HAPPY THANKSGIVING FROM YOUR FRIENDS AT STATEWIDE INSURANCE

Posted by Benji Riggins on November 25, 2009 under Office News | Be the First to Comment

Tips on How to Safely Deep Fry Turkey

Posted by Benji Riggins on November 24, 2009 under Safety | Be the First to Comment

Deep frying is an increasingly popular way to cook a turkey, but it’s not without its dangers.

• Always use turkey fryers outdoors, on a flat surface away from decks and buildings;
• Don’t move a fryer while the oil is hot, and cool the oil completely before emptying it from the fryer;
• Don’t overfill the fryer with oil;
• Use the thermometer, and don’t heat the oil above the recommended temperature;
• Keep children and pets away from fryers, and don’t leave the fryer unattended;
• Thaw the turkey completely before cooking;
• In case of fire, call the fire department immediately, and don’t try to put it out with water.

Survey: Kids more dangerous than texting while driving

Posted by Benji Riggins on November 23, 2009 under Safety | Be the First to Comment

As regulation continues to swirl regarding texting while driving, a recent survey suggests that children and road rage provide larger threats to drivers.

Conducted by LeaseTrader.com, the survey of more than 3,000 drivers found that for 18.3 percent of men, road rage was the most dangerous distraction, followed by eating/drinking at 14.7 percent, watching other drivers at 10.9 percent, and children in the car at 9.8 percent.

For women, kids in the car ranked highest at 26.3 percent, followed by putting on makeup at 16.6 percent, the radio at 10.4 percent and navigation at 9.5 percent.

Finally, only 7.6 percent of men and 4.2 percent of women said texting while driving provided a dangerous distraction.

11-1-09 NC State Mandated Auto Insurance Rate Changes

Posted by Benji Riggins on under Insurance News | Be the First to Comment

Most of our 11-1-09 program changes simply reflect the settlement of a private passenger auto rate dispute between the North Carolina Rate Bureau (NCRB) and the Insurance Commissioner (DOI). The settlement reduces the overall rate level for private passenger voluntary liability and physical damage rates and “clean risk” liability rates in the NCRF by about 10%. We have also made some minor adjustments to our rates to adjust for loss results for specific types of risks.

The NCRB/DOI settlement also requires member companies to refund to policyholders the portion of the premium it collects on each policy that exceeds the settled rates, plus interest.

New & Renewal policies with effective dates between January 1st, 2009 and October 31st, 2009 will be reviewed for any potential escrow refunds in 2010. In general, the settlement requires that escrow refunds for 6-month policies must be refunded between 5/1/2010 and 7/30/2010 and 12-month policies must be refunded between 11/1/2010 and 1/30/2011. Escrow refunds on 12-month policies that have expired prior to 4/30/2010 can be refunded along with the 6-month policies in the 5/1/2010-7/30/2010 window.

Our current plans are to refund escrow for 6-month policies and 12-month policies (that have expired by 4/30/2010) in mid-June. The remaining 12-month policy escrow refunds will be processed in late November or early December. Consent to Rate physical damage premiums and NCRF premiums for “non-clean risks” are not subject to refund.