Emerge Insurance Agency

Buying a new car can be a very exciting time. But even amidst the joy of choosing a new vehicle, you also have to consider the implications of taking out a large loan that will take several years to pay off. This consideration is especially important because cars notoriously depreciate in value quite quickly.Just how quickly? Within one year of owning a new car, it will lose about 30 percent of its value. And it will depreciate in value by about 50 percent after three years. Being that the sticker price drops so quickly, it’s not uncommon for people to find themselves upside down on their car loan. This means that you owe more on your loan than the vehicle is worth.Let’s break this down a bit further. Say you bought a car and a year or two later it’s totaled in an accident. You bought the vehicle for $35,000, and you still owe $25,000 on your loan when it’s totaled. Your car’s value at the time of the accident — because of depreciation — is $20,000. This is the value your insurance provider is likely to reimburse you for. So after a $500 deductible, you may receive a payout of $19,500. But that leaves $5,500 that you still owe on your loan — plus, no car.The simplest way to avoid a similar situation is to add gap insurance onto your car insurance policy. Gap insurance helps cover the difference between what your insurer pays and the loan balance you still owe. This is an optional form of coverage, but it’s extremely valuable considering its low premium of about $30 per year (a value that decreases as your car ages).And because you can add gap insurance to your policy at any time, you can work with your independent insurance agent to find the best option. This eliminates the need to accept the first offer that the car dealer offers. Finding a good policy with the right coverage limits and premium is always a good idea.Have you financed a new vehicle recently? Ask your agent how gap insurance can help protect your investment.Get the right coverage today. Call Emerge Insurance Agency at 904-677-5884 for more information on the car insurance options we offer. EMERGE INSURANCE AGENCY904-677-5884

A personal umbrella policy is the Swiss Army Knife of insurance policies. It’s versatile, yet powerful. Here are 10 actual claims on a personal umbrella policy. 

Example Claim # 1: A babysitter left a 5 month old infant unattended in a walker. The infant toppled the walker, struck her head on the floor and suffered brain damage. The parents of the infant sued the teenage babysitter and her parents. The court awarded the infant’s parents $11,000,000.

Example Claim # 2: An insured’s daughter hated math class as well as the teacher. The daughter made several “disparaging” and false remarks about her teacher online. The teacher sued the parents for personal injury and $750,000 was paid.

Example Claim # 3: The insured’s 18 year old son was driving the insured’s car on a short trip to the store with his girlfriend. He lost control of the car and struck a tree. The insured’s son told the police that a vehicle cut him off, but there were no witnesses and no evidence of any impact with another car. His girlfriend, a 19 year old college student, was hospitalized for over a month with multiple fractures and internal injuries. She was in a wheelchair but is now able to walk with crutches and continues with physical therapy. She has a right drop foot as a result of the injuries. The insured’s personal umbrella policy limit was paid.

Example Claim # 4: A 28-year old engineer dove into a friend’s above ground swimming pool struck his head on the bottom and, as a result became a quadriplegic. He sued both the homeowner and the pool manufacturer. The court found the homeowner to be 60 percent responsible and the pool manufacturer to be 40 percent responsible, and awarded $10,000,000.

Example Claim # 5: The insured’s tenant claims she became ill from carbon monoxide poisoning resulting from a faulty furnace. The tenant claimed permanent brain damage and demanded $750,000.

Example Claim # 6: A teenager, who was destined for greatness as a softball player, filed a $700,000 lawsuit against her former coach, alleging his “incorrect” teaching style ruined her chances for an athletic scholarship.

Example Claim # 7: A hillside on the insured’s property was covered with concrete to prevent erosion. The concrete had been installed before the insured purchased the property. Approximately 5 feet of the concrete fell to the neighboring property knocking the claimant’s home from its foundation. The resulting claim was settled for $970,000.

Example Claim # 8: The insured permitted several of her children and their friends to play paintball in her large back yard. The children were experienced and advised of all the safety rules including the use of headgear at all times. A participant removed her headgear as she was leaving the field in order to better hear someone calling her name. The minor claimant was hit in the eye resulting in a $475,000 settlement.

Example Claim # 9: The insured hosted a beach party for their daughter. One of the attendees found what was believed to be an empty and discarded propane tank. The tank was thrown into a beach bonfire and subsequently exploded resulting in severe injuries to several guests. A $20,000,000 claim was filed alleging the insured failed to properly supervise the party.

