1.     Give immediate notice to your insurance company of your home insurance claim. Call your independent agent (C.H. Edwards, Inc.) to file a claim for any damages that may have incurred. C.H. Edwards, Inc. will give you information on what steps to take next for your particular policy. It is best to keep your C.H. Edwards’ phone number and policy number in your wallet so you will have the information if it is not accessible in your home. Also, keep track of all communication by you and your C.H. Edwards regarding your homeowner’s insurance claim.

       2.     Document and assess the damage to your property. Try to document damage by using a video camera and/or digital camera along with written documentation of all damage you immediately notice and keep those documentation items handy for any future damage you discover.

3.     Make any temporary repairs you can. You are responsible for preventing future damage, so try to make any immediate repairs you can such as putting a tarp over a leaky roof. Also, make sure you save the receipts for supplies that were used so you can be reimbursed for these expenses (make sure the expenses are reasonable to avoid a denial in reimbursement).

4.     Compile a list of items you suspect are damaged or missing. Go one room at a time and have the whole family there to help remember everything that was previously in the room. If you have replacement cost coverage on your personal property items, many of your items should be replaced new, even if their current value is below that cost (ex: a new couch will replace an old couch that may have been only worth a few dollars) so it is important to remember everything that was damaged. This step is much easier if previously an inventory list of items that was already compiled and kept in a safe place away from the home.

5.     Wait patiently. If your area has just been through a severe disaster, people with more severe damage will most likely be handled first. Keep in touch with C.H. Edwards during your waiting period to get updates on how your homeowner’s insurance claim is coming along. If you feel you are not being treated fairly or your claim is being handled inappropriately, you can contact your state insurance commissioner to file a complaint. Do not forget your loss of use coverage usually available in your homeowner’s insurance policy, which will cover reasonable living expenses if you cannot live in your home during repairs or have been denied access by a government order.

As always, our professional customer service representatives at C.H. Edwards are here to help you with any questions or concerns should the need arise.

New York Homeowners insurance usually does not cover “hurricanes” per se, instead, the coverage or exclusion is based upon which element of a hurricane (such as wind or flooding) directly caused the damage.

These issues are not easily resolved and many legal contests continue over who is responsible for certain losses during Hurricane Katrina and many other storms. For example: a house was flooded by a storm surge and the New York homeowner claims that since the surge was produced by wind that the damage should be covered. The insurance company maintains that they do not pay for flood damage. Many of these types of cases – based upon definitions and impacts – remain unresolved.

Persons who buy New York properties in areas that might experience hurricanes should learn about the types of hazards that come with these storms and how they impact the specific location where they will live. History is often a very good teacher. For example: if a location was inundated by storm surge in the past then a future inundation will probably occur. Detailed guidance can be found at the websites listed at right.

Your independent insurance agent as well as your insurance company provides an adjuster for no charge to you. Adjusters who have no relationship with your insurance company and charge a fee for their services also may contact you. These are public adjusters. You may use a public adjuster to help you in settling your claim.

Public adjusters may charge you as much as 15 percent of the total value of your settlement for their services. The fee isn’t covered by your insurance policy. Sometimes after a disaster, your state’s insurance department sets the percentage that public adjusters may charge.

If you decide to use a public adjuster, first check his or her qualifications by calling your state insurance department. Ask your independent insurance agent, a lawyer or friends and associates for the name of a professional adjuster they can recommend. Avoid individuals who go from door-to-door after a major disaster, unless you are sure they are qualified.

Sixty-two percent of U.S. households, or 72.9 million homes, own a pet, according to a 2011 survey from by the American Pet Products Association.

Over the years, many states have passed laws with stiff penalties for owners of dogs that cause serious injuries or deaths. In about one-third of states, owners are “strictly liable” for their dogs’ behavior, while in the rest of the country they are liable only if they knew or should have known their dogs had a propensity to bite (known as the “one free bite” principle). 

Dog Owners’ Liability:   Dog owners are liable for injuries their pets cause if the owner knew the dog had a tendency to cause that kind of injury; if a state statute makes the owner liable, whether or not the owner knew the dog had a tendency to cause that kind of injury; or if the injury was caused by unreasonably carelessness on the part of the owner. 

Three kinds of law impose liability on owners: 

1)    A dog-bite statute: Where the dog owner is automatically liable for any injury or property damage, the dog causes without provocation.

