Thinking about Dog Bite Claims and Rental Property

If you own property and rent out apartments, be sure that you require that each tenant sign a rental agreement and require proof that they have an HO4 (tenant's insurance policy). When you consider that there were more than 4.7 million dog bites annually, and that the average cost of a dog-bite claim claim in 2009 was $24,840, it's critical that your tenants have adequate insurance. It's likely that the tenant would be the first party the injured person would put a claim against.

Massachusetts Tops in Healthcare Plans

Four Massachusetts health plans ranked in the top 10 nationwide according to the National Committee for Quality Assurance. The Committee rates plans based on performance, member satisfaction and accreditation. Harvard Pilgrim Health Care took first place; Tufts Associated Health Plan came in second. Fallon Community Health Plan and Health New England were also ranked in the top 10.

Dangerous Cell Phone Use

Recently, the subject of texting while driving has gotten a lot of press. But, did you know how dangerous it can be just to use a cell phone while driving? According to a study by the University of Utah, distraction from cell phone use while driving, whether the phone is hand-held or hands-free, extends a driver's reaction time as much as having a blood alcohol concentration at the legal limit of .08%.

As of October, 2010, here are guidelines by state for using cell phones while driving:

Handheld Cell Phones: 8 states (Calif., Conn., Del., Md., N.J., N.Y., Ore. and Wash.), D.C. and the Virgin Islands prohibit all drivers from using handheld cell phones while driving. Except for Maryland, all laws are primary enforcement - an officer may cite a driver for using a handheld phone without any other traffic offense taking place.

All Cell Phone Use: No state bans all cell phone use (handheld and hands-free) for all drivers, but many prohibit all cell phone use by Novice Driver.

Go to http://www.ghsa.org/html/stateinfo/laws/cellphone_laws.html for more information.

Yard Sales

Home owners and apartment owners sometimes have yard sales. This is an opportunity for them to clean out their basements, attics, and garages of unwanted or unused things - aka stuff. This sometimes reminds me of that old adage “One man's junk is another man's treasure.

Yes, it is an opportunity to clean out your basement, turn some of that stuff in the garage into cash, and feel like you've accomplished something. But here are some things you need to know about yard sales.

If you're having more than an annual yard sale to get rid of your own clutter, it could be a problem. If you have frequent yard sales, instead of being considered a yard sale, it could be considered a business; for example, if you're bringing in other people's items to sell, then that may be considered a business, not a personal and therefore, the homeowner's policy or tenant's policy would not respond and pay a claim if someone were injured.

Here are some other things to consider:

If you're doing a fund raiser yard sale for a charity, check with the people you're raising the money for and see if they have insurance that would cover you. Your renter's insurance or homeowner’s may cover you, but you should check with your insurance agent.

In addition to checking on insurance coverages, you should keep safety in mind.

• Repair loose railings and cracked concrete, sidewalks, etc, which can cause injuries.
• Place sale items so that there is enough room to move around without tripping.
• Avoid placing items too close to stairs and ledges where people can fall. Don't sell items you know are unsafe or hazardous.

Have a great tag sale, make a couple of dollars and clean out your basement, but don't lose the house because you made a bad decision.

Dog Bite Liability Coverage

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 4.7 million people are bitten by dogs each year, resulting in about 800,000 injuries that require medical attention. A single lawsuit - even if won by the dog owner who has been sued - can end up costing hundreds of thousands of dollars in legal fees and lost wages. The greater the dog owner's assets, the more potential there is for risk. The personal liability coverage available through your standard homeowner's policy may not be enough, although The McCurdy Group recommends a limit of $500,000. The best protection is a personal excess liability policy, also called an umbrella policy; an umbrella's limits range between $1 million and $5 million.

Dog bite claims account for more than one-third of all homeowners liability claims, costing $412 million in 2009. Payouts have increased 30% in the past six years

Be on the Lookout for Mosquitoes

Mosquitoes can spread germs that can make you very sick and may even cause death. Protect yourself and your loved ones by avoiding mosquito bites:

• Use bug spray when outdoors
• Wear long sleeves and other clothing to help reduce mosquito bites
• Stay indoors when mosquitoes are most active (sunset to sunrise)
• Install or repair door and window screens to keep mosquitoes out of your home
• Remove standing water from around your home (in bird baths, tires, bottles or cans) so mosquitoes can't breed there

Information about West Nile Virus (WNV) and Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) is available by calling the Massachusetts Department of Public Health information line at 1-866-MASS-WNV (1-866-627-7968), the Epidemiology Program at 617-983-6800 or 2-1-1. Learn more about the 2-1-1 program in your area.

ATVs Can Be Dangerous

A recent National Safe Kids Campaign report stated that over 30,000 children, age 14 and under, were treated in emergency rooms for ATV-related injuries (fractured bones, head and facial injuries) and 44 children in this age group died as a result of ATV related injuries (head and neck injury). Children ages 10-14 accounted for more than 75% of the deaths. As a comparison, ATV related injuries are 12 times more likely to result in death than bicycle-related injuries. Nearly 90% of ATV-related injuries suffered by children under age 16 were caused by adult-sized ATVs (ATVs that are 90cc or larger). Additionally, reports show that males account for 60% of the ATV-related death among children ages 14 and under. Youths account for more than 33% of the ATV fatalities, but made up only 14% of the riders. Injury and fatality numbers are expected to grow as ATV sales continue to climb. Clearly, the ATV can be a dangerous vehicle.