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Insurance can be complicated as there are a lot of variables to consider. For the most part, the every day consumer isn’t even aware of what is in his policy. That is why trust in your agent is a premium among those shopping for Insurance.

Here are some things to consider when you consider your insurance needs. The secrets of the insurance industry.

• You can leave an existing policy at any time. Even though you may have already paid for 6 months or a year, you can walk away from that policy and get refunded should you decide to shop with Team ATD and find a better rate. You never have to wait to start saving money. (Note: Do not cancel a policy until your a new one is in place, let us help you in the transition).
• Comparing quotes will save you the most and keep everyone honest. One of the advantages of working with your TEAM ATD representative is they can shop from 12 different insurance companies, vs having you go from agency to agency trying to find the best rate. We will insure you have the proper coverage to meet your needs. Sometimes the quote you get from cost saving agencies isn’t always the best protection. We strive to give you both, affordable rates, the coverage you need.
• Auto and other insurance rates are constantly changing. You may actually be paying too much if you have locked in, or unless your agent stays on top of current rate indexes. Having TEAM ATD on your side allows you be secure knowing your policy is constantly monitored for the best price possible.

Don’t be fooled by flashy commercials, after all if they insure you, your policy is paying the cost for all that excessive  advertising. Make sure your insurance is based on what is best for you and your family or business.

Call TEAM ATD and find out why for the last 109 years Northern Ohio has trusted us to protect their most precious assets.

You’ve heard the expression “time is money”, and we believe it to be true. Your time is very valuable to us, so much so that in our 109 years of service to our customers we have developed and honed the best possible way to help you save money.

Instead of you having to go agency by agency to compare prices, Team ATD takes your information and shops it for you. Saving your time and still producing the best cost savings possible.

As an independent insurance agent we partner with over a dozen of the finest companies in the industry. Our state of the art quoting system allows us to shop your information to find the company that is the best fit for your needs at the very best price.

And with Team ATD it is more then just a price, we don’t have automated answering machines that make you go through a maze of phone options. We have real live customer service reps waiting to speak with you all of which are from Northern Ohio. No calls to a foreign land or another state when you need help the most.

It really is as simple as picking up the phone, stopping in, or emailing us. One stop, one unbeatable price. That is the Team ATD difference.

With several inches of snow on the ground already, Sunday night’s heavy thunderstorms brought some misery to many folks in our area. We have received many calls about flooded basements and businesses. Of course Team-ATD has been all over the affected areas assisting our customers, helping to coordinate clean up and repair along with other aspects of their policies.

One of the downsides to events like the one we are dealing with today is how many folks call asking about flood insurance after the fact. The one thing you don’t want to find out in a severe weather event is if your coverage has you protected or if you have no coverage at all.

Team-ATD service agents are here to help you. No matter who you have insurance with, bring in your policy and let us help you review it. Flood insurance, and sewer backup are not automatically covered items.

With Insurance the golden rule is “Don’t wait until you need it to find out you don’t have it”.

Give us a call, we’re here to help.

You’ve seen the ads on TV, call XYZ Insurance and we guarantee we can save you money. Or, they proclaim an average savings over their competition of hundreds of dollars. What they’re not telling you is it could cost you everything if you have cut-rate coverage and are in a serious accident.

We know price is a big factor when making a decision on who to go with for insurance but is that the most important factor?

You should be sure you are not sacrificing your family’s long term financial health for short term gain. The most important thing about insurance is making sure that you have the coverage needed at the time of a incident. If you are opting for low limits and decreasing and/or declining coverage you could be at a bigger loss than if you were to pay that little bit more premium per month!

Sure you may have enough to cover a fender bender, but that may not always be the case. There are more than six million car accidents each year in the United States. Many accidents are car-truck accidents where the contents of the truck can be anything from an entire load of cars, to high tech equipment. In fact large trucks made up three percent of all registered vehicles and seven percent of all vehicle miles traveled. All the more reason to make sure you have proper coverage to protect yourself from unforeseen circumstances.

So check your policy. In fact, bring it in and we will check it with you. Protecting your family or business is what we have been about since 1902. Team ATD, we are here for you!

Don’t settle for the bare minimum…

So your at home relaxing in your favorite chair, when the mail arrives and with it a notice that your roof may have suffered ice or hail damage. You haven’t noticed any leaks or even thought for a minute you had a problem. The notice is from XYZ roofing company who would like to discuss it with you ASAP, in order to get the job and get you to call your insurance agent to file a claim.

This is actually an instance that we are aware of. The only problem was the roof had no damage, other then showing some slight signs of wear. In this instance it was a case where a company was trying to take advantage of a homeowner making them complicit in insurance fraud.

At first it may seem to look like everyone wins, the homeowner with a potential new roof, and the company with a profit.

However, the truth is we all lose with illegal schemes. The homeowners short term gain cost him in potential increases over the life of his policy and the more the insurer has to pay out, the more it effects all policy holders as the insurer struggles to keep costs and prices down. Should this scenario play out over and over, it would have a drastic effect on the rates for entire an community.

The lesson to remember here is nothing is free. If a company is soliciting work in an “out of the blue” fashion, meaning you were not aware you had a problem, get a second opinion. If you find that the solicitation is questionable, send the material bid to your insurance agent to find out how best to report fraud.

When we work together, we save together. That’s the Team ATD difference.

