Make sure you always have enough gas, windshield wiper fluid, and antifreeze; keep extra wiper fluid in your trunk, and make sure the blades are in good condition. Keep a winter emergency kit in your car, consisting of a flashlight, batteries, cell phone charger, blanket, water, snacks, gloves, boots, and a first-aid kit. As winter approaches, have your brakes checked. If you have to hit the road during bad weather, keep these tips in mind to keep you and your loved ones safe. Tweet It Before

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) estimates that there are more than 1.5 million deer-vehicle collisions each year. This can cause a significant amount of damage to your vehicle, around $2,800 per claim and could add up to around $10,000 total when adding in the costs related to bodily injury.  In some cases, it can have even more catastrophic results, to the tune of 150 lives lost annually.  Eight tips that could help you avoid deer collisions: Pay extra attention when you're

We hear about drunk driving, drugged driving and distracted driving, but what about drowsy driving? Drowsy driving is driving while being cognitively impaired by lack of sleep. The Risk There's a myth that driving drowsy can't nearly be as bad as driving drunk or distracted. Wrong.It's way more common that you think. According to the National Sleep Foundation: 60% of adult drivers in the U.S. say they have driven while feeling drowsy in the past year. More than one-third of adult drivers

Your car can handle rain, not floods Your vehicle is probably built to withstand accidents, long drives, general wear-and-tear, and the occasional rain or snow shower. One thing it's not meant to withstand: flooding.  The five dangers of flooding Many people think of a flooded car as a slightly-higher-than-normal inconvenience, like a wet shoe. You take it apart, hang it out to dry and wait until the smell goes away.  A car, however, is a complex machine with wires, joints and many layers of

When severe weather hits, the safety of your employees becomes top priority. To do this, you must teach everyone what to do before (preparedness) and after  (response) a catastrophic event happens. Not only could  this help in controlling  injuries to workers, this could  also reduce the amount of damage to your business. While this may sound like an extremely hard task, both The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the Center for Disease Control (CDC) have resources

Insurance is often not on the list of things to consider when people get married. There's a lot to do when you're planning a wedding, and you're excited to officially join forces as a couple.  As the big day approaches, it can be easy to forget that you're not just planning a wedding, you're planning a life together. And making sure you have the right insurance protection in place is vital to your future. When it comes to insurance, here are some things to consider when you're getting married

A new job can be an exciting new start. It can also mean some lifestyle changes. Many jobs today are implementing policies that include flexible hours, working from home and an increase in travel opportunities.  Here are some considerations to talk about with your insurance agent when you are starting a new job.  For your car insurance: If you will be using your private vehicle for business purposes, check with your employer and your agent to make sure you have adequate liability coverage in

If you need to file a homeowners insurance claim, the first step is usually to  call your insurance agent or company immediately. (We say "usually," because in cases of injury, of course, the first step may be to call 911.) Here are a few steps you can take to begin the home insurance claim process.  Call promptly and ask questions. A great benefit of working with an independent insurance agent to purchase insurance - when you have a claim, they'll work on your behalf. Your agent should walk

Leaves are falling and school is starting. Before you know it you'll be watching the snow float down outside from the warm sofa in your living room. You'll admire the children building snowmen. You'll get out your holiday cookie recipes. This beautiful winter wonderland sounds nice, but first, you have some housekeeping items to take care of this Fall. The last thing you want is a leaky roof or bursting pipes when you're drinking hot cocoa by the fireplace. Clean gutters Remove leaves, acorns

You look outside and see streets covered in snow and ice. But at the same time, you have those new shoes that you really want to wear. So you throw them on, but then you wipe out when you're crossing the street. Falling on ice hurts more than your pride. It can cause serious physical injury. And while salt truck drivers and maintenance workers may do their best, there is still a risk of slipping when walking on snow or ice.   Tips that may reduce your risk of falling on snow or ice: Check