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Renters cause massive damage to properties with millions of units affected every year. However, you can protect yourself with landlord insurance, a comprehensive cover product that shields you against most losses. Monthly premiums reduce your liability while providing funds (in some cases) to return properties to their previous specs after vandalism by tenants or fire. 

This post explains why you need landlord insurance and what makes it essential. Here’s everything you need to know: 

Your Homeowners’ Insurance Doesn’t Cover You

Unfortunately, conventional homeowners’ insurance doesn’t cover rental properties (because of the increased risk of damage). Therefore, you won’t get any protection if you only use your existing policy. 

By contrast, bespoke landlord insurance will cover you as it is specifically designed to cater to tenants. If you try to claim on your conventional homeowners’ insurance, you likely won’t get any money. 

You Can Get Cover For Loss Of Rent

Another reason to choose landlord insurance is the rent loss coverage available on some policies. Here, insurers pay you if tenants decide (for whatever reason) not to pay you in a particular month. Your income remains consistent, even if the people renting from you refuse to cough up cash. 

These arrangements are helpful because they enable you to continue paying the mortgage (if you have one), keeping your credit score solid. Furthermore, they take the risk out of being a landlord. Property income becomes more like a fixed-income investment than a volatile one when you include landlord insurance. 

You Can Cover Property Damage

Landlord insurance also helps you cover property damage that costs owners billions of dollars annually. Insurers pay out for numerous claims. including: 

• Fire
• Flooding
• Vandalism
• Breakdown or damage to specific household features

Check your insurance covers all these categories. Some insurers will limit the scope of payments or include some items in “force majeure” or “acts of God” that shouldn’t be there. 

Also, check it covers deliberate damage by tenants. Disgruntled occupants sometimes rip out (or steal) kitchens and bathrooms, flood properties, or cover carpets in paint. 

You Can Protect Yourself Against Liability

Perhaps the biggest reason for choosing landlord insurance, however, is the protection it offers against liability claims (which can sometimes range into the millions of dollars). Insurers will often protect you against being sued by tenants or visitors who injure themselves while on your property. 

Check the range of situations covered. You want coverage for when occupants: 

• Trip over loose carpet
• Burn themselves on hot appliances
• Slip on the bathroom floor
• Trip over the threshold by the front door
• Electrocute themselves on damaged appliances

If someone makes a claim against you and wins, the insurer will pay the compensation and legal fees. You won’t be out of pocket. 

So there you have it: compelling reasons why you need landlord insurance.

Contact us for the best rates on landlord insurance!

As independent brokers, we shop the market to find you the best rates on quality landlord insurance designed to meet your needs! So call us today at  (610) 775-3848 or contact us online to start saving. 

Distracted Driving Awareness Month in the U.S. and aims to reduce the number of people killed on the roads every year. The event is valuable for the population as a whole but even more critical for truck drivers because of the sheer responsibility of driving 18-wheelers and the cost of truck insurance. 

About Distracted Driving Awareness Month

Distracted driving affects countless people across the country and kills approximately 3,300 annually (as of the latest count). The related month-long event runs from April 4-8 and encourages drivers of all stripes (including those driving commercial vehicles) to behave more responsibly and ethically to reduce the risk of death and serious injury. 

Put the Phone Away or Pay is a flagship campaign and part of the effort. It reminds drivers how dangerous it is to use the phone behind the wheel and the legal consequences of being caught doing so. 

It also calls on drivers to remind their friends and family to drive safely when they are in the driver’s seat. Relatives, colleagues, and acquaintances should encourage and promote a safe approach to the road. 

How To Avoid Becoming A Distracted Truck Driver

So, what can you do to avoid becoming distracted as a truck driver to minimize collision risk? 

Silence Your Phone And Keep It Out Of Sight

The first (and most practical step) is to keep your phone silent and out of sight. Tuck it away in the back or put it on the glove box to remove the temptation of using it. 

According to NHTSA data, cell phone calling and texting were a factor in 12% of distracted driving incidents that resulted in deaths and 8% of total distracted driving incidents. Consequently, cell phone usage is responsible for more than 1.6 million incidents annually, which is why Distracted Driving Awareness Month focuses on it so much. 

