Fighting Distracted Driving to Save Lives

Drivers attempt to eat, read, discipline children and apply makeup while driving. All of these activities are dangerous and can result in an accident. In recent years, the increasing popularity of cell phones and texting has resulted in a significant increase in distracted driving. The distraction when using electronic devices is more severe. Historically, distracted driving was a minor issue. Now it is known as a major problem.

Distracted driving resulted in over 3,000 fatalities in 2012. It has been reported that distracted driving is three times more dangerous than drunk driving. Forty-four states have passed laws banning texting and driving. Fourteen states require use of hands-free phones when driving.

One community has taken a different approach to fighting distracted driving. Rochester, New York claims to have success with their Yeah, You're That Distracting campaign. The campaign involves focus on the person who is not in the vehicle. The goal is to have the person on the other end of the cell phone get off the phone or stop texting if they know the recipient is driving. When placing a phone call to a cell phone, the caller should first ask if the person they are calling is driving. Therefore it is up to the driver's friend and family, not the driver themselves, to wait to hold the conversation and prevent a potential accident or fatality.

The Ad Council responsible for this campaign has reported a 20 percent decrease in distracted driving since 2012. Community-wide polls show significant increases in driver awareness as well. For example, 84 percent of respondents indicated they already have or are willing to cease to use their cell phone while driving in a poll taken in November of 2013. Compare that to 68 percent in 2012.

Next time you place a phone call or send a text message, consider whether the recipient is driving. Consider asking if you are unsure. If they are driving, postpone the conversation until a later time. Take responsibility for your role in preventing a potential accident.

Even the most careful drivers can’t always avoid accidents. Call Americo Direct Insurance at (214) 374-9997 for more information on Dallas auto insurance policies.

How to Keep Your Car Battery Strong

Chilly weater is tough on a car battery. Cold temperatures impact the power the battery provides. Batteries that are not properly maintained may fail. No one wants to get stuck with a dead car battery on a very cold day. Consider the following tips to keep your car battery strong.

• If you notice any issues, have them resolved immediately. If the car takes a few times to start or seems slow to start, those are both indications of a potential issue. Don't ignore these warning signs.
• Drive your vehicle on a regular basis throughout the winter. If you will be going away for an extended period of time, consider asking a friend or family member to run the engine once a week.
• When you exit your vehicle, be sure you are not leaving electronic accessories on. These will drain the battery when the car is not running. In addition to verifying that your lights are off, unplug the GPS, DVD player and cell phone.
• Make sure the battery is properly secured so it doesn't jiggle while you are driving. This will prevent damage of the battery. Also verify that the cables are properly tightened.
• Clean the battery terminals so corrosion, grease and/or dirt won’t reduce the energy flow. Battery terminals can be cleaned with a wire brush while wearing eye protection and gloves.
• If your battery is three to five years old, consider bringing it in for a test. If the battery is weak, consider replacing it. Although a weak battery may work fine during warmer months, a weak battery may not start in the winter.
• If possible, park your car in a protected environment like a garage. This will keep the car at a slightly higher temperature and will protect the vehicle from winter weather.

Following the above tips will reduce the chance that your car battery will fail in the cold weather. However, you should still be prepared for being stuck in case another issue arises. Equip yourself with a quality auto insurance policy, some of which come with roadside assistance.

We’ve got you covered. Call Americo Direct Insurance at 214-374-9997 for more information on Arlington auto insurance.

Construction and Surety Bonds

What are surety bonds and how do they relate to construction? According to the Small Business Administration, a surety bond ensures contract completion if a contractor defaults. They also state that there are four types of surety bonds that relate to construction, which are as follows.

1.       Bid Bond: At the beginning of a contract, companies bid on the job. Once the different companies submit a bid, one is chosen to fulfill the contract. A bid bond ensures that the bidder will enter the contract and furnish the payment and performance bonds when awarded the contract. The bid bond helps ensure that there aren't a lot of bids submitted only to find out most of them weren't serious about taking the job.

2.       Payment Bond: After the contract has been awarded to a company, that company will need suppliers and might use subcontractors. A payment bond ensures that the suppliers and subcontractors will get paid. Without this bond, suppliers and subcontractors are not protected, and they might sue you for the payment.

