Author Archives: AgentInsure

What To Do When You Witness A Car Accident

Witnessing a car accident can be extremely difficult. You don’t want to be one of those drivers that simply drives-by, assuming that everything is okay. The people within the cars may not have been able to call for help, and everyone is assuming that someone else is going to call. Follow a few steps, and you can help everyone involved.

Step 1: Call 911

Even before you pull over, call 911 if you have a hands free element in your car. This ensures that help is on the way. Otherwise, place the call once you have secured your own car.

Step 2: Pull Over

Regardless of where the accident is, including in the middle of the road, pull off on the shoulder of the road. Turn on your hazard lights and be sure you are at least 100 feet away from the accident.

Step 3: Check on Victims

Check on the victims in all of the cars. Some may be unable to get out because of the metal doors being bent. Some may simply be unable to move. Talk to them and try to calm them down.

Step 4: Stabilize the Cars

If you can, stabilize the cars. This can include everything from putting the car in park, turning off the ignition, and even moving the car out of harm’s way. Do what you can until the police and emergency responders arrive.

Step 5: Leave a Statement

The 911 operator is likely going to ask you to stay on the scene until the police arrive. This is generally to leave a statement as well as to keep the victims comforted. You will be asked about what you witnessed. Others may follow up with you throughout the investigation, so your contact information will be taken down.

Don’t go without a good auto insurance policy in Lakewood. Call and speak to us at Colling Insurance Services Inc. today where we can answer questions, get quotes for you from premier insurance companies in Colorado, and much more.

 

 

 

3 Tips Every Colorado House Sitter Needs to Know

Staying at someone’s house while they are on vacation—either for free or payment—is a great way to step out of your routine and help a friend. But are you doing everything you can to make sure the process is smooth? Read on to find out three tips that every Colorado house sitter needs to know.

#1: Get Details Ahead of Time

Getting details of what your house sitting stay will include is essential to having a positive experience. Talk to the homeowner and determine what their expectations are of you for while they are gone. Are you supposed to pick up mail, water the plants, feed the dog, or even put the trash cans out on pickup day? Where are extra items kept in the house, such as clean linens and paper products? Are you allowed to have guests or would they prefer that you don’t? What’s the WiFi password? These are all important things to clear ahead of time.

#2: Know What to Do in Case of an Emergency

It is also important that you know what to do in case of an emergency. Ask your host for all pertinent information, such as where the breaker box and utility shutoff valves are located. If you are taking care of pets during your stay, get the number of the owner’s preferred veterinarian. You may also ask for the contact information of a neighbor in case there’s an unexpected incident.

#3: Treat the Place Like You Live There

Another tip for house sitters is to treat the place like you live there. Simply put, if you wouldn’t do it in your own home or wouldn’t want someone else doing it while you were gone, refrain.

Are you the one going out of town? Having proper homeowner’s insurance coverage is important—especially while you are on vacation. Protect your property against unexpected events by getting a no-obligation policy review. Contact our team at Colling Insurance Services, Inc. for more information.

 

Which Insurance Is Right for You and Why Independent Agents Matter

You can be well read and still not know everything, so you go to the specialists. Even in a particular industry like the law, you go to someone who specializes in a particular area such as criminal versus family law. Insurance has its specialists, too, and even licenses follow lines like health versus casualty and fire. Another area of difference in insurance is a captive agent versus an independent. 

Insurance has a broad spectrum of coverage including automotive, life, homeowners, renters, commercial, small business, and long-term care.  Just as daunting can be the question of what kind of an agent do you want — independent or captive.  The definitions of each word tell you everything you need to know as one is not requiring or relying on others, and the alternate means to be held under the control of another but having the appearance of independence.

A captive agent represents only one carrier. Whatever the parent entity offers, including pricing, structure, products are what the captive agent has to offer you. So your costs are whatever the company makes available whereas an independent agent has a vast field of carriers to find the coverage you need at the rate you can live with.