Example Claim # 10: A couple hosted a party for their teenage children. They did not provide any alcohol, but it was brought by some of the guests and was available. After leaving the party, one of the guests was severely injured in an auto accident, and the injury was attributed to his consumption of alcohol. This case went to the Wisconsin Supreme Court which decided that anyone who sells or furnishes alcohol to a minor is responsible for the minor’s injuries as well as any injuries caused by the minor. The opinion of the court was that the homeowners should have prevented the consumption of alcohol by minors on their premises. Both the homeowners and personal umbrella policies responded to this claim.

**The above losses show the consequences of situations that can quickly exhaust the liability limits of the underlying policies. For less than the cost of a cup of coffee a day, most people can purchase a Personal Umbrella Policy with a limit of $1,000,000 possibly $2,000,000 or even $5,000,000.Get coverage today. Call Emerge Insurance Agency at 904-677-5884 or contact us online to learn more about personal umbrella insurance. (Article Courtesy: Chubb) EMERGE INSUANCE AGENCY904-677-5884

Whether you’re a kid or an adult, there’s no debating the popularity of biking. There are more than 500 registered bicycle-related records in the Guinness Book of World Records, and you’d be hard pressed to walk down any street in America and not see kids riding their bikes. But before you ride down the driveway and onto the neighborhood streets, everyone should know the rules of the road. Why? Statistically, almost two people die every day from a bicycle-car related crash, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Additionally, a NHTSA report from March 2017 found that bicyclist fatalities had jumped drastically from 729 in 2014 to 818 in 2015. While riding a bicycle presents a fun and alternative mode of transport, it can also put you at risk, so Emerge Insurance Agency wants to encourage all riders to follow these important bicycle safety tips: 1. Always wear a bicycle helmetWearing a helmet is still one of the most important ways to stay safe while on a bicycle, and it’s required by law in some states for children under a certain age. A helmet will protect your head if you happen to hit something or someone, fall or get struck by a vehicle. Regardless of the distance of your trip or preferred route, always wear a helmet to help prevent head injuries. 2. Avoid busy streetsBiking down a major roadway might make for a direct and faster route, but there’s no guarantee that it’ll be the safest one when sharing the road with fast-moving traffic. Traveling busy streets increases your risk of getting into an accident with a car because motorists can be distracted and sometimes fail to realize that they’re sharing the road with cyclists. If you really must use a major roadway, avoid the rush and leave early. 3. Don’t wear ear plugs or headphonesListening to music while riding a bicycle may sound like a good way to enjoy your ride, but it can also be dangerous. Florida and Rhode Island have banned headphone use and California recently followed suit, passing a law prohibiting the use of headphones while cycling. If you choose to listen to music, be sure you still can hear what’s going on around you. A cyclist’s primary focus should be safely traveling from point A to point B. 4. Put a headlight and taillight on your bicycleNHSTA reports that the majority of bicycle accidents happen in urban areas and at non-intersections with the highest percentage of deaths occurring between the hours of 3:00 p.m. and 11:50 p.m. If you need to ride your bike at night, be sure that others on the road can see you. Wearing brightly colored or reflective clothing and lights will help drivers see you. Adding a headlight, taillight and reflectors to your bike will also make you more visible during early morning or evening rides. Check the laws in your state. 5. Use hand signalsTurning, changing lanes or stopping without signaling is a recipe for disaster for any vehicle on the road. Since bikes aren’t typically equipped with turn signals or brake lights, hand signals should be used to indicate your intended movements to other drivers. Be sure you know the proper motions to alert drivers of your next move ahead of time.​Remember, many of today’s drivers are distracted while behind the wheel, posing a threat to cyclists and others. No matter how many precautions you take to obey the rules of the road, never assume others are paying attention to you. EMERGE INSURANCE AGENCY904-677-5884

