This year is SILVERMARK, INC.s’ 20^th year anniversary.  Ron and I opened our doors for business in October of 1992.  At first we were busy getting our business set up, then we concentrated on getting clients besides ourselves and my brother and sister!  We grew slowly, but the operative words were that we grew.  Sometimes it was so quiet I’d roam our office building halls to see other people and have a quick chat.  Other times I was so busy I had layers of work to do in front of me.  But it was great fun and I was learning…….about our business and our industry.

 20 years later and we’re doing exactly the same thing…….and I still love it.  We still insure my brother and sister, but have added so many other wonderful clients.  We are proud of the companies we represent and work with the industries finest in all of them.  Our office is located in one of the (surprisingly) most challenging cities in the northwest:  Microsoft land.  Woops, I mean Redmond.

 Also, the “we” in SILVERMARK has grown to the best, most knowledgeable and  exciting team of insurance professionals with whom I can ever hope to work.

 There is a theme:  it is just getting better and better.  I can’t wait to find out what happens next.

I sell insurance, all kinds of insurance, including auto insurance to families.  As time goes by, the children in the families grow up and drive.  A daughter in one of my families had an accident just after obtaining her drivers’ license and this is what happened:

 She lives in the Pacific Northwest and it was winter so, of course, it was raining and dark.  Her family lives in the country and she was by herself, driving home from a school function.  The road was a two lane and it has many curves with fairly deep ditches on either side.  There were no other cars on the road when she went around one of those curves and in her lights, sitting in the middle of the road, was a cat.

She swerved to avoid the cat, went off of the road, into the ditch.  Her air bags diploid, the front end of the car was wrecked, she suffered lasting head and neck injuries……..and the cat, we presume, was fine.

 After telling me her story, making sure her claim was being processed and she was out of danger, the next thing I said was “next time, kill the cat”.  As hard as that was for me to say and her to hear, it is how I felt and feel.  Nothing is more important than her health and welfare. No kitty, doggie, opossum, raccoon, no little critter is more important.   There was also a financial cost to the family of a sizeable deductible.

 A story in the Seattle Times, dated July 14, 2011 is another example:

“Duck rescue on I-5 causes accident” A woman, driving on I-5 saw duck and ducklings on the shoulder of the freeway.  She “parked on the freeway’s right shoulder and began chasing the ducks.”  “Police said the woman walked onto the right southbound lane to get cars to stop.”  Her duck herding “caused a semi-tractor trailer to swerve into her car, blocking three lanes, the State Patrol said.”  “As much as we all love animals, citizens should not stop and attempt to corral animals on the freeway,” said Trooper Keith Leary.  “In this case, we are lucky there are no injuries.  This could have easily been a fatal collision.”

 You hate to say it or think it, but next time kill the cat, drive by the ducks, be safe and careful out there.

When you drive, you should drive.  When you are driving, you should ONLY be driving.  When you are driving, everyone in the car wants you ONLY to drive.  When you are driving your loved ones want you to safely get yourself and them where you are going.  When you are driving the drivers of other cars (who might not be paying enough attention to their own driving to be defensive), pedestrians and bicycle riders want you ONLY to drive.

Stupid things drivers do besides drive:

•  Faxing documents
•  Eating
•  Drinking…..all sorts of beverages
•  Talk on the phone (I don’t get why holding the phone and using the  speaker function is less of a hazard than putting it up to your ear.  It still using your hand for something other than steering and you have to push buttons)
• Texting …..just so wrong….what is SOOOOO important?   You are writing.  Would you ever write a note while driving?  Pen/paper?  What is the difference from a distraction point of view.  And how can you intelligently think about your writing when you’re (assumedly) watching other cars, reading road signs, stopping for lights, merging…………….
• Setting or operating navigational systems.  You do that enough you will never have to worry about getting there.
• Grooming:  men, you do it too…..shaving, fixing hair, brushing teeth (I saw that one)  women…..makeup, hair, brushing teeth, changing clothes
• Fixing the child in the car seat in the back.  Pull over.  It’s safer and you will be teaching the child better driving habits
• Finding a station/song/movie scene on the am dial, the fm dial, the satellite dial, the cd player/the movie player
• Finding the wipes to mop up after the child spilled the milk/ you spilled your pop/you dripped ketchup from your hamburger……..

 What you could do instead:

•  Have your hands free to use the blinker and tell other drivers where you are going
• Be aware when another driver is being kind to you and wave your “thank you”……..yes, I guess waving is a slight distraction, but at least your going with traffic.
• Just drive, get there safe, be a great example to your passengers, answer all of the multitudes of important phone messages/texts when you can sit down and actually concentrate on your writing and speaking.

