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Money spent on marketing insurance in this country is in the hundreds of millions. Did you ever wonder who pays for it? Whether it is cavemen, lizards, a lady in an insurance grocery store in heaven or even a pretend insurance academy, there is a never ending stream of commercials and advertisements aimed to get your attention via your funny bone. One of the claims many of these commercials use is the speed at which you can sign up or transfer, which is great unless you miss out on coverage you need do to haste.

At TEAM-ATD many of the customers who change over from other companies to ours do so because they realize long after the sign-up period that they are either missing coverage they need or are having a difficult time contacting customer service agents for help.

This is where we still do things the proper way. Instead of spending money on commercials we spend it on helping you dot the i’s and cross the t’s. Sure, we have all the technology, but we back it up with people. People right here from Northern Ohio. You can call and get a live receptionist who will direct you to a TEAM ATD service rep all without pressing another button on your phone, and  little waiting if any. You can walk in our office and talk to a service rep who will sit down with you and answer any question you have about your policy. The best part is when you need help, we are right here. For over one hundred years we have been here through every kind of insurance claim imaginable side by side with our customers helping them recover.

Can your insurance agent say that?

So don’t let comical marketing or the lure of an overly easy sign up process get in the way of having your family or business properly protected the TEAM-ATD way. Which is to say all the way protected.

We’re right here when you need us.

Well the numbers are out and the good news is it is getting ever less likely that your car will be stolen. National numbers for car thefts are in sharp decline with enhancements both in part identification, car tracking, and improved police techniques. That’s the good news.

The bad news is car break-ins in our area are on the upswing according to information presented by several local police departments in Lorain County. Items that thief’s are after are easy to sell electronics such as cell phones (especially smart phones), ipods, gps and other gadget type items. The worst part is most items value is well below the deductible and are out of pocket expenses to the owner when taken.

What can you do to protect yourself. Believe it or not, just a couple of pro-active steps will greatly reduce your chances of a loss.

• Lock your car doors. We know this sounds overly simple, but according to local authorities many of the items that were targeted were done so because of the ease of the theft. Meaning the car was unlocked!
• Keep your gadgets and loose change or valuables out of plain sight. Most break-ins occur when a thief spots a item of value when scouting areas for targets. Out of sight, out of trouble, that’s the best rule to protect yourself.
• Write down the serial numbers of valuables. Most folks never record the serials numbers of their gadgets, and they all have one. If the police are fortunate enough to recover your items, they have to have something to go on to get them back in the right hands. Keep a list of what’s yours.
• Park in well lit areas at night.

These are all basic items, but you would be surprised at how many people do not take steps to protect their valuables.

If you have any questions or would like to discuss your coverage, please contact your TEAM-ATD rep. We’re here for you!

So I’m driving down the road and the news program on the radio has a guest from the Governors Highway Safety Association. Seems that they have just done a lot of research into the root causes of many of the accidents you hear about. Guess what they concluded? Technology is wrecking our society, sorta speaking.

Gadgets from fancy phones to music players and even fiddling with a GPS is causing an estimated quarter of all accidents on the road, and the number may actually be higher.

From the article: ‘”Most distractions involve more than one of these types, with both a sensory – eyes, ears, or touch – and a mental component. For this report, distraction occurs when a driver voluntarily diverts attention to something not related to driving that uses the driver’s eyes, ears, or hands..’”

The lesson for you and your family is “the more tech, the more likely a wreck”. Keep your family safe from distractions. Talk to your drivers about avoiding texting and other dangerous activities while driving.

Need more info? Here is the full report.

OR contact TEAM ATD and ask how we can help.

Every year the 4th of July weekend is known as the milestone of summer. Time to spend with family picnicking, boating, swimming and look forward to fireworks as we celebrate the founding of our great country. Professionally done fireworks as those done at amusement parks, and other outdoor areas by properly trained and insured personnel are a joy to watch on a clear evening.

There is, however, a larger danger that also lurks during this weekend and that is illegal amateur backyard firework enthusiast. Every year area emergency rooms are witness to people who took it upon themselves to indulge in explosives of all kinds and were severely burnt or injured. The saddest part is very often it involves children and innocent bystanders.

So this year we ask that you take time to make the right choice and keep your family away from the unnecessary risk of amateur fireworks.

Enjoy your weekend and Happy Birthday America from all your friends here at TEAM ATD.

This weekend is nationwide “Operation Dry Water”, (June 24-26, 2011). ODW is a national weekend of Boating Under the Influence (BUI) education and enforcement aimed at reducing alcohol and drug-related accidents and fatalities. This program is a joint participation program with the US Coast Guard, Local State and Police agency’s.

So take extra care this weekend and be a sober skipper. We always recommend that if you want to enjoy a drink, you reach a safe destination and make plans to stay the night before enjoying all a port has to offer. BUI’s administered by local law enforcement count as points against your driving record and could lead to a suspension of driving prileges as well as increased insurance rates for higher risk.

• U.S. Coast Guard 2009 data reveal that alcohol was a primary contributing factor in 16 percent of fatalities from recreational boating accidents.
• Operating a boat with a Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) of .08 or higher is against federal law and Ohio State laws.
• Alcohol can impair a boater’s judgment, balance, vision, and reaction time.  It can increase fatigue and susceptibility to the effects of cold-water immersion.
• Sun, wind, noise, vibration, and motion – “stressors” common to the boating environment – intensify the side effects of alcohol, drugs, and some medications.

