Keeping Kids Safe on Personal Watercraft

Keeping Kids Safe on Personal Watercraft
As soon as the mercury rises, kids and water go hand-in-hand. Add personal watercraft (PWC) such as Jet Skis and wave runners to your kids’ water sport options and you could very well create the perfect summer—as long as you learn how to keep your kids safe while they enjoy their time by the ocean, lake or pond.
Step 1: Invest in the right personal floatation device

• Buy a floatation device that fits your child now—even if that means you will have to replace it soon when he outgrows it.
• Use your child’s weight to choose the right size floatation device.
• Choose a floatation device with a grab handle so you can pull her out of the water if necessary, head support that works to maintain her head above the water and a crotch strap that allows the device to stay in place offering maximum protection.
• Make sure the device has a snug fit and is the right type for the kind of activities you plan to indulge in with your children. Type III should be used for sports and type II for calmer waters closer to inland.
• Never allow your child near the water or on PWC without a properly secured floatation device.

Step 2: Supervise, Supervise, Supervise

• Children should never be left alone in the water, even if they’ve had swimming lessons and have their floatation device on. An adult should always be present, preferably one who has had CPR training, can swim and has not had any alcohol.
• Make sure to childproof any boats that young children will be riding.
• Consider leaving very young children off any personal watercraft. Once they are old enough to ride with an adult, position them between two adults rather than in the front or back of the craft.

Step 3: Educate and Prepare

• Take the time to teach your children proper behavior and handling techniques for all the watercraft they can operate. Make sure that you teach them on days that you don’t plan to use the vehicle as well as days you do to ensure they have a strong understanding and are, in fact, paying attention.
• Check laws in your state to find the appropriate age for your children to legally operate personal watercraft and to find out if a license is required.
• Have PWC insurance to pay for liabilities and medical payments. If your child should be injured in an accident involving personal watercraft, the right insurance policy can pay those damages. And if your child damages someone else’s property, liability insurance can cover those expenses.

For more information about Louisiana boat insurance or to get a free quote, call Bourg Insurance Agency at 225-490-5678.

Professional Liability Insurance for Online Training

In this often uncertain economic climate one way to help earn additional money and pay down debt is to bank on one of the least tangible but most valuable products you have; your knowledge. With the ease of online training sessions, the popularity of online mentoring, and the immediacy of online classes, this form of remote teaching is becoming very popular.

But when you decide to earn a profit by mentoring, training, or teaching another online, you may be positioning yourself as an expert within the industry or discipline you cover. As an expert you may want to consider the addition of professional liability insurance in order to protect yourself against liabilities that arise from mistakes or misunderstandings.

Why You Need Professional Liability
Training another professional isn’t a task that’s taken on for fun. If you collect money from individuals, you make certain promises about your experience, knowledge and abilities. This positions you as a professional and an expert and could introduce liabilities to your work.

For example, let’s say that one of your mentees or students misunderstands a lesson or you make an error when teaching them because you weren’t aware of a newly passed regulation. Your student or mentee might go on to practice their business in a way that causes one of their client’s damage. They could be sued for those damages and, upon realizing that they learned that particular method or approach from you, they may decide to sue you. Without professional liability insurance, you would be left to pay court costs—even on lawsuits that are not your fault. And if you are found liable, you’d need to pay damages out of your own pocket. With professional liability insurance, your policy would likely pay the damages and costs associated with the liability claim.

Don't allow the ease with which you may begin teaching students online to lull you into a false sense of security. If you exchange money or other property for your knowledge and expertise, then you are running a business and could have commercial liability exposure. Secure the proper liability insurance policy before you begin taking on students and mentees and protect yourself from lawsuits and the resulting financial consequences.

If you aren’t sure what kind of Baton Rouge insurance policies you or your business need, give us a call at (225) 754-5658. We understand the specialized needs of Baton Rouge business owners in many different industries and can help you keep up with the many ways changing technology affects your business risks.

Insurance Considerations for your Children

Your children may not have financial responsibilities and they may still need to be reminded to brush their teeth and clean behind their ears every night, but that doesn’t mean that they have no need for insurance.

From birth until the time they reach financial independence, your children need your help in maintaining appropriate insurance coverage for all their needs.

