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Ride Safe! More Motorcycle Safety Tips from DeKok Insurance Group

June 20, 2013 By Jon DeKok

You might wonder why I’m sharing these motorcycle safety tips. His name is Mike. He didn’t intend to die riding his cycle, but he did – from massive head injuries. So, please do all you can to ride safe!

Ride safe with these motorcycle tips. . .

Motorcyclists know that riding gives them a freedom that driving a car just can’t match. But the best riders also know that motorcycles require more focus to operate and don’t provide the same protections cars do in the event of a crash. The best riders also take great care in all situations, whether they’re in heavy traffic on <local highway>, stuck in the rain or just taking a quick ride on a perfect day.

If your habits aren’t as safe as they could be, or if you’re new to motorcycling, don’t worry! Instead, take time to improve. The quick safety tips below are a great place to start.

Want more? Check out the Motorcycle Safety Foundation (http://www.msf-usa.org) or the American Motorcyclist Association (www.americanmotorcyclist.com). And remember to give us at <agency name> a call at <agency phone> when you need to get coverage for your bike (or your home or auto, boat or more)!

First things first . . .

Wear proper safety gear and, most importantly, a helmet – no matter how short your trip may be.
Make sure you can be seen by other motorists. Make it easier for them by wearing reflective clothing, always using turn signals (and perhaps hand signals as well) and keeping your headlight on.
Even when taking the above precautions, stay alert and assume that other drivers don’t see you — especially at intersections and when making lane changes or passing.
Be patient. Don’t tailgate, and if someone is tailgating you, get out of their way.
Don’t ride after drinking or taking any medications that could impair your abilities.

Riding at night . . .

Again, make sure you’re visible — particularly at dusk. Consider upgrading your headlight or adding other lights to your ride. Is your bike black? What about your clothing? Both will make you more difficult to see at night.
Your vision needs to be clear, so keep your visor or goggles clean and free from scratches. If you don’t use face or eye protection, consider it.
Carry a flashlight or other emergency gear with you so a mechanical problem doesn’t leave you stranded — and invisible — on the side of a dark road.

Bad weather?

Keep rain and cold-weather gear handy. Riding isn’t just more enjoyable when you’re warm and dry — it’s safer, too.
Use extreme caution when it first begins to rain, as the roads are most slick at that point. Pull over and wait if necessary. It’s better to be late than ride in unsafe conditions.

I wish that all of your rides could be on sunny days with wide-open roads, but we know that’s not going to happen. So think about safety every time you start up your bike!

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.

Graphic purchased from: © Dudarev Mikhail – Fotolia.com

Is It Important to Have Better Coverage?

May 15, 2013 By Jon DeKok

First to answer this question we need to know, better coverage than what? What I mean is better coverage than you now have.

On auto insurance, it might be the right thing to look at what limits of coverage you have if you are at fault in an accident and someone sues you. This coverage is Bodily Injury and Property Damage liability. If you currently have a $100,000 limit and your total assets are worth more than that, better coverage (like higher limits), could save you a lot of heartaches later.

On your homeowners insurance, it may be making sure your dwelling limit is protected by having increased replacement cost coverage. It could also be having special form (all risk) coverage on your personal property as well as your dwelling. Do you have coverage if the sewer or drain backs up? If so, what limit have you chosen? Are your firearms covered at a high enough limit? Most companies limit coverage for firearms without an endorsement. Safeco Insurance does not limit coverage for your firearms (other than the total personal property limit).

Please call, email me, or stop in. I will be happy to go over the coverage you now have and suggest area’s where it may be important to have better coverage.

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.

Graphic used with permission from Microsoft Free Gallery

No Parent Insurance

May 6, 2013 By Jon DeKok

My dad passed away March 3, 2010 at age 87. My mom passed away December 13, 2012 at age 90. So within a three year period of time my siblings and myself find ourselves parentless.

I have to tell you I miss them a great deal. They weren’t only my parents, they were my best friends. I had the great fortune to go out, visit and have coffee with them for about an hour or so each week for the last 30 years. I could not imagine them not being home.

The passing of life is so final and seems so short once its gone. There are some things you can’t buy insurance for, and one of them is keeping your parents young, healthy, and alive. One of the promises the scripture gives to those who believe in Jesus is ” to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord.” Because of their faith in Jesus and my faith in Jesus I believe we will see each other again, and that gives me great peace!

Jon

Jon DeKok DeKok Insurance Group, Inc.

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.

Making Change Easier – Let DeKok Insurance Group Shop for You

March 17, 2013 By Jon DeKok

Your insurance rates just went up and you know it’s time to shop around. Then, you look at all the information required, for each company, and you decide change is too hard.

It’s different at DeKok Insurance Group.

Here’s how it works: You call (507-226-8121) or email (dekokinsgroup@gmail.com) me for a quote, give me your information once, and I start looking for the right coverage at the best price for you. When I’ve checked with several of the highest rated companies in the insurance industry, I call or email you with the quotes.

Then, you decide.

If you have any questions about quotes or the companies I represent, please feel free to call or email me.

Making Change Easier,

Jon

Email: dekokinsgroup@gmail.com

Phone 507-226-8121

Better coverage. Better prices.

Jon DeKok has been serving insurance clients for over 35 years. He specializes in home, auto, umbrella, recreational vehicle, business, and life insurance. He is licensed in the state of Minnesota.

Attractive Nuisances

December 4, 2012 By Jon DeKok

What is an Attractive Nuisance?

An attractive nuisance is something that is so interesting that it would entice a child into entering another’s property. For instance, many courts require that the object be man-made and many require that you “maintain” the nuisance in order to be liable. This would mean that ponds or lakes are generally not attractive nuisances.

Some of the typical attractive nuisances include:

Swimming pools and fountains
Machinery (lawnmowers, weed trimmers, etc.)
Wells and tunnels
Dangerous animals
Paths and stairs
Construction materials
Trampolines
Empty buildings

How can you protect yourself from liability?

Taking some basic actions to prevent injury goes a long way toward avoiding liability. Courts usually punish people who didn’t seem to care or put any effort into encouraging safety. In short, you should do whatever it takes to prevent a child’s access to the nuisance.

If you have any questions about attractive nuisances, please feel free to call or email me.

Jon

dekokinsgroup@gmail.com

phone 507-226-8121

DeKok Insurance Group, Inc. Referral Program: When you tell your family and friends about your positive experience with my agency, and they call for a quote, I’ll send YOU a $20 gift card.