Turn Around; Don't Drown

Last week was about as wet and wild of a week as we can handle. In particular, Wednesday night was rather insane. It is not all that common to get over 7 inches of rain in a single night, but for many areas of central Iowa, this and more happened.

The pictures for this article are actually directly in front of our office. Luckily, we suffered no damage but others were not so lucky. In fact, while the office was safe and dry, many of us did get water in the basement, as did I. Remarkably, the water that came into my basement did not get there from the lack or malfunction of a sump pump. My damage was a result of tiny cracks in the basement floor. Seepage from those cracks left for a wet and smelly mess in my basement.

"But, Dan, you are an insurance agent and you have coverage for this type of situation" is probably what a lot of you are thinking. Unfortunately, since the water did NOT come through the sump pump NOR the drain, I have no coverage for this type of event. I must find a way to fix this problem without the help of insurance money. Fortunately for me, this is not the 1st time this has happened and I don't suffer any financial consequences in terms of property. I have everything that is of value on shelves and in plastic sealed tubs. However, for others, there was damage done from this. Some of the situations did merit coverage as pumps did fail. Others are like me: looking at gutter extensions and sloping dirt at more aggressive angles from the house- anything to push the water from the foundation. Then we can get to actually filling the cracks.

After a night like Wednesday night, we all experience the crash course in water tables 101 (and not the fun kind that kids play with under shade trees in the summer breezes) and what happens when the earth simply cannot handle any more water. The flash floods endangered lives and property and strangled commutes for days and weeks later. If you'd like to see what flood insurance would cost you, please feel free to contact your Absolute Agent. Keep in mind that flood policies have a 30 day waiting period before coverage becomes effective, so it is definitely something to purchase in advance. However, not even flood insurance would cover seepage.

Please remember, when you see water over the road to "TURN AROUND; DON'T DROWN." This is completely unsafe! We simply don't know where the road ends and the ditch begins and can't see any other hazards that are possibly in the road. Secondly, this will TOTAL YOUR VEHICLE as the motor will suck in water. Thirdly, do not underestimate how powerful the water is. It can easily pick the up the vehicle and carry it away. There is nothing worth risking yours and your family's lives for on the other side of that flooded road. Turn around; Don't Drown. 

Stay safe and dry, Friends!

Meet Dan

Meet Dan. Dan is not a "1-800" number. He is ready to assist you with all your personal lines insurance. Have you compared your coverage and rate lately? Let Dan help: 515-279-2722 or www.insaia.com. Serving the Des Moines Metro and surrounding areas.

What's Insurance Up To?

In a world where the only constant is change, it can be difficult to keep up on the little things (and big things) that affect us on a daily basis. Between our families, jobs, and pets; the essential daily grind of our lives; as we connect ourselves further and further into the macrocosm of society to free up our time to get involved in even more activities... as .... as... as... Full stop....

We are busy. The reasons for this are as varied as we are from person to person. Each of us has a particular skill set that make us valuable to, and within, society. However, for most folks, insurance is NOT that thing. But do not despair! There is hope! Like a shining beacon on a hill, there is hope for those lost in the dark landscape of insurance unknowns and that shining beacon on the hill is none other than YOUR ABSOLUTE INSURANCE AGENT! They have the knowledge and expertise to know what insurance is up to!

Contact your local, independent ABSOLUTE AGENT in order to help you weather the STORM of liability, deductible, and endorsement talk. They can help you through the confusing maze of insurance speak and set you on a path to smooth sailing. Call us today at 515-279-2722.

Steering Clear of Staged Accidents

It happens more than you think - a driver causes an accident to collect the insurance money - and you could become the victim.

The Sudden Stop:

• "It happens like this," says Hartford Special Investigations Manager Odie Waters, "I'm driving along, minding my own business, in rush hour traffic, and the car in front of me inexplicably slams on (the) brakes.  I read-end that car and I get blamed for the accident."  The driver of the first car will claim that a "phantom" dog or child ran into the road, or that the car in front of them had stopped suddenly, although that car will not be involved in the accident.  Any witnesses will have driven off long before the policy arrive, and it's nearly impossible to prove a dog didn't dart out.

Inattentive Targets in Traffic:

• The drivers in such a scam cruise clogged highways and city streets, watching in the rear view mirror, looking for someone not paying attention.  In the past, two cars might employ a tactic called the "swoop and squat," where one car would crowd the victim from behind and another would stop suddenly in front.

The Phantom Wave:

• Another type of staged accident can occur when a driver is trying to merge.  The scam artist will wave you into the lane and then crash into the side of your vehicle.  This can also happen when someone is backing out of a parking space.  A second car will stop and wave the first car out, as if waiting for the space, but then drive into the first vehicle.  In both cases, the scam artist denies stopping or waving, and police find the victim at fault for failing to yield the right of way.

Tips to Avoid Staged Accidents

How you can avoid a staged accident:

• Pay attention to the road - no applying make-up, shaving, texting, or talking on cell phone.
• Be wary of "beater" cars - especially if they are changing lanes suspiciously.  Even if the driver has no ill-intent, the condition of the car might mean a poor driver
• Maintain a safe following distance
• Call policy and the insurance company promptly after an accident.  If the other driver discourages you from doing so, it is all the more important to call promptly
• Tell your claims handler if the accident seems suspicious

Earthquake Coverage

While we don't live in California, with a constant barrage of information, warnings, and occurences, it is not unknown to the Midwest to have devastating earthquakes occur.

The fault line that we are most concerned with in this region of the US is the New Madrid fault line.  This fault line and Seismic Zone runs between St. Louis and Memphis.

According to some "Danger Zone" maps, most of Iowa would feel the seismic activity while indoors, while Southeastern Iowa could actually have unstable objects overturned.

While it may not lead to the same type of damage seen in California, a substantial amount of property damage could very well be evident in or around Iowa.  Unfortunately, earthquake coverage is not an automatic coverage on your homeowners policy.  It is an endorsement that can be added to your policy and normally functions with a percentage deductible.  By this, a person can have earthquake coverage at a 5% deductible, where the percent derived from your total dwelling coverage.  For example, if your home is insured to $100,000, your 5% deductible would be $5,000.

The cost of this endorsement ranges from company to company along with deductible options but is typically between $40 - $80 per year for this additional coverage being added to your existing homeowners policy.  Call your Absolute Agent for further coverage details.