We are pleased to welcome Christy Lewis as our newest Customer Service Representative! Christy brings to York Insurance Services over 15 years of experience in the insurance field.
Her background includes producing and servicing both personal and commercial insurance lines.
Christy is an excellent source of knowledge on all matters relating to your insurance, and she is and eager to help you meet all of your insurance needs.
Good news for businesses — Harford County Government, under the Glassman Administration and the Office of Community & Economic Development, is providing a COVID-19 Small Business Relief Grant Program – administering federal CARES Act funds established to help small businesses impacted by the recent pandemic.
Businesses that have received previous forms of COVID-19 support (including PPP SBA Grants) are still eligible for this grant.
There are two types of relief grants available: $7,500 for small businesses and $2,500 for farm businesses. These grants will be offered on a first come, first serve basis, and accurate and complete applications are essential to maintaining your place in the queue.
To see if your business meets the qualifications and to access the online applications, visit the web site (see below) and follow the links.
PLEASE NOTE: Businesses may only apply for ONE type of grant. Applications from businesses for both grants will not be accepted.
https://www.harfordcountymd.gov/2880/24352/COVID-19-Relief
COVID-19 Business Relief Grants | Harford County, MD
Create an Account - Increase your productivity, customize your experience, and engage in information you care about.
COVID-19 Business Relief Grants | Harford County, MD
Create an Account - Increase your productivity, customize your experience, and engage in information you care about.
COVID-19 Business Relief Grants | Harford County, MD
Create an Account - Increase your productivity, customize your experience, and engage in information you care about.
See more at
harfordcountymd.gov
Good news from Harford Mutual! An AUTOMATIC Automobile Policy Credit May Be Coming Your Way.
Due to reduced automobile travel caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, Harford Mutual will be providing a 20% billing credit to all its commercial automobile policyholders for the months of April and May, 2020 (subject to and upon regulatory approval).
So, if your commercial auto insurance is a Harford Mutual Commercial Automobile policy, you will receive a letter with the specific amount of the credit indicated. The credit will be applied to any outstanding balance on the your billing account.
Any Harford Mutual customer with an automobile policy in-force as of May 31, 2020, is eligible for the credit; it will be be automatic and there is no additional action required!
We are pleased to help keep our clients up-to-date with important news and advice pertaining to their industry, specialty or concentration.
For instance, we forwarded to all our medical clients an important letter from the CEO of Medical Mutual; this letter included a summary of important information concerning Medical Mutual and its coverage of our clients’ practices.
That letter, and other important updates related to the medical profession, including liability coverage issues, legislative regulatory and judicial issues, provider immunity guidelines, the advent of telemedicine, and more, may be accessed at https://www.mmlis.com/content/covid-19-resources-updates.
As these sorts of updates and important developments occur in your profession, you can be sure we will communicate them to you!
SELECTIVE INSURANCE ANNOUNCES 15% PREMIUM CREDIT FOR CUSTOMERS
Includes business as well as personal policies
NEWS -- APRIL 13, 2020: Selective Insurance Company of America, the lead insurance company of Selective Insurance Group, Inc., today announced that customers with personal and business auto insurance policies will receive a 15% premium credit for April and May related to the various COVID-19 shelter-in-place orders.
The program, which is subject to expected regulatory approval, is part of the company's ongoing efforts to support its customers, employees, independent distribution partners, and the community in these uncertain times.
"At Selective, we understand the disruption of the COVID-19 pandemic and the related governmental directives. We are giving our personal and business auto policyholders – who have helped to flatten the curve by sheltering-in-place – premium credit for driving less," said John Marchioni, President and CEO of Selective Insurance.
For Our Customers
In addition to the premium credit, Selective is committed to working with each customer to provide COVID-19-related assistance. This includes individualized payment flexibility to help ensure they can maintain their insurance coverage, and the delay of policy cancellations, late payment notices, and late or reinstatement fees until May 31 or the timeframe determined by each customer's home state insurance commissioner.
To assist business owners who are experiencing COVID-19-related changes in their operations and risk exposures – such as transitioning from solely brick and mortar operations to a delivery service, using their property differently, or an overall reduction in sales revenue – we are collaborating with them and their independent agents to make mid-term policy adjustments. We also are helping our customers mitigate related risks, including cyber attacks, by providing timely information for increased vigilance.
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Please contact BUTCH TILLEY today to discuss your credit, or other services and support.
