Summer Safety Tips: Prevent Heat Illness

After the long winter we had, we too are looking forward to summer. As you start spending more time outdoors it is important you take the proper precautions to ensure you and your loved one stay safe.

To help protect you and your family this summer, here are some safety tips to avoid heat illness:

• NEVER leave any children, pets or adults in a closed, parked vehicle.
• Drink more fluids regardless of your activity level. Don’t wait until you’re thirsty to drink.
• Don’t drink liquids that contain caffeine, alcohol, or large amounts of sugar–these actually cause you to lose more body fluid.
• Electric fans may provide comfort, but when the temperature is in the high 90s, fans will not prevent heat-related illness. Taking a cool shower or bath, or moving to an air-conditioned place is a much better way to cool off.
• Wear lightweight, light-colored, loose-fitting clothing.
• Although any one at any time can suffer from heat-related illness, some people are at greater risk than others—infants, young children, people age 65 and over, people who have a mental illness, and people with health conditions such as heart disease or high blood pressure.
• Visit adults at risk at least twice a day and closely watch them for signs of heat exhaustion or heat stroke. Infants and young children, of course, need much more frequent watching.

Call Hunter Insurance at 401.769.9500, for more helpful tips on keeping safe this summer.

Hunter Insurance Commemorates 25th Anniversary with Donation to Mothers Against Drunk Driving Rhode Island

Lincoln, Rhode Island – Brian Hunter, president of Hunter Insurance, was pleased to make a donation of $500 to Mothers Against Drunk Driving Rhode Island (MADD-RI). The check presentation was made on June 12^th to Gabrielle Abbate, executive Director of MADD-RI at the MADD-RI office in Providence.

In celebration of their 25^th year in business, Hunter Insurance has renewed its commitment to actively support local charities.  Brian Hunter, a former Rhode Island state senator, has dedicated much of his personal time to helping the community, and has served on the boards of numerous charitable organizations.

During the month of May, Hunter Insurance organized a social media campaign, where every “like” Hunter Insurance received to its Facebook page, the agency donated $5 to MADD-RI.

“I have worked closely with MADD-RI for many years,” said Brian Hunter.  “The work they do to help protect our community is admirable, and this donation is a token of our appreciation for all of MADD-RI’s efforts to stop drunk driving and ensure the safety of our loved ones.”

“We are so grateful to Hunter Insurance for their generosity,” said Gabrielle Abbate. “At MADD, we rely heavily on private donations to keep our organization running. This donation will help us to continue providing vital services and awareness programs to our community at no cost.”

About Hunter Insurance 

Located at 389 Old River Road in the Manville section of Lincoln, Hunter Insurance has provided a full range of personal and business insurance lines for over 25 years.  An independent Trusted Choice agency, Hunter Insurance has twice earned the Five Star Award of Distinction.  The Five Star designation is awarded to top New England agencies that have achieved 17 key performance standards including customer focus, management, human resources, products and services and processes.

For more information contact Brian Hunter at Hunter Insurance, 401-769-9500 or visit the agency’s website www.hunterinsuranceonline.com.

Teen Drugged Driving: The Scope of the Problem

Americans are well aware of the terrible consequences of drunk driving and are familiar with the many successful drinking and driving awareness campaigns. With the dramatic increase of handheld phones and personal devices, campaigns and laws targeting talking or texting while driving have also gained prominence. Yet an often overlooked issue, especially among teens and young adults, is drugged driving.

A nationally representative survey by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), found that in 2007, approximately 1 in 8 weekend nighttime drivers tested positive for illicit drugs. Worse yet, a 2010 study by NHTSA revealed that 1 in 3 fatally injured drivers, who were tested for substance use and the results known, tested positive for an illicit drug or medication with the ability to impair at the time of the crash. 

The risks are even greater for teens, who, due to their inexperience, are already more likely to be involved in a crash compared with more experienced drivers. When this lack of experience is combined with the use of substances that may alter perception, cognition, reaction time, and other faculties, the results can be tragic.

The statistics are alarming regarding drugged driving in the teenage demographic. Among high school seniors in 2011, approximately 1 in 8 reported that in the two weeks prior to the survey interview they had driven after smoking marijuana – more than reported driving after consuming alcohol. Across age groups, the rate of driving under the influence of illicit drugs in 2011 was highest among young adults aged 18 to 25 at 11.6 percent.

At Hunter Insurance, our main priority is ensuring the safety of you and your loved ones. For more information on how you can help protect your family, call Hunter Insurance at 401.769.9500.

Insurance Rates Improving for Older Drivers

You might be surprised to learn that today’s drivers aged 70 and over are much more cautious and are less prone to accidents than previous generations.  According to a study by The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, older drivers are less likely to be involved in crashes and are less likely to be killed or seriously injured if they do crash.

Due to the fact that cars are technologically getting safer and seniors today are generally healthier, the growing age of baby boomers have been making roads safer since the mid 90’s. The study found that from 1997 to 2012, fatal crash rates per licensed driver fell 42 percent for older drivers and 30 percent for middle age ones.  While also accounting for miles traveled, fatal crash rates fell 39 percent for older drivers and 26 percent for middle age ones from 1995 to 2008.

In compliance with these statistics, older drivers are putting more miles on the odometer than they used to, although they are still driving fewer miles a year than middle-aged drivers. This is especially true for drivers 75 and older, who lifted their average annual mileage by more than 50 percent from 1995 to 2008.

