Auto, Home & SR22 Insurance Blog

The major wildfires in Southern California in August and September have burned over 150,000 acres, destroyed dozens of homes, and caused residents to flee from over 10,000 homes. Indeed, wildfires are one of the most destructive natural forces known to mankind. While sometimes caused by lightning, nine out of ten wildfires are human-caused. A wildfire can be defined as any unwanted and unplanned fire burning in forest, shrub, or grass. According to the National Interagency Fire Center, there were over 80,000 wildfires in the United States in 2008. These fires burned an estimated 5.2 million acres.

If you live in a wildfire-prone area, the following are some tips for you to mitigate the risks of suffering a wildfire loss.

• If you are building a house or planning to replace a roof, consider noncombustible or fire-resistant roofing materials, such as Class A asphalt shingles, metal, cement, and concrete products, or terra-cotta tiles. These types of roofs are less susceptible to burning embers from a wildfire.
• Remove any dead branches, leaves, and any other vegetation from your roof and gutters.
• Remove any dry brush from your yard and stack firewood at least 20 or 25 feet from your home.
• Create a "fuel-break" -- driveways, gravel walkways, or lawns.
• Prevent sparks from entering your home by covering vents with wire mesh no larger than 1/8-inch. Cover skylights and chimney outlets with nonflammable screening materials.
• Use tempered glass in your windows since this material withstands high temperatures from wildfires better than regular plate or double pane glass.
• Make trellises of nonflammable metal.
• Avoid certain exterior siding materials, such as vinyl, which soften and melt easily under high temperatures. Instead, siding materials such as stucco or masonry should be selected, since these resist heat better.

Copyright 2009
International Risk Management Institute, Inc.

Posted by at 11:42 AM | Permalink

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, driver distractions are a contributing cause in approximately 25 percent of all motor vehicle crashes or about 1.2 million accidents. However, distractions can be hard to quantify, and the number of accidents due to driver distractions is difficult to define. What can further complicate matters is that there may be more than one distraction, such as texting while chastising a child in the backseat.

Cell phones are considered one of the leading driver distractions. As a result, more communities are placing restrictions on drivers' use of cell phones. And more states are now passing laws banning the practice of texting while driving. The U.S. Congress is even considering a federal law related to this ban. The following tips are offered to motorists in regards to cell phone use in vehicles.

• You should never text message while driving. One study indicates that when drivers engage in texting, their collision risk was 23 times greater than when not texting. Another study found that texting while driving is more dangerous than drunken driving.
• You should wait until the car trip is complete before placing a call. Your cell phone's voice mail feature should answer a call while you are driving.
• Absolutely essential calls should only be performed while stopped. However, it is not wise to pull over on the side of the road, where a rear-end collision is possible. Instead, you should pull into a parking lot to perform this task.
• The phone should be placed where it is easy to see and reach.
• You should take advantage of speed dialing capabilities.
• You should never drive and talk on the cell phone during stressful, emotional, or complex discussions since the risk of an accident is heightened.
• If you must occasionally use a cell phone while driving, you should consider using a hands-free cellular phone since some studies indicated that these are safer to use.

McKenna Insurance Services || Insurance for the Quality Conscious.

Copyright 2009
International Risk Management Institute, Inc.

Posted by at 12:56 PM | Permalink

Homeowners regularly hire general contractors and subcontractors to work on their homes but are often unaware of the large exposures that could result in hiring an unlicensed or uninsured contractor, particularly for large projects. For example, an uninsured roofer working on your home may sue you for damages if he is injured on the job. The following key rules should thus be followed when selecting a contractor to work on your home.

Be wary of contractors who solicit business door-to-door or via cold calls. In addition, avoid contractors who quote you a price that will automatically go up the next day or week if you don't accept it immediately.

Obtain recommendations from friends, family members, and neighbors about experienced and reputable contractors who have performed excellent work for them.

Ask for a written estimate from the contractor that includes any oral agreements the contractor makes in this process. The estimate should contain a line-by-line breakdown of costs, including materials and labor.