Be an adult and be safe out there.  I’ll be waiving at you.

We got a call yesterday afternoon from our home security service that the alarm had gone off and someone had broken in.  To make a long, convoluted story short, they jimmied a window we thought secured with a stick (it was too long, they were able to slide the window back and forth until the stick fell out), opened the window and climbed in.  They not only tripped the sensor on the window, but the motion detector as well.  The security company called the cabin to make sure it wasn’t a family member who had just forgotten to disengage the alarm and the intruder answered (!).  He (voice on the phone young male) must have noticed by then that we have no valuables up there because he left right away and took nothing with him.

My husband went up and met the police.  The policeman had noticed a wad of “usual suspects” not far from the house and, after speaking with Ron, was going to go talk with them.  Because nothing was broken, damaged or missing (?!) I don’t know what will be done as far as follow up, or charges pressed.  I am just SO thankful we had the alarm security.  If the boy had had more time, brought in some friends, not been encouraged to get out, I don’t know what the outcome would have been.

Insurance, along with other things, I put on the list of those items we buy to give us piece of mind.  Someone has our back at time of loss due to unexpected accidents, natural disaster or circumstance.  Home security companies are in the same category.  You pay for them to help you sleep more securely at night.  And then something like this happens and it brings home another big reason:  two legged vermin control.  Job well done.

Be PNWinter aware and safe:

•  I’ll start my list with the obvious:  sometimes the conditions of our roads are so bad that just putting the tires on the icy roads (without even turning on the car) is driving too fast.  You just shouldn’t be driving.  When the roads are ice covered/black ice and you can, work from home.
• Don’t let the gas tank dip below half full and have a garage check that your tires have the right amount of air.
• In the trunk:

1.  Have a bag of kitty litter to use under the tires for traction, a shovel and deicer.  Extra bonus:  the kitty litter is heavy enough to add weight to the back end of the car to help traction.
2. Have a blanket/extra winter jacket/gloves/warm hat/socks/boots
3. Have a small supply of food/energy bars and fresh water.
4. Flashlight, battery powered am/fm radio with extra batteries, battery recharger for your phone, Kleenex, antibacterial hand wipes, first aid kit, jumper cables, a broom.
5. As has happened, you could be stuck in your car for hours…..with the kids…..
   1.  Reading material for both
   2. A few games/word games/crayons/color books
   3. A male pee disposable bottle(s) and female pee apparatus with disposable bottle(s).

Every driver needs to be a defensive driver, especially in the winter.  Take it easy, maintain distance restrictions and keep your tires in the shoulder where everyone else hasn’t packed down the snow and has kicked the gravel!

 That being said, there are some animals (dogs) that, if you own one, homeowners and renters insurance will be very difficult if impossible to buy from the main stream insurance companies.  It is just like the cost of auto insurance for teen boys.  They literally pay for the VERY DUMB THINGS their peers do behind the wheel of a car.  If a dog breed has a reputation for biting, even if your dog (of the same breed) has never and never would bite, you pay more for insurance.

 The insurance companies are not arbitrary in the selection process they use to determine the dog breeds that are problems.  They use their own claims process and the reported claims of other companies.  The dog breeds that pop up most often in their claims are noted.  Finally, if a prospective homeowner has that breed of dog in their home, the homeowners insurance application will be denied.  SAFECO’s boo-boo list are: Akita, Chow, Doberman, Pitbull, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, Rottweiler, Presa Canarios, Wolf Hybrid, or a mix of these.  You can also add the breed of your dog if it has bitten a person and broken the skin. 

 The Seattle Times, Thursday August 19, 2010  2^nd page, Newsline, ODDS & ENDS:  “ Dog bites: Dog bites cost US home insurers 6.4 percent more in 2009 than in the prior 12 months, with the average claim EXCEEDING (my cap) $24,000 for the third straight year, the Insurance Information Institute said Wednesday.”  You pay $500 to $1,500 for your homeowners insurance.  Your dog bites someone and for that one claim the insurance company has to pay out $24,000.+  Then, the same dog bites someone the next year for another $24,000+ claim.   Do the math:  You have the policy for two years, pay $1,000 and the company pays out $48,000 in claims.  People wonder why they lose their homeowners insurance.  I think Fido need another round of behavior school, or a nice quiet home in the country…….far away from people.  Either that or start saving so you can pay for the next bite yourself.

Just like you call us when you are car shopping to find out how much you will pay if you buy this car or that, call is when you are researching the perfect dog for your family.  We might be able to help you save in a lot of ways.