AN IMPORTANT MESSAGE FROM SAFECO INSURANCE:
Taking care of our customers, employees and agents is a top priority for Safeco. We recognize the uncertainty and financial challenges many of our joint customers are facing as the nation bands together to slow the spread of the coronavirus.
To help Safeco customers, we have taken the following actions:
1. Personal Auto Customer Relief Refund
Fewer drivers are on the road, which means fewer accidents. With this in mind, we are announcing our Personal Auto Customer Relief Refund, which will return approximately $250 million to our Liberty Mutual personal lines and Safeco auto customers. Here’s how it works:
Personal auto insurance customers will receive a 15% refund of two months of their annual auto premium as of April 7, 2020, pending regulatory approval.
The refunds will begin in April and will be issued either by check or in the manner the customer made their most recent payment.
The payments will happen automatically. Customers do not need to call Safeco to receive the refund.
2. Payment flexibility options
Late fee charges have been automatically stopped and cancellations due to non-payment have been temporarily paused for personal auto and home customers from March 23 through at least May 22, 2020.
We continue to work with individual customers to extend payment dates if needed and provide personalized support.
Delivery coverage expansion for auto policies
All personal auto policies have been expanded to cover customers who use their personal vehicles to deliver food and medicine. Standard Safeco personal auto policies typically exclude such coverage.
This additional protection is in effect for all personal auto policies in all states for losses occurring from March 16 to May 22, 2020, and reported by July 1, 2020.
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The well-being and support of our customers, agents and employees remains our primary concern during this critical time!
For more information on all of the information above, customers can visit https://www.safeco.com/
Dear Friends and Clients -- we are pleased to pass along these important links from the Harford County government. Especially, please, look at #2 below!
1. The Harford County Office of Community & Economic Development has created a web page that combines local, state, and federal business resources for COVID-19 response all in one place. This page will be updated as new information becomes available. The link: https://www.harfordcountymd.gov/2816/Business-Resources-for-COVID-19
2. NOTICE - As of 5 p.m. on April 6, the Maryland Department of Commerce is no longer accepting new applications for its Small Business COVID-19 Relief Grant and Loan Programs. All applications that have been submitted are currently being reviewed in the order received. If you have already started an application, it must be completed and submitted by 5 p.m. on April 7, 2020 in order to be considered. The link: https://govstatus.egov.com/md-coronavirus-business
3. FAQ's from the Maryland Department of Commerce about how COVID-19 restrictions and closings can impact your business: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1xHkCb2SRj7wekrIyoxnWz8hVomozXQDx5Ny3HFkkhwY/edit?fbclid=IwAR1NZXI7-N19jRiv9yp-ya_ParYV9iuZY3V4lpnq4zKDrlThPZ3as7O6kSw
4. Questions about the Payment Protection Program loan? Check out of quick reference sheet: https://www.harfordcountymd.gov/2816/Business-Resources-for-COVID-19
Business Resources for COVID-19 | Harford County, MD
Create an Account - Increase your productivity, customize your experience, and engage in information you care about.
Business Resources for COVID-19 | Harford County, MD
Create an Account - Increase your productivity, customize your experience, and engage in information you care about.
Business Resources for COVID-19 | Harford County, MD
Create an Account - Increase your productivity, customize your experience, and engage in information you care about.
See more at
harfordcountymd.gov
PART 3 OF OUR SERIES:
DOES MY AUTO INSURANCE COVER HITTING A DEER?
You can’t always predict if a deer will walk into your path, but if one does, and you hit it, we’re here to help get you back on the road as soon as possible.
Of course, a lot depends on what you drive -- for instance, here are the most recent available statistics for the the 10 MOST DAMAGED and 10 LEAST DAMAGED VEHICLES as a result of striking an animal (2011-13 models):
Least-expensive in terms of overall losses:
Jeep Wrangler 2-door 4WD
Jeep Wrangler 4-door 4WD
Chevrolet Silverado 1500 crew cab
Jeep Grand Cherokee
Acura TL 4WD
Chevrolet Silverado 1500 4WD
Chevrolet Tahoe
Chevrolet Silverado 1500
Honda CR-V
GMC Yukon 4WD
Most-expensive in terms of overall losses:
Hyundai Elantra GT
Toyota Prius c hybrid
Mitsubishi Outlander Sport 4WD
Audi Q7 4WD
Subaru Impreza 4WD
Subaru Impreza WRX 4WD
Audi A6 4WD
Mitsubishi Lancer
Scion tC
Volkswagen New Beetle
The vehicles with the most-expensive animal-strike losses tend to be cars, while SUVs and pickups dominate the list of vehicles with the lowest overall losses, taking into account claim frequency and severity.