An auto insurance policy can protect you from multiple risks on the road. However, auto insurance is not one-size-fits-all. Your driving habits, your budget and the value of your vehicle will all help determine which coverage options you should choose. Let’s take a closer look at factors to consider when customizing your auto insurance coverage. What Other Drivers Have Most drivers must carry liability insurance, as required by law. As such, most insurance policies provide this basic protection. The Insurance Information Institute says that 78 percent of drivers with insurance buy comprehensive coverage. They add this option to the required liability insurance coverage. Also, about 73 percent of U.S. insured drivers buy collision insurance. Still, it’s only worthwhile to purchase this coverage if it works for you. Liability Insurance Liability insurance is necessary for most drivers. It can help protect you in the event your actions behind the wheel harm other drivers or their property. Basic, state-required levels are restrictive, though. A single car accident can cause thousands of dollars in losses. So, the minimum required coverage might not provide enough protection. The Car’s Value Comprehensive insurance can reimburse you if something other than an accident damages it. Comprehensive coverage can make you whole if a fire, vandal or storm causes damage to your vehicle. If you’re carrying a loan on your vehicle, the lender will require likely comprehensive coverage. Owners of valuable or hard-to-replace vehicles also benefit from this coverage. Collision Risks Collision coverage is also beneficial. This helps to cover damage to your car for collisions you cause on the road – whether you strike another vehicle, a person or an object. Non-depreciated vehicles and vehicles financed with a loan need this coverage. Medical Payments Coverage This type of policy offers protection for the medical costs stemming from a covered accident. This helps you and your passengers can afford to repay any medical debt from the incident. Uninsured and Underinsured Protections Many drivers benefit from underinsured and uninsured driver auto insurance. This helps cover any losses you might incur if another driver does not have enough liability insurance.​Update your auto insurance to reflect your specific risks. It often makes sense to invest in a wide range of coverage to minimize all your risks. This will help you protect the value of your car. It can also protect you from financially crippling bills in the aftermath of an accident. Emerge Insurance Agency is your source for auto insurance coverage. Contact us today to learn more about the coverage options we offer. EMERGE INSURANCE AGENCY904-677-5884