So be smart, be safe and Stay Dry!

With all the rain, hail, and wind that we have been getting this spring we are all worried about the damage our cars are at risk for..

Has your car ever been damaged by hail? One of the worst sounds a motorist can hear is the sudden thumping while driving during a storm. Hail comes in many shapes and sizes and often times does little damage. But there are times where it can get rather large and cause headaches for car owners.

Here are some tips to help you out should you get caught in a downpour of hail..

• Often times there is very little you can do, but slow down and try to find a place to pull over, or better yet some covered parking.
• Be cautious of roads covered in hail as they may be extremely slippery.
• If not already on, make sure you lights are on to alert other motorists of your presence.
• If you do not have a camera on your cell phone or typically keep one with you, buy an inexpensive disposable camera and keep it in your car to take pictures to help document any damage you may need to report.
• Be sure to contact your TEAM ATD representative as soon as you are able if you have a claim. We will get to work right away helping you sort out the details.
• DO NOT DRIVE WITH A CRACKED WINDSHIELD! Have a glass expert examine and repair or replace a windshield that has hail damage.
• Same goes for headlights or tail lights. You should not drive a vehicle unless all of your external safety equipment is in proper working condition.

Hail can cause serious damage to your car and would be covered under your comprehensive coverage of your policy. Comprehensive Coverage is part of full coverage but needs to be added to vehicles that just have liability insurance.

Many customers call and ask if they are covered only to realize they have liability coverage on their vehicle and are inadequately protected from this type of damage. Don’t wait for the next storm to check your policy, it is always best to prepare for the next rainy day while the sun is still shining! So please check your policy, call TEAM ATD, or stop by our office and we can advise you if you have the proper coverage.

It’s better to have coverage and not need it, then to need it and not have it. That’s the TEAM ATD difference, we are always here to protect you!

Wishing everyone a safe and happy Memorial Day Weekend, and especially those in uniform serving this great nation. We give our sincere thanks as we take time from our daily routines to relax and enjoy some time off, we hope you and your family can do the same. From your friends at TEAM ATD!

Despite the rain and occasional sogginess, there is little that can stop the toys from coming out of storage in Northern Ohio in May. Whether it’s Harley’s or Corvettes, Jeeps or Mustang convertibles, or maybe even a jetski or two, the sun beckons.

Many of our clients lower their coverage for the months that their vehicle is storage. If that is you, and you only keep comprehensive coverage on your vehicle while in storage please DO NOT forget to call your agent and have the full coverage put back on the vehicle.

To make sure everyone is protected, your TEAM ATD customer service rep needs to be made aware of when you are taking the vehicle in/out of storage to insure that you are properly covered.

So remember, we cannot process any changes without hearing from you by phone or in writing. So before you rev the engine, pick up the phone and check your policy first!

TEAM ATD… we always have your back.

With some of the most unstable weather in Northern Ohio in a decade, the question we hear quite often is about fallen branches and whole trees causing damage on personal property. Who is responsible, and better yet are you covered?

Fortunately for all, the answer is straightforward. If a tree hits a home or other insured structure such as a detached garage, standard homeowners insurance policies provide coverage for the damage the tree does to the structure and the contents within it. This includes trees felled by a windstorm, hail, weight of ice, snow or sleet.

Furthermore, it does not matter whether or not a tree was actually growing on your property; if it lands on your home, you should file a claim with your insurance company. After a hurricane or windstorm trees, shrubs and branches can become projectiles capable of traveling significant distances. Insurance companies do not waste time trying to locate exactly where the tree originally lived.

There are some instances where insurance companies may pursue the insurance of the property where the tree was located. But that will not effect a homeowner from getting damaged repaired as it is a company to company matter. In most instances, unless the tree of a neighboring property were known to be in poor health of in danger of falling, the damaged properties insurance would be responsible.

If a tree hits an insured structure, there is also coverage for the cost of removing the tree, generally up to about $500 to $1,000, depending on the insurer and the type of policy purchased. If the fallen tree did not hit an insured structure, there is generally no coverage for debris removal; however, some insurance companies may pay for the cost of removing it if the felled tree blocks a driveway or a ramp designed to assist the handicapped.

Cars damaged or destroyed by falling trees are covered under the comprehensive portion of an auto insurance policy.

For more detailed information about your coverage or for any question you may have please contact TEAM ATD

(A special thanks and acknowledgement to www.ohioinsurance.org for source material)

We have some swimmingly good advice before the weather gets hot and you start thinking of putting in a pool, or if you already have one and uncovered it this week, you may want to give us a call.

As your agent, TEAM ATD can advise you of the criteria that insurance companies look for when you have a pool on your property. Pools are very entertaining for family and friends alike, but as with any amount of deep water they do come with an associated risk.

One of the main things to remember when investing in a pool is to make sure that you have a fence around your yard or pool. This is standard in any communities building code. It is important to make sure the quality of the fence is very good and it is properly installed with self locking gates, because it is the main protection you have against accidents.

The law provides for many safety requirements governing ladders, slides, and deck markings for depth as well as safety equipment. Your pool salesman/installer should know of all legal requirements and be able to explain them to you.

Something you don’t want to overlook is your insurance agent. It’s vital that your insurance agent is aware that you have a pool so that they can insure you are meeting all the required guidelines of your insurance company and that you have adequate coverage in the event something happened to the pool itself.

The last thing anyone would want is for a need to arise to and the right coverage was not in place.

So before you splash down, please contact TEAM ATD with any questions….