Auto, Home & SR22 Insurance Blog

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

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

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

McKenna Insurance Services has added a new company to its extensive product line. The Hartford Insurance appointed McKenna Insurance Services as a personal lines agent. The Hartford will really strengthen the agency to round out the product offerings. As we all know, each client's situation is unique. Individual rating factors can affect not only premium, but also, underwriting acceptability.

The Hartford Auto Insurance program is designed to offer top-level coverages at very competitive rates for drivers that have very good driving records. The Hartford Insurance Company wants to reward those California drivers that are careful drivers. Not only are the rates competitive, but the service and claims adjusting is top-notch with a knowledgeable representative just a phone call away.

We are very excited about the Homeowners Insurance product. Under the category of Home Insurance we are able to sell HO3, HO5, HO4 Renters Insurance and HO6 Condo Insurance (Unit Owners Insurance for both owner and tenant occupied condos).

Also, The Harford offers Umbrella Coverage, Dwelling Policies and will schedule personal property on a Home Insurance policy. The multiple policy discount when you sign up for both Auto and Home Insurance is huge so we recommend that our clients package the policies when possible.

In California, native brush continues to cause problems for insurance consumers. The majority of insurance companies require at least 1/4 mile clearance from brush in order to obtain a homeowners insurance policy. The Hartford can help you obtain renters or condo insurance if your dwelling is near brush.

Call us today at (888) 384-7722 and ask for a free quote with The Hartford Insurance.

Posted by at 5:01 PM | Permalink