​Eating While Driving & The Top 10 Most Dangerous Foods Eating while driving is the worst form of distracted driving for a driver! Yet a study of 1,000 drivers done by ExxonMobil found that over 70% of drivers admit to eating while behind the wheel and 83% drink beverages while they drive.A study done by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) concluded that those who eat and drive increase the odds of an accident by 80%! They also concluded that 65% of near miss accidents are caused by distracted drivers fussing with food and drinks. Those are some pretty staggering and eye opening statistics! As a matter of fact, those stats are worse than texting while driving numbers!The NHTSA even went as far as to list the most dangerous foods and beverages. Starbucks would be very sad to hear that coffee takes first place. Drinking coffee is the single most dangerous food item to have in the vehicle when it comes to distracted driving. Think about it, what happens if you spill that coffee on your lap? Even when your morning coffee is sitting in a cup holder, you aren’t safe! What happens when you hit a pothole and coffee starts splashing out through the vents and holes on the lid. Doesn’t it attract your attention? Yup, your beloved coffee is putting you at risk! So please, don’t drink (coffee) and drive.List Of The Top 10 Most Dangerous Foods & Beverages While Driving​10. ChocolateAnything you touch, such as the steering wheel, armrest, your clothes, etc., will leave nasty chocolate fingerprints. A drivers instinctive reaction is to clean the stains, which of course, leads to a major distraction! The main reason chocolate made the top 10 most dangerous foods to eat while driving is because it’s messy. It’s not really something you can spill, it isn’t extremely hot, and it if you drop your candy bar, no big deal. It’s not something you have to clean up immediately. But when chocolate gets all over the fingers and hands, or worse yet, your nice bright white shirt on the way to your business meeting, the distraction can get dangerous.9. Soft DrinksA simple soft drink made the list? You betcha! Spilling a drink, having a can or bottle fall out of the cup holder, and even the act of taking a sip all lead to increased driver distractions. Searching the floorboard of your car to find that water bottle rolling around takes your eyes off the road in a worse way than texting and driving. Think about it, why is texting while driving dangerous? Because you have to take your eyes off the road, if even for just a split second. Now, what do you think happens when you are guzzling down a bottle of Pepsi or when you spill the 92oz soda in your lap? Can we say, distracted?8. Jelly And Cream Filled Or Powdered DonutsSo you swing into Dunkin’ Donuts and get your nice hot coffee and tasty jelly donut. You take a bite, and the jelly oozes out the end and drips all over your nice new work pants. You guessed it, a major driver distraction! Now, I’ll be the first to admit, some times there is nothing better in the morning than a large cup of coffee and a surgery donut or two. My favorite is the Boston Cream Pie, but unfortunately, those probably aren’t any safer. Quite frankly, anything that has the potential to be messy is dangerous in the car. Many types of donuts are very talented at causing a messy situation and your car is not safe from such menacing donuts.7. Fried chickenFried chicken is delicious, but better enjoyed at home. Eating while driving can be dangerous, but eating fried chicken while driving is just ridiculous! A driver eating fried chicken will constantly be cleaning off his or her hands from all the grease. Have you ever gotten grease on a steering wheel or an armrest? It isn’t easy to clean off once it has been there for a while! And worse yet, fried chicken can cause a mess. We’ve already covered the “messy food scenario” with the donuts, but the same thing applies here. Eat your friend chicken in the restaurant or while parked.6. Any Barbecued FoodWho doesn’t like BBQ sauce! But remember, if it can drip, it will certainly find a way to do that while you’re driving. Getting barbecue sauce all over your clothes and nice leather car seat will surely lead to distracted driving. People try all sorts of tricks. They put napkins down on their lap, they keep baby wipes close by, and maybe even have an entire roll of paper towels ready to go. Believe me, I understand the temptation of BBQ, but it’s more suitable for the back yard than drivers seat.5. Juicy HamburgersAgain, if it can drip, it’ll find a way to do so in your car. Don’t let that $3 burger from McDonald’s turn into a $500 or $1,000 deductible from your insurance company. That would be an expensive burger! As one of the most frequently consumed items in vehicles, many people have grown content with eating a burger in the car. It has been so normalized in our society that fast food companies have even made it easier to eat and drive with your Big Mac or Whopper. Heck, these days, you don’t even need to exit your vehicle!4. ChiliAnything containing chili, like a chili dog, sloppy Joe or Coney dog is obviously quite dangerous and distracting. Chili is fantastic on a lot of things. But chili on your steering wheel or your sweater isn’t so great, and will take your focus off the road. Now, this is one of those items you probably don’t think you’d eat while driving down the road, but, the fact is lots of people do, and eat worse. Remember, friends don’t let friends eat chili and drive.3. TacosWhen you hit that pothole and your taco turns into a fiesta bowl on your lap, it’s sure to cause some erratic vehicle movements. Sure, who doesn’t love a late night Taco Bell drive thru around 1am? I understand that sometimes, a good ol’ taco calls your name, but save it for when you get home. Oh, and if you have a long drive, don’t forget to order your taco in the soft shell. A soggy taco shell is no good when you finally get home.2. Hot SoupsWho doesn’t love a nice steaming hot bowl of classic Chicken Noodle Soup. Pretty much everyone except the driver who just spilled it all over the floorboard of their car….and the person they rear end as a result. Some soup companies, like Campbell’s, are now making soup in little portable “sippy cup” looking thing. It’s a whole lot safer than trying to eat your soup from a bowl, however, even soup in portable “sippy” containers can be dangerous. It’s just as dangerous as the most dangerous food on our list…1. CoffeeCoffee? Yes, coffee! That’s the most dangerous food item to have in your car while you’re driving! When we think of eating while driving, we normally think of solid foods. But coffee is responsible for more distracted driving accidents than any other food item. You wouldn’t guess it with the number of Starbucks drive-thru’s and free Monday coffee at McDonalds, but the fact is, with coffee being so readily available and so popular, it is widely used. Piping hot coffee in the car is just a bad idea.Additional Facts About Eating While Driving
The majority of food related accidents occur in the morning hours. People are more concerned about their appearance in the morning as they are heading to work, so a spill is a much bigger deal. Eating while driving also occurs more frequently when people are running late.
A manual transmission vehicles double the chances of distracted driving crashes caused by food consumption.

Yes! Eating While Driving Really Is Dangerous!Some distracted driving activities get a free pass. With the number of fast food drive-thru’s and Starbucks on seemingly every corner in the most dangerous driving areas, the task of eating while driving has been normalized by our society. Nobody thinks it’s a big deal and in fact, our vehicles and fast food companies have made it as easy as possible for you. Just because a certain form of distracted driving is overlooked, that doesn’t mean you should take part. Eating while driving is just as dangerous, if not more dangerous, than texting while driving! EMERGE INSURANCE AGENCY904-677-5884​Source: https://www.drive-safely.net/eating-while-driving/