Health Insurance
There is no time in a person’s life when they should be without health insurance. When bringing your children to the doctor, to the emergency room after an accident, to get shots and regular checkups and attending to every other medical need, the last thing you need to worry about is how you will pay for the treatment. Health insurance is an affordable expense that controls costs and out-of-pocket expenses without sacrificing care.

Life Insurance
It’s difficult to think about life insurance for a child, but it’s practical. But not just for covering the final expenses should the unthinkable occur. By locking in rates as a child and allowing cash values to begin accruing, you create a financial head start for your kids as they move into adulthood.

Learn more about renters and auto insurance is affected by children.  Give us a call at 225-935-8751 for a Baton Rouge insurance quote. We can help you determine what is and isn’t necessary and design policies with premiums you can easily afford.

Excluded Perils - Baton Rouge Home Insurance

Events covered by your homeowner’s insurance plan are referred to as perils within your policy; but not every peril that causes damage to your property is covered. Those that are not covered are called excluded perils and they may include:

• Earth movement: This can include earthquakes, landslides, earth shifts, mudslides and sinkholes. Policies can, however, have special endorsements that provide limited coverage for some of these perils and special policies can be purchased for others. If you live in an area that is prone to any of these events, you may want to work with an agent to ensure that you are properly covered.
• Neglect: It’s up to every homeowner to take the necessary steps to protect their home and to maintain the property to minimize the chance of losses. If your property becomes damaged as a result of neglect, your home insurance policy likely offers no benefits.
• Acts of war: If your home is damaged during activities connected to a civil war, undeclared war, war-like act by the military or military personnel, or rebellion, your home insurance policy likely excludes coverage. It may also exclude coverage for certain nuclear events.
• Intentional loss: The purpose of a home insurance policy is to make a homeowner whole after a loss that they were not expecting and, when possible, took relative care to prevent or minimize damage from. If a homeowner should be found to cause intentional damage to his or her home, the claim would likely be denied.
• Water damage: Your home insurance policy offers no protection against flood damage. Instead, a separate flood insurance policy is required to protect against the damage imposed by rising bodies of water due to runoff, storm surge, etc. It also does not provide coverage for tidal waves, sewer and drain backup, or leaks in the foundation.
• Government action: If, by government action, your property is confiscated or seized, it isn’t likely to be covered by your policy. However, if a neighborhood fire puts your home at risk and you are ordered out as a safety measure, then fire damage may be covered.
• Ordinance or law: After a loss, if local ordinances or laws require upgrades in rebuilding, then these additional expenses may not be covered.

To discuss your home insurance policy’s exclusions or to get a free Baton Rouge home insurance quote, give us a call at 225-935-8751.

Commercial Package Policies – Business Insurance

There are many types of risks that a small business owner might encounter and each requires a separate insurance policy. Buying individual policies for each risk can get confusing. Your agent will be able to offer you commercial package policies to help business owners organize their policies needed to protect their business in one convenient package. These packages may also include discounts to save business owners money as well.

Not every type of commercial insurance is offered in a commercial package policy though. Business owners can create a custom package using any of the following coverage types:

• Property coverage
• General liability
• Employment practices
• Auto
• Inland marine coverage
• Machinery coverage
• Crime coverage
• Boiler coverage
• Farm coverage
• Professional liability coverage

Your individual package may also have declarations, endorsements and conditions specific to you and the needs of your business. For instance:

• Each package will have what is called a common policy declaration spelling out the details of whom and what is covered. It will include the policy holder’s name, coverage dates, a description of the nature of the business covered and the premiums.
• Common policy conditions will spell out the responsibilities and obligations of the primary insured. This ensures that, in the case of a business with multiple owners, one individual owner will be responsible for paying premiums and responding to inquiries. This is also the only individual on the policy with the power to cancel it. In order to do so, he or she must send the request in writing to the insurer. If the primary insured wishes to transfer these responsibilities to another, the request must also be made in writing and must be approved by the insurance company.

With commercial package policies, it’s important to know that your insurer will be permitted to audit your business' books at any time while the policy is in-force and up to three years after it has been canceled.

Call us today at 225-935-8751 for more information about Commercial Package Policies or get a free Baton Rouge business insurance quote.

JG

What is Workers Compensation? - Part 1

Today we present the first Part of an article on Workers Compensation Fraud. Check back soon for Part Two on how to Prevent Workers Compensation Fraud.

