You won’t like the answer.

A large part of the reason is climate change. For the last several years, we’ve had a more than average number of severe weather conditions, and when the wind blows and rain, snow, sleet and hail fall, cars, homes and people are damaged. It has been going on long enough that insurance companies are beginning to believe that higher levels of severe weather are here to stay.

Consider these findings from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency:

In the 20^th Century, average precipitation in the lower 48 states increased about 6 percent in the lower 48 states. And it’s not just raining and snowing more; it’s raining and snowing more intensely. “Eight of the top 10 years for extreme one-day precipitation events have occurred since 1990,” says the EPA. And since the mid-1990s we’ve experienced six of the 10 most active hurricane seasons, according to the EPA.

So insurance companies are beginning to believe that these patterns are here to stay, and premiums are rising. If they’re wrong and we’ve just been unlucky for a few years, rates will come down eventually.

It’s not the same for everyone. Insurance companies tend to target the customers they think are the best risks and give them the best rates, but in general the trend up. Don’t believe anyone who tells you otherwise.

– Mel H. Pine

So far, so good. But wait until Mr. Customer has an at-fault accident and asks about getting a rental car for free while his car is in the shop, or bout income replacement while he’s laid up. If all we gave him was collision and comprehensive coverage and didn’t explain the other options, then he won’t have rental-car reimbursement or any other extras. They’re separate items. We’re likely to hear: “I said I wanted full coverage, didn’t I?”

So to avoid misunderstandings, if you ask for full coverage, we’ll reply with the specifics of what we’re talking about, going over each optional item so you can make an informed choice. We don’t want you buying more or less than you need, and we certainly don’t want misunderstandings down the road.

– Mel H. Pine

On July 25, 2009, 19-year-old Eric Okerblom, a molecular biology major at the University of California at Berkley, was cycling on a straight country road in broad daylight. Although in the proper position on the road, he was struck from behind by a pickup truck going 60 miles per hour. Okerblom died immediately. The pickup truck driver was also 19 years old – and was texting behind the wheel.

Okerblom’s story is just one of the many that illustrate a public health risk plaguing America’s highways – the staggering number of deaths and injuries from teen-related auto crashes. These crashes claim the lives of more than 4,000 teens each year – an average of 11 every day.

To help bring attention to this issue, Allstate recently launched “Save11,” a national awareness campaign that continues through June. Supporting advertising features the images and stories of teenagers, including Okerblom, who died as a result of motor vehicle crashes. Please visit Facebook.com/save11 to contact your members of Congress and encourage them to support the Safe Teen and Novice Driver Uniform Protection Act (H.R. 1895 and S. 3269), which addresses graduated driver licensing laws.

“More than 4,000 teens die every year in teen-related crashes. This is a public health risk of epidemic proportions,” said Bill Vainisi, Allstate vice president and deputy general counsel. “We must work together to end this heartbreaking cycle. By reaching out to their members of Congress, Americans can help pass the STANDUP Act and personally contribute to a reduction in the number of teen deaths.”

The STANDUP Act would establish minimum requirements for state graduated driver licensing laws. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in states with strong GDL laws, studies have shown these laws reduce teen crash fatalities by up to 40 percent.

To Allstate, an optimal GDL program includes a three-stage licensing process, a prohibition of nighttime driving for new drivers, passenger restrictions for new drivers, prohibition of cell phones and similar devices for new drivers, and an age limit of 16 for a learner’s permit and 18 for a full, unrestricted license.

On April 27, Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) introduced the STANDUP Act to the U.S. Senate, with additional members joining daily. The bill is sponsored in the U.S. House by Reps. Tim Bishop (D-NY), Mike Castle (R-DE) and Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) and currently has 17 co-sponsors.

“With the crowded legislative agenda and mid-term elections, we have a full court press to drive change,” Vainisi said. “Our collective lobbying, public relations and marketing efforts demonstrate Allstate’s commitment and consistent leadership on teen safe driving and positions us as a thought leader with a bias for action.”

Dear Friends

I want to thank everyone for being so patient during this unprecedented snow
storm. At this point the streets of Leesburg are in every level of clearing and
condition. Some of the main roads like 15 s and the bypass are in need of work.
Some neighborhood streets have 2 lanes plowed while others have not been plowed
or plowed lightly. Some streets have been plowed once but are in very bad
shape. Town crews are on a 24/7 cycle of nonstop plowing. There is another
storm coming Tuesday night into Wednesday and we all need to prepare for that.