 The opportunity to study abroad for a semester or more is one that is simply too good to turn down for many students. There are lots of benefits to studying abroad, ones that should not be quickly dismissed, including:
The opportunity to learn, firsthand, about new cultures.
Improving foreign language skills.
Building self-confidence.
Developing a better appreciation for their own cultures.
Educational challenges.
Exposure to diverse ideas, experiences, and perspectives.
Gaining independence and personal responsibility.
 And, in today’s world, studying abroad can offer students the opportunity to truly unplug and experience the world – something that might be difficult to accomplish when they are surrounded by things that are familiar.The benefits don’t simply exist in the theoretical realm, however. They transition well into real world benefits. For instance, studying abroad looks great on a resume. Companies want to hire people who can think outside the box and exposure to new cultures and ideas during a study abroad experience teaches students to do just that. According to University of California, Merced, 97 percent of students who studied abroad found employment within 12 months of graduating.  Compare this to only 49 percent of college grads who studied in their home country exclusively being able to find employment in the first year after graduating.  Studying abroad almost doubled the likelihood of students finding a job. Studying overseas is also known to help improve student GPAs after their study abroad semester and increases the likelihood of students getting into first or second choices for graduate schools. As a parent, you want to give your child the best possible foundation for life and the opportunity to study abroad in another country is one way you can do exactly that. However, you want to make sure your child is as safe as possible while doing so. That means making sure your child has the right kind of health insurance to provide proper protection for his or her semester abroad. Insurance for Studying Abroad Most programs that facilitate students studying abroad require students to participate in some sort of health insurance program. The problem is that some of these insurance plans offer full coverage and protection while others only cover basic medical services. You need to make sure your student has full coverage while studying out of the country because you never know what will happen. Options to Consider for Health Insurance AbroadYou have a few options available to you when purchasing health insurance for your student to study abroad.1)  One of those options is to contact your current insurance provider and secure coverage for overseas travel.You will need to discuss the fact that your child will be spending a semester abroad and ask what options or add-ons they offer to protect your child while out of the country. Also, make sure that there is some sort of medical evacuation coverage in case your child needs special medical equipment or has specialized transportation needs for the return trip home. 2)   Another option is to purchase health insurance for your child through the study abroad program he or she is participating in. These typically offer basic coverage at affordable rates, but you will need to review the plan carefully to make sure it provides enough coverage to make you feel comfortable. 3) You can also look for providers that specialize in insurance plans for students who study out of the country. These providers have a deeper understanding of international insurance needs than companies that work exclusively within the United States and may be a better choice in many cases. One of the top provider can be accessed through this link – Student Medical Plans It is important to know what your deductibles are and have a plan in place for covering them. Some require deductibles to be paid up front and the deductibles may be different for medical service providers inside or outside of certain provider organizations or networks. Other critical information to pay attention to includes prescription drug coverage and coverage limits (maximum coverage). Some plans also pay only 80 percent of medical expenses while others will pay 100 percent for providers who are in their network. Studying abroad gives your student the opportunity to see a whole new world around them. Making sure your student has the proper health insurance coverage while learning about other people, cultures, and experiences gives you the peace of mind to let them take advantage of this unique opportunity to increase their life experiences. EMERGE INSURANCE AGENCY904-677-5884

