Winter Weather Causes Ice Dams

With another New England winter just around the corner, Hunter Insurance wants to make sure you, your family and your property are fully protected. 

During the winter months, you may have noticed glistening icicles hanging from your gutter. What you may be unaware of is that those icicles can signal the start of significant property damage; the appearance of icicles is typically the first warning sign of possible ice dams.

Ice dams are essentially a wall of ice that forms along the roof of your home, usually near the gutters. Melting snow can back-up behind the ice dam, creating a pool of water that can leak into your home and cause damage to walls, ceilings, insulation and other areas.  With the extensive snowfall totals we had last year, coupled with freezing temperatures, homes in our area were hit particularly hard.

The best way to avoid ice dam formation is to make certain your attic is properly ventilated and insulated.  Even if the temperatures are freezing outside, poor insulation allows heat to escape through the roof, which in turn causes the snow to melt quicker.  When the accumulated snow on your roof starts melting down to the “colder” sections (such as the gutters) it begins to refreeze thus forming an ice dam. 

While ice dams can lead to extensive water damage, it is important to exercise caution when removing them.   Only trained professionals with the proper equipment and roofing experience should be consulted.  Never step out onto a snow covered roof, as there is severe risk of personal injury. 

At Hunter Insurance, we are committed to helping individuals and families protect what matters most.  If you would like additional information on ice dams and ice dam prevention, please contact Hunter Insurance at 769.9500.

Fire Prevention Week – How To Keep Your Family Safe

Did you know that roughly half of home fire deaths result from fires reported between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m., when most people are asleep? These unfortunate instances are easily preventable if you take proper safety precautions, such as testing your home’s smoke alarms on a regular basis. In fact, having a working smoke alarm cuts the chances of dying in a reported fire by half.

Since October 4 – 10 is Fire Prevention Week, Hunter Insurance wants to help keep you and your family safe by reminding you of the importance of regularly checking your smoke alarms to make certain they are in proper working condition. Be sure to follow these simple safety tips to protect your home and your family: 

• Install smoke alarms in every bedroom, outside each sleeping area and on every level of your home Test your smoke alarms every month
• When a smoke alarm sounds, get outside and stay outside
• Replace all smoke alarms in your home every 10 years

It is important to keep in mind that many fires are caused by misplaced heating equipment, leaving kitchens unattended while cooking and inadequate electrical wire placement. Preventing fires in your home is just as important as knowing what to do should one occur, so be sure to check your home for potential risks.

If you have any questions about the terms of your current policy regarding damage from house fires, please call Hunter Insurance at 401.769.9500 today.

Information for this article provided by The National Fire Protection Association.

Insuring Your College Student

The college school year is just around the corner, which means there is a lot on your to-do list to help prepare your student for success. But besides shopping for the usual clothes, books and bedding, don’t forget to add the most important task: insuring their belongings.

College students own a long list of expensive items – computers, printers, iPods, TVs, etc.  But living in a dorm or university community allows for ample opportunities for theft or damage. According to a survey conducted by the Independent Insurance Agents of America, Inc., (IIAA) more than 100,000 property crimes on college campuses are reported to police each year, and thieves steal an average of $1,250 in student property per theft.

At Hunter Insurance, we want to inform you of two types of ways that you can use an insurance policy to protect your student for the upcoming school year:

1. Using Your Homeowners Policy: If your child lives in a dorm or other college-owned property, their possessions are typically covered automatically against loss, theft, and damage under your homeowners policies. However, coverage is often limited to only 10 percent of the policy's coverage for contents. Therefore, if your policy covers contents for $100,000, the limit for your student's materials would be $10,000.

2. Renters Insurance: If your child doesn't live in college-owned housing, your homeowners policy won't provide coverage. Fortunately, however, there is the option to take out a renter’s insurance policy for about $15 to $30 a month. Similar to homeowners insurance, these types of policies come in two basic forms: Actual cash-value policies cover the value of the item at the time of loss, taking depreciation into account, and replacement-value policies cover the cost of replacing the lost item with a new one. Replacement-value policies cost more, though both types are subject to the coverage limits.

Protecting what matters most to you is our biggest priority at Hunter Insurance, and we know that the safety of your children is yours. Before your child settles into their college residence, call us at 769-9500 to discuss your options.  You won’t regret knowing your child, and their belongings, are safe and secure.

Standard policies cover damage caused by trees and branches

One of the most frequent questions we field is whether homeowners insurance covers fallen trees and branches. If a tree hits an insured structure such as a house or detached garage, standard homeowners insurance policies provide coverage for the damage to the structure and the contents within. That includes trees knocked over by a windstorm, hail, weight of ice, snow or sleet.

Furthermore, it does not matter whether a tree was actually growing on your property; if it lands on your home, you should file a claim with your insurance company. After a hurricane or windstorm trees, shrubs and branches can become projectiles capable of traveling significant distances. Insurance companies do not waste time trying to locate exactly where the tree originally lived.

In cases involving a felled tree located on a neighbor's property, the policyholder's insurance company may try to collect from a neighbor's insurance company in a process called subrogation. That sometimes occurs if the tree was in poor health or not properly maintained. If the insurer is successful, you may be reimbursed for the deductible.

