http://www.lawtonins.com/blog/View Lawton Insurance Agency's Website Blogen-uspostmaster@www.lawtonins.comInsurance Website Builder - www.insurancewebsitebuilder.comurn:uuid:1de1e88b-2819-47a4-84c6-874d6b4e485durn:uuid:c199c929-00eb-484e-afe2-96f6044569c2<img src='http://www.lifeinsuranceplans.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/life-insurance7.jpg' align='left' />Understanding Life Insurance &nbsp; Life insurance products are not all the same. While some provide coverage for your lifetime, others provide coverage for a specific number of years. Determining the right product depends on a number of factors...Wed, 13 Jul 2011 16:16:47 -0500<h1 style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #7030a0; font-size: 48px;">Understanding Life Insurance<br /> <h1></h1> </span></h1> <p style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" width="421" height="285" id="il_fi" style="padding-bottom: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-top: 8px;" src="http://www.lifeinsuranceplans.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/life-insurance7.jpg" /></p> <p style="text-align: left;">&nbsp;<br /> <br /> Life insurance products are not all the same. While some provide coverage for your lifetime, others provide coverage for a specific number of years. </p> <p>Determining the right product depends on a number of factors. ERIE&rsquo;s <a href="http://www.erieinsurance.com/life/CalculatorLaunch.aspx">life insurance calculator</a> can help determine the amount of life insurance you may need. To learn more about the different types of life insurance, talk to an <a href="http://www.erieinsurance.com/Applications/SiteAdvantage/Default.aspx?searchType=agent">ERIE Agent</a>. They can help you decide what products and options best meet your needs.</p> <p>There are two basic type of life insurance: term life and cash value life.* </p> <h2><span style="color: #002060;">Term life insurance</span></h2> <p>Term insurance provides coverage for a term of one or more years. The 20-year plan is the most popular version. Term insurance pays a death benefit if death occurs during the policy term. However, it does not include a cash value that can be used in the future.</p> <p>Some term insurance policies are renewable for one or more terms, even if your health changes, though the premium usually increases with each renewal. Inquire about renewal premiums before you buy. Also ask if there is an age when you can no longer renew the policy.</p> <p>Most term policies also include an option to convert to a cash value policy without having to provide evidence of insurability. Make sure you understand how the convertibility option works. The annual premium for term life insurance is usually less during the early years than the premium for a cash value insurance product. Be sure to compare the long term cost of each product before you buy.</p> <p>Erie Family Life&rsquo;s <a href="http://www.erieinsurance.com/life/TermLife.aspx">term life insurance policy</a> provides coverage to age 95. The face amount of the policy remains level until then and the policy owner can choose from a 10, 15, 20 or 30-year guaranteed level premium period. After the level premium period, the premium increases on an annual basis.</p> <h2><span style="color: #002060;">Cash value life insurance</span></h2> <p>Cash value life insurance is designed to last an entire lifetime. Most products provide coverage until age 100 or later. The premium for this type of insurance is higher than term insurance during the early years of the contract when compared to term life insurance. The premium that is not used to cover expense or the cost of insurance is invested by the insurance company. That investment builds a cash value that increases with time. That cash value can be borrowed to:</p> <ul> <li>Fund a business or investment opportunity. </li> <li>Pay education expenses, such as college. </li> <li>Enhance your retirement income. </li> <li>Pay emergency medical expenses. </li> </ul> <p>There are several types of cash value life insurance, including whole life, universal life and variable life.