Personal Umbrella

Most people purchase the "personal umbrella policy" for a Million Dollars or more in case they are sued. Absolutely a wise decision! However, those same people often do not include the option for the Un-Insured or Under-Insured driver because of the added cost.

This option is just as important. Consider this... My cousin was in an automobile accident. It was not his fault, but his foot was crushed in the accident. The at fault driver had insurance, but at minimum levels. He paid to have the car repaired, but his level of liability insurance was no where adequate to cover my cousin's physical injury. Likewise, my cousin now had to undergo long-term rehabilitation and was unable to work, which meant loss of wages. It is his own Un-Isured / Under-Insured coverage replacing those lost wages.

Now consider what would happen if he had become permanently disabled and was never able to work again. Even the maximum coverage may not have been enough to see him through the medical expenses and lost wages. However, if he had a person umbrella for a Million or more, that money would have been available for him and his family.

Many will say that you are just giving money to the insurance companies and will never make a claim against that money. I would love to have their crystal ball, because the numbers just don't match with that prediction.

State statistic still show that one in four drivers are still driving without insurance or are seriously "Under-Insured." Every forth car you pass while driving to work, (we won't even talk about how they may be driving or what else the may be doing.) could potentially take you out of the picture and leave nothing for your family. You might even be included in that 25%. It is simply just not worth the risk.

Make sure that you are adequately insured and consider the "Personal Umbrella." Umbrellas are for more than just rainy days.

Life Insurance 101

Move Over America

We all are aware of the fact that when we hear an emergency vehicle siren we are to pull over to the right shoulder and wait for them to pass, however, I have heard of a number of cases in the last few months of people passing a policeman stopped on the side of the road giving a ticket being pulled over minutes later a getting a ticket for not moving over to the inside lane. It too is the law.

More than 150 U.S. law enforcement officers have been killed since 1999 after being struck by vehicles along America's highways, according to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund. To lower that deadly toll, a new coalition of traffic safety and law enforcement groups is launching a nationwide public awareness campaign to protect emergency personnel along our nation's roadsides.

According to a national poll by Mason Dixon Polling & Research, sponsored by the National Safety Commission:

• 71 percent of Americans have not heard of “Move Over” laws;
• 86 percent support enacting “Move Over” laws in all 50 states; and
• 90 percent believe traffic stops and roadside emergencies are dangerous for law enforcement and first responders.

Here is what the law says:

21809. (a) A person driving a vehicle on a freeway approaching a stationary authorized emergency vehicle that is displaying emergency lights, ( )¹ a stationary tow truck that is displaying flashing amber warning lights, or a stationary marked Department of Transportation vehicle that is displaying flashing amber warning lights, shall approach with due caution and, before passing in a lane immediately adjacent to the authorized emergency vehicle ( )¹ , tow truck, or Department of Transportation vehicle, absent ( )² other direction by a peace officer, proceed to do one of the following:

(1) Make a lane change into an available lane not immediately adjacent to the authorized emergency vehicle, tow truck, or ( )³ Department of Transportation vehicle, with due regard for safety and traffic conditions, if practicable and not prohibited by law.

(2) If the maneuver described in paragraph (1) would be unsafe or impracticable, slow to a reasonable and prudent speed that is safe for existing weather, road, and vehicular or pedestrian traffic conditions.

(b) A violation of subdivision (a) is an infraction, punishable by a fine of not more than fifty dollars ($50).

(c) ( )⁴ The requirements of subdivision (a) do not apply if the stationary authorized emergency vehicle that is displaying emergency lights, the stationary tow truck that is displaying flashing amber warning lights, or the stationary marked Department of Transportation vehicle that is displaying flashing amber warning lights is not adjacent to the freeway or is separated from the freeway by a protective physical barrier.

The fine may not be significant to many, however, this is a moving violation and will effect your insurance rates. To receive the "California Good Driver Discount" you can only have one ticket or accident on your DMV record. Once the second mark hits your record, upon renewal of your policy, the discount will be removed. Minor incidents remain on your record for three years, and depending on your policy renewal date, you can end up paying for them for four years.

So now you know - Move Over America - It's the Law

For more information: http://www.moveoveramerica.com