Monday, June 23, 2008

Drivers Lack Of Highway Code Affects Insurance Premiums

A total of 2,500 UK drivers, were put to the test to find out why two out of three accidents are caused on the roads.

The survey and results, conducted by the comparison website, uSwitch.com, found that just 1 per cent of respondents, answered all questions correctly. Overall, just over one in three people (34 per cent), scored less than 50 per cent and almost one in ten (8 per cent) got every question wrong. Simple questions such as being able to identify the national speed limit caught out a third of drivers; that equates to 13 million driving licence holders. This dangerous gap in people's knowledge has potentially fatal consequences and, today alone, almost £1 million worth of insurance claims will be made every hour, over £16k per minute.

Every year, almost 7,300 car accidents (of which, 14 per cent are fatal) are caused by motorists exceeding the speed limit and over 16,000 (18 per cent of which fatal) are caused by people travelling too fast for the conditions. Disobeying 'Give Way' or 'Stop' sign markings cause nearly 5,500 accidents.

Worryingly, the results of the uSwitch.com test show that 8 out of 10 drivers do not know the correct shape of a 'Stop' sign. Traffic lights also seem to cause confusion for motorists too. Over half (58 per cent) of drivers do not know who has priority when traffic lights fail and 53 per cent do not know the meaning of an amber traffic light on its own. Some of these may seem trivial, but 4,047 people are killed each year as a result.

Not knowing the Highway Code, if it results in accident and injury, has a severe knock on effect on car insurance premiums. Every individual claim adds an extra £193 (44 per cent) to drivers car insurance premiums, wiping out two years worth of no claims discount. In total, these claims increase the cost of car insurance by £854 million.

Ashton Berkhauer, insurance expert at uSwitch.com, said: "The Transport Secretary, Ruth Kelly, highlighted some important issues last month with the Government's plans to combat fatalities among new drivers. Unfortunately, our research has shown that lack of basic Highway Code knowledge is a wider issue for all drivers. We agree that tougher driving tests will improve the standard of new drivers but this doesn't go far enough to combat the problems with so called 'experienced drivers'.

He continued: "Although the total number of road accidents is falling by about 5 per cent each year, it's worrying that many of the accidents can be directly linked to gaps in driver knowledge. It seems that some motorists forget the rules of the road as quickly as they tear up their L-plates. In fact, over 30 million motorists have never been tested on driving theory, suggesting a need for tougher testing. This could lead to fewer accidents, safer roads and lower insurance premiums for all, allowing consumers to save money at a time when it is hard to come by."

Thursday, June 19, 2008

Options in Selecting the Right Life Insurance

The city supplies applicable companies numerous types of life insurance policies for employees receiving an income, not limited to accidental death or dismemberment coverage, basic life insurance, and commuter and motorist life insurance. These programs are entirely funded by the City of Mesa, Arizona. Supplemental life insurance is also offered at a premium cost that the employee is responsible for funding.

Basic Life Insurance

Basic life insurance is provided by standard life insurance to full-time employees at no cost. The benefit is equivalent to the employee's yearly salary rounded up to the next $1,000. When hired, the employee is asked to designate a beneficiary for the policy. It is highly recommended to verify the beneficiary every few years, particularly if a major life event occurs, such as marriage, divorce, or the birth or death of family members.

Accidental Death or Dismemberment

Similar to the basic life insurance policy, this kind of coverage is granted through standard life insurance to full-time employees. It is entirely funded by the city. The benefit is also equivalent to the employee's yearly salary rounded up to the next $1,000. The beneficiary for this policy is the same individual that that is designated for the Basic Life Insurance described above.

Commuter Life Insurance

Provided through CIGNA Life Insurance, this type of policy provides a $200,000 death benefit to a beneficiary if the holder of the policy is killed as a result of an accident that happens during the commute to or from work using the normal route. This kind of policy does not cover travel by aircraft, however. If an employee travels by air on a regular basis for work, they may want to look into specialized life insurance that covers travel by air. The beneficiary for this policy is the same individual that is designated for the Basic Life Insurance described above.