If you have your auto insurance with us at York Insurance, deer-vehicle collisions are usually covered under the comprehensive portion of your auto insurance. But since it is an optional coverage that you can choose to add on, it never hurts to make sure, especially if you have insurance from a carrier not set up through us.
Call Butch Tilley at York Insurance for a no-obligation review of your policy. Butch can help you make the decision based on the specifics of your auto insurance policy, to help put your mind more at ease.
Butch will also show you how to add Emergency Roadside Service to your auto policy — good for winter driving, also, of course. And winter driving is about to come our way, in 2021!
WHAT TO DO IF YOU HIT A DEER
(2nd in our Deer Collision series)
According to the National Insurance Crime Bureau, deer-vehicle collisions are the top animal-related claim in the U.S.A.
So, no matter how careful you are, nothing can entirely rule out the possibility that you will have one. Here are steps you can take after you hit a deer.
1. Pull over to a safe place off the road, and turn ON your hazard lights.
2. Stay away from the deer. An injured deer can still lash out and hurt someone.
3. Assess the damage. When you’re out of harm’s way, examine your vehicle and take photographs of any damage to your car. Use good judgement to know if your car is safe to drive or if you’ll need to call for a tow truck.
4. Call for help. Depending on the circumstances, consider calling the police or even an animal expert. While it’s not always required to file a police report, doing so can provide evidence if you decide to make an insurance claim.
5. Make sure the road is clear, if possible. If the deer is still in the middle of the road, a trained professional from animal control, the game commission or your local fish and wildlife service can clear it away, for everyone’s safety.
In our next article, we will address how to know if you should file an insurance claim. In the meantime, here is a chart showing the kind of DAMAGE you may sustain if you hit a deer!
HOW TO AVOID HITTING A DEER
According to the National Insurance Crime Bureau, deer-vehicle collisions are the top animal-related claim in the U.S. Here are some helpful tips on how to avoid hitting a deer:
1. Know where the deer are likely to be. Areas with high deer populations are normally marked with a bright yellow sign. Deer also tend to graze in wooded areas or open fields. When driving your usual route to work, be attentive to areas where you’ve seen deer in the past – they are likely to cross there again.
2. Be alert at sunrise and sunset. Deer are more active during dawn and dusk hours.
3. Use your high beams, when possible, for better visibility. The extra light will help make it easier to spot a deer, or other animals, lurking alongside the road.
4. Don’t rely on deer gadgets. Whether it’s a deer whistle, deer fence or other type of product to scare away the deer, do NOT rely solely on them to keep deer away. Research isn’t exact on whether or not these products truly work.
5. When you see one deer … you’ll probably see more. Deer travel in groups. If one comes across your path, proceed with caution in case there are more.
6. Don’t swerve. Swerving isn’t always the safest option. Hitting a deer might often cause less damage than swerving to avoid it… and then hitting a more dangerous obstacle, like a vehicle in oncoming traffic.
7. Wear your seat belt. If you do hit a deer, wearing a seat belt decreases your chances of injury.
8. Spread the word. When friends or family head out on the road, let them know to be careful and alert. Even a simple reminder can help prevent deer collisions.
In our next article, we will address what no one wants to hear, but what we all should learn: WHAT TO DO if you DO hit a deer!
Fall and early winter can be beautiful times of the year — but they also introduce significant seasonal driving hazards … deer collisions being one of them.
From now through the rest of the year, mating and hunting seasons make deer go on the move. For drivers, that means you’re more likely to hit one. In fact, deer collisions are frequent: there were over 1.9 million animal collision insurance claims in the U.S. between July 1, 2019 and June 30, 2020, the vast majority of which were DEER COLLISIONS.
These claims were most likely in West Virginia, with one in 37 drivers making an insurance claim based on this kind of accident! In Pennsylvania, a much larger state, still 1 in about 50 drivers filed an ANIMAL COLLISION claim in the first 6 months of 2020!
In that light — have you ever wondered how your auto insurance can cover hitting a deer? Are deer collisions are covered by comprehensive or collision coverage?
We are pleased to present a 3-part Facebook article series about DEER COLLISIONS. We hope this is of value to you as you drive around the County and State this fall and winter.
The first part of this series will appear on Friday, December 11, with Parts 2 and 3 appearing during the week of December 14, 2020. Be safe, and drive carefully!