Wallin Insurance Blog

Renting a car while on vacation? Will my NY Auto insurance policy cover me?

noreply@blogger.com (Wallin Insurance Blog) — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 17:40:00 +0000

Rental Car Insurance

You rent a car while on vacation. As you get to the rental agency counter at the airport they ask you the dreaded question:

"Do you want to buy accident insurance for this rental car? It's only $14.95 per day."

Well, here's your answer, right from your local insurance agent - NO! you do not need to buy the extra insurance.

If the rental contract does not exceed 30 days and the rental car will not be driven out of the United States and/or Canada, then the extra "collision damage waiver" and the "liability" does not need to be purchased from the rental company.

When you have a New York personal auto policy you automatically receive rental car protection.

This is not typical of insurance policies issued in other states, which is why the rental company in Florida may attempt to convince you that you need the extra protection. When in doubt, call our agency before you reserve your next rental car. Give us the details of the trip you have planned and we'll help you determine whether you need the extra insurance before you pick up the car.

Go ahead - you have my permission to spend the cost savings on some extra fun instead of extra insurance!

Peter Wallin, Wallin Insurance Agency, Elmira, NY

J.D. Powers and Associates Award

noreply@blogger.com (Wallin Insurance Blog) — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 19:16:00 +0000

The Wallin Agency in Elmira, N.Y., is proud to announce that our flagship carrier - ERIE INSURANCE - is the recipient of the J.D. Powers and Associates Award for "HIGHEST IN CUSTOMER SATISFACTION WITH THE AUTO INSURANCE BUYING EXPERIENCE." This is the 2nd year in a row we have earned this great honor.

Defensive Driving Class now On-Line - save 10% on auto premiums

noreply@blogger.com (Wallin Insurance Blog) — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 20:18:00 +0000

Wallin Insurance in Elmira, NY has recently introduced a NEW on-line Defensive Driving class. The 6-hour class can be completed in the comfort of your own home, on your own computer. Click here for more details: www.WallinInsurnace.com and scroll to the bottom of the home page. The cost of the class is $48.95 - As a special incentive for Wallin Insurance clients I will reward you with $20 when you complete this class and bring me your certificate - Plus you will be saving 10% on your auto insurance for the next 3 years!
Contact me if you have any questions: Peter@WallinInsurance.com

Elmira NY - Auto and Home Insurance tips

noreply@blogger.com (Wallin Insurance Blog) — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 12:09:00 +0000

Quick Insurance Tips - from Wallin Insurance, Elmira NY
My office handles several claims each week. Oftentimes my good clients ask about getting a rental car. When I have to tell them they don't have rental coverage I feel badly. I often refer them back to a conversation we had when they first bought the insurance many years ago. At the time they could not afford extra things like rental or towing coverage. But when an accident occurs they wish they had it.
Here are a few quick and inexpensive options for you to consider:
Rental Car Coverage - costs about $20 per year per car. You must carry collision and comprehensive coverage as well, but you will be eligible to rent a car if your car is out of service as a result of an accident. Can you afford not to have this?
Towing Coverage - We will pay reasonable costs to tow your car if it breaks down - Cost is $4 per car per year.
Identity Theft coverage - Cost is $20 per year (added to your home insurance policy). Your insurance company will provide up to $25,000 to recover your identity, including legal fees.
Contact me at 607-734-8799 or Peter@WallinInsurance.com for more details

Recent Insurance Claims in Elmira NY

noreply@blogger.com (Wallin Insurance Blog) — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 12:52:00 +0000

**Claims do happen in Elmira, Corning, Chemung County– be prepared!

As an insurance agent, I have seen my share of claims, however. That’s why insurance companies exist. To help you in the event of a fire, wind storm, car accident, or a slip and fall in your parking lot. I thought I’d share some true stories with you – just so you know that things do happen around here, and that you should take measures to prepare yourself, your family and your business – just in case.

Fire
It’s usually a top story on the 6 o’clock news story. I saw more fires this past year than ever before. In one case, a lady tossed a cigarette into the mulch pile right off her front porch. Less than an hour later, her house erupted in flames.
In another case, a tenant came home from work late at night and began cooking with grease on his stovetop. He went into the other room momentarily and when he came back the entire kitchen was on fire. The fire department had to rescue other members of the house (who were sleeping upstairs). One tenant broke her ankle trying to get out.
The lesson – Make sure you have fire extinguishers and smoke alarms with lithium batteries, or better yet, hard-wired.

Theft
When the economy stiffens, strange things happen. I saw a rash of incidents where thieves enter a newly constructed house and steal all the copper wiring. They even tore it out of the walls. Apparently there’s a high demand for copper these days.
I also talked to a homeowner of an uncompleted new house who noticed a van backed right in the driveway. The perpetrators were in the process of steeling building materials that were being stored in the garage.
The lesson – lock your property. Some people leave their homes unlocked when the leave. No more!

Injuries
Many people are hurt while performing activities at work, such as landscapers who twist their ankle while mowing a lawn, a cement worker who hurts their back lifting concrete blocks or a kitchen worker who accidentally slices their finger. But the most interesting case I saw recently was a hairdresser who developed carpel tunnel syndrome. Here, a young woman complained that her hands had deteriorated so bad she could no longer hold a pair of scissors. She eventually had surgery and was out on workers compensation disability for several months
The lesson – provide safety training and teach the necessary skills to do the job the right way.

