Insurance

It’s a question for the ages: which state holds the dubious distinction of housing America’s worst drivers? Just in time for increased summer holiday traffic and related accident claims, SmartAsset.com has the answer. Researchers with the group trawled through National Highway Traffic Safety Administration data to craft rankings based on the percentage of insured drivers in the state; DUI arrests per 1,000 drivers; vehicular-related deaths per 1,000 drivers; and Google trends on automobile ticket-related searches. According to that methodology, the states with the worst drivers in the country are:
Florida
Mississippi
Oklahoma
New Jersey
Delaware
Alabama
Vermont
Tennessee
Texas
Nevada
 There are some interesting regional patterns here. The South and Southeast regions of the US account for six of the top 10 states, with common problems including DUI and lack of insurance. Only 74% of drivers in Oklahoma are insured – the worst rate in the nation – followed by Florida and Tennessee. Florida also tops other states in its Google searches for “speeding tickets” and “traffic tickets,” perhaps leading to its status was the worst driving state in the country. Yet these statistics do not necessarily translate into high auto insurance rates across the board. Just two states – Florida and New Jersey – appear on Insure.com’s list of states with the most expensive premiums in 2015. Drivers in Florida pay the fifth highest premiums in the nation, with an average of $1,742 in annual payments, while New Jersey pays an average $1.595. The entire top 10 list includes:
Michigan: $2,476
Montana: $1,886
Washington, D.C.: $1,799
Louisiana: $1,774
Florida: $1,742
West Virginia: $1,716
Connecticut: $1,690
Rhode Island: $1,656
California: $1,643
New Jersey: $1,595
 Yet producers in states on this list say their drivers are rather poor, as well. New Orleans insurance agent Allen Bordeaux said he’s not surprised by the figures.“It seems it’s always pretty much been this way as far back as I can remember,” Bordeaux said. “I hear that drivers here a little bit more adventurous than in other places. They tend to run yellow lights regularly and things of that nature.” Bordeaux said this lack of attention to detail is reflected in the policies he sells, with Louisiana being “at the bottom of the barrel for a while, as far as rates go.” “It’s relative to where we live, the condition of the highways and streets,” he said. “It probably also has something to do with the amount of people trying to get around every day.” There are, of course, several other factors that contribute to an auto insurance premium. In the most expensive state, Michigan, unusual no-fault auto insurance regulation drives much of the higher prices. Unlike other states, Michigan requires drivers to carry auto insurance policies with unlimited medical benefits. Insurers pay medical claims up to $530,000 in Michigan, while the nonprofit Michigan Catastrophic Claim Association covers any additional costs. Car owners are also required to pay an annual assessment to the association, which is currently $186 per vehicle. Researchers with Insure.com conducted the study by compiling rates from six large insurance carriers in 10 ZIP codes in every state. The rates were for a full-coverage policy for a 40-year-old man with a clean driving record and good credit. Vehicles included the 20 best-selling vehicles in the US, which represent roughly 40% of all vehicles sold. The models were rated on their “cheapest-to-insure trim level.”by Caitlin Bronson EMERGE INSURANCE AGENCY904-677-5884

If you want true choice of the best available coverage for your home, start with where you seek that choice. One big example of true choice is to look at the difference between buying home insurance from USAA, Geico, and Emerge Insurance Agency.  Let’s start with USAA: Most people don’t know that USAA does NOT write new homeowners insurance in Florida.  USAA will broker it with ASI which was bought by Progressive and is now Progressive Home.  USAA only offers one choice for home insurance currently.   You call an 800 number and will get a different person every time.  They are licensed customer service representatives and typically not fully licensed agents.  Like USAA, Geico does NOT write new homeowners insurance in Florida.  They will broker it with Security First insurance company.  Geico only offers one choice for home insurance currently.  You call an 800 number and will get a different person every time.  They are licensed customer service representatives and typically not fully licensed insurance agents. Emerge insurance agency represents both ASI/Progressive Home, Security First and about 22 other homeowners’ insurance companies in Florida.  When you call Emerge Insurance Agency, you get a fully licensed insurance agent and you will keep that agent beyond an initial transaction, but have a relationship that allows you to call the same person when you have a problem.   We don’t send you off to a call center where you will get a different person every time you call.  So ask yourself why would anyone call USAA or Geico when you can call Emerge Insurance Agency and get quotes from more companies, have your own licensed agents, and receive consistently good service?   EMERGE INSURANCE AGENCY904-677-5884