The losses due to water come in many forms, each causing more damage than the other and putting your largest investment in peril.

From the outside:

• Rain, moss on roof, general roof disrepair, gutter damage that causes foundation leaks, ill fitting/old windows that allow leaks, old chimneys that allow rain to drip in.

• Flooding around your home due to poor drainage, clogged ditch drainage.

• Break in water main from street to house

From the inside:

• Hot water tank rupture, leak

• Toilet bowl/tank cracking allowing water to leak, mechanism in toilet tank breaks allowing water to overflow

• Mechanism in refrigerator ice maker breaks and water doesn’t shut off when tray fills.

• Break/leak in internal water pipes+

• Break/leak in the connections of the dish washer+

• Rupture of the hoses to the clothes washer

• Cracked tile around or crack in tub or shower stall allowing water to leak+

This isn’t a full list, but you could use it as a starter “Honey Do” list to check on every “watery” thing before the winter (in this area the spring/summer and fall) rains come.

+ This water could also result in a “slow leak” scenario that could cause an ongoing maintenance problem (such as dry rot, etc) that might not be covered by insurance.

There are a number of reasons why moss left on your roof is a no-no.  We will address the two that are most important to you and your insurance company:

1.  Moss causes HUGE amount of damage to your roof and eventually, if not removed, everything under it.  Moss, left untreated, works under the tiles (whether composite or wood shake) and raises them.  Then, any moisture that falls from the sky is able to go under the raised roofing material, soak the sub roofing, drip into the attic area, damage the insulation and eventually through the ceiling of the room below.  When enough tiles are raised, you can see how this could literally bring the whole house down and damage everything in it.  I know from personal experience what a hassle and expense it is to remove.  If you catch it quickly you won’t have a large area to rehabilitate.
2. In the insurance policy there is a clause that you will keep up the maintenance on your home, to mitigate the need of a claim.  Keeping the moss off of your roof is one of those maintenance points.  If the moss is not removed in a timely fashion and damage is done to the house, the claims adjuster could see this as a “maintenance issue” and might not cover some, or all, of the claim.

So, enjoy your green lawn and beautiful green trees, but brush the green off of your roof and………about your teeth……….

Renters insurance is just like that surprise package. You buy it because it is required by your landlord, or to replace you property in case of fire or burglary, but in the end you get that and so much more.

Here are a few of your surprises:

• Your renters insurance would cover your property in your vehicle in the event of theft
• If you had to temporarily move out of your rental dwelling because of a covered loss (fire, water damage, etc.) your renters policy would pay toward your relocation and additional temporary expenses

• Liability coverage is included, so you may be protected from a lawsuit if, for example, a guest injures someone in an accident after being served drinks in your home, or if there were a fire and depending on the cause of the fire, possibly pay for the repair of the neighbor’s home and contents.
• If you have your renters insurance through the same company you have your auto insurance you could receive a large enough “bundling” discount to cover the entire cost of your renters policy.
• If you have costly art pieces, cameras, jewelry or antiques, you can expand coverage for these treasured items to make sure, at time of claim, they are financially valued correctly
• You can purchase and secure earthquake protection through your renters policy so that, after your deductible is paid, you have this important and worry free coverage

So, you see there is a lot more to renters insurance than you thought. The real shocker is the pennies you pay for all that comes with it. Just call the agent though whom you purchased your auto insurance and ask if you can “bundle” your auto and renters insurance. If so, request a quote. Because they already have most of the information they need, the only additional questions they may ask would be about your home:
• The year your apartment (house, condo) was built
• The type of construction used (brick, wood frame, etc)
• The dollar value of your personal property (most companies have a minimum amount for property, some start at $20,000 to $30,000).

If you would like quotes from other agents, SILVERMARK would be happy to help. We are an independent insurance agency who can quote a number of companies at once and allow you to choose. We take the fear out of insurance. 1-800-659-7363 www.silvermarkinsurance.com

Well, now as an adult I can think of something worse: because I didn’t get a booster I catch whatever I was vaccinated for years ago.  Or worse, passing IT along to someone else.

All adults 19 and older should get a booster for tetanus (lockjaw) and diphtheria every 10 years.  The vaccine is called “Td:”.

Adults under 65 who expect to have close contact with an infant younger than 12 months of age (including women who may become pregnant) should get a dose of Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis (whooping cough).

