R&R Insurance Blog

Over half of Americans do not carry life insurance. Why is this? Do they not care about the future of the people they are leaving behind? We find this hard to believe. So with 93% of Americans agreeing it's important to have, why are people not carrying adequate protection in the event something would happen?

1. "I haven't had time." Buying a life insurance policy is easy and quick! It's really just determining how much protection you need and how long you'd like the protection. When your surviving spouse walks into our office and is grieving - think of how much peace of mind they will have that you have planned for their future, so they don't have to be scared too.

2. "Too pricey." What are you comparing it to? The big screen TV or the other bills you have? Life insurance isn't a luxury; it's a necessity for the people you care about most and life insurance is affordable.

3. "I have other financial issues to deal with." If you or your partner were to pass away, would the survivor be able to support their current lifestyle? Life insurance should be a priority.

4. "I don't know enough about what to buy." That's what we're here for! We will make it easy and you'll find out the process is not painful.

Wisconsin residents, R&R Insurance wants to make sure that you have sufficient so what you care about most is protected, please contact us.

Texting and driving according to distraction.gov is most distracting because it involves manual, visual, and cognitive distraction simultaneously. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, distracted drivers are responsible for an estimated 25 to 30% of all vehicle collisions which amounts to 1.2 million crashes per year.

At any given moment during daylight hours, over 800,000 vehicles are being driven by someone who is using a hand-held cell phone. Drivers using hand held devices are 4 times more likely to get into crashes serious enough to injure themselves. They also are increasing their crash risk 23 times worse than driving while not being distracted.

Sending or receiving a text takes a driver's eyes from the road for an average of 4.6 seconds.  At 55mph it is the equivalent of driving the length of an entire football field, blind.

R&R Insurance offers a free Stop The Distraction Campaign kit for Wisconsin schools and families. Contact us for your free kit!

Texting and driving according to distraction.gov is most distracting because it involves manual, visual, and cognitive distraction simultaneously. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, distracted drivers are responsible for an estimated 25 to 30% of all vehicle collisions which amounts to 1.2 million crashes per year.

At any given moment during daylight hours, over 800,000 vehicles are being driven by someone who is using a hand-held cell phone. Drivers using hand held devices are 4 times more likely to get into crashes serious enough to injure themselves. They also are increasing their crash risk 23 times worse than driving while not being distracted.

Sending or receiving a text takes a driver's eyes from the road for an average of 4.6 seconds. At 55mph it is the equivalent of driving the length of an entire football field, blind.

R&R Insurance offers a free Stop The Distraction Campaign kit for Wisconsin schools and families. Contact us for your free kit!

One of our clients was driving home from work when another driver hit her 2009 Acura TSX 4-door sedan. Our insured and her older daughter were injured. Her newborn baby daughter was unharmed (thank goodness for the child safety seat). After a visit to the hospital, I am happy to report that the family will be fine. I wish I could say more for her car - her 2009 Acura was totaled. You can see from the picture that the front end sustained enough damage that it could not be repaired. The accident was so severe that several of the airbags went off.

So, when does $60 = $13,000? Recently, some insurance companies started offering 'Car Damage Replacement Coverage' on new cars. The cost for the endorsement is around $20-$35 a year. Our insured owned this car for 3 years and her cost to have this on her policy would have been $60 over 3 years. Our insured declined this coverage when she bought the car. She probably thought, "I’m a good driver”. Problem is, we don’t know about the drivers around us.

When the dust settled, our client will receive what the value of her car was worth (fancy insurance term is 'Actual Cash Value') right before the accident. This is how typical claims are settled. Had she added the Car Damage Replacement Cost endorsement, she would be driving in a brand new Acura TSX. The difference between the value of her car and a new Acura is around $13,000. This is when $60 = $13,000! Not all insurance companies offer this endorsement so please check with us when you add a new car to your policy.

Wisconsin residents, now is a great time to contact us about any questions you might have on your auto, home, or life insurance!

Insurance companies benefit when drivers don't have accidents and don't make claims. Conversely, they lose money when their customers have accidents and make claims. The insurance company wants to rate a driver as accurately as possible so they can correctly predict your driving patterns and how likely it is you will make a claim. If you are a higher risk for the insurance company, they will charge you more premium.