Captive is about branding because that’s what you will buy, that and the relationship with the agent. The independent agency has to have a deeper well of knowledge to go to, and be quick and clever in finding the best coverage and pricing for their client. The independent agent can evaluate and develop a risk profile designed to protect the client.

When you deal with a captive agent, your costs are set by the company, and only go up or down based on the procedures and profiles from the corporation.  An independent isn’t tied to one carrier, so they represent different companies and offer more choices.

If you want the freedom to choose from your best options, then come to Colling Insurance Services, Inc. and talk to one of our independent insurance agents serving Denver. 

 

5 Things to Know When Buying a Car as a Present

Buying someone a car as a gift can be one of the most generous things that you can do for the holidays. It can also create a whole lot of problems for the recipient. Here are five tips to make sure that that doesn’t happen.

Be Picky. You need to make sure that the car you’re buying is right for the recipient. You’re going to have to be picky. For instance, if you’re buying a used car, make sure that it’s in good condition, or that you’ll be able to fix whatever might be wrong with it.

Let the Dealer Know it’s a Surprise. By letting the dealer know that the car is supposed to be a surprise, you can avoid the embarrassment of them calling the house and spilling the beans that the paperwork has gone through or something.

Get the Insurance Ready. An insurer might not be ready to sign a policy over until the driver is there to put their own name on the dotted line. This doesn’t mean that you can’t have the paperwork for a basic insurance policy all ready to go and the first month already paid for, however. Talk to an independent insurance agent from Colling Insurance Services Inc. and get those ducks in a row.

Take a Test Drive. The main reason to take a test drive: So that you can let the recipient know anything they need to know before they get behind the wheel. Does it have a light touch on the gas? Does it make wide turns? Find out.

Coordinate Your Gifts. Chances are nobody else you know is buying them a car, but with such an expensive gift, you’re better safe than sorry.

Make sure calling Colling Insurance Services is on your list if you’re adding a new vehicle to your fleet for the Holidays. 

4 Things You Need to Know About Auto Insurance After Your Wedding

Once you get married in Lakewood, there are four things you need to know about your auto insurance policy. Things change as soon as you say “I do”, and this is because there is now another person to take into account with everything – and this includes your insurance policy.

Married Couples Are Safer Drivers – Statistically

Married couples are generally considered safe drivers. They are less likely to get into a car accident and there are various theories about this. It may be that Mary drivers are on the road less, or that they live less risky lives. Regardless of the reason, statistics show that there are fewer accidents amongst married people and therefore discounts are given.

Take Advantage Of Multi-Car Discounts

Two cars on one policy is typically more affordable as well. This is because many insurance companies throughout Colorado provide a multi-car discount. By placing both cars on the same policy, you have the ability to save a significant amount of money on your premium every month.

Share Everything But Not Your Poor Driving History

If you or your spouse are not considered the safest driver, such as one of you have gotten into an accident or have gotten a speeding ticket, it may cause your insurance to go up. This means that in some instances, it can be better for you to both keep your separate policies.

Compare Which Insurance Company Offers The Best Deals For Couples

One of the best things that you can do is talk to an independent insurance agent once you have gotten married to discuss your auto insurance policy. You can learn about what is going to be best in terms of combining policies or keeping them separate.

Contact us at Colling Insurance Services Inc. today. We look forward to helping you find an affordable auto insurance policy whether it is for just you or for you and your spouse. We will answer questions and help you to find the right policy.

 

 

3 Risks Every Small Business Owner Needs to Know

Do you own a small business? While operating your own company can be immensely fulfilling, it does come with a few extra risks. Here are three risks every small business owner needs to know and ways insurance can help.

Risk #1: Property Damage

Just like with your home and personal auto, property damage can happen at any time. Protect your business against fire, theft, vandalism, and other unfortunate incidents by having appropriate insurance coverage. Most business policies include a layer of coverage for your office or storefront location, while a commercial vehicle policy can help insure company cars against damage.