All three are caused by bacteria against which you can be vaccinated:

•  Tetanus infection (lock jaw) causes painful muscle spasms, usually all over the body.  It can lead to tightening of the jaw muscles so the victim cannot open their mouth or swallow.
• Diphtheria causes a thick covering in the back of the throat that can lead to breathing problems, paralysis and heart failure. 
• Pertussis (whooping cough) causes severe coughing spells, vomiting and disturbed sleep.  It can lead to weight loss, incontinence, rib fractures and passing out from violent coughing.

Ouch.  Somehow a quick shot seams more reasonable and a lot less painful for everyone.

 First a question:  if you were to pay for it out of pocket, would it sink your financial ship?  The way the insurance companies look at a claim:  if it is a sudden, unexpected, catastrophic and covered by your policy, turn it in.

 Sometimes turning in a claim is unavoidable.  A few pointers:

 Auto:

• If there is ANY bodily injury after an accident, turn it in.  Injury claims can take years to close.
• If any of the accident claimants are unreasonable or confrontive, turn it in and distance yourself.
• If the damage is minor (and there is no bodily injury), have an estimate done.  A small claim can cost you more down the road.  You can lose accident free credits and be surcharged if the accident was your fault.  The company may also take this time to check your driving record and, based on the finding, could cost you more.
• Claims will stay on your record, even if nothing is paid out.  If the cost of the claim is under or close to your deductible, think twice.
• If the accident is not your fault, put the claim with the other drivers’ carrier.  If they are not responsive or have poor customer service, you can submit it to your company and get yourself taken care of.

 HOME:

• Again, the loss needs to be unexpected, sudden and catastrophic.  Ongoing maintenance issues such as seepage, wear and tear or defective construction, vermin damage, etc. are excluded.
• Get an estimate and pay the smaller claims out of pocket.

 These are just a few considerations, but should get your started.  If you want to or can, call us before turning in your claim.  We would love to help.

 We are receiving a lot of calls from our wonderful clients asking if rental cars are covered by their insurance and if they should buy the rental companies collision coverage.  Our answer is yes to both:

•  Yes, your auto policy forwards the same coverage to a rental car as is currently on your policy.
• If you don’t purchase their collision coverage, at time of claim we have found the following to happen:

1.  They charge administrative fees
2. They charge you for loss of rents (they need to be recompensed for the rent they would have received if they could have rented out the now damaged car).
3. Some companies require you stay in the state in which the accident happened until the car is fixed.  That could be an unwanted extended stay if the parts need to be shipped in.   Might be good news if you are in Hawaii, but if you get a boo-boo in North Dakota………….
4. Some companies don’t wait for the repair check from your insurance company.  They charge the damage to your credit card and reimburse you when they receive the insurance payout.  Definitely could put a crimp in the whole vacation.

 Because of the above items 1-4, we advise you purchase the coverage so you have no unpleasant “hiccups” during an otherwise perfect vacation.

 DRIVE SAFE OUT THERE!

THANK YOU!!!

If you have uninsured motorist bodily injury and physical damage in your auto insurance policy, you have coverage.

 It is the law in the state of Washington to have an active liability insurance policy en effect before you get behind the wheel.  I am sad to say not everyone obeys the law.   Of every car on the road, 30% are not insured. 

 To mitigate the cost to the driving public, the insurance industry created this coverage.  If someone hits you and they have no auto insurance, or their coverage is less than yours, uninsured/underinsured motorist bodily injury and property damage will step in.  Your insurance company will restore your vehicle and pay your medical expenses to your policies limits.  Depending on your company, there might be a deductible.

 If you have personal injury protection and collision coverage on your policy, they can do the same but possible at lower coverage limits and higher deductible.

 So, check your coverages, see if you have Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage, drive defensively and stay safe out there.

Physically she is fine, but emotionally and mentally she is just where I was watching the horror of 9/11…..why?  As the sky was dark, when she heard the explosion she thought it was thunder.  Seeing people running toward her (not the usual on Oslo’s city streets) she realized something bigger than a thunder storm was happening.

She said the bomb was placed where it could do the most damage to the government offices.  Some good news was the timing.  She advised that a lot of workers were on vacation and the people at work were on “summer hours”, so they were off at 3:00pm.  The bomb exploded at 3:15 or 3:20 and didn’t hurt as many as it could have.

“But, we are such a small peaceful country”.  Sometimes, I think that is the why.  “They” are not at all peaceful and they want other to feel that pain.  They are angry to the point that the destruction of peace brings comfort.  They want innocents and naivety to share the pain, however impossible.

Still, that tone of helpless disbelief in her whispered “why”.  Just like mine sounded while watching the towers collapse. 

I understand the feeling and asked the why.  America understands the feeling and asked the why.  Tove, you’re in my thoughts.  Norway, you’re in America’s thoughts.