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Slow Down – Save Lives and Money

July 22, 2013 By Jon DeKok

How many times has the following happened to you? You’re speeding down highway 52 when you spot a MN highway patrol car. You quickly hit the brakes and slow down, relieved that you didn’t get caught … this time.

Now take a minute to think what could have happened if you hadn’t been so lucky.

First, your speeding could have hurt somebody — or yourself. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, speed is a contributing factor in more than 30% of fatal crashes and nearly 20% of non-injury accidents. That’s a big risk to take.

Second, getting a ticket could put a big hit on your wallet. Of course, that’s not nearly as important as the health and safety impacts of speeding, but in this economic climate, more and more people are watching every dime. And who wants to write a check to the state for speeding?

At DeKok Insurance Group, I want you to be safe. I also want to make sure you get a great price on the insurance coverage you need. Thankfully, easing up on that lead foot can help accomplish both.

How a ticket impacts your insurance

If you get a speeding ticket, that violation can stay on your driving record for three years or even longer. And because your driving history plays a large part in determining how much you’ll pay for insurance, the fewer tickets you have, the better.

Different carriers have different policies when it comes to checking your driving record and dealing with drivers who have violations. If you receive a ticket, and it’s your first in several years, you may not see much of an increase — depending on the severity of the offense. In fact, many states will allow you to enter a deferment program if it’s your first ticket, keeping the violation off your record if you complete a safety course and avoid further tickets.

But that second ticket (or third, or fourth …) can bring some serious financial penalties. While there are too many variables to say specifically how much each additional violation will increase your premium, it’s safe to say that the jump will be significant. And unfortunately, you can be stuck paying those higher premiums for years.

Significant violations can have a bigger impact as well. If you’re going 20 miles per hour over the limit, you’ll likely pay more than someone with a ticket for 5 mph over. Insurance companies know that speeding increases the risk of accidents, and they’ll view you as an increased risk — for good reason. In fact, if you have a serious violation, or too many tickets, your insurance carrier could drop your coverage altogether.

For younger drivers (typically under the age of 25), it’s especially important to avoid tickets, because companies already view these drivers as riskier than the general population.

And keep in mind, having a violation on your record could prevent you from receiving the lowest possible rate on your insurance.

When you slow down, not only will you avoid tickets and possible insurance hassles, but your risk of accidents will decrease. And you’ll get better gas mileage.

Jon

Email: dekokinsgroup@gmail.com

Phone 507-226-8121

Better coverage. Better prices.

Jon DeKok has been serving insurance clients for over 30 years. He specializes in home, auto, umbrella, recreational vehicle, business, and life insurance. He is licensed in the state of Minnesota.

Boat Trailer Safety

July 18, 2013 By Jon DeKok

There are many reasons to love the sport of boating – it can be relaxing, exciting, entertaining and even rejuvenating. But hauling a boat on a trailer and launching it at the busy launch ramp can have its challenges. In fact, it can be downright stressful and dangerous and is often wrought with mishaps.

It’s not too early to start getting your boat trailer in tip-top shape. To help make sure you can haul your boat to its destination and into the water smoothly, check out this basic trailering checklist from discoverboating.com.

Before you put your boat on your trailer. . .

Take a look at your current boat and trailer insurance policies. Check with your agent to be sure your coverage is adequate and that your policies are up to date and renewed.
Upgraded your boat or trailer recently? If so, talk to your insurance agent about your coverage and limits to be certain your coverage is sufficient.
Be sure both your boat and trailer policy liability limits are adequate. Just one accident involving a boat can result in extensive damage and serious injuries.

Before you tow your boat trailer. . .

Coupler, hitch and hitch ball are of the same size
Coupler and safety chains are safely secured to the hitch of the tow vehicle
All fasteners are properly tightened
Boat is securely tied down to trailer (winch line is not a tie down)
Wheel lug nuts are properly tightened
Wheel bearings are properly adjusted and maintained
Load is within maximum load carrying capacity
Tires are properly inflated
All trailer lighting is working properly
Trailer brakes are properly adjusted and working (if trailer is so equipped)
Brakes and additional equipment meet all local and state requirements

At DeKok Insurance Group, I want your boating adventures to be enjoyed on the water instead of experienced with frustration on the boat ramp or on the road. If you have any questions, give me a call at 507-226-8121 or email me at dekokinsgroup@gmail.com.

Jon

Email: dekokinsgroup@gmail.com

Phone 507-226-8121

Better coverage. Better prices.

Jon DeKok has been serving insurance clients for over 30 years. He specializes in home, auto, umbrella, recreational vehicle, business, and life insurance. He is licensed in the state of Minnesota.

It’s Boating Season – Tips from DeKok Insurance Group and Safeco

July 15, 2013 By Jon DeKok

Every summer, we gets calls from customers after a fun weekend on the water takes a turn for the worse. Often, these accidents could have been prevented with just a few simple precautions. Here are a few tips we like – courtesy of our partners at Safeco.

Don’t let an accident wreck your fun!

Life Preservers Aren’t Just for Kids. It’s not enough to just have life jackets on board — wear them! In an accident, people rarely have time to reach for a life jacket. This rule applies to adults, not just children: More people in their 30s die in boating accidents than any other age group. Life vests have come a long way in style. Today, you can even get vests for your water-loving dog.

