10 Car Maintenance Mistakes…

Do you slack off when it comes to maintaining your vehicle? Read the following article regarding your cars maintenance… It includes tips regarding your tires, oil changes, and your wipers!

http://editorial.autos.msn.com/article.aspx?cp-documentid=463862&icid=autos_0606&GT1=22012

What to do after an auto accident?

Sometimes when we are involved in an auto accident we are so nervous that we don’t know what to do next. Should you get there information? Take pictures? Here are a few steps to follow after an accident to gather the correct information…

1. TURN OFF your car and, if necessary, move it to a safe place; OUT OF HARM’S WAY. The law requires that you stop at the scene of the accident.

2. Check if everyone and everything is okay, and if necessary, call 911 for medical assistance. 
 
3. ALWAYS Contact the police. By reporting the accident to the police and filing a report, you will help protect yourself from potential liability claims and legal action.  DO NOT take the any parties “word” and try handling the accident between yourselves; you are setting yourself up for a HUGE headache!

(a police report is required for a “hit and run” claim and recommended if injury occurs, or if it is apparent that liability will be disputed. When the officer arrives, obtain his/her name, phone number, and the police report number)

4. If your vehicle is inoperable, call a towing company (or your roadside assistance company, usually provided by your insurance company) to move your vehicle. Don’t forget to jot down their name, address, and phone number of the towing company.

5. As soon as possible, contact your insurance provider to report the accident. (HINT: if it’s not your fault, call the at fault parties insurance company)

Important Information That You Need To Know:

1. Always exchange:

- contact information (name, addresses AND PHONE NUMBERS)

- Year, make, model, license plate number

- Insurance Carrier and policy number for all vehicles involved

2. If there are witnesses, get a statement

3. Take pictures of the damages to every vehicle, injured drivers and/or bystanders and the accident scene as a whole, if possible

4. Give details of the accident and cooperate with the police in providing answers to their questions. DO NOT ADMIT FAULT OR DICUSS THE DETAILS OF THE ACCIDENT WITH ANYONE OTHER THAN THE POLICE OR YOUR INSURANCE REPRESENATIVE.

Call your agent and ask them to provide you with an “Accident Report Form” to keep in your glove compartment to help expedite the claims process and report filing.

If you have any questions or if you want some more information about the procedures you can take click on the links below….

http://www.mapfrefl.com/Claims/claims/_KUUQYwouVXOPATe5U2M77g

http://www.flhsmv.gov/fhp/misc/CrashReport/

Chinese drywall mayhem

Armin and Lisa Seifart and their two children moved in to their renovated Coconut Grove home and were never informed that  Chinese drywall was used, said Erwin Gonzalez their attorney. A Florida Jury has just awarded $2.4 million in first Chinese Drywall case tried.

What effects on your health does Chinese Drywall pose? Some of the health concerns and health problems reported include an array of respiratory problems, nosebleeds, irritated eyes, and headaches.  Of very serious concern is the possibility that the Chinese Drywall is emitting excessive amounts of hydrogen sulfide fumes, which can cause extreme irritation, unconsciousness, and even death.

Do you know if your home has Chinese drywall? Follow the steps below to do a mini-test to find out:

• Start by removing the switch plate covers around your home. Any place where you have a light switch or outlet will do. There will be a bare copper wire inside the box under the plastic cover. If you can see the bare shiny copper, your house most likely does not contain Chinese drywall. However, if the copper wire is blackened, this is a sign that your house contains toxic Chinese drywall.
• Check your circuit breaker, often found in the basement or garage of your home. Again, look at the bare copper wires in the box. Shiny copper is a sign of no toxic Chinese drywall, but blackened copper means you very well may have toxic Chinese drywall in your home.
• Try to get a look at the back side of the drywall in your home. This can be accomplished by going up the attic and looking at the backside of the ceiling drywall, or in a crawl through or other place in your home that exposes the backside of drywall. Look for the words “Knauf”, “Knauf Tiajin” or “Made in China” on the back of the drywall. Any of these is an indication that you may have toxic Chinese drywall in your home.
• Lastly, consider getting either a home inspection, or a less expensive and more convenient alternative, a Chinese drywall testing kit. A good kit is available from www.ChineseDrywallTesterKit.com. This will allow you to test your own home for the presence of toxic Chinese drywall.