If you’re not putting too much thought into what you share on Facebook and your other social media accounts, this might be a good time to remember you must think before you post. Jacqueline Hammond didn’t thing before posting, and it cost her $500,000!   A couple of years ago, Jacquelyn Hammond allegedly posted just one sentence about a former co-worker, without actually mentioning the woman by name. That in itself shouldn’t be a problem. Right? Well, not exactly. The post said, “I didn’t get drunk and kill my kid.” According to the complaint, Hammond was referring to the son of a colleague, who died in a gun accident with another boy back in 1976. That colleague, who is the plaintiff in the current case, Davyne Dial, was not drunk when she lost her son, and she wasn’t responsible for his death, either.She therefore had grounds to say that Hammond’s post actually constituted a libelous statement, and sued her in 2015. (These type of defamation lawsuits can be made on grounds of libel, which means a written statement is defamatory, or slander, which is a spoken defamatory claim.)The lawsuit was finally settled. Now, Hammond will have to pay Dial $250,000 in actual damages for the defamation and emotional distress, and she will also have to shell out an extra $250,000 in punitive damages. Her single sentence post came at a cost of a whooping $500,000.If you have a personal injury endorsement on your homeowners policy, the insurance company will hire a lawyer to defend you and pay a claim in a situation like this.   The lessons from story are to make sure your homeowners policy has personal injury coverage, AND don’t make a post like Jacqueline Hammond did! Emerge Insurance Agency recommends that everyone purchase the personal injury endorsement on their home insurance policy.Call us with any question: 904-677-5884

By Dixie SomersMany homeowners don’t think about home maintenance until something breaks, but that’s not the best way to take care of your home. Whether you’re a new homeowner or have been settled for years, it’s never too late to cultivate some home maintenance habits. Here are three tips to help you protect your investment and keep your property in good shape for years to come: ​Create and Follow a Home Maintenance ScheduleA good place to start is by following a home maintenance schedule. Just as your car needs to have an oil change, your home and yard will need some regular maintenance. Home maintenance schedule apps such as HomeZada and Centriq are an easy way to get yourself on track. You’ll need to mow your lawn, clean your gutters and perhaps even top your trees from time to time. For pest control, you may need to spray or have ground treatment performed a few times a year, too. When it comes to appliances, make sure to send in any warranties and follow the maintenance recommendations in your owner’s manual. For older appliances, many documents can be found online. Don’t be afraid to do some research and speak with professionals about maintenance specific to your location. Have All of Your Home Systems Checked RegularlyIt’s important to get your electrical, plumbing and HVAC systems checked annually to keep them in good shape. Some of these tasks can be done yourself; for instance, you might need to clean your air filters, remove debris from the vents and flush out your water heater. For more technical inspections, check customer reviews on Yelp, Angie’s List, Google, Facebook and the BBB when searching for a new company. Always go with one that is experienced, licensed, bonded and insured. Follow a Cleaning ScheduleHome maintenance often focuses on repair work, but keeping your home clean can be just as important. In addition to once a week tasks such as vacuuming and dusting the shelves, deep cleaning every month or so can save you big in the long run. Moving furniture around, pulling out the washer and dryer to clean behind them and clearing out the garage gives you a chance to inspect for pest problems, water damage and similar issues that can quickly escalate into expensive repairs. Being a homeowner is very rewarding on many levels, but homeownership comes witha great deal of responsibility. As long as you put in some effort on a regular basis, you should have no problem keeping your home in good repair. EMERGE INSURANCE AGENCY904-677-5884

A home burglary takes place in the United States every 14.6 seconds. According to The Washington Post/Bureau of Justice Statistics, thirty-four percent of these burglars gain access to their victim’s home by simply walking across the welcome mat and through the front door. Before you rush out to purchase an elaborate home security system or guard dog to protect your property, you should know there are 11 simple things you can do to dramatically reduce the risk of loss.

Purchase home insurance. With a variety of homeowner coverage options available, you can feel safe knowing your home and belongings are well insured in the event your home is burglarized.

Get back to basics. Studies show that 70 percent of burglars are amateurs simply looking for an easy target.* It may sound like a no-brainer, but make sure all door and window locks are secured before you leave, including second story windows.

A trusted neighbor is an extra set of eyes, so let them know anytime you’ll be away from your home for an extended period. It’s always a good idea to have someone watching for any suspicious or unusual neighborhood activity.

Your house should look occupied at all times. Use light switch timers to turn lights on and off periodically. Also, leave drapes and blinds in the exact manner you do when home.

Change the locks immediately if you ever lose your keys. Remember, a significant number of burglars walk right through the front door.

Get a bit more creative when hiding your spare key. The welcome mat is no longer a safe haven. Consider leaving a spare key with a trusted friend or family member who lives nearby.

Stop mail and newspaper delivery when you’re away for an extended period of time. The accumulation of mail and newspapers is a surefire way to let burglars know your residence is unattended.

Keep all bushes, shrubs and trees trimmed. Burglars love to use lush landscaping as camouflage.

