The Strickler Express is Strickler Insurance’s Newsletter for friends and clients of Strickler Insurance. We have been sending out the Strickler Express since 1982. Contact us to learn more about insurance and request a free insurance quote.
Thinking Of Giving A Lift?
Ridesharing is becoming more common around the state and the nation, particularly in large cities. What is ridesharing? It allows vehicle owners to transport passengers in their own cars for a fee or a “donation”. Drivers would sign up with a service that charges a fee to connect the passengers with drivers via a website or smartphone app. Passengers arrange rides and pay with a credit card using the app. Ridesharing can become an issue when it comes to insurance. Drivers are using their personal vehicles and the personal auto insurance policy generally excludes coverage when transporting passengers for a fee. The service companies indicate that they are going to provide some protection by covering the driver’s commercial exposure through their own company’s liability and collision coverage. The scope and nature of coverage provided vary from company to company. In the event of a claim, there will be an issue of coordinating any coverage that you may have on your personal auto policy with the service company’s insurance carrier, leaving you on the outside looking in.
When most of us hear the term “ridesharing”, we think of carpooling. The fundamental difference between the two is the exchange of money for transportation. With carpooling, the driver does not get paid but shares the transportation expense by alternating with fellow carpooler’s autos. Ridesharing, on the other hand, requires that you hire your auto to deliver a third party to a destination of their choice. Most insurance companies do not have a problem with carpooling and may even provide a discount due to the reduction in driving.
Whether you are participating in carpooling or considering ridesharing, give us a call to discuss your options.
Our New Years’ resolution is to help Lebanon save $1,000,000 on their insurance costs. January brought 5” of snow, February there was 26”, March was mostly rain and May we missed Berks City hail storm. Let’s hope that 2015 is free of any major weather events. If there is one, we are here to help you through it. Thank you for trusting us with your insurance and thank you for telling your friends and neighbors.
Check out our mobile site for smartphones & tablets! Make payments, report claims, or get a quote – all as a part of our commitment to providing service 24/7.
Vicki’s Auto Insurance Claims Advice
Help, I’ve been in an accident and I don’t know what to do!
Being involved in an accident is always very shocking and upsetting. But a few simple steps could make the whole experience less stressful. First of all, stay calm. This is just as upsetting to all parties involved.
A simple exchange of information is generally all that is needed. If the police need to be called to the scene, exchange your information while they are en route to the accident. Most police departments will provide an incident report on the scene, time permitting. However, others will gather the information and have an official report created which can take some time. The sooner you can provide your insurance company with the pertinent information needed, the sooner they can get your claim payment to you. Our website, stircklerinsurance.com, has a claim section listing our companies phone # to make the first report of the accident.
Things To Never Do During An Accident
- Offer to pay damages out of pocket or let the other party do so.
- Leave the scene no matter how minor the accident seems.
- Admit fault, your insurance carrier is the only one who can accept liability.
What Should You Always Do During An Accident
- Move to the side of the road
- Remain calm, courteous and consistent in your version of the accident.
- Write down the particulars of the incident. Once home it seems a little harder to remember some details.
We can provide an accident report guide to help you gather information.
Jordan’s 10 Tips for Washer-Dryer Safety
The efficiency of washers and dryers make them an essential part of the modern household. But these appliances can also cause serious damage. The good news is that simple tips below can protect your home from washer-dryer mishaps.
- Clean the dryer filter screen after each use, and wash it every 6 months.
- Never leave your house or go to bed with your dryer running.
- Keep your external vent clean and free from lint.
- Use only approved dryer ducts and always vent them to the outdoors.
- Do not use screws to put your dryer duct together as they collect lint.
- Keep the area around the dryer clean.
- Check the hoses of the washer for signs of wear or weakness at every change of season, or at least annually.
- Make sure your hoses to the washer have enough room to prevent kinks, which will weaken them.
- If you can’t remember how old the hoses are, replace them immediately. Otherwise, replace it every five years. High-pressure, metal-mesh hoses will last longer.
- Always shut off the water valves to the hoses when the washer is not in use.
Kiya’s Tips For Vacant Properties
Vacancy is an issue that often gets overlooked as many clients are not aware that their policy coverage can change if a building is vacant for a period of time. When a building is vacant there are a few problems that arise. The property is more vulnerable to risks such as vandalism and theft. In addition, there can be a delay in the detection of a loss; for example, a burst water pipe that goes undiscovered for days. Property insurance policies often contain provisions on the vacancy that can reduce or even eliminate coverage at the time of a loss. Most companies consider a commercial building to be vacant if less than 30% of the building is occupied. If a commercial building is vacant for more than 60 consecutive days, the vacancy restrictions of the policy would apply. Many times these restrictions would exclude coverage for losses related to theft, attempted theft, glass breakage, vandalism, water damage, and sprinkler leakage. The vacancy provisions on a homeowner’s policy are even more limiting, as they take effect after a dwelling is vacant for more than 30 consecutive days.
Whether you are a homeowner, a tenant or a landlord, please read your insurance policies carefully to understand the vacancy restrictions. If you need clarification or if you think that your building is or may become vacant, please call us to discuss how it would impact your policy and how we can help to reduce a potential gap in coverage.
Help We Need Your Email!
We would like to send our newsletters to you by email. All you have to do is send us your email and put “receive a newsletter via email” in the subject line with your name in the email and then send it to becky@stricklerinsurance.com. We want to keep you informed on what is happening with the Strickler family, insurance issues and changes, response efforts regarding destructive weather conditions, or any confirmed cyber issues you should know about. Having your email address will help us with timely communication. We will not share it with anyone else. The subject of all emails will be included in the subject line for easy management of your emails. We hope to hear from you.
Strickler Insurance Feedback & Reviews
“Having limited knowledge about obtaining auto insurance I started out my search completely lost! Thank you so much for walking me through the process. You were extremely helpful and courteous. I definitely plan on staying with your company for a long time!”
-Michelle McDonald,
Lititz PA
“Luckily this is the first claim I ever had to file. Within 24 hours the appraiser contacted me. He came to my job to do the appraisal and faxed his appraisal to the body shop for me a day later. My copy and check were sent shortly after. My car was fixed fast! Stress free from start to finish!”
-Nicole Evans,
Harrisburg, PA
“The input and advice was very helpful in making our decision. Our coverage increased and we saved money with a smaller premium than before. Thank you!”
-Ronald Lutz Sr,
Palmyra PA