Be careful of using hands-free systems. While they might be legal, they are not risk-free because they can be distracting. 

If you have to send messages, either pull over to the side of the road or get a colleague to send them for you. Don’t try to do it while driving. 

Stay Alert

At the same time, it is essential to stay alert. Make sure that you: 

• Get enough sleep before driving – tiredness can make you drowsy and cause you to fall asleep at the wheel
• Avoid in-cab distractions – Use voice activation to control things like the radio or GPS to reduce the risk of taking your eyes off the road further. 
• Don’t preoccupy your mind with negative thoughts – Excessive rumination can take your mind off the road

Plan Your Trip In Advance

Finally, plan your route in advance and locate rest points along the way. Ensure you set the GPS and climate before setting off. 

Contact us for the Best Commercial Vehicle Insurance Prices!

As independent brokers, the agents at American Insuring Group shop the market to find you the best rates on quality insurance that matches your needs! Call us today at (610) 775-3848 or Contact us online for the best rates on truck and commercial vehicle insurance!

The average cost of workers' compensation claims in the U.S. is a staggering $0.46 per employee per hour worked. Businesses are paying out billions of dollars every year to cover legal costs. However, workers’ compensation insurance can be affordable if companies take the right approach to forklift safety. Improving standards in warehouses, yards, and other building areas can reduce the risk of injury and keep premiums low. 

Here’s how you can improve forklift safety and reduce the risk of employees making claims: 

Ensure Employees Remain Two Meters (Or More) From Forklifts In Operation

One method is to ensure employees remain two meters or more from forklifts in operation. This practice in warehouses and yards reduces the risk of crush injuries where drivers reverse into people they can’t see behind them. It may make things less efficient in some warehouses. but it can be managed. Forklift drivers can alternate their activities with pickers to optimize their movements. 

Wear Hi-Vis Clothing

Forklift operators should also dress in appropriate workwear to protect themselves and be more conspicuous to other site users. High-visibility jackets, luminous hard hats, and safety shoes are a must. 

No Loading While Moving

Avoiding loading while moving is another essential. Forklift drivers should avoid any actions that might cause the vehicle to topple over (which can happen during loaded directional changes). If forklift drivers take risks at your business, institute training and a disciplinary policy. Drivers who break the rules should face consequences. 

No Rides

Forklift truck drivers should also avoid giving rides to other people in the workplace. While it might be convenient or fun for staff, it is also dangerous. If you notice employees taking rides on forklifts, initiate disciplinary action. Ensure you send a message to your team that this sort of behavior is prohibited. 

Maintain 360-Degree Visibility

Another way to reduce worker’s comp claims is to ensure forklift drivers are maintaining 360-degree visibility of their vehicles. Staff should have a view of the rack and loading position. The OHSA also recommends: 

• Looking in the direction of travel
• Making use of mirrors
• Using lights if working outdoors or at night
• Warning approaching staff and making eye contact with them

Implement Floor Markings

It can also help to implement floor markings to reduce risks further. These boundaries show where it is safe for pedestrians to wal(610) 775-3848k (similar to sidewalks on the public highway). Zones keep drivers and staff separate and prevent new hires from straying into dangerous areas. 

Observe Equipment Capacity

Lastly, companies can reduce the risk of costly payouts by observing equipment capacity and avoiding overloading. Forklifts can only carry so much until they topple over. When they do, the risk of serious crush injury and death is high. 

Start Saving on Workers Compensation Insurance

Stop spending a fortune on your WC insurance premiums. Our independent agents specialize in comparing rates from competing carriers to find you the best price on quality insurance protection. Call (610) 775-3848 or  Contact us online today for the best rates on worker's compensation insurance.

The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in a severe uptick in the number of employees working remotely. While working from home offers many benefits to both employee and employer, it also introduces many safety challenges that can affect Workers' Compensation Insurance.

According to U.S.A. Today, approximately 22 million U.S. employees work from home all the time. That is roughly 14% of the adult workforce, and experts predict that by 2025, more than one in five Americans will work remotely.

