August, 2022 | Boizelle Insurance Partnership
5 Flammable Foods!
- Garlic
Garlic is packed with lots of natural oil, so it burns rather quickly when placed in a hot pan, causing the oil to splatter into the burner. To prevent this from happening, always set your burner to low when sauteing garlic. Keep your eyes on it and don’t let it burn!
- Bacon
Because bacon has a high fat content, it releases lots of grease while cooking. When the bacon burns, this causes the oil to splash out of the pan. To prevent this from happening, make sure the pan you are using is deep enough to contain the grease. Additionally, if you are cooking multiple batches of bacon, be sure to rid the pan of the leftover grease and start over.
- Deep-Fried Stuffed Peppers
When stuffed peppers are submerged in oil, air flow is constricted. The pressure from this can cause the peppers to explode. If you have open burners close to the pot of peppers, the oil may shoot over the open flame, causing a massive flame that could spread if you are not careful.
- Flour
Goods such as flour, non-dairy creamer, and powdered sugar consist of fine particles that burn if they are added to an empty pan. To stay safe, only add powdered ingredients to a hot pan if another ingredient is already in it i.e. butter or oil.
- Alcohol-Based Sauces
It is not uncommon for sauces that contain alcohol such as wine or vodka to cause bigger flames in your pan or your stove. Keep your bottles that contain the alcohol a safe distance away from your stove.
Following these guidelines may help you prevent a disaster in your kitchen!
Stay close to the food: Diverting your attention away from your stove can spell catastrophe if you’re not careful. If you leave your kitchen, be sure to turn your stove off first.
Don’t let the grease escape: When you are cooking meat, make sure that the pan you are using is deep enough to hold all of the fats from the meats. Grease can potentially spill over and set fire.
Keep your kitchen clean: Leftover grease or oils in your ovens or on stovetops can potentially ignite. Always be sure to keep your stove and your oven clean.
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What Happens If My Car Is Totaled?
f you ever get into a car accident, hopefully, the damages to your vehicle are not too severe. And, hopefully, no one suffers any injuries. If you are ever involved in an accident where your car suffers considerable damage, your insurance company may deem it what is called a total loss. This means that the cost to fully repair your car back to its original state before the accident would cost more than the car’s market value.
What does it mean when your car is deemed a “total loss”?
If your car is deemed a total loss, that means that it is not repairable or that the costs to repair it are more than what it is worth. There are a number of factors that go into considering whether or not a car is a “total loss”. If your car is older and has more miles on it, its market value will be less.
What type of insurance coverage covers a totaled car?
There are two types of insurance coverage that will pay out your car’s Actual Cash Value (ACV if it is totaled.
Comprehensive Coverage: This type of car insurance coverage covers damage or a total loss caused by something other than a collision with another vehicle i.e. fire, fallen trees, etc.
Collision Coverage: Covers damage or total loss caused by an accident with another vehicle.
What if you have a lien on your car?
If your car is totaled before you finish paying off the lien, the insurance company will pay the lien first and then send you what is left over (if there is anything). If you owe more for your vehicle than its actual cash value, it will be your responsibility to pay the difference unless you have gap insurance.
What should you do if you think your car has been totaled?
Once you file a claim, an insurance adjuster will assess the amount of damage or review your repair shop estimate. Once the market value of your car is determined, one of two things may happen. You will either be offered a payout to repair the car or be notified that your car is indeed a total loss. Once you accept that your car is a total loss, you must sign your vehicle over to the insurance company.
If you have any questions related to your insurance, please do not hesitate to call us at (301) 948-2010. We’re here for you!
Read moreWhy Did My Auto Insurance Premium Increase?
Inflation: The Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose more than 7% compared to 2020 – the largest increase in nearly 40 years. This means, on average, we are all spending 7% more on goods and services than we were a year ago.
Vehicle Parts: When it comes to the cost of parts for vehicles, those prices have increased by closer to 10%. (Historically, an increase of 2% to 3% from year to year is more typical)
Repair Costs: Recent supply chain issues such as the car chip shortage as well as labor market pressures have caused repair costs to increase significantly, by as much as 20% since 2020. Due to the limited supply of repair parts and a decrease in available workers, repairs to vehicles are taking longer to complete. As a result of this, customers are using rental cars for longer periods of time, thus increasing the cost of insurance claims.
Vehicle Prices: According to auto industry analysts, the cost of used vehicles climbed more than 27% in 2021 while new vehicles are costing 14% more than they did before 2021.
Driving again (and faster): What could be the reason for drivers driving faster? According to a national survey, 1 in 10 drivers admitted to driving at least 20 miles over the speed limit, sometimes even faster than that.
Accidents: As one could probably guess, driving your car at a higher rate of speed opens the door to a more severe collision. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has reported a 12% increase in deadly crashes, the largest such increase since reporting began in 1975.
How to Save Money on Your Auto Insurance
Ask us about pay plan discounts: You can save up to 7% on your auto insurance, depending on which plan you choose.
Get the ERIE Rate Lock feature: ERIE Rate Lock allows you to pay the same premium year after year, even if you file a claim. Your rates will only change if you add more remove a driver to your policy, or if you change addresses.
Consider increasing your deductible: Carrying a higher deductible will lower your auto insurance premium.
Take a look at your mileage: Are you working from home a lot more and driving less than before the COVID-19 pandemic? Based on your annual miles driven, you may be eligible for lower rates.
Bundle your coverage: If you have multiple policies with ERIE Insurance, you can earn a multi-policy discount when you combine your auto, home, or life insurance policies.
Read moreWhat is an “Act of God”?
“Act of God” is a common term in the insurance world. However, it may not be clear to you what it means. When you own a car, a business, or a home, it is natural for you to take certain steps to protect your assets. Understanding the term “Act of God” can help you better protect yourself with the proper insurance coverage.
What does “Act of God” mean?
An event that is considered unpreventable is considered to be an act of God.
What types of events qualify as an act of God?
Windstorms, lightning strikes, hail storms, wildfires, hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, and earthquakes. It is important to note that not all acts of God may be covered in a typical insurance policy. Call us to speak with one of our insurance professionals if you have questions about this.
Does auto insurance cover acts of God?
Your auto insurance policy will cover acts of God if you obtain what is known as comprehensive coverage. This coverage includes protection against natural disasters and other types of damage not caused by a collision. For instance, if your car is vandalized or an animal runs out in front of you, comprehensive coverage would help you cover the costs to repair your vehicle or cover you for a total loss.
What about home insurance?
A typical homeowners insurance policy usually covers some acts of God. Two exceptions to this are flooding and earthquakes. If you live in a flood zone area or one that is prone to earthquakes, you will want to obtain flood insurance for floods or a separate coverage for natural disasters.
Is an act of God the same thing as force majeure?
While these two terms are similar, force majeure is more commonly used in business and construction contracts. It refers to circumstances deemed unforeseeable that would prevent a contract from being fulfilled.
If you have any questions about acts of God, call us at (301) 948-2010. We will be happy to help you!
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