A vehicle’s safety depends on several factors, including its make, model, year and size. Newer cars come equipped with advanced safety features like more airbags, electronic stability, crash avoidance technology and bodies engineered to reduce rollover. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) found that collision fatalities in late-model vehicles have dropped by more than a third in the past three years. The IIHS and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) evaluate crashworthiness – or how well a vehicle protects its occupants during a crash. IIHS uses Top Safety Pick and Top Safety Pick+ for its ratings system, while NHTSA has a 5-Star Safety Ratings Program. It’s a good idea to look at both ratings, because they may emphasize different factors that could be important to you. Here are six things to consider when looking at car safety. 1. Size MattersThe size of your vehicle plays a major role in safety. Smaller cars tend to be lighter and don’t provide as much protection for the driver. Heavier vehicles are less affected by collisions, but they take longer to stop. Minivans have the lowest collision fatality rate and offer occupants better protection from injury with a driver death rate of 25 per million, according to the IIHS,. Pick-up trucks average around 52 deaths per million. Cars have a death rate of 56 per million, while 4-door mini-cars average 82 deaths per million. 2. Body BuildMost car frames are built out of steel, however, aluminum is also becoming more popular due to its reduced weight, which helps increase gas mileage. Both materials provide excellent strength and durability, so it’s also important to consider frame and body designs, which have evolved significantly and now provide even better protection for drivers and passengers. These advances help absorb collision energy and provide a high-strength structure around vehicle occupants to prevent or reduce injuries. Some are designed to collapse and redirect the force of a collision, while others provide a rigid structure around the driver. Older vehicles don’t redirect the energy of impacts as well as newer models because of the steel used to construct the body and reinforce the vehicle’s frame. 3. Tire Pressure Monitoring SystemsTire Pressure Monitoring Systems (TPMS) became mandated in 2007. TPMS alert the driver when tire pressure is irregular through a display light or gauge on the instrumental panel. It’s important to keep your tires properly inflated to the manufacturer’s specifications to help prevent tire blowouts. NHTSA estimates that this safety feature can prevent upwards of 79 deaths and 10,365 injuries each year in the United States. 4. Airbag SafetyAirbags have been a standard requirement in all passenger vehicles since 1999. IIHS research shows that front airbags reduce driver fatality in frontal crashes by 29 percent. Front passenger airbags have become safer with the use of weight sensors, and NHTSA data shows this enhancement saves lives, reducing front passenger collision fatalities by 32 percent. Newer vehicles have incorporated side airbags to protect the driver’s head from hitting the window in driver-side crashes – the IIHS found that these additional airbags reduce driver death by 37 percent in cars and 52 percent in SUVs. Some vehicles on the market also have rear-window curtain airbags to protect individuals riding in the backseats, and front center airbags to prevent the driver and passenger from colliding into one another in the event of a collision. 5. Electronic Stability ControlElectronic stability control (ESC) was first introduced in 1996. ESC uses speed sensors to allow each wheel of the vehicle to brake individually, which is the foundation of anti-lock brakes. Rotation and steering sensors detect the vehicle’s position and auto-adjust the brakes on the wheel, giving the driver more control. 6. Crash AvoidanceCrash avoidance technology includes several systems that can greatly reduce the risk and severity of collisions – adaptive cruise control, adaptive headlines, back-up cameras, blind spot monitors and front crash prevention systems. Adaptive cruise control maintains a safe distance from vehicles you are following and even includes built-in autonomous steering and braking should a collision be imminent. Adaptive headlights move with the curves of the road, lighting up the direction your vehicle is traveling.Blind spot detection warns the driver that an object is present in a blind spot by illuminating a light on your side view mirror. Front crash prevention alerts drivers to potential obstacles ahead of the vehicle and apply brakes if needed. Back-up cameras (mandatory in all new models by 2018) and sensors help reduce the chances that a driver will back into an object, vehicle or person. Collision safety technology has advanced in the last six to eight years and because of this, newer vehicles equipped with modern features are inherently safer than their older counterparts. The bottom line: new technology lowers the chances of collisions, injury and death. EMERGE INSURANCE AGENCY904-677-5884

Many Americans find their savings accounts haven’t rebounded to pre-recession levels. CNBC reports that one in three people say they have not yet, and maybe never will, recovered financially from the 2007 recession. If this describes you, here some things that could help bolster your income and increase your savings. 

Online Store Sales: Sell items on eBay, LetGo or other online platforms. Sign up for a free account, then post photos of items you no longer want or need. Filter through offers on your items to choose the highest bidder. These sites allow you to see buyer ratings when you sell your items.

Tutor or Coach: Are you a subject matter expert in math or an excellent writer? Maybe you were a great track runner or basketball player? The good news is if you have mastered a skill, there is someone who needs a tutor or coach. Visit your local community center or school to look into tutoring opportunities. You can also list your services online on a site like Craigslist.

Dog Walking: If you love dogs and dogs love you, this could be an extremely easy way to earn extra cash. Dog walking can be a break from the normal office routine and provide you with some exercise and fresh air. Websites like Roverand Got Mutt are good resources for potential dog walkers.

Drive for Uber or Lyft: Do you have a car in good condition that is less than seven years old? If so, becoming an Uber or Lyft driver might be the part-time job for you. Drivers can earn up to $15 per hour or more and create their own schedules, too. Make sure you have the coverage you need – Mercury offers ride-hailing insurance to extend your auto policy’s coverage in certain states, but be sure to check with you local agent ahead of time to confirm the coverage is available in your area.