Safety Challenges When Employees Work Remotely

"A fast-emerging concern is the long-term health and safety of people working at home," one expert states. "The slips, falls, and other accidents associated with in-person workplace injuries have migrated to home. Safeguards normally found in the workplace may be missing at home. Few home working spaces can replicate the environments of well-planned business spaces. Not all workers have access to a dedicated home office space, good chairs and desks, ergonomic monitors and keyboard placements, specialized lighting, [and] other office basics that help reduce accidents." In fact, household injuries have risen from a rate of 14.3% in 2017 to 28% in 2020. Most of these injuries are due to falls (32%) or cuts (11%).

People working from home also tend to work longer hours with fewer breaks, causing physical fatigue and injuries like carpal tunnel. Challenges in balancing work and home, in-home distractions, and the loss of collaboration with colleagues can increase stress and anxiety.

And finally, people working remotely have become the primary target for cyberattacks, which has risen 238% in volume since the beginning of the pandemic. Statistics show that 30% of remote workers don't get regular training from their employers, 44% engage in cybersecurity training once per year or less, and 75% pay for their home office-related costs.

6 Safety Tips for Remote Employees:

1. Regularly Communicate With Remote Workers
   Good communication lets your employees know what is happening, what is expected of them, what cyber threats to be aware of, and how to protect themselves when working remotely.
   
   
2. Provide Appropriate Training
   Appropriate training will be unique to each situation, but some examples may include home safety training, cyber-security training, and proper ergonomic training.
   
   
3. Encourage Regular Breaks
   When working remotely, it's more tempting to work through breaks and lunches than when working onsite. However, according to Michigan State University, "Skipping breaks can lead to faster burnout and higher stress levels. Employees stepping away from work for a few minutes increases their productivity, job satisfaction, mental health and well-being, and are overall more engaged in their work."
   
   
4. Consider Offering Stipends to Employees
   As mentioned above, 75% of remote employees pay for their home office-related costs. Providing a stipend to employees for things like ergonomic chairs, surge protectors, fire extinguishers, etc., can help minimize safety risks.
   
   
5. Address Workplace Ergonomics
   Typical workplace ergonomic issues include monitors that are too low, improperly used armrests, using phones without a headset, and more. Addressing these issues with training or stipends can help reduce many musculoskeletal disorders, such as tendonitis, tension neck syndrome, and carpal tunnel.
   
   
6. Create a Telecommuting Policy

   A telecommuting policy should outline the hours an employee will be working, list employer-owned equipment the employee can use outside the workplace, describe how employees should store and dispose of sensitive information, details about how work-related injury investigations will occur, etc.

Quality Worker's Compensation Insurance

At American Insuring Group, Ltd., we offer cost-effective worker's compensation insurance from many competing insurance companies. We work hard to get you the best price on quality insurance to protect your business and your employees, whether they work remotely or onsite.

Call us today at (800) 947-1270 or (610) 775-3848, or connect with us online.

Landlord Insurance is crucial when protecting your investment; however, effective landlord-tenant communication – which doesn’t cost a dime / just a little time and effort—is just as important. We understand that, as a landlord, you have a lot on your plate, from screening applicants to maintaining your property; however, taking the time to communicate with your tenants could save even more time and effort down the road.

Communication is crucial from the time a potential tenant fills out the application to when they move out. It can help avoid misunderstandings, prevent conflicts, lower tenant turnover, and protect your property, saving time and headaches. Good communication between you and your tenant(s) can also save you money, resulting in higher profits.  

The Cost of Tenant Turnover

Tenant turnover is a costly part of property rentals that landlords and property managers can’t ignore. Tenant turnover creates vacancies, eats up more of your time, and lowers your profit. According to Apartments.com, the average turnover cost ranges from $1,000 to $5,000.

This cost can come from the following and more:

• Cleaning the unit
• Getting rid of anything left behind
• Changing locks
• Possibly re-painting
• Repairing any damage
• Advertising
• The lost income from a vacant unit
• Screening applicants
• Higher insurance costs if it remains vacant

“Reducing turnover isn’t just about preparing a vacant unit for a new tenant; it’s also about retaining good tenants. Landlords can save time, money, and effort by implementing tenant retention strategies. This includes responsive maintenance, periodic property inspections, and creating a positive living environment that encourages tenants to renew their leases,” Swiftland states. “By focusing on tenant satisfaction and fostering positive landlord-tenant relationships, landlords can significantly decrease the turnover rate, ensuring a more stable and profitable rental property.”

