avoiding Liability on Your Website

The Internet provides a rich environment for creative communication. Used with care, it can assist in increasing product safety. But in their enthusiasm to capitalize on its power, some companies are increasing their liability potential. • A company president was not aware of a product on his company’s website. The marketing department put it there because it was a product they were thinking about developing. • A Vice President of Administration was unaware they even had a website. • Operator instructions normally in the manual provided with the product were posted on the website, but warning labels were left out.… Read More »Avoiding Liability on Your Website

California Signs Electronic Proof Of Insurance Bill

Yes! It happens right now. We witness a great moment of the history! Gov. Jerry Brown made California the seventh state in the nation to allow drivers to show proof of insurance coverage using their smart phone. Brown on Friday signed Assembly Bill 1708, a bill authored by Assemblyman Gatto, which will give drivers the option to show proof of financial responsibility electronically using a mobile electronic device. “Governor Brown just brought proof of coverage into the 21st Century by signing AB 1708,” said Armand Feliciano, with the Association of California Insurance Companies. “California has long been known as ground zero… Read More »California Signs Electronic Proof Of Insurance Bill

Vote for Pet Insurance Claims of the Year

Here are the 12 unusual claims nominated for the 2012 Hambone Award: July 2011 – Ginger the golden retriever (Rocky Hill, Conn.). Sniffing turned snippy when a feisty snapping turtle chomped down on Ginger’s nose, causing quite a scare and lacerations to her muzzle. August 2011 – Havee the Havanese (Pompton Plains, N.J.). A cleaning spree resulted in a trip to the local animal hospital when Havee’s tail was run over by the vacuum after he fell asleep under the dining room table. September 2011 – Kei the shiba inu (Wadswoth, Ill.). An escalator excursion landed Kei in the animal… Read More »Vote for Pet Insurance Claims of the Year

How to Ease the Insurance Claims Process

Here are some simple things you and your loved ones can do now to ease the insurance claims process should you suffer property damage or loss. Review your insurance policies. When a disaster hits, a lot of people realize they aren’t familiar with the terms of their policies. You might think you have more coverage than you actually do. Reviewing your insurance policies now gives you the chance to make adjustments and have those adjustments take effect before a storm comes our way. Also, remember that flooding is not covered under your homeowners insurance policy; you need to buy a separate flood insurance policy.… Read More »How to Ease the Insurance Claims Process

Increases for Liability Insurance for Construction Firms

The commercial general liability market for the U.S. construction industry continues to firm with underwriters seeking rate increases of up to 15 percent, according to a report published by Marsh. Construction firms with poor loss histories are experiencing even larger liability rate increases and in some cases receiving non-renewal notices from their underwriters. After nearly a decade of rate declines, insurers also are typically seeking to raise rates on umbrella and excess liability insurance of between 8 and 10 percent, according to Marsh’s August 2012 Construction Market Update. According to the report, rates for project-specific general liability, general liability wraps,… Read More »Increases for Liability Insurance for Construction Firms

September is National Preparedness Month

A recent Travelers survey found that 48% of small business owners do not have a written business continuity plan. That’s especially troublesome considering that The American Red Cross estimates as many as 40% of small businesses do not reopen after a major disaster. We have partnered with Travelers Insurance Company to offer Business Continuity tools that help business owners plan for the unexpected so they do not become part of a statistic. You can start building your plan today using resources on Small Business Safety, Protecting Your Business, Plan Ahead, at travelers.com pages. Should you have any questions, please feel… Read More »September is National Preparedness Month