Don’t leave any valuables in plain view. Burglary is often a crime of opportunity and window shopping is an easy way to pick a target.
Your home security can be compromised in 140 characters or less, so don’t broadcast your family vacation or upcoming business trip. This includes ‘tweeting,’ ‘updating,’ ‘checking in,’ or uploading vacation photos to social media sites until you’re home. In fact, studies show 65 percent of home invaders aren’t strangers.  Perhaps a friend on Facebook? Or a follower on Twitter?
Fight back by using social media to your advantage. Update your sites to give the impression that you are home. This can deter any potential outside interest in your property.
 Employing these simple, precautionary measures and combining them with the protection you get from Mercury’s homeowner insurance can help provide peace-of-mind that comes from knowing your home is protected. EMERGE INSURANCE AGENCY904-677-5884

As a parent, you watch your child hit all the milestones—the first smile, the first words, the first steps. And far too quickly those milestones get bigger. Suddenly your child is a teen, itching to get behind the wheel of a car. A new teen driver on the road is a daunting prospect for any parent. According to data from the Centers for Disease Control, drivers ages 15 to 19 accounted for only 6.5 percent of the U.S. population in 2016 but represented 8.4 percent of costs related to vehicle accidents. But rather than sitting by the door biting your nails as you wait for her to drive home from an evening out with her friends, help ensure your teen’s safety with a little extra help from her smartphone. A number of safe-driving apps actually reinforce smart habits behind the wheel that your kids have already learned in driving school and (hopefully) from you. When she’s safely ensconced on the couch and craving screen time, have her download one of these safe driving apps to help keep her focused while on the road: Bouncie: Whether you use the free version or upgrade for more features, this smartphone safe-driving app not only helps you keep track of your teen on the road (with real-time location updates) but also alerts him immediately if he’s speeding, accelerating too hard, braking too hard, or engaging in other unsafe driving behaviors. Plus, the driving app maintains a driving habit history so you can track his improvement over time. Safe and Sound by Toyota: With speed and smartphone use being the two biggest contributors to vehicle accidents, this safe-driving app keeps your teen from texting and scrolling through Instagram when her eyes should be on the road. It automatically sets smartphones to “Do Not Disturb” mode when the vehicle is in motion, and if your teen breaks the rules, this driving app turns control of her music playlist over to you! TrueMotion Family: This free driving app not only lets you track your teen’s location while he’s driving but keeps track of the whole family—their locations while in motion and while parked, everyone’s driving habits (i.e. no speeding or texting while driving because Mom and Dad will know!), and even rates the household drivers’ habits against one another, so you can start some friendly family competition that will also inspire teen safety. DriveSmart: Give your mobile-savvy teen a little extra incentive to drive safely. With the DriveSmart free driving app, you can not only track your teen’s driving habits on every trip she makes, but she can collect Smartcoins for demonstrated safe driving practices. Nothing like earning a little extra spending money for keeping her eyes on the road! AT&T Drive Mode: Kill the distractions that could get your teen in an accident with this safe-driving app that silences smartphone alerts when your teen is driving over 15 mph. The app automatically responds to texts to let senders know he’s driving and allows one-touch music and navigation access. The app will even send an alert to you if your teen turns it off. Teen safety on the road is serious business. Keep your loved ones a little bit safer and inspire some friendly competition and fun at the same time with one of these safe driving apps. Ensure your teen’s next milestone moment—getting that driver’s license—is a positive one! EMERGE INSURANCE AGENCY904-677-5884

​Tax season is well underway, and that means your tax refund—and your identity—are in play for identity thieves looking for an easy payday. Tax identity theft is a fast-growing crime, impacting more than 260,000 victims a year and costing the IRS more than $3 billion in fraudulent tax refunds.1 In 2016 alone, the IRS reported a 400 percent surge in phishing and malware incidents related to this crime. “Tax refund fraud is a growing problem and it impacts hundreds of thousands of tax payers each year,” said Kevin Quinn, vice president of claims for Mercury Insurance. “There are a number of proactive steps you can take to reduce your risk of becoming a victim, however, and it costs very little money to protect yourself and your family’s sensitive information.” Taxpayers can protect themselves by learning how to spot some of the most common scams criminals use to steal valuable personally identifiable information. Here are a few of the more common scams used by fraudsters.

Fake Bill. Scammers send victims a notice saying they owe taxes related to the Affordable Care Act. This scam may arrive by email, as an attachment, or snail mail.

The Bogus Tax. Scammers demand payment for non-existent taxes, such as a “federal student tax,” which asks college students to send payment via MoneyGram wire transfer.

Verification scams. Thieves try to entice victims to confirm the last four digits of their Social Security number by clicking on a link provided via email.

CEO scams. Scammers impersonate executives and send emails to human resources and payroll departments asking for employees’ sensitive financial and personal data. The emails can be very convincing, using the name of the company and CEO, for example.
 It’s important for taxpayers to remember that the IRS first contacts people with a letter in the mail if there is an issue with tax payment. The agency will never initiate contact through email or social media, nor will it ever demand immediate payment of taxes or make threats to involve local police for not paying. Follow these five tips to protect yourself:

File Early. The IRS flags a second return as suspicious, so file early, before the bad guys.

Go electronic. Opt for direct deposit of tax refunds to avoid lost or stolen refund checks.

Choose tax preparers carefully. Avoid unscrupulous companies with a public history of stealing personal data.

Keep sensitive tax data secure on a password-protected or encrypted external drive and store in a secure location.

Report scams to phishing@irs.gov.
 Take action now before a thief steals your identity or tax refund. Mercury Insurance customers can get identity management help for less than $3 per month from our partner, CyberScout. Speak to your Mercury agent (yes, Mercury is one of the companies we represent) about this valuable coverage today. EMERGE INSURANCE AGENCY904-677-5884