Progressive can Insure your Boat

Progressive provides specialized insurance for boats. Their program can cover 95 percent of all boats on the water today including fishing boats, runabout, personal watercraft and boats up to 50 feet in length and $250,000 in value. They provide coverage for your customer’s specific needs with policy options like:

• Total Loss Replacement – replaces insured’s boat with a brand new one of similar make and quality
• Disappearing Deductibles – reduces the deductible by 25 percent at each claim free renewal
• Replacement Cost Fishing Equipment – up to $10,000 for tackle, rods, and reels
• Replacement Cost Personal Effects – protects the insured’s personal items including cameras, clothes, cell phones, etc
• 24-hour Roadside Assistance – covers trailer and tow vehicle, even if tow vehicle is not insured with Progressive Insurance
• Emergency Towing and Labor – provides on-water towing service
• Wreckage Removal Coverage
• Property Damage Liability – includes coverage for fuel spill cleanup
• Medical Payments – includes coverage for water-skiers

Give us a call so we can quote your boat & or personal watercraft. Visit us at www.cwiunderwriters.com

New Manmmercial…Thank you Old Spice!!

Have you had enough of the Old Spice manmmericals? We haven’t. Check out the newest one! It’s a great 32 seconds!

http://www.youtube.com/oldspice

Meet Mapfre…

We have recently been appointed with one of the biggest commercial insurance providers in the world. Mapfre Group is composed of 250 companies. Although they have their principal markets in Spain, Europe and Latin America Mapfre has 30,615 employees worldwide. More than $20 million in premiums has been written since 2007 just in the state of Florida. They have been rated by AM Best as an A (Excellent) company. If you’d like to read more about their financial stability click on the link below:

http://www3.ambest.com/ratings/FullProfile.asp?BL=0&amb=10805&AltNum=146910805&AltSrc=4

Some of the products they offer here in Florida:

• Commercial Auto
• Commercial Umbrella
• Garage
• Restaurant Packages
• Commercial Package (including wind coverage)
• Personal Auto

Give CWI a call so we can save you some money and properly insure your business with a company that will be there for you.

TGIF! Take a 2 min break… and enjoy…

First and foremost…HAPPY FRIDAY! This video is way to cute! The laughter is contagious….ENJOY! [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iFwmUllLcR4&feature=player_embedded]

Prized Possession….Cute Travelers Commercial

Travelers has some great commercials on TV these days. CWI is proud to have Travelers as one of our top companies we place business with. Let us insure your prized possessions with Travelers. Call us! 888-636-6438. Check out how cute this commercial is…

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5G7bGBUlx2M]

Progressive Launches App for Smart Phone

Progressive, the first major U.S. car insurance group to introduce an Android app specifically for car insurance, also has an Apple iPhone app and a mobile Web site. The free Progressive app is available from the Marketplace on Android devices.

Click on the link below to read more about the app:

https://insurancenewsnet.com/article.aspx?id=181764&type=propertycasualty

Progressive is one of the nations largest auto insurers. CWI Underwriters , located in Plantation, FL serving the whole state of Florida, is proud to be partners with Progressive. Call us for a quote on your auto insurance. Along with Progressive we write with Travelers, GMAC, Bristol West, Infinity, and AIC. 888-636-6438 or visit our Virtual Agency and fill out the free quote form and one of our highly skilled agents will contact you.

Hired and Non-Owned Auto, what does it cover?

Do you own a business and currently do not carry hired auto liability coverage? Here’s a little help with understanding what is covered under the hired non-owned coverage:

Hired and Non-Owned coverage will pay for damages to a third party, on behalf of your company, if you cause an accident or an injury to someone while you are driving a rented car or “non-owned” vehicle for business. For example, if you rent a car to visit a client, and cause an accident on the way there, the person you hit will look to your company to pay the damages. Without this coverage, your company may have no insurance coverage for a rented car. Another example would be if you send your employee to run an errand for the business, in THEIR vehicle, like get breakfast for the morning meeting, go to the bank, pick up some office supplies. This part of the policy will cover that type of loss.

Personal auto insurance coverage is primary, but it does not cover the owner of the business if sued. Unless company employees use public transportation for all business needs, hired and non-owned insurance is a necessary part of any commercial insurance program.

We here at CWI Underwriters have several companies that we can place your Hired and Non-Owned policy with along with all of your other Commercial insurance needs. Please give us a call to discuss your options. 888-636-6438.