Suppose you’re driving your “company-furnished” vehicle on a personal errand to the grocery store and are involved in a very serious accident. Will you have the proper insurance coverage? Bonnie Pesch, a veteran personal lines underwriter with West Bend discusses this question below.

It’s possible you may not. Maybe your employer’s business auto policy doesn’t cover you when you’re using a company vehicle on personal business. Even if the policy provides you with coverage, the limits of liability may be too low. If you’re sued, you could be personally responsible for damages.

How do you protect yourself if you drive a company-furnished vehicle? It’s easy to do if you already own a different vehicle and insure it under a personal auto policy. Simply add Extended Non-Owned Auto coverage to it. This endorsement – on your own personal auto policy – provides you with personal auto insurance while you’re driving any non-owned auto furnished or available for your regular use.

So what should you do if you don’t own another vehicle with insurance coverage? Purchase a Named Non-Owned Auto policy. This can also provide you with the personal auto coverage you’ll need.

Call your agent at Purdum Gray Ingledue Beck at 309.833.1755 to discuss your coverage needs to make sure you are properly covered.

Source: http://www.thesilverlining.com/westbendcares/blog/do-you-drive-a-company-car-are-you-properly-insured

Our agency will be closed Monday, February 15th in observance of the President’s Day Holiday. In the event of an emergency, please contact Beau Ingledue at 309-333-1292.

Fall is a nice time of year in the Midwest. Fall sports are back, trees change colors, and if it was a hot summer, the cooler temperatures feel nice. It’s also the time of year when hunters begin venturing into the woods.

According to the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, more than 87 million Americans hunt, fish, and enjoy wildlife-related recreation annually. Combined, these activities generate more than $120 billion for the U.S. economy and support almost three million jobs.

Whether you’re a gun collector, sport-shooting enthusiast, or hunter, here are some safety tips to keep yourself and others safe.

1. Communication is key.

• Whether or not you own a gun, talking to your kids about gun safety is an important discussion. You never know what they may find at a friend’s house.
• If you’re hunting with family or friends, discuss the layout of the land and have a thorough understanding of where each person will be.
• If you’re venturing into the woods, tell family or friends where you’re going and when you’ll be home.
• If visiting your local gun range, understand their rules and abide by them.

2. Store guns and ammunition in separate locked cabinets. Too often, we hear about accidental shootings. What you think is a good hiding spot probably isn’t. Kids are inquisitive and can find things you’d least expect them to find. Store the keys for your gun cabinets in a safe place. Labeling keys for a gun cabinet and leaving them in a common area of your home defeats the purpose of locked cabinets. Consider trigger locks.

3. Wear the appropriate clothing or gear. No matter what hobby you enjoy, wearing the appropriate clothing or gear is important. When shooting, wear eye and ear protection. If you enjoy walking in the woods, make sure you wear bright clothing to make yourself more visible. If you’re hunting from a tree stand, wear a safety harness.

Maintain your gear/hunting equipment properly by inspecting it after each use. If it needs repair, contact a professional.

4. Pack a first aid kit. Create a small kit specifically for you. My dad is allergic to bee stings, so he carried an EpiPen® when he hunted. If you suffer from an occasional migraine and have prescription medicine, pack that, as well.

5. Be aware of your surroundings. Identify where other hunters are and know what your target is before shooting. Be aware of where local medical services are located.

6. Ask permission. Just because you live near the woods doesn’t mean you can hunt in the woods. Always ask permission from landowners before hunting on their land since it can create many liability exposures for them. If you talk to the landowner beforehand, he/she can keep track of who’s hunting on the land and share any safety tips specific to the property.

7. Contact your local DNR. Many states require hunter safety courses. It’s required in many states. DNR websites also share

• Safety tips;
• Hunting opportunities;
• Volunteer opportunities; and
• Places to hunt.

Illinois DNR
Indiana DNR
Iowa DNR
Wisconsin DNR

Sources:
http://kidshealth.org/parent/firstaid_safe/home/gun_safety.html
http://www.remington.com/10commandments
http://www.nhfday.org/Page/Hunting-Facts.aspx
http://www.thesilverlining.com/westbendcares/blog/seven-tips-to-keep-yourself-and-others-safe-this-hunting-season