Employers everywhere agree that a worker who is injured on the job through no fault of his or her own, has every right to be compensated for those injuries. Unfortunately, there are unscrupulous workers out there who take advantage of these very fair workers compensation laws in order to benefit. Whether they fake an injury (such as a difficult-to-diagnose back injury) or work with a crooked medical service provider to bilk the complicated workers compensation system, workers comp fraudsters are out there, and your company could be a target.

How Workers Comp Fraud Works

Why is workers comp such a tempting target for the less than scrupulous worker or medical professional out there? Simply because most states favor workers when it comes to on-the-job injury and, as a result, have implemented strict laws to protect them. In fact, most states require that employers pay 100% of medical and rehabilitation expenses incurred form work-related injuries, and even that they also pay up to two thirds of the employee’s lost wages while he or she is unable to work. The chance to take a long, paid vacation—or even double dip and work a second job while collecting worker’s compensation—can be too much of a temptation for some people.

Medical service providers have a similar motive for committing workers compensation fraud. For them, falsifying workers comp claims can quickly become a very lucrative cash cow. How do they do it? In the simplest case scenario, they might simply inflate the nature of a real injury when submitting it to the insurance company, costing the company money while the unknowing worker receives normal treatment for his or her injury. In other cases, they might work with an injured employee to exaggerate the severity of the injury.  When this happens, workers get more time off than merited and the doctor submits inflated medical bills to workers compensation insurance providers, netting cash for work they never did. Some so-called medical service providers have taken workers compensation fraud much farther, going so far as to fabricate their credentials, their clinic and the fact that the worker in question was even injured. Some even use cash to recruit workers to fake injuries.

At Bourg Insurance, we believe growing our business is important to our company, but maintaining our strong relationships with our customers is paramount. Call us today for a Baton Rouge Workers Compensation Quote at (225) 490-5678!

How to Make Your Own Personal Property Inventory

If your home and personal property is destroyed by a flood, fire, hurricane or other disaster, it may be more difficult than you think to remember all the items you had in your home before the event. And without an itemized list of the items you lost, you cannot get the recovery you deserve from the insurance company.

One way to avoid this is to make a personal property inventory. You can hire someone to do this for you, but it isn’t difficult to do it yourself.

1. Go room by room: Don’t just try to think about each of the items in your rooms while you are sitting in one place. Instead, go into one room and focus on that space completely while you are in it. Do not start another room until you finish the one that you are in.
2. List every item: As you look around the room, write a comprehensive list of every item in the room as you look at it. This is really the only way to ensure that you make note of every item you own.
3. Add descriptions and serial numbers: Once you’ve gone through every room of your home and classified each of your possessions, go back to the room you began the process in and start noting any distinguishing facts, serial numbers and descriptions next to each of the items you have listed. You should do this after you create the basic list of items because the process can take a while. If you try to do this all at once then you may actually suffer an insurable incident before you even have your basic list complete...

Continue reading "How to Make Your Own Personal Property Inventory" or contact us at (225) 490-5678 to learn more about Baton Rouge home insurance.

Tips to Save Money on Your Business Auto Insurance

Business auto insurance is a must-have for anyone using a vehicle for commercial use. But just because you have to have it, that doesn’t mean that you don’t want to find a way to spend less on your business insurance policy. Here are some tips that could help you save money on your business auto insurance policy without sacrificing your coverage.

• Higher deductibles: It is no secret that with higher deductibles, your premiums will be lower. It is important that you review your budget annually and set deductibles that you can afford to pay. As your revenues increase, it is possible that your deductibles can too. But make sure that you don’t get too aggressive with your deductibles and that you can afford those you set. Otherwise, you could be placing yourself up for more financial damage than an expensive premium would create.
• Lower your limits: Keep track of the value of your fleet and lower your limits accordingly so that you can keep your business auto insurance policy affordable. Your vehicles lose value every year and, if they are driven often, may lose value at a faster rate than a normal automobile. There is no point in having a high limit if your cars aren’t worth that much, unless you are looking for replacement value instead of actual value. When it comes to medical and bodily injury coverage, be sure not to lower your limits too aggressively since these costs tend to increase over the year rather than decrease.
• Review your coverage annually: When you simply renew the same insurance policy every year without reviewing it, you could be missing changes that have happened in your business and that should be reflected in your policy. For example, it is possible that you have too much insurance on company cars that have lost value over the years or, maybe you are covered for incidents that you and your drivers have little risk in encountering. It is important to review all these factors every year so you can stay on top of inefficiencies and streamline both your policy and your premium.
 