Risk #2: Injuries to Workers and Customers

Another important risk for small businesses to consider is injury to either worker or customers.  Sometimes accidents happen where a visitor to your location slips, falls, or is otherwise involved in an accident. In certain cases, your employee may even be the one who is hurt.

These injury scenarios actually fall into two categories: worker’s compensation insurance and liability coverage. A worker’s compensation policy is often required by law and takes care of your staff’s medical bills and other associated costs if they are injured while on the job. Liability insurance covers claims where your customer is injured. Both are two key policies to have if you own a small business.

Risk #3: Other Liability Issues

Another risk to look out for when you own a small business is other liability issues. While a liability policy does cover customer injury, it also encompasses many other types of incidents. For some companies, this can be a simple accident where a client’s home is damaged while your crew is working nearby or a situation where someone claims a product you made caused them harm.

The exact extent of liability risk greatly depends on the industry you are in and the tasks your firm is engaged in. Thus, there are a wide range of different liability policies available to help you find the one that meets your needs the best.

So, how do you know which commercial insurance policies cover the risks of your small business? Speak with one of our dedicated team members as Colling Insurance Services, Inc. We will sit down and review the details with you to determine your exact needs.

 

 

Myth: Lakewood Myths You Need to Know About

Investing in life insurance is a wise choice, especially for people who have lots of dependents. Life insurance funds can be used in any way that a beneficiary wants, including paying off a mortgage, covering funeral expenses, moving to a new home, etc. If you are considering investing in a life insurance plan, make sure to first speak with a qualified agent serving the Lakewood area at Colling Insurance Services Inc. Also, make sure that you don’t fall victim to either of these life insurance myths. 

Myth #1: Only people who have children need life insurance

Children are a great reason to invest in life insurance because the funds can be used to pay for their college tuition, to buy a home, and it can be spent in many other ways. Still yet, though, even if you don’t have children, there’s still a chance that you might want to invest in life insurance. If you have a spouse who depends on you for financial support, then life insurance is of the utmost importance. The primary purpose of investing in this type of insurance vehicle is to ensure that your beneficiaries can maintain their same standard of living once you pass away. 

Myth #2: Life insurance doesn’t make for a good investment

When investing in term life insurance, many people think that they are wasting their money because there’s always the chance that the policyholder won’t pass away during the predetermined number of years that the policy is created for. Still yet, though, life insurance is a great investment when invested properly. The best way to make sure you invest in a policy that makes for a good investment is by speaking with a qualified agent serving the Lakewood from Colling Insurance Services. 

 

Stay Safe When Carving Pumpkins with Friends

Carving pumpkins and lighting jack-o-lanterns is a longstanding Halloween tradition. On the night of October 31, orange globes illuminate yards, walkways and homes. Every year, though, there are accidents associated with jack-o-lanterns. At Colling Insurance Services, we want to remind everyone who will be carving a pumpkin this year to do so safely, and we’ve compiled a few tips to help keep you, your family, and your friends from having a mishap.

Jack-O-Lantern Safety

Carving a pumpkin shouldn’t be any more dangerous than cutting up a squash for dinner. After all, pumpkins are just big squashes. Often however, people aren’t as cautious when they’re carving a pumpkin as when they’re chopping on the kitchen counter. Remember to pay attention to what you’re doing when carving a pumpkin, and to:

  • never use a knife while intoxicated
  • supervise children when they’re carving
  • avoid placing finished jack-o-lanterns where people will walk
  • illuminate jack-o-lanterns with lights rather than candles

The latter two suggestions won’t keep anyone from cutting themselves, but they can help reduce the risk of tripping or starting a fire.

Home Insurance Coverages

Before making the first cut into a pumpkin, you may want to review your home insurance coverages. Your homeowners insurance’s liability coverage may cover accidents related to pumpkin carving, and its fire protection might cover fires started by candles in jack-o-lanterns. Whether its coverages will provide protection in these types of scenarios will depend on your policy’s terms and conditions, and the incident.

