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Key risks of teenage driving
by Peter Wallin, Elmira NY Insurance Agency
According to California DMV Traffic crashes are the leading cause of death for teenagers across the United States. For both men and women, drivers aged 16 to 19 years of age have the highest average annual crash and traffic violation rates of any other age group
Teenage Driver Crash Risk Factors…
Peter Wallin, Insurance Agent Elmira NY
If you’re helping one of your children go off to college for the first time, or return to college, we may be able to help you save some money and gain some extra protection.
Here are four things to consider about insurance when a child enters college.
1. You could get a discount on your auto insurance. Because you’ll have one less driver living at home when your son or daughter goes off to school, your household might get a discount — as long as they don’t take a car along. If he or she does take a set of wheels, contact our agency. We can review your coverage to make sure your child is properly insured.
2. Your homeowners insurance might extend to his or her belongings. Usually, the belongings of your child-turned-college-student will be covered by your homeowners insurance, but it’s best to be sure. If for some reason the coverage doesn’t extend, consider purchasing renters insurance. Students who live off campus may not be covered by their parents’ homeowners policy and may need to purchase their own renters insurance.
3. Student loans might call for extra protection. If student loans are involved, you might want to consider life insurance* for your son or daughter. It can help financially in the case of an unexpected tragedy (although no one wants to think about that). If a tragedy never occurs (thankfully), your son or daughter can also opt to carry the life insurance to the next stage of life – making it a wise investment.
4. Insurance can help in the most unexpected cases. Accidents happen — sometimes tragically. Extra liability coverage through a Personal Catastrophe Liability policy, commonly called an umbrella policy, can help protect you should a lawsuit ensue from a big mistake.
Most importantly, let your insurance agent know of the changes happening in your household so we can double check your specific situation and coverage needs.
FIRE CLAIMS
2011 was a rough year
for some of our valued
homeowner clients:
by Peter Wallin, Insurance Agent
www.WallinInsurance.com
Here’s a few actual fire claims that occurred right here in our community:
**Lighting struck a tree and spread to a storage shed in Big Flats – resulting in major loss of household contents and business inventory. Thankfully the homeowner had the right insurance coverages for their home and business.
**Fire at a beautiful log home in Lowman. The entire house burned to the ground, along with all the contents. I was on the scene with the homeowner as we worked closely with Erie Insurance to provide immediate financial assistance.
**A gas spill in an auto repair shop in Alpine. The owner tried to extinguish the blaze but it was out of control. He will be out of business for several months as his facility is rebuilt. It’s a good thing he has “Loss of Income” coverage.
These are not only devastating financial losses, but they are also very emotional. I have learned in the 25 years I have been in this business the importance of providing proper insurance coverage (at a reasonable price!) but also that it is my job to be there when the client needs me the most.
In a letter to the Editor in the Elmira Star-Gazette the following was written:
Family says thanks for help after fire
“Many thanks to the firefighters, our insurance agent, Peter Wallin, family, friends, neighbors, co-workers and even strangers who helped us through the devastating fire that destroyed our home on October 14. You have all been so very kind and we are so very grateful.”
Bob ad Debra Watts, Lowman
As we enter 2012 I urge you to take a look at your own home insurance policy. Make sure you are comfortable with the coverage limits. Be sure you are prepared for whatever disaster (big or small) may come your way. And please contact my office if you have any questions or would like to discuss your situation in detail. It’s our job to help you!
Peter Wallin
www.WallinInsurance.com
Elmira, New York
Ten Trouble-Free Tips for Travelers
by Peter Wallin, Elmira NY Insurance Agent
www.WallinInsurance.com
Will you be one of the millions on the road this holiday season?
Safety is one of the most important things to consider as you pack your car and leave home. To help you get ready for your next road trip, the National Crime Prevention Council (NCPC) recommends these 10 tips for travelers:
At home
1. Check all the locks before you leave home. Each door and window should have a sturdy lock.
2. Use motion-detection lights outside and trim hedges to reduce potential hiding places for burglars.
3. Set automatic timers on a few interior lights to give the impression that someone is home.
4. Ask the post office to hold your mail or ask a trusted friend or neighbor to collect it while you are away. Do the same with home delivery of newspapers.
On the road
5. Pay attention to your surroundings.
6. Pick well lit gas stations and always remove your keys and lock the car doors while you are pumping gas.
7. Protect your valuables (GPS, MP3 players, cell phones) by keeping them out of plain view in your vehicle and lock the doors even if you are stepping away from the vehicle for just a moment.
8. Take only the credit and other cards you will need. Leave the others at home, stored securely.
9. Never leave your hotel room unlocked, even to go to the ice or vending machine.
10. Don’t open the door at a hotel or at home to someone who you don’t know well or trust.
It’s important, too, not to forget the basics: buckle your seatbelt and keep your eyes on the road. Driving is a skill that requires your full attention to safely control your vehicle and respond to the events happening on the roads around you.
It’s good to have an insurance company that will be there if you ever have an accident or need to file a claim. To check on your coverage, contact our agency. We will review your current policies and help ensure that your car and home are properly insured. Visit us at www.WallinInsurance in Elmira, NY.
Happy Holidays from Wallin Insurance!
Insurance agent Peter Wallin discusses
safety in the home
Tricks of the Wicks
House-warming candles, left unmanaged, can lead to dangerous fires
Candles are a great way to make a house feel like home, but if left unattended, they can have devastating effects.
According to the U.S. Fire Administration, candles cause an estimated 15,600 fires in homes each year. Over half of those fires start because the candle is too close to combustible material and one in 10 are related to the homeowner falling asleep while the candle is lit.