A vital component of “fostering positive landlord-tenant relationships” is effective communication.

Tips for Effective Landlord/Tenant Communication

1. Properly Screen Tenants
   Good communication should begin before you allow a tenant to move into your property by adequately screening them: run credit, background, and employment checks and conduct an in-person interview.
   
   
2. Set Clear Expectations
   Begin setting clear expectations during your first contact with them. Before they sign the rental agreement, verbally go over key points, such as rent payments, policies or rules, and maintenance responsibilities. It also doesn’t hurt to remind them of policies occasionally.
   
   
3. Be Responsive
   Address maintenance issues as quickly as possible. If a tenant contacts you with a question you can’t answer immediately, let them know that you understand their question and that you are working on getting the answer.
   
   
4. Foster Trust
   Trust is earned, and you can earn your tenants’ trust by responding quickly, keeping them updated and in the loop, and always being honest with them.
   
   
5. Provide Multiple Communication Channel Options
   Just like your friends and family, you will discover that everyone has different communication channels they prefer – text, email, voicemail, etc. You can ask them what their preferred channel is when they first move in. In addition, certain communications should be delivered through certain channels. For example, longer messages can be sent by email, quick communication can be made through text, and important communication is usually best done through a phone call or letter.
   
   
6. Use Written Communication
   Having written documentation, such as an email or text, can help both parties understand what is being said and provide evidence if a dispute occurs.
   
   
7. Be Friendly and Professional
   You want to act like an efficient waitperson or sales clerk and find the perfect balance between being professional (responding to their needs, getting back to them promptly, etc.) and friendly (asking them how they are, talking about the weather, smiling, etc.).
   
   
8. Keep Messages Simple
   If you’re sending an email or text or leaving a voicemail, you may be tempted to give every detail, but short and simple is usually the most effective way to communicate. Let them know what the issue is or what is going on without giving details that aren’t relevant. Don’t use big words.
   
   
9. Solicit Feedback
   Retailers understand the value of feedback. Landlords can use the same tactic by sending out short surveys, conducting quick interviews, or simply asking for verbal feedback.
   
   
10. Conduct Exit Interviews
    Conduct an exit interview when tenants leave and ask why they are moving out. The answer may be something you can’t control, such as they’re moving into a bigger place, buying a home, etc., or it could be something you can control with future tenants, such as maintenance issues, lack of communication, etc. 

Protect Your Investment With the Right Landlord Insurance

At American Insuring Group, we offer comprehensive landlord insurance policies that cover a range of risks, from property damage to liability claims. Our affordable policies protect your investment and give you peace of mind.

Call us today at (800) 947-1270 or (610) 775-3848, or connect with us online.

Commercial Motor Vehicle Insurance is more expensive than personal auto insurance, so purchasing a personal auto insurance policy for a commercial motor vehicle may be tempting. That would be a huge mistake because personal auto insurance typically won’t pay out a claim for a vehicle that is considered commercial. This kind of mistake could cost your business a lot of money, and if the accident is severe enough, it could even put you out of business.

Therefore, you must understand if your vehicle is considered a commercial vehicle and that you don’t confuse the FMCSA’s definition with an insurance underwriter’s definition.

Federal Motor Carrier Safety (FMCS) Definition of a Commercial Motor Vehicle

The FMCSA has many rules for what they define as a Commercial Motor Vehicle (CMV), such as hours of service, driver requirements, fees for motor carrier registration and insurance, and employee safety and health standards.

The FMCSA’s definition of a CMV is “a self-propelled or towed motor vehicle used on a highway in interstate commerce to transport passengers or property when” one or more of the following apply:

• It has a gross vehicle weight rating or, gross combination weight rating, or gross vehicle weight or gross combination weight, of 10,001 pounds or more, whichever is greater.
• It is designed or used to transport more than eight passengers (including the driver) for compensation.
• It is designed or used to transport more than 15 passengers, including the driver, and is not used to transport passengers for compensation.
• It is used in transporting material found by the Secretary of Transportation to be hazardous under 49 U.S.C. 5103 and transported in a quantity requiring placarding under regulations prescribed by the Secretary under 49 CFR, subtitle B, chapter I, subchapter C.