Supplemental Life Insurance

Supplemental, also knows as voluntary, Life Insurance offers the opportunity to enroll in added life insurance coverage for the policy holder, their spouse, and/or any dependent children. Coverage for the policy holder and their spouse is available in $10,000 increments up to the total sum of the amount of life insurance that the City supplies in addition to what the employee obtains for supplemental life, but cannot exceed a total of $300,000. As an example, if an employee makes $30,000 annually, the City will provide a $30,000 policy at zero cost to the employee. If the employee chooses to then purchase $100,000 in supplemental or voluntary life insurance, the employee's spouse can procure up to $130,000 ($30,000 granted by the City in addition to the $100,000 supplemental/voluntary purchased by the employee). Premiums for this type of coverage are the policy holder's responsibility and will be withheld by payroll. The City does not monetarily contribute to this coverage.

To add or increase coverage and for more company life insurance basics the employee will need to complete an application form, which can be found at http://www.mesachip.org (click on "Benefit Forms"). If the employee does not wish to make any changes at this time, they do not need to re-enroll.

If previous enrollment in Supplemental Life Insurance has not already been completed, or if an employee wishes to increase coverage for them self or their spouse, they are forewarned that their application will be subject to underwriting and authorization by the carrier administering the plan.

This coverage may be transferable should the employee terminate employment with and/or retire from the City of Mesa. However, the coverage must be active at the time employment ends. If the employee does not meet the eligibility requirements to transfer coverage, the employee may choose to convert their policy instead. Please refer to the Life Insurance Certificate of Coverage.

Cheapest Auto Insurance - How to find a cheap auto insurance now

You can understand why people go for cheap auto insurance for their vehicles, but it's always best to never be penny wise and pound foolish. The internet, as well as several insurance providers online and off, has a plethora of choices when it comes to auto insurance that gives maximum coverage at the lowest cost. Nevertheless, there can be a trade-off between cost and quality. However, one of your major concerns is to judge how feasible and beneficial cheap auto insurance is for you.

Insurance providers have to give the utmost precedence to the demands and preferences of the customers, when they are operating in a free market. They are forced to offer a cheap auto insurance to compete with the other companies and cater to a higher number of people.

To have a fair idea of the different auto insurance plans available with the different companies, one must visit auto insurance web sites and search the internet. Researching a company's reputation and qualifications can help you to avoid problems later on. It's also important to remember that another major part of your auto insurance is the deductible. The amount that you pay even before the insurance company pays you is referred to as the deductible. The higher your deductible is, the less your insurance policy will cost you. You can go for cheap auto insurance for your car in that case.

Property and liability coverage are an essential part of your auto insurance, and you should not skimp on these. Auto insurance rates can be driven up by medical insurance and personal injury coverage, so if you have medical insurance, you might be able to reduce your rates by eliminating this coverage.

There are other factors that also help set your auto insurance rates, and you must research them. The age of your car, and a model of the car that is safer for you, are both factors included in this. If the cost to replace your car is lower than the cost of insuring it, your best bet might be to get a new car. The safer a car model is, the cheaper your auto insurance may be.

Having several policies from the same company (house, life, etc) can help you achieve cheaper rates for your car insurance. Be sure to look up your insurance company's ratings at institutions so you'll have an idea of the company's financial strength, and what sort of coverage you will receive if an accident occurs.

To gain more information, you can also visit websites with statistics and complaint ratios for web site offers, such as the State department's auto insurance site. These ratios can give you an idea of how many complaints a provider received per 1,000 filed claims, which is a good indicator of that provider's quality. One should remember that while going for auto insurance, cheap insurance is not always the best option. In the end, the effort that you put into your search will be well worth it. It's always better to take you time and do your homework before making a hasty decision.

Commercial Auto Insurance and Truck Insurance

If you're a business owner, you've probably got your business covered with insurance. However, did you realize that you need the same kinds of insurance coverage for the car or truck you use in your business as you do for a car that you would use for personal travel? These types of commercial auto insurance range from liability, collision and comprehensive, medical payments and coverage for uninsured motorists.

The majority of business owners use their personal vehicles for business and pleasure. Don't forget that if the vehicle is owned by the business then the business name needs to appear on the policy rather than your name. Doing this will avoid confusion and mistakes incase you need to file a claim, or a claim is filed against you.

Whether you need a NJ commercial auto insurance policy depends on what kind of driving you will be doing. A good trustworthy insurance agency will ask you lots knowledgeable questions such as:

  • Is the vehicle owned by the business?
  • Who will be driving the vehicles?
  • How will the vehicles be used?
  • Are the vehicles also used for personal use?