Most home insurance policies have limited coverage for boats. If you own a boat, watercraft insurance is your best bet: It covers theft, damage, and injuries or accidents while you’re on the water, as well as some of your expensive water sports gear.

Watch the Back of the Boat. Carbon monoxide kills in minutes. So tell your passengers where your exhaust pipes are located and turn off your engine when people are in the water, and don’t let passengers “ski” or “teak-surf” by holding on to the back of the boat. Both Washington and Oregon made teak-surfing illegal in the last few years, after several tragic deaths. Carbon monoxide detectors are standard on most new boats; older boats install devices for less than $100.

Alcohol and Boating Don’t Mix. More than 50 percent of drowning’s result from boating incidents involving alcohol. You don’t drink and drive, so don’t boat and drive.

Boats Need TLC Too. When you’re out on the water, make sure your gas tanks are vented and bilges are free of vapors, oil, waste and grease. Carry a charged fire extinguisher. Have your boat’s operating systems checked yearly by a certified marine technician. The Coast Guard Auxiliary and United States Power Squadrons also offer free vessel safety checks.

Experience Counts! The U.S. Coast Guard says that operator errors account for 70 percent of all boating accidents. Make sure anyone who drives your boat is properly trained. You can also earn boat insurance discounts from Safeco and other insurers if you complete a safety course with the Coast Guard Auxiliary or U.S. Power Squadrons.

Sites for Information:

Coast Guard: www.uscgboating.org

Coast Guard Auxiliary: nws.cgaux.org/

Safeco tips: www.safeco.com/insurance-101/consumer-tips/your-boat

Call me at 507-226-8121 or email me at dekokinsgroup@gmail.com for more information. We also have a list of summer boat safety classes that can save you money.

Jon

Email: dekokinsgroup@gmail.com

Phone 507-226-8121

Better coverage. Better prices.

Jon DeKok has been serving insurance clients for over 30 years. He specializes in home, auto, umbrella, recreational vehicle, business, and life insurance. He is licensed in the state of Minnesota.

If I Borrow My Friend’s Car, Am I Covered?

July 11, 2013 By Jon DeKok

Most people have an idea of what’s covered and not covered under their various insurance policies. But at DeKok Insurance Group, we are often asked about borrowing or loaning a car.

Now that summer is here, and you might be looking to borrow your neighbor’s truck for a home-improvement project or a trip to the local landfill, we thought it was a great time to provide a little more information.

Generally, insurance coverage follows the vehicle rather than the driver. So in most instances, as long as the owner of the car has insurance, it’s covered even if someone other than the owner is driving it — as long as they have the owner’s permission.

The borrower’s insurance is considered secondary, meaning that in the event of an accident, it could apply if the owner’s insurance is insufficient to fully cover the damage.

It’s important to note that there are some exceptions to what is called “permissive use” coverage. For example, permission must be given by the owner, unless the borrower has a reasonable belief that they are allowed to use the car. However, the borrower cannot give permission to someone else. So if your teenager allows one of his or her friends to drive your car to {local destination}, your coverage likely won’t apply.

Coverage might also be denied if the borrower operates the vehicle in a negligent or criminal manner. And if the borrower is using your car for business purposes, your personal auto policy likely won’t cover that.

If you have a regular long-term arrangement to either borrow or lend a car, the borrower should probably be added to the owner’s personal auto policy. Those who don’t own a car, but often borrow one, might also consider “named non-owner coverage,” an endorsement that provides bodily injury and property damage liability, uninsured motorists coverage and more.

Ultimately, it’s usually safe to loan your friend your car for occasional errands or projects. And the same goes for borrowing a car. Just make sure it’s for “normal” use. You’ll want to confirm that the car has coverage and that your insurance, whether you’re the owner or borrower, will apply.

Feel free to give us a call at 507-226-8121 if you have any questions — after all, you don’t want to wait until after an accident to get answers!

Jon

Email: dekokinsgroup@gmail.com

Phone 507-226-8121

Better coverage. Better prices.

Jon DeKok has been serving insurance clients for over 30 years. He specializes in home, auto, umbrella, recreational vehicle, business, and life insurance. He is licensed in the state of Minnesota.

When They Steal Your Identity

August 2, 2012 By Jon DeKok

Many insurance company’s have an Identity Fraud Expense Coverage. This is usually an endorsement added to your Homeowner’s or Renter’s insurance policy. This coverage is designed to help you get your identity back and cover the cost to restore your good name and credit.

For example – Travelers insurance has an endorsement which costs $25 per year. It will pay up to $25,000 per loss. They will reimburse these expenses in your resolution efforts.

Lost wages as a result of time taken off from work to deal with the identity theft – up to $1,000 per week for a maximum of five weeks.
Notary and certified mailing charges for completing and delivering fraud affidavits.
Fees to reapply for loans that were denied due to erroneous credit information caused by the identity theft.
Long distance telephone charges for calling merchants, law enforcement agencies or credit grantors to discuss an actual identity fraud.
Daycare and eldercare expenses.
Attorney fees incurred, with Traveler’s consent, for:

– Defending suits brought incorrectly by merchants and their collection agencies

– Removing criminal or civic judgments wrongly entered against the victim

– Challenging the information in a credit report

If you have any questions concerning identity theft, or would like to discuss other insurance needs, feel free to call 507-226-8121 or email me at dekokinsgroup@gmail.com

Jon