August 28, 2012
AgencyHurricane Isaac Gains Strength, Aims for New Orleans
Updated 7:00 p.m. ET (CBS/AP) MIAMI – Tropical Storm Isaac is gaining strength as it gets closer to predicted landfall along the northern Gulf Coast. It is not yet a hurricane, but should be soon. At 5 p.m. Monday, the National Hurricane Center reported that Isaac’s top sustained winds had reached 70 mph, up from […]
September 28, 2012
AgencyDrivers May Be Unaware of Texting Habit: Study
Texting while driving is considered a serious public safety concern, but a new University of Michigan study suggests that drivers might not be aware of their actions. U-M researchers found that texting while driving is predicted by a person’s level of “habit”—more so than how much someone texts. When people check their cell phones without […]
October 26, 2012
AgencyUpdate: Hurricane Sandy Death Toll at 41; ‘Super Storm’ Eyes East Coast
Hurricane Sandy, a late-season Atlantic storm unlike anything seen in more than two decades, slogged slowly toward the U.S. East Coast on Friday after killing at least 41 people as it cut across the Caribbean. Forecasters said Sandy, with an expanding wind field already 550 miles (890 km) wide, had begun merging with a polar […]
November 13, 2012
AgencyControversy Over Hurricane Deductibles May Just Be Beginning
By Beth Pinsker Gladstone When the National Hurricane Center declared Sandy a “post-tropical storm” just before it made landfall, a lot of homeowners across New Jersey, New York, Connecticut and Maryland may have saved a lot of money. The governors of these states have told insurance companies that because the storm was not classified as […]
November 29, 2012
AgencyStudy Reveals Offline Methods Are Top Causes for Identity Fraud Claims
Despite increased adoption of online shopping, mobile payment and banking apps, offline methods are the top known causes of identity fraud, according to a new study from Travelers. Burglary, stolen wallets and pilfered identifications account for 73 percent of all cases, according to a comprehensive study of 2011 Travelers claim data. Stolen or misplaced items, […]
February 6, 2013
AgencyCommentary: Lessons Learned From Hurricane Sandy
Hurricane Sandy is said to be the most damaging hurricane recorded in U. S. history. There appears, however, to be some dispute as to whether Hurricane Katrina holds that dubious honor. The cost of the storm, estimated by private firms including PricewaterhouseCoopers and the PFM group, indicate that Hurricane Sandy destroyed or damaged more units […]
February 12, 2013
AgencyCredit-Based Insurance Scores Explained
Safeco, like most insurance companies, uses many factors to price your insurance. They include your driving record, claims history, the type of home or vehicle you own and your credit-based insurance score. What is a Credit-Based Insurance Score and Why Does it Matter? Your credit-based insurance scores is not the same as your personal credit […]
March 14, 2013
AgencyState by State Look at Driving Rules for Older Drivers
A 50-state look at the varying rules across the nation governing drivers’ licenses for older adults. ALABAMA: Licenses are renewed every four years for all drivers, with no additional requirements for older drivers. A legislative committee considered older driver safety in 2003 and decided not to recommend any changes, saying young drivers cause far more […]
April 8, 2013
AgencyTop 10 Driving Distractions Involved in Fatal Car Crashes
Of the more than 65,000 people killed in car crashes over the past two years, one in 10 were in crashes where at least one of the drivers was distracted. That’s according to police report data analyzed by Erie Insurance in the Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), a nationwide census of fatal motor vehicle traffic […]
May 29, 2013
AgencyWedding Season is Here and Mother Nature is a Notorious Wedding Crasher
Rule #1: Weddings Should Be Perfect. Insure Them. The pieces have just started to be picked up from the terrible Oklahoma tornados and now we’re starting to prepare for hurricane season. Who could forget the havoc Superstorm Sandy caused last year and Hurricane Irene the previous year? The predictions are out and it looks like we’re […]