Continue reading "Tips to Save Money on Your Business Auto Insurance" or contact us at (225) 490-5678 to learn more about Baton Rouge business auto insurance.

Baton Rouge business insurance: Understanding the Role of Workers Compensation Insurance in Your Small Business

If you have employees, no matter how few, then you need Baton Rouge workers’ compensation insurance. Generally, individual states require businesses with employees to carry it, but even without this legal incentive it is a necessary product.

Workers’ compensation helps to save your bottom line against the claims of employees who are left with medical bills and are unable to continue working after being injured on the job. It is a benefit that is solely provided by the employer and not something that employees can help to fund.

The first thought that springs into the minds of many small business owners is that, since their business is small and internet-based, what injury could possibly befall their employees? But repetitive stress injuries, trips and falls and sprains are not reserved just for large companies. They can strike employees at even the smallest home businesses. 

Beyond providing compensation and medical fees for injured employees, workers’ compensation insurance has other optional protections that can be built-in to your policy and that may save your small business from financial losses. These protections include,

• Legal expense coverage if an employee makes a claim that is invalid or is part of a fraudulent activity.
• Funeral expense coverage for employees who are killed as a result of a workplace accident or injury.
• Financial support for dependents that lose a provider as the result of a work-related injury or accident.

The liabilities that a workers’ compensation policy can cover are flexible, so you can design a policy that makes sense for your business and your risk.  Another great aspect of workers compensation insurance is that the owners of the business have the option of including themselves on the policy. They can opt not to and save money on premiums, or they can decide to cover themselves and get workers’ compensation benefits if they become injured at work while working (this is an important distinction for home-based businesses).

Some states allow certain companies to self-insure their workers’ compensation benefits, but because of the great financial risk involved this is not generally advisable and does carry some stiff financial, income and asset requirements for the business. 

As if all these reasons weren’t enough to compel small business owners with one or more employee to carry workers compensation insurance, the states that require it have also instituted fines for those companies that are out of compliance. So if you choose not to get the coverage, not only will you suffer enough financial exposure to possibly result in the loss of your business, but you also may be fined on top of that.

As an Independent Agency we have access to many companies and products. Through this vast market we are able to offer you the professional protection you need and deserve. Call us today to get a free Baton Rouge business insurance quote at (225) 490-5678.

Baton Rouge Home Insurance for the First-time Homebuyer

Insurance policies can be difficult for any consumer to fully understand, but first-time homebuyers are in a stickier situation than most after all, here you have a plan of insurance designed to protect your largest asset, and it is not only difficult to understand but also has many caveats that, by not understanding them, could leave you dangerously exposed.

Home Insurance Is Not Flood Insurance

The first lesson for a first-time homebuyer is that Baton Rouge home insurance is not the same thing as flood insurance. Flood insurance protects your home against the damage caused by a body of water that rises as a result of snow melt, rain, etc. Home insurance offers no protection to homeowners when this happens. If you live in a flood zone, then your mortgage lender will require you to have flood insurance. If you do not live in a flood zone, the coverage is optional.

Limits and Deductibles

Your policy likely has a deductible—and it may even have more than one. The deductible is the amount of money you must pay out of pocket for an insurable incident. Your insurance policy will offer no benefit payments unless the claim exceeds your deductible.

Limits are the maximum benefits that your insurance company will pay out. Your limits should be reasonable for the value of your home and contents and possible liability claims exposure. If your limits are lower than you’d like, you can consider an umbrella policy to add additional coverage.

Personal Property or Contents

In addition to offering financial reimbursement for losses and damages to your home, home insurance also protects the value of your contents or personal property. This includes your furniture, electronics, intangible software and music purchases, clothes and more. For jewelry, art or antiques, you may need additional coverage.

Liability Coverage

If someone is injured in your home or on your property, you may be responsible for paying damages, medical expenses and lost income, even if the injury was not a result of your purposeful negligence. Home insurance protects you from these liabilities so that you can actually enjoy having people over without worrying that it will later result in a huge liability.