Under that definition, a pickup truck, which typically weighs between 5,00 and 7,500 pounds, carrying 1,000 pounds of construction material from the store to the job site is not considered a CMV. However, insurance companies would consider it a CMV.

Insurance Company Definition of a Commercial Motor Vehicle

Typically, an insurance underwriter will define a CMV as a vehicle used for business purposes, regardless of the weight or who owns the vehicle (i.e., a company or an individual). A CMV can be a car, truck, van, or even a scooter.

Here are a few examples of what may be considered a CMV under the insurance underwriter’s definition:

• A box truck or van is used to deliver merchandise.
• A car used to provide rides for Uber, Lyft, or any rideshare company.
• An employee’s vehicle that regularly calls on doctors’ offices to sell pharmaceutical equipment

“If a vehicle is used primarily in business, there is likely no coverage under a personal auto policy. If you use your personal vehicle for work occasionally, your personal insurance carrier might be able to tailor your policy to reflect this usage,” the Insurance Information Institute (iii) explains. “If the vehicle is owned by a business, there will be no coverage under a personal auto policy. A commercial auto policy would need to be purchase.”

Furthermore, iii states, “For a very serious accident or one with a number of injured people, your personal auto policy may not be enough to cover the damages. In that event, the injured parties would likely sue to collect damages from your business.” Therefore, it’s always best to speak with an experienced insurance agent who can help you determine if you need commercial vehicle insurance.

 Lower Commercial Motor Vehicle Insurance Costs

The agents at American Insuring Group can help you determine what type of insurance you need to protect yourself and your business. Plus, as independent agents, we compare the cost of your insurance with several insurance companies to ensure you get the lowest price.

Want to learn more about getting the best insurance at the best price? Call us today at (800) 947-1270 or (610) 775-3848, or connect with us online.

We’ve said it before, but it bears repeating: If you want to lower Contractor Insurance costs, create safer job sites. One simple way to create safer job sites is to supplement formal training with regular toolbox talks.

According to Harvard, a toolbox talk is “an informal group discussion among employees of an individual department that focuses on a particular safety issue.” Although toolbox talks should never be used as a substitute for formal on-site and compliance training, they are a great way to refresh workers’ safety knowledge and to keep safety at the top of their minds since more formal training is typically held once a year or less.

And guess what; toolbox talks work! According to the Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC), companies that conduct daily toolbox talks reduce their total recordable incident rate (TRIR) by 78% and their days away, restricted, or transferred (DART) rates by 76% when compared to companies that hold them monthly.

However, to be effective, toolbox talks can’t be stale or boring. They need to be relevant and engage workers.

15 Tips for Effective Toolbox Talks

1. A senior or experienced member of the team should lead toolbox talks.
2. Toolbox talks are best held at the beginning of the workday, so the day starts off with a focus on safety.
3. Toolbox talks should be held frequently – daily or weekly - to maximize effectiveness.
4. Toolbox talks should be short – typically 10 to 15 minutes or 30 minutes max.
5. Topics should be on a single health or safety topic.
6. Topics should be relevant. For example, if it’s a frigid day, you may want to cover winter safety tips.
7. Try to keep the conversation positive and focus on being proactive and preventing injuries rather than reacting to a past incident. Workers are more likely to listen to the information if they don’t feel like they are being lectured or reprimanded.
8. Prepare your talk. You only have a few minutes to deliver critical information, so you need to understand the topic and know how you will pass the information on to workers.
9. Before presenting the toolbox talk, think about how to make it more compelling and memorable, such as a video, a surprising statistic, an interesting fact, or a demonstration.
10. Keep it simple. Don’t use big words or industry jargon.
11. Connect with participants by making eye contact and speaking loud enough so everyone can hear you.
12. Engage your workers by asking questions such as “Has anybody noticed this problem?” or “Has anyone faced this challenge in the past?”
13. Ensure that everyone understands. Ask questions about what you just covered, or ask someone to summarize what they’ve heard.
14. Use videos, PDFs, and handouts when appropriate.
15. Keep records of toolbox talks. Although it isn’t legally required, recording the topic and who was there can help track what you have and haven’t covered.