3.       Performance Bond: The contract was awarded to a company and you want to be sure the job is finished according to the contract. A performance bond ensures that the terms and conditions of the contract will be met.

4.       Ancillary Bond: This type of surety bond ensures that requirements that are not directly performance related, but are related to the contract, are performed.

Why do you need a surety bond? If you are bidding on a contract, a surety bond can protect you. If you are having others bid on a project, then requiring them to be bonded can also protect you.

Get the coverage you need. Call Americo Direct Insurance at (214) 374-9997 for more information on Dallas surety bonds.

Why Comprehensive RV Insurance is Necessary

For many families, their RV is their home away from home. However, no matter how frequently or not you utilize your RV, it is vital that you take the proper steps to protect your investment by purchasing a specialized RV insurance policy. The mistake many RV owners make is simply adding their RV to their auto insurance policy. While this offers these individuals a certain amount of protection, it can be more beneficial for these RV owners to consider upgrading to a specialized RV insurance policy. This is due to the fact that standard auto insurance policies may not cover everything you need them to. Here are just a few of the many things you should ensure are covered under your RV insurance policy.

Roadside Assistance

Many insurance policies now include roadside assistance that offers towing up to a certain distance. However, these policies may not cover towing for your RV, which could be a large expense should you break down far from a town. For this reason, you will want to make sure that your RV insurance covers towing for your RV. Furthermore, you may want to consider a policy that provides temporary housing while your RV is being repaired, since, depending on where you were when you broke down, it is likely that your RV would not have been towed all the way home for repairs.

Personal Liability Coverage

When you park your RV at a campsite, you may be liable in the event that someone is injured in, on or even around your RV. However, it is also likely that your general auto insurance would not protect you during this scenario. This is where having a more specialized RV insurance policy can be beneficial as it will cover you in the event that you become responsible for someone’s injuries they acquire near your RV.

Personal Property Coverage

A standard RV insurance policy through your auto insurance would likely cover the repair or replacement of your RV should something happen to it, but it is likely that it would not cover the contents inside of your RV. Being your second home, it is likely that you store thousands of dollars in personal belongings including clothes, electronics, housewares, linens, dishes and even food inside of your RV. For this reason, you will want to ensure that you choose an insurance policy sufficient to cover the cost of replacing your personal belongings that were within your RV.

Purchasing a proper RV insurance policy is imperative for any RV owner. In the case that disaster strikes. Having an RV insurance policy will ensure you are taken care of properly and that you are able to replace what was lost to you. Contact us to find out more about RV insurance, as well as to find out how much RV insurance you need for your RV.

Get the coverage you need. Call Americo Direct Insurance at 214-374-9997 for more information on Dallas RV insurance.

Bonds Guarantee Performance, Honesty and Financial Integrity

Bonds make it possible for businesses to function because they guarantee performance and honesty to potential customers. Bonding companies provide the deep pockets to financially back up a company’s commitments. As not every person or business can qualify for every bond they seek, the ability to secure a bond can be an indication of a company’s honesty, ability and good financial standing.

Bonds are not insurance, but they have a few things in common. Both bonds and insurance are contracts that make a formal promise to pay for something that hasn’t happened yet. Both pay money in the event of a covered event or occurrence. Both are written by insurance companies and sold by licensed insurance agents.

A bond is a contract with three participating parties: a principal, a surety and an obligee.

• Principal: The principal is a company or individual whose promise to perform is backed up by a bond.
• Surety: The bonding company that agrees to pay when a bonded event takes place is called the surety, instead of insurance company.  
• Obligee: The obligee receives the benefit if something goes wrong.

There are many types of bonds, but they all fall within two categories: fidelity and surety.

Fidelity Bonds
Businesses and financial institutions purchase fidelity bonds to guarantee the honesty of employees. Bankers, accountants, stockbrokers, business office personnel and other employees with the access that could allow them to steal, embezzle or commit other crimes should be covered by fidelity bonds.
 

The Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) requires retirement plans to purchase fidelity bonds. Fidelity bonds guarantee the conduct of plan administrators, trustees, fiduciaries or anyone who has contact with plan assets, cash or financial instruments.
 

