September 2010Welcome

None of us wants to relive mid- March.  The wind and rain storms of the Northeast saturated the ground and toppled trees and power lines, damaging many homes and putting many others at risks.  Our insurers responded by blanketing the region with claims adjusters and mitigation and restoration specialists, reacting quickly to reported losses and helping to prevent further damage. 

In this newsletter, read about our suggestions for loss mitigation and learn what some customers had to say about us regarding their claims settlements.

Contact Us

AJ Benet, Inc.430 Center Ave.

Mamaroneck, NY 10543

(914)381-2040info@ajbenet.com

What's New This Month

Stay Afloat with Proper Boater's Insurance

Protect Your Child from the Dangers of Electrical Outlets

Steer Clear of Car Break- Ins

Stay Afloat with Proper Boater's Insurance

There are many hidden costs associated with owning a boat; dock fees, general maintenance, and winter storage, just to name a few. One cost boat owners should never skimp on is purchasing the best available insurance policy for their watercraft.

Since buying a boat is a huge investment, owners should protect their boat with comprehensive insurance coverage. Plans are often based on the type and size of the boat. Many homeowner's and renter's insurance policies provide limited coverage for property damage if the boat's engine is less than 25 mph horsepower or if it is a small sailboat, but without additional insurance, no liability coverage is included.

Owners of larger, more powerful boats and yachts will need to purchase a separate insurance policy for their boat. The insurance company will take into account the size and type of boat, its value, and where the boat sails when drawing up the conditions and cost of the policy.

Separate boat and watercraft insurance policies provide much more coverage to the owner. These policies generally include loss and damage coverage to the boat's hull, machinery, furnishings, fittings, and any permanently attached equipment, like a navigation system. Liability coverage is extended to:

Bodily injury to other persons

Damage to other's property

Legal expenses associated with non- consensual operation of the boat

Medical costs for injuries to the owner and passengers

Boat theft

Policyholders can choose the liability limits of their plan, ranging anywhere from $15,000 up to $300,000. The deductible cost for property damage is $250, and it ranges between $500 and $1,000 for theft and medical expenses. Of course, policies can be individualized based on the boat owner's needs. Other endorsements and coverages can be added to the policy to cover the boat's trailer, fishing gear kept aboard the boat, and any other accessories. Also, make sure to ask whether or not the policy covers the boat while it is being towed.

Just as car insurance providers offer discounts to their policyholders, discounts for watercraft policies apply in certain cases. For example, insurance companies favor diesel- powered engines over gasoline ones because diesel fuel is more stable, making the engine safer to operate.

Other discounts are related to safety equipment kept on the boat. Having items like fire extinguishers approved by the U.S. Coast Guard and ship- to- shore radio equipment could reduce the amount of the premium. Also, completing a boater's safety course offered by the Coast Guard Auxiliary, the American Red Cross, or the U.S. Power Squadrons can gain some favor with the insurance company.

Maintaining a clean boating record is just as important as being accident- free on the roadways, when it comes to lowering insurance rates. Premiums are usually discounted for every two years the boater goes without an accident or filing a claim. Bundling your watercraft insurance with homeowner's and vehicle policies is another good way to save money on coverage costs.

A solid insurance policy gives boaters the peace of mind needed to set sail and enjoy the open waters. Nothing is more relaxing than knowing your investment is covered.

Protect Your Child from the Dangers of Electrical Outlets

When bringing a child into the home, parents take many safety precautions. Unfortunately,those precautions do not always ensure that the child will avoid harm. Electrocution may not happen often, but itseffects can be deadly.  Household wiring and large andsmall appliances cause the majority of electrocutions in the U.S each year. In 1997 (which is the most current data available), the CPSC found that 86percent of reported injuries involved children 1 to 4 years old. The most commonforeign objects stuck into electrical outlets were keys and hairpins. There are several options you can implementto help protect your children against this preventable safety hazard.

Most parents know to install plastic outletprotectors for all the outlets within their child's reach. But do they really protect as well as weassume? A 1997 Temple University studytested the effectiveness of the different types of plastic outlet protectorswith 37 children ages 2 to 4 years. Forthe round, flat face style protector with two prongs, 47% of the 4- year- oldsand 31 % of the 2- year- olds were able to remove this protector. Another oval style had a 3/16" thick ovalface with tapered sides. Again, 47% ofthe 4- year- olds but only 18% of the 2- year- olds could remove this type ofprotector. Yet another style with a1/16" thick face and lacking tapered sides could be removed by all of the 2- and 4- year- olds!