Toolbox Topic Examples

The possibility for toolbox topics is endless; just make sure the topic can be covered sufficiently in the time allotted and that it is relevant to your workers. Here are a few examples:

1. Rooftop Safety
2. Preventing Struck-By Accidents
3. Respiratory Protection
4. Dangers of Benzene
5. Mental Health
6. Circular Saw Safety
7. Using the Right Tool for the Job
8. Heavy Equipment Safety
9. Safe Lifting
10. Common Construction Site Hazards
11. Minimizing the Risk of Sprains and Strains
12. Hand and Power Tool Safety
13. Proper PPE
14. Construction Worksite First Aid
15. Avoiding Traumatic Brain Injuries

How to Save Even More on Contractor Insurance

Unlike many agencies that sell only one insurance brand, as a Trusted Choice independent insurance agency, agents at the American Insuring Group compare the cost of your insurance coverage with several brands to ensure you’re getting the best deal.

We do exhaustive research for you, so you can rest assured that you will get a great value for your insurance dollar! Call us today at (800) 947-1270 or (610) 775-3848, or connect with us online.

As part of our ongoing commitment to assist our customers in reducing Workers' Compensation (WC) Insurance costs, we regularly share workplace safety tips on this blog. While many of these tips are tailored for hazardous industries like construction or transportation, it's important to remember that workplace hazards are present in every sector. The potential for these hazards to cause injuries leading to WC claims is a universal concern, making workplace safety a crucial aspect of any business.

Workers' Comp claims can have a negative impact on your business, both directly and indirectly:

• Wages paid to injured workers for absences not covered by workers' compensation
• The wage costs related to time lost through work stoppage associated with the worker injury
• Overtime costs necessitated by the injury
• Administrative time spent by supervisors, safety personnel, and clerical workers after an injury
• Training costs for a replacement worker
• Lost productivity related to work rescheduling, new employee learning curves, and accommodation of injured employees
• Clean-up, repair, and replacement costs of damaged material, machinery, and property
• The costs of OSHA fines and any associated legal action
• Third-party liability and legal costs
• Worker pain and suffering
• Loss of goodwill from bad publicity
• Higher WC premiums

"The total cost of work injuries in 2022 was $167.0 billion. This figure includes wage and productivity losses of $50.7 billion, medical expenses of $37.6 billion, and administrative expenses of $54.4 billion," according to the National Safety Council. "This total also includes employers' uninsured costs of $15.0 billion, including the value of time lost by workers other than those with disabling injuries who are directly or indirectly involved in injuries, and the cost of time required to investigate injuries, write up injury reports and other administrative functions. The total also includes damage to motor vehicles in work-related injuries of $5.6 billion and fire losses of $3.7 billion."

According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), investing in safety and health can yield significant returns. For every $ 1 you invest, your organization can expect a return of $4 to $6 in cost savings and increased productivity. This is a compelling reason to prioritize workplace safety and make it a part of your business strategy, regardless of your industry.

Therefore, today, we're focusing on safety tips that can apply to just about every type of workplace setting to help lower Workers' Comp costs.

5 Workplace Safety Tips for Every Workplace

1. Identify the Most Common Hazards in Your Workplace
   To minimize the risk of injuries and WC claims, you must first identify the most common hazards in your workplace. For example, a construction company can begin with OSHA's top four causes of construction fatalities – falls, struck by, caught-in/between, and electrocution – and then look at each job site to determine additional hazards. And remember, even office settings have hazards, such as slipping, tripping, and falling, ergonomic injuries, poor lighting and eye strain, fire safety, and indoor air pollution.
   
   
2. Create a Culture of Safety in the Workplace
   According to the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), "Safety cultures consist of shared beliefs, practices, and attitudes that exist at an establishment. Culture is the atmosphere created by those beliefs, attitudes, etc., which shape our behavior."
   