Safety Risks While Driving

You are more likely to have an accident if you are speeding, driving while tired, driving aggressively or not paying attention. If you take your eyes off the road for only a couple of seconds, the odds of a crash are almost double compared to a driver paying full attention on their surroundings on the road.

The people driving the cars in your business are not only your employees and represent your company, they should also be responsible drivers. Be sure to choose carefully when selecting drivers.

Sunday, June 15, 2008

Is There Any Payment Needed When Getting Auto Insurance Quotes Online?

Getting insurance quotes online doesn't cost a thing but your time and effort. You can easily find several quotes to find auto insurance online, and buying and managing a policy online is convenient and easy. Buying insurance online will end up saving you money, at least up to 40%.There are many advantages to buying insurance online.

You can sit at home, at any time, and manage your insurance policy. You can easily make changes and post premium payments. Buying online saves in time and gas from going back and forth to an office to sign this form and that, or once a month trip to the office to make payments.

When shopping for insurance online, remember to get at least three different quotes. More would be even better. Getting cheap car insurance online is simple and will save in the long run. Make sure to check the companies out that you've never heard of. That would be one good reason to ask family and friends who they have insurance with and what kind of service was the best for them. Word of mouth is the best advertisements to shop through.

The kind of car you have will determine a lot in your premiums. How high or how low they are will be reflected by the year, make, and model of your car. The newest and latest usually cost a little more, and this is due a lot the fact that you must carry full coverage on a car that is financed, as most new ones are. The costs of repair are usually higher on newer models, etc., are the kinds of reasons premiums are higher on newer cars.

If shopping online for insurance quotes and insurance rates, keep in mind there are several reasons why your policy may have higher or lower premiums than your friend's policy. Your age, whether or not you're married, how many traffic violations you've had recently, and how many points have been taken off your driver's license due to those traffic violations. Having all this information handy when calling for insurance quotes will speed the process and make things easier on you when applying for a policy.

If you own your own home, have a motorcycle and a boat in addition to your two cars, you would greatly benefit at an insurance company who carries multiple policies and not just for cars. The rates for premiums are discounted greatly for multiple policies at the same company. Having all your policies makes bill paying easier when it comes yo keeping up with all the policy numbers and information you need when posting a payment to your insurance company.

Get your deductible raised to lower your costs for insurance, shop online to save money, and make sure you get quotes so you will be sure to get the very lowest premium possible.

Wednesday, June 4, 2008

Insurance claims management services

Insurance is a necessity in any business. Insurance claim management services are involved in providing security to people in various aspects. The most important among all insurance claims services is building insurance claims. It is because that it takes a lifetime to build the house of your imaginings and the calamities are at all times unpredicted, for that reason it is better to protect the most valuable investment of your life with an insurance that promises to take care of your home. Insurance against fire, earthquake, theft, storm, lightning etc by the house owner for his building is called as Building insurance. The building is insured for a sum and the owner of the property is required to pay a premium installment for that insurance. If the building is damaged due to the aforesaid calamities, the insurance company pays the insured sum. There are various covers that are available in building insurance that customer can take in accordance to their requirements and suitability. The right building insurance provides a comprehensive cover to protect your home and the other belongings against natural calamity, or any other accidental circumstances.

There are a variety of different types of building insurance claims available. The settlement of any kind of insurance claim could take months, even years. There are a few things you can do to get faster your insurance claims. You can hire the services of some good and reputable insurance claim management services. Asprea is one of those insurance claim management services. It manages domestic building insurance claims. It is a part of Carillion plc, one of the world's largest construction and service companies. It was formed to provide a dedicated service to Norwich Union, part of Aviva one of the world's largest insurance providers. Asprea now deliver domestic building insurance claims through its network of offices based in six regional centers, Sheffield, Bromley, Manchester, Cardiff, Livingston and Peterborough.

Asprea insurance claim services ensure maintenance and repair to the building damage quickly, efficiently and to a very high standard. It also provides you with a substitute accommodation in case of the repairing of the house. The premium paid for domestic building insurance claims is very low and in case of any uncertainty the money is paid. Asprea covers all the home assets like permanent fixtures and fittings, wardrobe, interior decorations etc in domestic building insurance claim. Insuring home building can help customer in minimizing risk and stay in peace. First the insurance company does valuation of the building and then on that basis property is insured. In case of any uncertainty the insurance company pays for the insured amount to customer. The amount of the insurance claim may vary from one company to another. Customer can select Asprea as a reliable insurance claim management services that better covers their home and other possessions.

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