The following are reasons you could be charged more for your auto insurance:

• Buying a new car - it's worth more than your old car and will cost more to replace. Don't assume higher premiums are only associated with sports cars. If the new vehicle is more likely to be a stolen model, you could be getting charged more!
• Commuting Long Distances - The risk is greater for the insurance company that you have an accident if you are on the road more frequently, especially during rush hour traffic!
• Moving - Risk is determined by the zip code you live in and city residents typically have more people; more people mean more accidents.
• Marriage Status/Age - You are in a higher risk category if you are a younger driver and again when you are a seasoned driver. The same thing is true if you're unmarried.
• Broke up with Your Auto Insurance - If you've gone without insurance in an effort to save money, your premiums will be higher when you seek out insurance again. Insurance goes up even if you've been without insurance for just over a month.
• Law Breakers - if you've gotten a ticket or had an accident, your insurance premiums most likely will be higher. Insurance companies typically check your record whether you are a new or an existing customer. So the cleaner your record the less they will charge you!

Wisconsin residents, insurance rates are going to change based on certain factors, so if you' d like a free review of your current coverage, please contact knowledgebroker Kori Cumley.

Anything that diverts your attention away from the main task of driving is a distraction. Basically, anything that takes your eyes/mind off the road or your hands off the wheel. This includes cell phone usage, eating, talking, listening to disruptive music, applying make-up, tending to children and navigation systems.

Not Just Texting – Any Cell Phone Usage Can be Deadly

Research has shown that the distraction caused by a phone conversation is the same for hands-free or hand-held cell phones. Even more distracting is the act of text messaging. Now illegal in most states (including Wisconsin), texting takes a driver’s eyes off the road an average of 4.6 seconds out of every 6 seconds. At 55 mph, this translates into 120 yards without looking at the road.

Manage Your Distractions

• Recognize that driving requires your full attention.
• Ask a passenger to place a call for you and, if possible, speak in your place.
• Do not compose, send or read text messages while driving. In Wisconsin, texting while driving is illegal.
• Ask passengers to help with directions or adjust dashboard controls.
• Secure loose items in the vehicle so they don’t become projectiles or distractions in a sudden stop or crash.
• Avoid intense, complicated or emotional conversations when driving.
• Pull over to care for children.
• Stop to eat or drink, rather than trying to eat or drink while driving.
• Get plenty of rest.
• Program your GPS prior to starting your trip.
• Allow plenty of time for your trip.

R&R offers a free Stop The Distraction Campaign Kit for Wisconsin Schools and families in an effort to help prevent distracted driving. Contact us for your free kit if you are located in Wisconsin. 800-566-7007.

As an independent insurance agency servicing dozens of public and private schools, and tens of thousands of families in Southeastern Wisconsin, we know first-hand how life can change in an instant. For 2013, we've put some muscle behind our campaign to help schools and families prevent distracted driving.

R&R Insurance Services is offering a free Prevent Distracted Driving Campaign Kit to any school, business or family in Southeastern Wisconsin. Our kit includes a poster, two window clings and a pledge card.

Unfortunately, many accidents occur and lives are lost due to something that can be prevented - Distracted Driving! Let's stay focused behind the wheel and focused towards a common goal to prevent distracted driving.

Request your FREE Stop The Distraction Campaign Kit today and help spread the word. We can work together to Stop The Distraction and Save A Life!

Cyberbullying is still a topic that schools and parents continue to wrestle with. According to Francisco Negron, Chief Counsel for the National Association of School Boards, “Until the Supreme Court takes up this issue, the law still lags behind  the reality of how we live.”  See what districts around the country are doing to take a stand against cyberbullying.

The Cyberbullying Research Center estimates 20 percent of students admitted to cyberbullying someone.  The most common forms of cyberbullying is posting mean comments and spreading rumors online.

Where does the responsibility lie?  With the parents?  With the principals?  Today, the standard is that a principal can take action only if it causes a "disruption" in a school environment.  Example: a cruel text is sent on a cell phone that results in a fight in the school cafeteria.

This leaves a lot of gaps in responsibility and lawmakers are stepping up to develop discipline procedures.  Schools and officials are doing their best to hold students accountable.  Below are some interventions in an attempt to fill the gaps:

• Legislation: 49 states have anti-bullying laws (up from 20 in 2003)
• Technology: educate kids where they spend their time - in social media platforms
• Prevention: incorporate social and emotional skills in to curriculum and daily school life

Read more about how to protect yourself and your children on social networks.

According to Kiplinger, there are five medical conditions that will affect your life insurance rates the most. But it's the rankings that will most likely suprise you!

1. Heart disease - is the number one condition that will affect your life insurance rates!
2. Diabetes - will cause higher premiums but if it is manageable with medication your rates will be lower.
3. Cancer - the  type and severity will affect the bottom line.
4. Obesity - weight is taken into consideration because it does affect other health conditions.
5. Pulmonary disease - life long asthma will also increase life insurance rates.

Whether or not you have a condition, we'd like to have the opportunity to assist you with your life insurance needs and we make it as easy as 1, 2, 3!  Wisconsin residents, please contact us today for a free review of the protection we are able to offer!