Verify that the contractor is licensed, bonded, and properly insured. Ask for certificates of insurance for workers compensation and general liability policies. You should also receive these certificates for any subcontractor the general contractor may hire to work on your home.

Contact the Better Business Bureau to see if complaints have been filed against the contractor. This can be performed via the bureau's Web site at www.bbb.org.

Get a copy of the proposed contract. Ideally, it should include a hold harmless clause in your favor, particularly for major work such as when heavy equipment will be used in constructing a swimming pool. A hold harmless clause specifies that the contractor will indemnify you with respect to your liability to members of the public who are injured or whose property is damaged during the course of the contractor's operations. The contract should also explicitly establish an independent contractor relationship.

Ask a knowledgeable friend, relative, or attorney to review the home repair contract before you sign.

Copyright 2009
International Risk Management Institute, Inc.

Posted by at 9:52 AM | Permalink

Non-Admitted Insurance Laws in Mexico

In Mexico, Non-Admitted Insurance is addressed under Article 3 of the General Insurance Law. In summary, this article prohibits insurance transactions for risks in Mexico with foreign (nonadmitted) Insurance Companies. Even though the Law provides for certain exceptions, it pretty much requires that any and all
insurance must be contracted with Insurance Companies admitted in Mexico, to the extent that coverage is available in the Mexican Insurance Market.

Penalties for violating Non-Admitted Insurance Laws in Mexico Under the Mexican Legal System, which is more like the Napoleonic Code, as opposed to the Common Law System in the USA, penalties for violations of the Law are very clearly typified' and stipulated. The General Insurance Law, under article 141, establishes the penalties and crimes for violations to article 3, which regulates non-admitted insurance. Specifically, article 141, under fraction II, stipulates that any person who violates the prohibition to contract insurance with foreign companies will be sanctioned with:
Imprisonment for a term from 3 years to 10 years; and
A fine between 200 and 2,000 Daily Salaries.

CALIFORNIA CODES INSURANCE CODE SECTION 11580-11589.5

11580.6. Where a policy of liability insurance covering the ownership, maintenance, or use of a motor vehicle or aircraft contains a provision indicating that coverage is extended to accidents, occurrences, and loss arising in Mexico, the policy shall contain an additional provision, either on the face of the policy or by an endorsement attached thereto stating as follows:

WARNING

Unless you have automobile or aircraft insurance written by a Mexican insurance company, you may spend many hours or days in jail, if you have an accident in Mexico. Insurance coverage should be secured from a company licensed under the laws of Mexico to write such insurance in order to avoid complications and some other penalties possible under the laws of Mexico, including the possible impoundment of your automobile or aircraft.

Posted by at 2:30 PM | Permalink

More and more homeowners in the United States now employ domestic workers, either on a full-time or part-time basis. In fact, the U.S. Census Bureau estimates that there are at least 1.5 million domestic workers across the country. The services these domestics render are great, but so are the risks for the employer. The following are some ways for you to mitigate the risks of employing domestic workers and for ensuring that these workers have the proper protection as well.

If hiring a domestic worker directly, run a background check on potential domestics to see if they (a) are U.S. citizens, (b) have a history of filing lawsuits, (c) have credit problems, or (d) have a criminal record. If using an employment agency, verify the above steps are performed. Prospective domestics with major concerns of these types should not be hired.

Check with your insurance agent to see if you need to procure workers compensation coverage. Your agent will be familiar with your state laws concerning this issue. Of course, you may choose to voluntarily provide workers compensation coverage, which may be a good idea. As discussed below, even if your homeowners policy covers injuries to your domestic employee, the policy limit could be grossly inadequate in the event of serious injury, permanent disability, or death.
The advantage of workers compensation coverage is that it provides broader protection (e.g., disability payments) than your homeowners policy, including unlimited medical expenses in most states. So, even if not required by law, it is a good idea to consider voluntarily providing this important coverage.