Thankfully, most candle-related fires can be prevented. Here’s what to know (courtesy of the U.S. Fire Administration):
For more safety tips on using candles, see the National Candle Association Web site, or visit www.WallinInsurance.com
in Elmira, New York
By Peter Wallin, Insurance Agent
Elmira, NY
www.WallinInsurance.com
Nothing adds warmth to the cold winter evenings than a nice fire in the fireplace – or woodstove or pellet stove. Before you light up another fire, though, check this safety list:
For more information contact Peter Wallin at www.WallinInsurance.com
Insurance Tips
An Ounce of Prevention
- By Peter Wallin, Insurance Agent
Elmira, New York www.WallinInsurance.com
Turns out, your mom was right when she always said “an ounce
of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” Whether you’re maintaining your home
or your car, a few easy preventative steps can keep your home in tip-top shape,
and your car purring like a kitten.
Home
Maintenance:
Auto
Maintenance:
By following these simple steps, you can reduce your chances
of car and home trouble, and save yourself time, hassle and money. Want another
way to save those things? Bundle your insurance with ERIE Insurance. By covering your home and car both
through us, you’ll pay less, and have the peace of mind of having just one
insurance Agent to turn to whenever the need strikes. Contact me at www.WallinInsurance.com to learn more
Watch out for Deer!
by Peter Wallin, Elmira, NY Insurance Agent
www.WallinInsurance.com
Each year there are over 1.5 million car accidents that are caused by deer. These incidents occur especially in the autumn months of October and November.
As you local insurance agent, this is the most frequent type of claim we see this time of year (although we see deer accidents all year long!). Most accidents are relatively minor (for the car, that is), ranging in the $2,000-3000 range to repair. But we have seen car damages as much as $10,000, or the car actually be considered a “total” damage.
We urge you to drive with caution. Deer tend to run in the early morning hours just before sunrise, or at dusk. These are times when your sight as a driver might not be ideal. Be a defensive driver, proceed with caution with frequent scans of the roadside. Deer seem to come from nowhere and at times when you least expect it. The often travel in groups of 2 or 3. So if you see one deer, chances are there’s another one right behind it.
For questions about your own car insurance contact us at www.WallinInsurance.com. We can help you fully understand how to cover yourself and your car in case you accidently are struck by a deer (this is called “Comprehensive Coverage.”)
Drive safely out there!
Peter Wallin
Peter@WallinInsurance.com
www.WallinInsurance.com
ERIE INSURANCE GETS PERFECT SCORE
Buying Auto Insurance from Erie Insurance
From NY Insurance Department
by Peter Wallin, Elmira, NY Insurance Agent
www.WallinInsurance.com
Sixty-two of the state’s 179 auto insurers, led by Erie Insurance Co., had no consumer complaints
upheld against them by state regulators in 2009 and 2010, according to a report released by the
former state Department of Insurance.
The Annual Ranking of Automobile Insurance Complaints is designed to help consumers evaluate the performance of their own carrier or another company they may be considering.
Erie was the largest of the 62 carriers with a perfect record, with an average of $64.1 million in written premiums for auto insurance over the two-year period. It had 18 complaints filed against it, but 15 of them were either rejected or withdrawn, while the other three had “questions of fact” that could not be resolved.
Our agency has represented ERIE since our very beginning – in 1998. Erie first started selling insurance in NY in 1995. Our agency is located at www.WallinInsurance.com.
Among other major carriers:
– GEICO, the state’s biggest carrier with $1.28 billion in premiums, was ranked 66th.
– Allstate Insurance Co., the state’s second-largest carrier with $1.19 billion in premiums, had 170 complaints upheld out of a total of 1,350. It ranked 130th on the list.
– State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Co., the No. 3 carrier with just over $1 billion in premiums, ranked 80th, with 37 complaints upheld out of 426.
– Liberty Mutual, the fourth-biggest carrier with $475 million in premiums, came in 98th. It had 26 complaints out of 192 upheld.
These statistics were obtained from an article in the Buffalo News, October 10, 2011.
By Peter Wallin
Elmira, NY Insurance Agent 
www.WallinInsurance.com
CARBON MONOXIDE DETECTORS REQUIRED UNDER NEW LAW
Amanda Hansen was a teenager whose life was tragically ended by a carbon monoxide leak from a defective boiler while she was sleeping at a friend’s house in a Buffalo Suburb in January 2009. When I heard about it I was heartbroken. I used to live in this neighborhood.
Amanda’s Law, passed in the 2009 Session of the New York State Legislature, established a new requirement for installation of carbon monoxide detectors in ALL homes.
Under the law, one-family homes, two-family homes, dwellings located in condominiums or cooperatives, and multiple dwellings must have a carbon monoxide detector installed regardless of the date of construction or sale.
The new law requires that the carbon monoxide detector be a device meeting New York State standards, and that it be installed in an operable condition in dwellings where there are appliances or systems that may emit carbon monoxide or have an attached garage.
Prior to Amanda’s Law, carbon monoxide detectors were required in one-family dwellings, two-family dwellings, and dwellings located in condominiums or cooperatives only if they were constructed or offered for sale after July 30, 2002. For multiple dwellings (such as a tenement, hotel, and dormitories) carbon monoxide detectors were required if they were constructed or offered for sale after August 9, 2005.
As a result of Amanda’s Law, a carbon monoxide detector will be found in nearly all residential structures in the state. This creates a safer living environment for New York residents and creates a greater awareness of home safety issues that are intensified by seasonal heating issues prevalent in the Northeast.
Amanda’s Law took effect on February 22, 2010. For more information please visit me at www.WallinInsurance.com or Peter@WallinInsurance.com