   
3. Develop a Safety Program
   Workplace safety programs offer many benefits, such as reduced recruitment and hiring costs, increased productivity, and improved financial performance. According to OSHA, a study of small businesses found a statistical correlation between workplace safety and health and the survival of a small business. The report found that companies that failed within one to two years of start-up had an average injury rate of 9.71, while businesses that survived more than five years had an average injury rate of 3.89 in their first year of business.
   
   
4. Provide Safety Training
   OSHA states, "Training in the safe way for workers to do their jobs well is an investment that will pay back over and over again in fewer injuries and illnesses, better morale, lower insurance premiums, and more."
   
   
5. Communicate, Communicate, Communicate
   Effective communication is critical to business success, from hiring to filing a WC claim. Employers should discuss workplace safety with employees regularly, and employees need to know that it is safe for them to report safety concerns and injuries without fear of retaliation.

Don't Overpay for Workers' Compensation Insurance

At American Insuring Group, Ltd., we offer cost-effective worker's compensation insurance from many competing insurance companies. We'll work hard to get you the best price on quality insurance to protect your employees and business.

Call us today at (800) 947-1270 or (610) 775-3848, or connect with us online.

As a homeowner, you're likely aware of how homeowners' insurance safeguards your property, and as a landlord, you understand the importance of Landlord Insurance in protecting your investment. However, it's crucial to remember that your tenants' well-being is also your responsibility. Unfortunately, many tenants misunderstand or underestimate the benefits of renters Insurance, leaving them vulnerable to financial loss in case of an incident.

According to Insuranceopedia, only 55% of renters have renters' insurance, and most tenants will only purchase it if the landlord requires it. Perhaps that's because the law does not require tenants to do so. Or tenants may underestimate the value of their possessions or assume the landlord is responsible. "57% of renters either didn't know who was responsible for theft or property damage or thought that it was the responsibility of the landlord or property management company [which it is not]." Tenants must understand their responsibility to protect their possessions.

Thankfully, in Pennsylvania (and most other states), landlords have the power to change this. By requiring proof of renters insurance from their tenants, landlords can take control of their tenants' and their investments' protection. Renters insurance is not only affordable but also offers a host of benefits for both the renter and the landlord, making it a powerful addition to any lease agreement.

What is Renters' Insurance?

"If you rent a house or apartment and think that your landlord is financially responsible when there is a fire, theft or other catastrophe—think again," the Insurance Information Institute (III) explains, "Your landlord may have insurance to protect the building you are living in. But your landlord's policy won't replace your personal possessions or pay for your living expenses while the building is being repaired. The only way to protect yourself financially against disasters is to buy a renters insurance policy."

Renters insurance (Aka tenants' insurance) typically provides three types of protection:

• Personal Possessions are protected against damage from fire, smoke, lightning, vandalism, theft, explosion, windstorms, water, and other disasters listed in the policy. 
• Liability – Standard renters insurance protects you against lawsuits for bodily injury or property damage that you or your pets cause to other people.
• Additional Living Expenses (ALE) coverage is included in most renters' insurance policies, so if your home is destroyed by a disaster covered under your policy, it will help pay for hotel bills, temporary rentals, restaurant meals, and other expenses incurred until you can return to your home.

What Are the Benefits of Renters' Insurance

The benefits of renters' insurance for tenants are pretty obvious. It can help replace or repair damaged personal property and protect them against lawsuits.

However, renters' insurance offers many benefits for landlords as well:

• Reduced liability risks and lawsuits – You can't always control the actions of your tenants or their pets, which can expose you to liability risks, and often, your landlord policy won't cover injuries or property damage due to a tenant's carelessness. A renters insurance policy can cover incidents such as a tenant's dog biting someone or a guest of a tenant being injured while visiting. Furthermore, if damage occurs to a tenant's personal property through no fault of their own, if they have renters' insurance to help cover the cost of repairing or replacing that property, they're less likely to sue you for damages.
  
  
• Lowered chance of increasing insurance premiums
  Filing too many claims can increase your insurance premiums (or even cause it to be canceled). If your tenant has renters' insurance that covers all or a portion of any loss, it can lower the chance of your landlord insurance premiums increasing.
  