2)    The one-bite rule: where the dog owner is responsible for an injury caused by a dog if the owner knew the dog was likely to cause that type of injury—in this case, the victim must prove the owner knew the dog was dangerous.

3)    Negligence laws: where the dog owner is liable if the injury occurred because the dog owner was unreasonably careless (negligent) in controlling the dog. 

In most states, dog owners are not liable to trespassers who are injured by a dog. A dog owner who is legally responsible for an injury to a person or property may be responsible for reimbursing the injured person for medical bills, time off work, pain and suffering and property damage.

Whether you’re road-tripping to a neighboring city or relaxing for a week in the Caribbean, protect your New York home by following this quick checklist. (Keep in mind that with short trips, you might skip some of these to-do’s.)

Security to-do’s

• Set a timer to turn exterior and interior lights on and off when you normally would, or use a mobile app to control lights remotely.
• Stop your mail and newspaper deliveries.
• Ask a neighbor to keep an eye on your New York home and, if necessary, bring your recycling and garbage cans to and from the curb on pickup day.
• Hide and/or lock up valuables, like jewelry.
• Inform your security system provider and local police of your travel dates, so they can take extra steps to protect your New York home, if necessary.
• Don’t share your travel plans on social media sites.

Preventive to-do’s

• Turn off the water supply to your washing machine, sinks and toilets, or consider installing a system that will shut off water where it detects a leak.
• Unplug electronics and appliances, or use a mobile app to control appliances remotely.
• If freezing weather is a possibility: Clear gutters and downspouts, remove garden hoses from exterior faucets and open cabinet doors under sinks to keep your pipes warm.

Are you making your automobile‘s blind spots worse? You could be if you were taught that a driver should be able to see the side of the automobile in the side-view mirrors. Ditch that practice!

• Follow This New Advice:
  Drivers should position their side-view mirrors so that they don’t see the sides of their New York automobiles while driving, according to the U.S. Department of the Interior.  
• The Benefits Are Clear:
  The new positions minimize blind spots by allowing a following New York automobile to be seen immediately in the side-view mirror after its view is lost from a rear-view mirror.  
• Adjust Your View:
  While sitting in the driver’s seat, lean your head to the left (against the window). Adjust the right-hand side-view mirror so that you can just view the side of the New York a. When you return your head to normal driving position, you should not see the side of the car. To adjust the left-hand mirror, move your head right (toward the center of the vehicle).

Head and neck injuries (whiplash) that occur in auto accidents can be severe. Some automobiles provide much better protection than others for the occupants. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has conducted numerous safety tests over the years.

The most recent test at IIHS looked at seats and head restraints in 87 different trucks, minivans, and SUVs. Fifty-four of the vehicles tested (62 percent) provided what IIHS termed as “poor” or “marginal” protection from neck injuries in rear impacts. Twenty-one models earned a “good” rating, and twelve were termed “acceptable.”

When an automobile is struck in the rear, the seats move the occupants forward. If the head is not properly supported, it will lag behind the rest of the body, causing whiplash. In order to reduce whiplash injury, the head restraint must be located behind the head. If the head restraint is properly located, it will support the head as the body is pushed forward in a rear-end collision. 

When insurers assign rates to a car, one of the factors considered is its relative safety. Before buying a new car, consult your Long Island Insurance Agency at C.H. Edwards, Inc.  we will have some good information for you about a vehicle’s safety rating and how that safety rating might affect the premium of your insurance policy.

What does it mean if someone that cleans your New York home is “bonded and insured”?

Advertisements for New York home cleaning services often state that the cleaning company is “bonded and insured.” “Bonding” in this context usually refers to the protection afforded to the cleaning company’s customer if an employee steals from the customer. “Insured” should mean that the cleaner carries liability coverage for personal injuries and property damage, as well as workers’ compensation insurance (you should verify that this is what the cleaning company means by “insured”).

While “bonded and insured” is a desirable distinction for a cleaning service, the insurance coverage carried by an individual cleaner or company should be confirmed. Different cleaners may purchase different bond and insurance coverages, which could provide markedly different degrees of protection.

You should ask the cleaning company for a certificate of insurance documenting the coverage in place. You might also contact the cleaner’s independent insurance agent to verify the existence of insurance and liability limits, and to determine whether the cleaner’s work in your home would be covered under the cleaner’s policy.