Catering: If you are the friend who everyone asks to bring a dish to the potluck or you enjoy parties, catering might be the side gig for you. Some catering companies will even pay higher rates to work on holidays and for special events.

Photography: Photographs are essential to many events. They capture countless memories of weddings, graduations and children. If you enjoy photography, it can be a fairly lucrative side job. Photographers can earn up to $50 per hour to take pictures and can be hired for family, entertainment or corporate events.

Restore and Sell Used Furniture: Many people simply throw out furniture they no longer want or need. What’s old to them could be new to you, and converting a vintage or eclectic piece can be a good source of cash. You can get some great deals at garage sales, or you can simply retrieve discarded pieces from the side of the road before trash day. Clean it, sand it, paint it, and sell it. Websites and apps like Craigslist and LetGo can provide a nice payday with only 2-3 hours of work.
 Taking advantage of these unconventional and often easy ways to make a little extra money can make the difference when it comes to extending your budget and rebuilding your savings. EMERGE INSURANCE AGENCY904-677-5884

Impact On Premiums Fender benders and the like are an anticipated part of life, and though you’re protected with auto accident insurance, you may still have concerns about what’s going to happen to your insurance rates when you file a claim. Will your rates go up, and if so, how much? Will your policy be canceled? What if the accident wasn’t your fault? What if it was? There are no simple answers to these questions, as the process of establishing auto insurance premiums is very complex, and each accident is analyzed using many variables, including fault, history of accidents, moving violations and auto insurance claims, as well as age, car type and much more. 

Not your fault: If the accident is not your fault, it’s the first in which you’ve been involved, and your driving history is free of moving violations and/or insurance claims, you may have no premium increase at all.

Your fault with property damage: If the accident is your fault, but it resulted in property damage only, you will probably not lose your good driver discount. It may, however, trigger an increase in your premium.

Your fault with bodily injury: If you are at fault and someone is injured you will most likely lose your good driver discount and could see a 20 to 25 percent premium increase.

Non-renewal & cancellation: Your insurance company may also decide not to renew your policy if your driving record gets markedly worse or you have several auto accident claims. Different insurers have different rules about what constitutes an unacceptable driving record, but there are a few accidents, such as those caused by drunk driving, that will probably trigger a non-renewal from virtually every insurance company.
 Practices vary from company to company, but in general, an insurer will increase your premium by specific percentages for each chargeable claim made against your policy above a specific dollar amount. A chargeable claim is one the insurer considers primarily your fault. The percentages and ceilings vary from company to company. These increases generally stay on your premium for three years following the claim. Save Money & TimeSome accidents may involve little damage and will be under your deductible, so you may be inclined to circumvent the process of filing an auto accident insurance claim and just fix the damage on your own. This is a mistake that could cost you thousands, if not hundreds of thousands of dollars, because what seems like a little fender bender could turn into an injury claim. By reporting the accident, you are now protected against future claims because your insurance company will now have a record of the damage and will be able to defend you in the event that you are sued. With all the insurance companies we represent, our clients have the option to arrange for repairs at a trusted facility and can take usually advantage of the company’s pricing discounts. In most cases, the reporting of this fender bender will not affect your premium and it will end up saving you money in the long run. Don’t Do It AloneInsurance professionals can spot red flags and are trained to deal with people and resolve problems, which takes the adversarial component out of the equation. When people try to adjust their own claims, they are an involved party and it often gets emotional. Driver’s RightsThe process of filing an auto accident insurance claim is regulated by the state’s Department of Insurance; however, in a competitive auto insurance market, great service from the claims department can set an insurance company apart from the pack. To protect the rights of the insured, most states have adopted a model of the Unfair Claim Settlement Act, which are laws passed by state legislatures to regulate the behavior of insurance companies with respect to the payment of claims. In Florida this law recognizes that insurance companies are in an advantageous position compared to policyholders. The legislation evens the playing field, so to speak, between insurers – who are very knowledgeable in their fields and in the business of making money – and policyholders, who may find themselves in vulnerable positions when purchasing policies and navigating disputes. The bottom line is never make assumptions when you’ve been in an auto accident and do not try to be your own claims agent. If you’ve been in an accident, contact your insurer, get the dialogue going and the process started on what needs to be done to protect your needs and get you and your vehicle moving again. EMERGE INSURANCE AGENCY904-677-5884