Be careful of frozen pipes

noreply@blogger.com (Wallin Insurance Blog) — Sun, 18 Jan 2009 01:55:00 +0000

It's January - and it's frigid! I've been wearing my loing johns lately and I'm still cold.
I've taken a few homeowner claims the past few days from clients who have had frozen pipes in their homes. When the pipes freeze, they break. The result is water that can leak, flow or seap into other areas of the home. We can get a plumber to fix the pipe, but the damage to property (drywall, warped flooring, etc.) can be difficult to fix.

Please do yourslef a favor and keep your heat to a level that will prevent a freeze. Send me a note if you have any quesitons: Peter@WallinInsurance.com
and....stay warm!

Auto and Home Insurance rates in Elmira, NY

noreply@blogger.com (Wallin Insurance Blog) — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 17:55:00 +0000

Good News! As we enter 2009 I predict auto insurance rates will remain fairly low here in Elmira, Chemung County & Steuben County. Despite the rough economy we have experienced relatively few claims here at Wallin Insurance, so in turn we can pass price savings on to you - our valued clients. We take great pride in offerning fair and affordable prices, especially for good drivers.

Please feel free to send me a note if you have any questions on your insurance or would like me to address a particular product.

Drive Safely!

Auto Insurance tips for Teenage Drivers

noreply@blogger.com (Wallin Insurance Blog) — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 18:34:00 +0000

Shopping for car insurance in Elmira? Do you or someone you know have a teeneage driver looking to get good rates on their auto insurance and have good protection? Let me help. I have over 22 years experience right here in the Southern Tier of NY. I have recently posted a FREE REPORT: "Parents Guide to Teenage Safety."
http://www.wallininsurance.com/download/index.html

Filled with money saving ideas, this report also addresses the question of whether the teenager should be listed on the parent's insurance policy, or buy a policy in their own name.

Please feel free to comment on the report and ask me any questions you may have.

Drive safely!

ps - We offer a full range of Auto, Home, Business and Life Insurance. Call us at 607-734-8799 or e-mail me at Peter@WallinInsurance.com

Erie Insurance in NY - Wallin Agency wins AWARD

noreply@blogger.com (Wallin Insurance Blog) — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 12:16:00 +0000

I am proud to claim that our agency recently won several sales awards at the Erie Insurance Annual Dinner Meeting for the state of New York. Our Elmira business placed 2nd in the entire state (over 125 agencies) in total sales of personal and commercial lines policies during the promotion.
Our staff - Marlene Gerow, Linda Villard, Jonna Holden, Rose Forsyth, Lloyd Coble and Shelly Cadek posted a 29% growth in new sales over last years results.
We have won an sales award from Erie Insurance for 11 straight years - the same number of years we've been in business!

In these trying economic times, it's great to see how our clients are saving money on their auto, home and business insurance - while getting the proper coverage they desire.

Most deer accidents occur in October - December

noreply@blogger.com (Wallin Insurance Blog) — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 21:38:00 +0000

Talking points about DEER

As I was driving on Route 13 the other morning it was very foggy. My visibility was poor. Sure enough, there he was, he flew threw the air right in front of me. I couldn't believe it! I slammed on the brakes and just missed him - wow, was I lucky. It's amazing how many deer are out there. I must say it's the leading cause of car accidents here in our agency - especially this time of year.

Deer-vehicle collisions are an ongoing safety issue.
· According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, there are an estimated 1.5
million deer-vehicle collisions nationwide each year.
· These cause more than 150 fatalities and tens of thousands of injuries.
· They also cause more than a billion dollars in property damage.

· Most deer-vehicle collisions occur in the months of October, November, and December,
particularly during hunting season.
· The peak collision period is the first two weeks of November.
· Other high-risk times include the last week of October and the month of January.
· The highest-risk hours are between sunset and midnight and shortly before and after
sunrise.
To help avoid a collision, be cautious.
· Stay awake, alert and sober.
· Always wear your seatbelt.
· Drive at a safe, sensible speed for conditions.
· Increase the distance between yourself and the vehicle in front of you, especially in
wooded areas.
· Deliberately look for deer, particularly when driving during peak collision times.
· Be extra cautious in areas where deer commonly cross roads and where roads divide
fields from forests.
· When driving at night, use high-beam headlights - which illuminate deer eyes - when
there is no opposing traffic.
When deer are near, be careful.
· Slow down and blow your horn to urge the deer to leave the road – never rely on devices
such as deer whistles, deer fences, and reflectors to deter deer.
· If the deer stays on the road, stop, put on your hazard lights, and wait for the deer to leave
the roadway.
· Never try to drive around a deer while it’s on the road.
· Never swerve your vehicle to avoid striking a deer - if a collision is imminent, hit it while
maintaining full control of your vehicle.
If a crash happens, take steps to avoid further risk.
· Keep your distance to avoid injuries.
· Keep an eye out for other deer, as they frequently travel single-file in groups.
· If the deer is blocking the roadway, contact the Game Commission or a local law
enforcement agency.

Your insurance is SAFE

noreply@blogger.com (Wallin Insurance Blog) — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 13:08:00 +0000

In this challenging economy - we are seeing history being made. Banks and financial institutions are going out of business in record numbers. It's really a scary time out there - especially for individuals and small business owners who are looking to obtain a loan for a car, home or business improvement.

Let me assure you that the insurance industry is OK. We face many state regulations and are required to hold money in reserves to pay claims. My carriers - especially Erie Insurance & Progressive - remain fiscally strong.

Please feel free to share your comments and thoughts about this topic - I'd like to hear from you.

This is a Test Post

noreply@blogger.com (Wallin Insurance Blog) — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 19:27:00 +0000

This is a test post

This is a Test Post

noreply@blogger.com (Wallin Insurance Blog) — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 19:27:00 +0000

This is a test post