Bed Bugs and Mold

It is a good idea to read your home insurance policy and see what types of incidents are considered insurable and actually offer recompense. In most policies, bed bugs, termites, mold and other home invaders are not considered insurable incidents, so you must pay out of pocket for their removal.

As an Independent Agency we have access to many companies and products. Through this vast market we are able to offer you the professional protection you need and deserve. Call us today to get a free Baton Rouge home insurance quote at (225) 490-5678.

Defend Yourself against Automobile Break-ins

Having coverage to provide assistance once your vehicle is taken is wonderful, but do you realize what is even more comforting? Not having your vehicle stolen. Not only can a claim for a hijacked auto likely increase your auto insurance rates, it is time intensive and annoying. So rather than leaving it to blind luck, lessen your liability by using some of these auto theft prevention suggestions:

1. Buy an alarm for your vehicle: Alarms are effective devices to defend against auto theft. The ruckus they make draws attention to your vehicle when someone gets too close or tries to vandalize it. Even though auto alarms blend into our modern landscape, people still notice when they go off.
2. Secure automobile entry: It seems so simple, but locking your doors is a big defense against auto theft. The more time it takes for someone to break into your vehicle, the less probable it is they're actually going to steal it. Unlocked doors send an invitation to thieves you may regret.

Bear in mind, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure and to steer clear of all the paperwork, phone calls, and claims that comes along with a automobile theft, this saying has never been more true. Read more about how to defend yourself against auto theft.

As an Independent Agency we have access to many companies and products. Through this vast market we are able to offer you the professional protection you need and deserve. Call us today to get a free Baton Rouge auto insurance quote at (225) 490-5678.

Baton Rouge Auto Insurance

Why do you need auto insurance?

It's really all about protecting yourself financially.

• If you're in an accident or your car is stolen, it costs money, often a lot of money, to fix or replace it.
• If you or any passengers are injured in an accident, medical costs can be extremely expensive.
• If you or your car is responsible for damage or injury to others, you may be sued for much more than you're worth.
• Not only is having insurance a prudent financial decision, many states require you to have at least some coverage.

Questions to ask your agent
Your Independent Agent is an advocate for finding auto insurance that meets your specific needs. Here are a few things to consider as you prepare for the discussion:

• How much can you afford to pay if you get in an accident? (To keep premiums low you may want to have a higher deductible and be willing to pay more for repairs.)
• What is the insurance company's level of service and ability to pay claims?
• What discounts are available? (Ask about good driver, multiple policy and student discounts.)
• What's the procedure for filing and settling a claim? (Ask who to call and what happens after you file a claim.)

History and Politics

The city of Baton Rouge was named nearly 300 years ago when on March 17, 1699, Pierre Le Moyne, Sieur d'Iberville, led an expedition along the Mississippi River.

The city's earliest written records are found in the diaries of these explorers which tell the tale of a pole stained with blood of fish and animals that served as the dividing line between the Bayougoula and Houmas Indians. It is from this "red stick" that Iberville christened our city "le Baton Rouge."

The Indian mounds on the campus of LSU were built 450 years before the construction of the great Egyptian pyramids.

Baton Rouge was named the state capital in 1846, and the Old State House was completed in 1850. Louisiana seceded from the Union in 1861, and in August 1862, Baton Rouge fell to the Union forces. The federal government of Louisiana was moved to New Orleans. It was 1882 before Baton Rouge again became the capital of the state.

Louisiana State University came to Baton Rouge in 1869. The campus was located downtown prior to its move in 1926 to its present location.

In 1927, Huey P. Long was elected governor and served from 1928-1932, when he became a United States Senator. One of the most famous "populist" politicians, Long provided "free textbooks" for public schools.

During Long's term, the skyscraper new State Capitol was erected. It cost $5 million and took only 14 months to complete. It stands nearly 450 feet tall with 34 stories. It was here that Long was assassinated in 1935. Long is buried on the grounds of the State Capitol.

Almost a century later, Baton Rouge is moving forward to become America's Next Great City.
(Photo and Source: VisitBatonRouge.com)

As an Independent Agency Bourg Insurance has access to many companies and products. Through this vast market they are able to offer you the professional protection you need and deserve. Call (225) 490-5678 today for a free Baton Rouge auto insurance quote.