If an outside firm or agency is used to hire your domestic, verify the worker has workers compensation coverage. Obtain a certificate of insurance from the employment agency on an annual basis showing this coverage.

Prepare a well-organized and documented human resource file for every domestic employee. In addition, you should have an employment application as well as an employment manual or handbook. This manual will reduce the chances of an employment-related lawsuit because it can include protective provisions detailing your opposition to any employee mistreatment. An employee manual written or revised by an experienced attorney is an even more effective risk control recommendation.

If there are multiple domestic workers, an employment practices liability (EPL) policy may be needed. This coverage can protect you from a wide variety of lawsuits, including allegations of discrimination, wrongful termination, harassment, and slander. A personal injury endorsement under your homeowners policy is also recommended.

Discuss with your insurance agent the possibility of increasing the personal liability and medical payments limits under your homeowners policy to the highest available limits, particularly if workers compensation benefits are not required or purchased. A personal umbrella policy is also recommended.
Consider some type of fidelity bond for these employees, particularly for new employees. This bond will protect you if the domestic worker commits a dishonest act in your employment (e.g., theft of jewelry). If an employment agency or service provides these employees, verify that the employment agency has purchased fidelity bonds on them and ask for a copy of the bond certification form.

Make sure that your employment practices comply with federal requirements, such as the withholding of payroll taxes and proof of citizenship.
Get more personal lines insurance and risk management tips and ideas from IRMI.

Copyright 2009
International Risk Management Institute, Inc.

Posted by at 10:17 AM | Permalink

For Immediate Release:

McKenna Insurance Services is proud to release a new information page entitled
Auto Insurance Terms Discussed. Just one more way that McKenna Insurance Services shows its dedication to the consumers of auto insurance. This one of a kind page goes way beyond the typical definitions of auto insurance terms. McKenna Insurance has taken the most important coverages and terms, defined them, and then in simple language, discusses and gives practical advice about coverages and situations that can arise during an auto insurance claim.

The author of this new page, Patrick McKenna, has been an insurance agent since 1994. He also served three years as an auto insurance claims adjuster at Mercury Insurance Group. Patrick McKenna is the founder and President of McKenna Insurance Group, Inc. He is active in the daily operations of McKenna Insurance Services.

For more information, you may contact McKenna Insurance Services at (888) 763-6465

Posted by at 12:01 PM | Permalink

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

July 21, 2007

On July 20, 2007, McKenna Insurance Group, Inc. dba McKenna Insurance Services acquired McKenna-Pacific Insurance Agency from Jennifer L. McKenna. Patrick J. McKenna and Jennifer L. McKenna originally founded McKenna-Pacific Insurance Agency in July 1995. McKenna-Pacific Insurance Agency will be a great asset to McKenna Insurance Services as it broadens its presence in California. Located at 4118 Bonita Road, Bonita, CA 91902, it serves clients from Chula Vista, Eastlake, Bonita, San Diego, Otay Ranch and all of the South Bay. Specializing in Auto and Homeowners Insurance, McKenna-Pacific Insurance Agency also provides Business Insurance, Commercial Auto Insurance, Boat Insurance, RV Insurance, SR22 Insurance Filing, Bonds, Motorcycle Insurance, Life and Health Insurance.

Currently McKenna-Pacific Insurance Agency offers insurance with Mercury Insurance, Progressive Drive Insurance, Hartford Insurance, GMAC Insurance, Western United Insurance, Bristol West / Coast National Insurance, Infinity Insurance, Unitrin Specialty / Financial Indemnity Company, Fidelity National Insurance, Lloyds of London and many more top rated insurance companies.

McKenna Insurance Services looks forward with great anticipation of growing in California. Clients will receive the same great rates and service that they have come to expect over the last 12 years from McKenna-Pacific Insurance Agency.

For more information regarding this purchase, please contact Patrick J. McKenna, President of McKenna Insurance Group, Inc. at (619) 475-9000.

CA State Lic.# 0F13008

Posted by at 1:28 PM | Permalink