We hope Mr. Alexander Pope can forgive us for altering his famous quote, but lets face it some accidents are unavoidable. You can be the best driver in the history of the world, and that guy next to you in traffic texting on his phone while drinking coffee and eating a bean burrito could come across your lane at any minute forcing you into a situation.

Life is not always fair, but with Team-ATD your insurance can be. This is where accident forgiveness comes in. Many of our insurance carriers provide accident forgiveness but most of them require that you are with them for a set number of years before providing you with forgiveness. At Team ATD, we tailor your policy to suit your needs. The more cautious you are on the road, and those with the best driving records with least amount of claims have the best opportunity at being rewarded when it comes to accident forgiveness.

What types of accidents trigger an increase in premium?

• Any accident that is deemed “at fault” is subject to premium surcharge/increase. This can be an accident with another vehicle which is deemed your fault or an accident where just your vehicle is involved (example – slipping on ice and loosing control).
• Not “at fault” accidents and Comprehensive losses will not affect your premium. Please do not hesitate to contact a Team ATD agent with any questions….
• Some carriers require you to have a clean record for 4 to 5 years. So check with us and let us shop around and find the best solution for you.
• Different policies have different approaches to forgiveness. Some policies allow only a single incident over a period of time, while other premium policies will allow for multiple incidents over the same period without effecting your bottom line. The costs vary from policy to policy.

The bottom line is, know what is in your policy before an accident happens. Contact Team ATD to find out how to protect yourself and your family. We are always here to help.

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If you’re getting dumped with snow, here are some tips to keep in mind when you’re sharing the road with snowplows:

• 1) Always keep your distance – give snowplows room to work. The plows are wide and can cross the centerline or shoulder. Don’t tailgate or try to pass. If you must pass, take extreme caution.
• 2) Vision – a snowplow operator’s field of vision is restricted. If you cannot see the plow’s side mirrors, the driver cannot see you. Stay two to three car lengths behind the plow and watch for sudden stops or turns.
• 3) Take it slow during ice and snow – snowplows travel well below the posted speed limit. Be patient and try not to pass the plow. Beware of snow clouds – snowplows often create clouds as they clear the roads. These snow clouds can reduce your ability to see.
• 4) Even walking on sidewalks near a major road, you need to be aware of a snow plows movement. Snow can be thrown a great distance.
• 5) Please do not let your kids tunnel into snow banks next to the road! Check out the video below.

Join Team-ATD in our commitment to keeping your safe in rough weather conditions. For more information, or to talk to a Team-ATD representative about your coverage in these slippery times, contact us at the number on the right.

Many people have a very personal relationship with their cars. There are those who think that what they drive is a reflection on their own personalities, and others who think an automobile is just a tool to get from point A to point B. One of the things that is seldom thought about , however, is how the insurance industry sees the car and what the long term costs are.

Here at Team ATD, we are always trying to find ways to save you money. And one way is to demystify the process of knowing what cars are seen as high risk, and what cars are seen as safe bets. These two charts will give you an idea of what to look for as well as what other factors are considered, such as the drivers age.

High risk cars, that may have higher associated insurance costs over the period of ownership:

Safer cars, seen as lower risk which may have lower insurance costs:

These are just a couple of examples. The best bet to save you money is to contact your Team ATD representative and find out what that new model you are interested is going to cost BEFORE you buy the car. Just a little planning ahead of the purchase can save you hundreds over the life of the purchase. Contact us today to start saving!

ATD Insurance is looking for a highly motivated, professional commercial insurance specialist. Experience in the insurance industry is desired. Job entails sales of commercial and business related policies, customer service, and knowledge of risk assesment and insurance underwriting.

The explosion in the deer population has lead to a continuing increase in deer-car collisions. This trend will only increase as the deer population grows and urban habitats continue to encroach upon rural environments.According to the National Safety Council, there were 530,000 animal-related accidents in 2003 and these collisions resulted in 100 deaths and 10,000 injuries.

The average cost per insurance claim for collision damage is $2,800, with costs varying depending on the type of vehicle and severity of damage. When you factor in auto claims involving bodily injury, the average rises to $10,000.

Defensive driving tips to avoid hitting a deer:

• Be especially attentive from sunset to midnight and during the hours shortly before and after sunrise. These are the highest risk times for deer-vehicle collisions
• Drive with caution when moving through deer-crossing zones, in areas known to have a large deer population and in areas where roads divide agricultural fields from forestland. Deer seldom run alone. If you see one deer, others may be nearby.
• When driving at night, use high beam headlights when there is no oncoming traffic. The high beams will better illuminate the eyes of deer on or near the roadway
• Slow down and blow your horn with one long blast to frighten the deer away
• Brake firmly when you notice a deer in or near your path, but stay in your lane. Many serious crashes occur when drivers swerve to avoid a deer and hit another vehicle or lose control of their cars.
• Always wear your seat belt. Most people injured in car/deer crashes were not wearing their seat belt.
• Do no rely on devices such as deer whistles, deer fences and reflectors to deter deer. These devices have not been proven to reduce deer-vehicle collisions.

If your vehicle strikes a deer, do not touch the animal. A frightened and wounded deer can hurt you or further injure itself. The best procedure is to get you car off the road, if possible, and call the police.

Contact your insurance agent or company representative to report any damage to your car. Collision with an animal is covered under the comprehensive portion of your auto insurance policy.