If you can please pass this email onto your email list of any kind: friends,
pto, school, hoa, sports teams, clubs, etc. Let me know if your street needs to
be plowed. Here is the Town’s goal: 2 lanes of plowed hard packed snow by
tomorrow. You should not expect the Town to plow from curb to curb at this
point in time. If you have a car on the street and can move it into a driveway
that will help. Also plowing can result in your driveway being blocked by snow;
this is part of the clearing process.

If you have hardtop showing then that is a plus. But if you have not been
plowed or have just one lane please let me know. I will compile a list and pass
that onto Town Staff. As the street names come in.

Tom Dunn
Leesburg Town Council
tshelbydun@msn.com
703-801-0377

A 54-year-old woman (we’ll call her Gail) in reasonable health inherited money from her parents and decided that she could set aside $50,000 for her two children. So she bought a single-premium permanent life insurance policy designed for what’s known as “wealth transfer.” That $50,000 one-time payment meant that her children would share a guaranteed $312,277 whether Gail dies tomorrow or lives to 125.

“I consider it inheritance insurance,” Gail said.

A knowledgeable life insurance agent with the right kind of guaranteed policy can set up a policy like that for you. I’d be glad to go over your options with you. You can click here and fill out the online form for a quote.

– Mel H. Pine

Fortunately, my friend had renter’s insurance. It was the insurance policy on the home he rented that reimbursed him for his stolen property. In general, your renter’s or homeowner’s insurance covers your personal property even when it’s not in your home or apartment.

People who own a home and have a mortgage can’t avoid having homeowner’s insurance, but renters often don’t understand how valuable a renter’s policy can be. And it’s inexpensive, too. Depending on where you live and how much coverage you want, you can have a renter’s policy for less than $100 a year. And if you’re using the same insurance company for your auto coverage as well, you’ll get a discount on your auto policy that may pay for the renter’s policy.

It’s a no-brainer.

– Mel H. Pine

The over-simplified description is that, if you hit a tree, it’s collision, and if the tree hits you, it’s comprehensive. That’s true as far as it goes. When the momentum comes from your vehicle, it’s likely to be a collision claim. When the momentum comes from something else (other than another vehicle), it’s likely to be a comprehensive claim. So when that rock flying through the air smashes into your windshield, that’s generally a comprehensive claim. In addition, when you hit an animal, that’s a comprehensive claim, even if the momentum came from you. And it’s comprehensive also when your car is stolen.

Why should you care? Because it’s collision coverage that’s generally the more expensive component of your premium. Comprehensive is usually a lot less expensive. So you might consider a much lower deductible (zero, if your insurer offers it) on your comprehensive insurance. That way, with a zero deductible, when a rock smashes your windshield, you get a new one, paid in full, and a reasonable number of comprehensive claims won’t cause your premium to increase. If you have the bad luck to make contact with a deer, then the damage, which may be considerable, will also be paid in full.

So ask your insurance agent or broker what the cost would be to lower your comprehensive deductible to zero. If your vehicle is housed in Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland or DC, give us at the Brambleton Agency a call and we’d be glad to work up a quote and go over your options. insurance.

– Mel H. Pine

First, a little background. After a career in journalism and corporate public relations, I opened an insurance agency in Purcellville, VA, in 2005. We grew rapidly and won awards, so in 2008 we expanded to a second agency, this one in Winchester, VA. Now we serve thousands of families in Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland and DC, with auto insurance, homeowner’s insurance, renter’s and condo insurance, business insurance, worker’s compensation, life and health insurance, long-term care, and so on.

We have one passion: Doing the best for every customer every time. That may sound like just a slogan, but we mean it. The people I hire all have to care about people and put the customer first.

All of our licensed professionals are also shareholders, so you can call us an employee-owned company. I’m the president and principal agent.

So what’s so interesting about insurance? Many people would rather read the phone book than a blog about insurance. So my challenge will be to find stuff to say that will keep you informed and even a bit entertained. So watch this blog, and see if I can succeed in making insurance interesting?

– Mel H Pine