Insurance, safety and education

When Hurricane Katrina touched down in 2005, humans were not the only species affected by its destruction. And because emergency relief agencies were not in the business of saving pets, nearly half a million animals were left behind, devastating many owners and causing public outrage on their behalf. Passed in 2006 as a direct result of Hurricane Katrina, the Pet Evacuation and Transportation Act now requires state and local agencies to consider pets and service animals in their emergency preparedness plans. While most of us won't experience a disaster like Hurricane Katrina in our lifetimes, it's still up to us to consider our beloved companion animals when planning for emergencies, big and small. Here are a few things you can do:
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Everyone in New York agrees that cyber safety is important, but what, exactly, does it mean to be "safe" online? And what do parents really need to know? Here are the top five things you can do to teach your kids how to become responsible digital citizens:
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Should you report incidents that result in injury to your insurance agent?Rather than worry that an injury claim might raise your homeowner policy premium consider this:in NY the statute of limitations, that is the time between when an incident occurs and a lawsuit can be filed, is three years.However for a child the statute of limitation's clock starts running when the individual turns 18.In other words if a two year old child is injured on your property in the year 2016 they could conceivably bring a lawsuit against you in 2035, 19 years from now!Sound preposterous!Check out the 1/3/2016 edition of the Buffalo News and read how former Buffalo Sabre Grant Ledyard is being sued for an incident that occurred in his backyard during his son's birthday party in 2004.An 11 year old girl was accidently struck in her mouth by a plastic golf club and brought suit against Ledyard 2 years ago when she turned 20.By reporting the claim after it occurred Mr. Ledyard's company will defend him and pay a settlement if he loses the case.So a word to the wise: don't be pennywise and pound foolish. Call your agent and report the claim.
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There are plenty of potentially hazardous activities that go along with the holiday season and the start of winter, such as stringing up Christmas lights, navigating the icy roads, and hopping on those skis or other snow sports equipment, just to name a few. This is also the time of year when we break out the snow shovels and ice melt, so that we, and our neighbors and visitors, can safely navigate our walkways and sidewalks.
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We all want to be the one to find a gift that makes the holidays unforgettable for that special child in our lives. Whether you're a parent, aunt, neighbor or godparent, don't let your quest for holiday magic steer you towards a purchase that might be unsafe or inappropriate.
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