Call Hunter Insurance today at (401) 769-9500 to discuss your current rates and to learn about possible credits you may be entitled to.   

(Source of information - Associated Press)

Don't let unfortunate weather flood you with problems

At Hunter insurance, we appreciate the trust you have placed in us to provide you with insurance coverage. With the change in weather already approaching, we encourage you to maximize your protection plan by adding a comprehensive flood insurance policy. Many homeowners find out the hard way that a basic home or rental policy does not cover damage from flooding. If your home were to fall victim to flash flooding or excessive rain, your homeowners insurance policy would not pay for any repairs. Even if your property is not located in a designated high-risk flood zone flooding incidents can happen anywhere, anytime. According to the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), about 25% of all flood insurance claims are from areas that are not deemed high-risk. We urge you to add a flood insurance policy today to make certain your home and its contents are safe. The average waiting period for a flood insurance policy to take effect is 30 days, so act now before it's too late. Call Hunter Insurance at 769.9500 to learn more about the many benefits of flood insurance.

Pothole reimbursement in the State of Rhode Island

Potholes are the inevitable result of winter and early spring moisture and the freeze-thaw cycle. Due to the abundance of water seeping into the pavement, freezing and then expanding, cracks are created in the asphalt. While potholes are very common this time of year, it seems the Rhode Island roads are worse than ever.

When you’re driving down the road and hit a pothole that results in damage to your car, did you know the state or city in which the incident occurred could reimburse you for the damages?  In fact, if it occurred on a state road the Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT) will pay for up to $300 worth of damage, if your claim is approved.

In order to be properly reimbursed for pothole damage you must follow the steps below and always remember, timeliness is important.

1. Within 7 days of the incident, the registered vehicle owner must submit a letter to RIDOT stating the exact time, date, and location of the incident.

• The letter must be post marked or received within 7 calendar days of the incident.

2. You have up to 60 days to provide the following:

• A copy of a police report, a tow receipt or an auto club report verifying the incident
• A copy of the valid RI registration for the vehicle
• Copies of itemized, paid receipts with a proof of payment provided and the current odometer reading must be on the repair bill

If the damage occurred on an Interstate highway, and your car was not disabled or you do not have a tow receipt or auto club report, often times the State Police is the correct agency from which motorists should seek a pothole incident report form.

There are no guarantees with any claim made to RIDOT, and the pothole claim law only applies to cars registered in Rhode Island. The pothole law is only effective for non-residents if their vehicle is registered in a state that has a reciprocal pothole law – meaning that such a state would afford similar protections to Rhode Island-registered vehicles in its state.

If you decide to file a claim with your auto insurance company, pothole damage can only be covered if you have collision insurance and your collision deductible would apply.  If possible, take pictures of the damage to your vehicle and the pothole, if it is safe to do so, to help process the claim.

For more information on filing a claim through your insurance provider or with the state please call Hunter Insurance at 769-9500.

For filing claims in Massachusetts, call massDOT at 877-623-6846 or visit www.massdot.state.ma.us.

For filing claims in Connecticut, call connDOT at (860) 594-2000 or visit www.ct.gov/dot.

RIDOT Rules and Regulations for Pothole Claims

For more information on filing a claim with RIDOT visit www.dot.ri.gov/faq/claiminfo.asp

Make Safe Toys and Gifts Part of Your Holidays

Thanks to online sales and some retailers starting the holiday shopping season earlier every year, many gift-givers have already begun to purchase items to get a jump-start on their lists. But sometimes, the best deal may not be the safest.

In 2010, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) estimated that hospital emergency rooms across the country treated 251,700 toy-related injuries. And, 72% of those injuries were to those under the age of 15.

“In order to spend the holidays with family and friends, instead of in the emergency room, we must be diligent in making sure our children are protected,” said Hugh R. Parry, president and CEO of Prevent Blindness America. “We all need to make a conscious effort to think about the gifts we are buying to make sure they are appropriate for every child’s age and development level.”

Prevent Blindness America has declared December as Safe Toys and Gifts Month in an effort to help adults make the best decisions on how to keep the holiday season joyful for everyone. The group is offering toy-buying and gift-giving tips to all those planning to purchase a gift for a child this year.

Prevent Blindness America suggests:

• Make recommendations to family members and friends about gifts that you feel are appropriate for your child. Be diligent about inspecting these gifts before allowing your child to play with them.
• Inspect all toys before purchasing. Monitor toys that your child has received as gifts to make sure they are appropriate for your child’s age and developmental level.
• For younger children, avoid play sets with small magnets and make sure batteries are secured within the toy.
• Gifts of sports equipment should always be accompanied by protective gear.
• Any toy that is labeled “supervision required” must always be used in the presence of an adult. Keep toys meant for older children away from younger ones.
• Avoid toys that shoot or include parts that fly off.
• Inspect toys for sturdiness. Your child’s toys should be durable, with no sharp edges or points. The toys should also withstand impact.
• Don’t give toys with small parts to young children. If the part of a toy can fit in a toilet paper roll, the toy is not appropriate for children under the age of 3.
• Do not purchase toys with long strings or cords, especially for infants and very young children as this can become wrapped around a child’s neck.
• Always dispose of un-inflated or broken balloons immediately. According to the CPSC, more children have suffocated from them than any other type of toy.

At Hunter Insurance, we're dedicated to helping you protect what matters most. For more information on how to keep your family safe this holiday season, call us at 401-769-9500.