For help determining what types of accidents your homeowners insurance covers, contact us. Our agents are licensed to help residents of Colorado with their insurance needs, so they can help you with your homeowners insurance if you live in Lakewood, CO. To get in touch with them, send us a message online.

 

 

What Type of Health Insurance Is Best for College Students?

Much like everyone else, college student must maintain health insurance coverage in order to avoid paying a penalty. More importantly, college students must maintain health insurance to ensure they have access to healthcare when they need it. Unfortunately, understanding what’s available can be challenging for anyone who isn’t familiar with health insurance. The following are a few options college students should consider in order to determine the best option for healthcare insurance.

Continuing on Their Parent’s Insurance

One of the cheapest options for healthcare coverage for students is remaining on their parent’s insurance. Most of the time, college students have the option of remaining on their parent’s insurance coverage while they are in school until they reach the age of 26. Marriage, living at another address, and the ability to enroll in an employer’s plan doesn’t disqualify college students from remaining on their parent’s insurance.

A Student’s Health Plan

Most colleges understand the importance of offering their students a discount health plan. With the ability to reduce the cost of care, many college students will get the treatment they need and reduce the transmission of infectious diseases. Most colleges partner with health insurance companies to offer their student’s an affordable health insurance plan.

Purchasing a Health Plan in the Marketplace

The Affordable Care Act makes it easy for college students to purchase health insurance, as well. Most college students who purchase healthcare do so during open enrollment; however, there are qualifying events that allow college students to get coverage outside of enrollment dates, including:

  • Getting married
  • Having a baby
  • Adopting a child
  • Gaining citizenship

In most cases, qualifying events allow students to enroll for coverage.

Purchasing Health Insurance from an Insurance Company

Insurance companies are a great option when it comes to purchasing health insurance coverage. Most insurance companies offer insurance from many different companies, allowing college students to choose between competitively priced coverage options.

College students around Lakewood, CO who are interested in getting more information about the types of coverage options Colling Insurance Services Inc. offers should give us a call.

Sinking Porch: Will My Homeowners Insurance Cover Repairs or Replacement?

Sinking Porch: Will My Homeowners Insurance Cover Repairs or Replacement?

Colorado has something to offer everyone, whether you’re a skier who could spend all day and evening at Vail or someone who would rather spend your day and evening shopping till you drop at the Cherry Creek Shopping Center.

Unfortunately, with all that snow comes some flooding and wet soil during the spring months. This can damage the foundation of your house and actually cause your foundation and porch to start to sink.

When you purchase homeowners insurance, most people do not read the fine print nor do they ask if their policy covers sinking foundation or a sinking porch. The answer to those questions is generally no, but there are a few exceptions.

Why Does My Homeowners Policy Only Cover Certain Causes for a Sinking Porch or Foundation?

Even though your foundation and porch are part of your house, if they start to sink, they are usually not covered under your homeowner’s policy because of the reasons why they sink, including:

  • Flooding
  • Drought
  • Wet soil
  • Dry soil

In addition, homeowners insurance does not cover the following:

  • Shrinking or expanding foundations
  • Cracked walls
  • Cracked ceilings or floors
  • Driveways, walkways, or fences that become damaged

When Will Homeowners Insurance Cover a Sinking Foundation or Porch?

  • Burst pipes
  • Underground mines that cause damage to your foundation
  • Underground drains and state or city owned sewage lines that cause damage to your home

Although, Colorado is not a state that is prone to earthquakes, you can purchase a separate rider that will cover the cost of foundation and porch repairs and replacement. Of course, the damage has to have been caused by an earthquake for the insurance to pay for it.

On the other hand, Colorado is prone to flooding, therefore a separate policy for flooding is highly recommended and will cover the cost of any repairs or replacement to your sinking foundation or porch caused by the flooding.

The law requires that everyone have homeowners insurance if you have a mortgage auto insurance coverage. However, you can easily work with your Colling Insurance Services agent to work out additional coverage that will provide even more protection when disaster strikes!