  
• Makes it a little easier to be pet-friendly
  "Pet ownership in the U.S. has jumped significantly over the past three decades," according to Forbes. "As of 2023, 66% of U.S. households (86.9 million homes) own a pet." As a landlord, refusing to accept pets could eliminate more than half of your potential tenants. On the other hand, pets can create additional risks – damage, liability issues, etc., but requiring renters' insurance can help minimize those risks.

Don't Overpay For Landlord Insurance!

At American Insuring Group, we offer renters' insurance and comprehensive landlord insurance policies that cover a range of risks, from property damage to liability claims. Our affordable policies are designed to protect your investment and give you peace of mind.

Call us today at (800) 947-1270 or (610) 775-3848, or connect with us online.

A fatigued commercial truck driver is more likely to have an accident and become a danger to themselves and others on the road, thereby increasing the cost of Commercial Truck Insurance. Fatigue can affect a driver's thought process, lower their awareness of hazards, reduce reaction time, impact their judgment, impair their vision, and cause them to fall asleep at the wheel.

Studies reveal that "65% of truck drivers report that they often or sometimes feel drowsy while driving, and nearly half of truck drivers admit that they had actually fallen asleep while driving in the previous year."

The Large Truck Crash Causation Study (LTCCS) reported that "13 percent of commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers were considered to have been fatigued at the time of their crash." However, many experts believe this number is significantly underestimated.

Many things can cause fatigue, such as lack of sleep, poor eating habits, stress, and a medical condition called sleep apnea (which is usually treatable). A "Study of Prevalence of Sleep Apnea Among Commercial Truck Drivers," sponsored by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), revealed that "17.6 percent of CDL holders had mild sleep apnea, 5.8 percent had moderate sleep apnea, and 4.7 percent had severe sleep apnea."

What is Sleep Apnea?

According to the Mayo Clinic, "Sleep apnea is a potentially serious sleep disorder in which breathing repeatedly stops and starts" while the person is sleeping. There are three main types of sleep apnea:

• Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), which is the more common form that occurs when throat muscles relax and block the flow of air into the lungs
• Central sleep apnea (CSA) occurs when the brain doesn't send proper signals to the muscles that control breathing
• Treatment-emergent central sleep apnea, also known as complex sleep apnea, which happens when someone has OSA — diagnosed with a sleep study — that converts to CSA when receiving therapy for OSA

Risk factors for sleep apnea may include a family history of sleep apnea, being overweight, large neck circumference, smoking and alcohol use, age, and certain medical conditions.

Common symptoms of sleep apnea include the following:

• Loud snoring
• Gasping and choking while sleeping
• Waking up with a dry mouth
• Headaches or nausea in the morning
• Excessive daytime sleepiness
• Irritability
• Concentration and memory issues

In addition to fatigue, sleep apnea can increase your risk of high blood pressure or other heart problems, Type 2 diabetes, complications with medicines and surgery, and liver problems.

To diagnose sleep apnea, you may be able to use a home sleep test that measures your heart rate, blood oxygen level, airflow, and breathing patterns. Or you may need to stay overnight at a sleep center where they will hook you up to equipment to monitor your heart, lung, and brain activity, breathing patterns, arm and leg movements, and blood oxygen levels while you sleep.

Most cases of sleep apnea are treatable. Moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea often benefits from using a CPAP (Continuous positive airway pressure) machine that delivers air pressure through a mask while you sleep. Other treatments include oral appliances designed to keep your throat open, supplemental oxygen, or surgery.

Can You Still Drive a CMV if You Have Been Diagnosed With Sleep Apnea?

The FMCSA does not explicitly mention sleep apnea; however, it does state that anyone with a medical history or clinical diagnosis of a condition likely to interfere with their ability to drive safely is not medically qualified to operate a commercial motor vehicle (CMV) in interstate commerce. The good news is that once successfully treated, a driver can be deemed medically qualified to operate a CMV.

Don't Overpay For Truck Insurance!

At American Insuring Group, we go beyond providing affordable truck insurance. We carefully analyze the needs and risks associated with your business. We match you with the best trucking insurance policy by carefully analyzing many competing insurance companies. The result? You'll get the high-quality commercial insurance coverage you need at a very affordable price.

Don't wait! Call us today at (800) 947-1270 or (610) 775-3848, or connect with us online.