However, you do have other choices. Some manufacturers make a childtamper- resistant outlet, rather than a cover.They resemble regular outlets, but behind the face of the outlet areplastic shutters. The shutters remainclosed until something is inserted into both vertical outlet holes at the sametime, at which point the shutters open and the plug can be inserted. This design is based upon the premise thatmost children will not stick two objects in the same two vertical outlet holesat the same time. This type of outletcosts between $6.00 to $8.00 each compared to a typical electrical outletreceptacle that usually costs no more than $5.00 a piece.

Outlet face covers are another option for you toconsider. These covers have faces thatswivel or slide over the outlet holes, requiring you to push the cover awaywhile inserting the plug for a secure fit.These covers range from $6.00 to $10.00 each. Both the tamper- resistant outlet and the face covers should beavailable at your local home improvement or electrical supply store. Whatever type of protection you choose, ensurethat you take some of these simple steps to protect your children from thisvery real safety hazard.

Steer Clear of Car Break- Ins

One Saturday, Jenny stopped by the mall for some afternoon shopping. The parking lot was packed, but she found a space at the very back of the lot. After she ate some lunch and shopped for a few hours, Jenny strolled back to her car — only to find that her passenger window was broken, and her laptop and iPod were missing. Her heart plummeted into her stomach, and she wasn’t sure what to do.

If you’ve ever walked into a parking lot or your own driveway to discover a thief has broken into your car, you’re probably all too familiar with that terrible sinking feeling. Fortunately, there are some steps you can take to stop car robbers in their tracks. These criminals go for the simple jobs, so they usually choose vehicles that are parked in remote areas and have valuables in plain view.

Don’t make yourself an easy target. Follow these five easy tips to steer clear of car break- ins:

Tip #1: Choose your parking spot carefully.

Car thieves generally target vehicles that are parked in remote areas so they don’t run the risk of getting caught red- handed. That’s why you should always park in a busy, well- lit area where your car is easily seen from the store or restaurant. Try to avoid parking between two larger vehicles or up against bushes, dumpsters or fences.

Tip #2: Hide your loot.

If you were to peer into your car windows right now, what would you see? A hand- held GPS attached to the windshield? An iPod plugged into your radio? A camera on the passenger seat? A laptop in the floorboard?

If so, you’ve made yourself an easy target for car thieves. Car robbers would be salivating over a car with so many treasures in plain view. That’s why you should hide all of your electronics, shopping bags and valuables under the seats or lock them in the trunk — or better yet take them into the store with you!

Tip #3: Lock the doors and roll up the windows.

This may seem like a no- brainer — but police departments across the nation receive countless reports every year from drivers who have items stolen from their unlocked cars. Even if you’re just running into the store for a minute to pay for gas or pick up your pizza, you should always roll up the windows and lock the door. (If you like to take your dog for rides, have an extra key made. That way, you can roll up the windows and keep the air conditioning on for your pup while you run into the store with your second key.)

Tip #4:  Don’t store your home address in your GPS.

You’ve probably heard the horror stories or read the elaborate sensationalized email forwards about car thieves who steal GPS devices from cars. Once they snatch the device, they find the driver’s address stored under “Home.” They then rush to the house and clear out the place.

Although it sounds like the stuff of urban legends, this has actually happened to some drivers. And it’s entirely possible that this kind of thing could happen again. That’s why you should not store your home address in your GPS device. Instead, store the address of a nearby intersection or even your neighborhood grocery store under “Home.” Better yet, take your hand- held GPS device with you instead of leaving it in the car.

Tip #5: Install a car alarm.

The last thing a car thief wants to do is draw attention to himself. That’s why car alarms are so effective. If your car starts beeping and wailing as soon as they try to break into it, they won’t stick around for very long. Many car alarm

The last thing a car thief wants to do is draw attention to himself. That’s why car alarms are so effective. If your car starts beeping and wailing as soon as they try to break into it, they won’t stick around for very long. Many car alarm systems also come with a “panic button” for your key fob — which could come in handy if a suspicious stranger approaches you while you’re entering your car.

When it comes to protecting your car from break- ins, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Take these five simple steps, and you’ll be much less likely to become a car thief target. If a thief does break into your car, report the theft to your local police department immediately.

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The purpose of this newsletter is to provide information about industry trends and news of general interest to our clients, potential clients and other professionals. Information about product offerings, services, or benefits is illustrative and general in description, and is not intended to be relied on as complete information. While every attempt is made to ensure the accuracy of the information provided, we do not warranty the accuracy of the information.