A fidelity bond can also guarantee the honesty of service providers, such as carpet cleaners, maid services and home repairmen. As employee behavior is impossible to predict, a bond financially backs the business owner's promise that his employees won’t steal personal belongings, valuables or cash while on a customer’s premises. If an employee does commit a crime while on the job, the bond can pay.
 

Surety Bonds
When a company or person makes a promise to perform certain duties or obligations, a surety bond backs up that promise. The Small Business Administration website discusses how some businesses and government entities require bid bonds to guarantee that a company will do a job if they win the bidding process. After winning a competitive bid, a surety bond can guarantee the company's performance based on contractual guidelines and time frames.
 

State and local governments require surety bonds to guarantee that a business will pay their tax obligations. A Financial Responsibility bond is a type of surety bond that guarantees to the state that a driver has at least the minimum limits of liability coverage in force.
 

Bonds can be complicated, but your independent agent can answer any questions you may have.
We’re happy to assist you. Call Americo Direct Insurance at (214) 374-9997 for more information on Dallas surety bonds.

Why You Might Need to Bond Your Business

With so many reported burglaries and “stranger danger” scares in the news, many people feel very uneasy about letting strangers into their homes. However, electricians, plumbers and contractors — among others — must enter the home in order to perform their jobs. While word of mouth referrals may help customers feel at ease in terms of the professionalism of a business, a surety bond can help give customers the peace of mind of knowing that the money they invest in a project will lead to delivered results.

What does this mean? If you signed a contract to remodel a family’s kitchen, they will expect the job to be completed as agreed upon. If your business breaches the contract or goes bankrupt mid-project, you could be in big trouble. However, being bonded can help sort out similar dire situations.

A bond is essentially a guarantee that the job will get done according to expectations as detailed in the contract. If something goes awry, the bond insurer is there to cover any necessary expenses for the project to be completed.

In fact, bonds are so vital for establishing a trusting relationship between business and customer that many construction professionals are required to purchase a bond before they can obtain a business license. This helps limit the industry to trustworthy professionals, which is beneficial to property owners.

What type of bond does your business need? There are many types available, each designed to serve a specific occupation. Speak with your independent insurance agent to determine the right coverage for your needs.

Prove your professionalism to potential customers. Call Americo Direct Insurance at (214) 374-9997 for more information on Dallas bonds.

You Need Commercial Insurance to Protect Your Business

Large companies hire people to manage the risks associated with the business. However, owners and manager of smaller companies often have to handle risks themselves — along with taking care of the day-to-day issues of running an office and directing staff. Commercial insurance is the ideal solution. What can it do for your business?

1. Property Insurance: Just as with personal property, your business property needs to be protected against loss, liability and damage. Consider if you have any of these types of property that need coverage:
2. Equipment Breakdown Insurance: When you have jobs to do, the last thing you need is your equipment to break down. This type of insurance covers the sudden and accidental breakdown of machinery, boilers, equipment and often electronic equipment — such as computers and phones. Coverage usually includes reimbursement for property that may be damaged as well as expediting expenses — such as faster shipping costs for new parts. The coverage can also cover loss of business due to the breakdown.
3. Employee Theft Coverage: Unfortunately, your employees may not always be trustworthy. This crime coverage will protect you against losses you may experience because of an employee's dishonesty.
4. Accounts Receivable Coverage: In case of loss or damage, financial records of what customers still owe your business may be lost. This type of additional insurance will pay all the amounts owed to your company which cannot be collected because of the lost documentation. Collection expenses may also be covered.
5. Liability Insurance: This type of insurance protects your business assets if your company is sued for something the business did (or failed to do) that caused bodily injury or damage to another person's property. Liability coverage also pays attorneys' fees and other costs for defending against the lawsuit, whether your company is at fault or not.
6. Cyber or Internet Coverage: Many businesses think they have enough firewall and cyber protection in place, but the risks to businesses in this arena are escalating. This type of insurance covers crisis management and hiring a public relations firm if there is a data breach. The insurance can cover the costs of repairing computer systems that have been hacked.
7. Employment Practice Liability Insurance (EPLI): This insurance provides an attorney if a suit is brought against your business for wrongful termination, sexual harassment and other forms of discrimination.

Get the coverage you need. Call Americo Direct Insurance at (214) 374-9997 for more information on Dallas business insurance.