If a tree hits an insured structure, there is also coverage for the cost of removing the tree, generally up to about $500 to $1,000, depending on the insurer and the type of policy purchased. If the fallen tree did not hit an insured structure, there is generally no coverage for debris removal; however, some insurance companies may pay for the cost of removing it if the felled tree blocks a driveway or a ramp designed to assist the handicapped.

Cars damaged or destroyed by falling trees are covered under the comprehensive portion of an auto insurance policy.

Standard home insurance polices also provide coverage for damage to trees and shrubs due to fire, lightning, explosion, theft, aircraft, vehicles not owned by the resident, vandalism and malicious mischief. Coverage for such disasters is generally limited to up to 5 percent of the amount of insurance on the structure of the house. Generally, most insurers will limit the coverage to about $500 for any one tree, shrub or plant. Trees and plants grown for business purposes require a separate business insurance policy.

Finding the Right Type of Business Insurance

As a business owner, your top priorities are protecting your employees and the future of your company.  You are already aware that your company requires a commercial insurance policy, but do you know exactly what types of coverage your business needs?

At Hunter Insurance, our agents have the knowledge to design a plan that is customized to your business. As a small business ourselves, we know how to address the issues and concerns of similar companies. 

Before you call us to develop a commercial policy, it’s important to learn about the types of coverage available:

• Key-employee life insurance: If an employee that is essential to your business were to pass away unexpectedly, business-owners can take out a key-employee life insurance policy that will cover the costs incurred from their loss.

• Liability insurance: This type of coverage provides your business with the financial protection it needs in the event of a lawsuit.

• Property insurance: The purpose of property insurance for a small business is to provide critical financial assistance in the event of a loss, so that you may continue to operate with as little disruption as possible.

• Risk management insurance: Risk management provides for various levels of protection for your business, including those that are external and difficult to control. This type of policy will safeguard your business in the event of an accident or injury.

•  Workers’ compensation insurance: Workers’ compensation insurance assures that injured workers receive medical care and compensation while they are unable to return to work. Additionally, this coverage may protect your business in the event that an employee files a lawsuit if injured while working.

Mitigating risks to your business is not a simple task. The most important step you can take for the future of your company is to purchase a commercial insurance policy through Hunter Insurance. To learn more, call us at 401-769-9500.

Information for this article provided by: Taxation Use of Business Insurance, General Liability Insurance, and III.org.

Sun Screen: The Burning Facts

Although the sun is necessary for life, too much sun exposure can lead to adverse health effects, including skin cancer. More than 1 million people in the United States are diagnosed with skin cancer each year, making it the most common form of cancer in the country, but it is largely preventable through a broad sun protection program. It is estimated that 90 percent of non-melanoma skin cancers and 65 percent of melanoma skin cancers are associated with exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun.

By themselves, sunscreens might not be effective in protecting you from the most dangerous forms of skin cancer. However, sunscreen use is an important part of your sun protection program. Used properly, certain sunscreens help protect human skin from some of the sun’s damaging UV radiation. But according to recent surveys, most people are confused about the proper use and effectiveness of sunscreens. The purpose of this fact sheet is to educate you about sunscreens and other important sun protection measures so that you can protect yourself from the sun’s damaging rays.

How Does UV Radiation Affect My Skin? What Are the Risks?
UV radiation, a known carcinogen, can have a number of harmful effects on the skin. The two types of UV radiation that can affect the skin—UVA and UVB—have both been linked to skin cancer and a weakening of the immune system. They also contribute to premature aging of the skin and cataracts (a condition that impairs eyesight), and cause skin color changes.

UVA Rays
UVA rays, which are not absorbed by the ozone layer, penetrate deep into the skin and heavily contribute to premature aging. Up to 90 percent of the visible skin changes commonly attributed to aging are caused by sun exposure.

UVB Rays
These powerful rays, which are partially absorbed by the ozone layer, mostly affect the surface of the skin and are the primary cause of sunburn. Because of the thinning of the ozone layer, the effects of UVB radiation will pose an increased threat until the layer is restored in the latter half of the 21st century.

The above is an excerpt adapted from the article,
"Sun Screen: The Burning Facts” and from
MerchantsOn-Demand.com.

For more information, please visit www.epa.gov.

Are You Aware of This New Law?

At Hunter Insurance, we are committed to keeping you informed to ensure your safety. With many rainy days certain to happen this Spring, we would like to remind you of the new windshield wiper law in Massachusetts.

As of April 7th, the new law requires drivers to have their headlights on if their windshield wipers are in use. It was put into effect as a way to increase visibility of other vehicles during inclement weather and to prevent accidents. The law also makes it mandatory to use your headlights thirty minutes before sunrise, and after sunset. Drivers should note that this law includes the use of both headlights and taillights.

Please keep in mind that this law is already in effect in Rhode Island and Connecticut. Although this is only considered a minor violation, driving with these types of instances on your record could have a future impact on your insurance premium.

Please call us at 769.9500 if you have any questions or would like to review your current auto insurance policy.