</p> <ul> <li><strong><a href="http://www.erieinsurance.com/life/WholeLife.aspx">Whole life insurance</a></strong> provides coverage for as long as you live. The annual premium is usually payable for a period of time such as 20 years or to age 65. Some are payable forever. The premium amount never changes unless there is a change in benefits. The cash value is guaranteed as shown in the policy. </li> <li><strong><a href="http://www.erieinsurance.com/life/UniversalLife.aspx">Universal life insurance</a></strong> is a flexible premium adjustable life insurance product that allows you to vary the premium payment within certain limits as defined by the insurer and the tax code. The death benefit can be increased or decreased as defined in the policy without having to buy a new contract. The cash value earns interest at a rate determined by the insurer and that rate is subject to fluctuation based on market conditions. Like whole life, the cash value can be borrowed. Additionally, the cash value can simply be withdrawn, thereby avoiding interest expense charges, subject to policy limits. </li> <li><strong>Variable life insurance</strong> can be structured as whole life insurance or as universal life insurance. The distinguishing feature of variable life is that the cash value is dependent on the investment performance of one or more separate accounts. In other words, the policy owner is subject to financial risk and the loss of their cash value. Be sure to read and study the prospectus before buying this type of policy. Erie Family Life does not offer variable life insurance products. </li> </ul> <p style="text-align: left;">For information on your life insurance policy or the features and benefits of other products that Erie Family Life offers, contact an agent at the Lawton Insurance Agency.&nbsp; You can reach us by phone 570-524-4200 for the Lewisburg office or 570-966-3145 for the Mifflinburg office.&nbsp;&nbsp;If your email savvy, you can cotact us by emailing&nbsp;<a href="mailto:insure@lawtonins.com">insure@lawtonins.com</a>.<br /> <br /> <em><span style="font-size: 10px;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Copyright Erie Insurance<br /> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;erieinsurance.com</span></em></p>urn:uuid:839446ed-c537-47ef-b469-fbdc50556179<img src='file:///C:/DOCUME%7E1/Trish/LOCALS%7E1/Temp/moz-screenshot.png' align='left' />When your car breaks down If you are in an accident or your car breaks down, safety should be your first concern. Getting out of the car at a busy intersection or on a highway to change a tire or check damage from a fender bender is probably ...Tue, 28 Jun 2011 15:49:13 -0500<h2 style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-decoration: underline; font-family: georgia; font-size: 24px; color: #c00000;"><strong>When your car breaks down</strong></span></h2> <div style="text-align: center;"> <div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" src="file:///C:/DOCUME%7E1/Trish/LOCALS%7E1/Temp/moz-screenshot.png" /><img alt="" src="file:///C:/DOCUME%7E1/Trish/LOCALS%7E1/Temp/moz-screenshot-1.png" /><img alt="" src="file:///C:/DOCUME%7E1/Trish/LOCALS%7E1/Temp/moz-screenshot-2.png" /><img alt="" src="file:///C:/DOCUME%7E1/Trish/LOCALS%7E1/Temp/moz-screenshot-3.png" /> <div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" src="file:///C:/DOCUME%7E1/Trish/LOCALS%7E1/Temp/moz-screenshot.png" /><img alt="" src="file:///C:/DOCUME%7E1/Trish/LOCALS%7E1/Temp/moz-screenshot-1.png" /><img alt="" src="file:///C:/DOCUME%7E1/Trish/LOCALS%7E1/Temp/moz-screenshot-2.png" /> <div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" src="file:///C:/DOCUME%7E1/Trish/LOCALS%7E1/Temp/moz-screenshot.png" /><img alt="" src="file:///C:/DOCUME%7E1/Trish/LOCALS%7E1/Temp/moz-screenshot-1.png" /><img alt="" src="file:///C:/DOCUME%7E1/Trish/LOCALS%7E1/Temp/moz-screenshot-2.png" /><img alt="" src="file:///C:/DOCUME%7E1/Trish/LOCALS%7E1/Temp/moz-screenshot-3.png" /><img alt="" src="/img/~www.lawtonins.com/BREAKDOWN.jpg" /><br /> </div> </div> </div> </div> <span style="font-family: georgia;"><strong><span style="color: #262626;">If you are in an accident or your car breaks down, safety should be your first concern. Getting out of the car at a busy intersection or on a highway to change a tire or check damage from a fender bender is probably one of the worst things you can do. The Insurance Information Institute (I.I.I.) recommends the following precautions when your car breaks down:<br /> <br /> </span></strong></span> <ol> <li><span style="font-family: georgia;">Never get out of the vehicle to make a repair or examine the damage on a busy highway. Get the vehicle to a safe place before getting out. If you've been involved in an accident, motion the other driver to pull up to a safe spot ahead.</span></li> <li><span style="font-family: georgia;">If you can't drive the vehicle, it may be safer to stay in the vehicle and wait for help or use a cell phone to summon help. Standing outside the vehicle in the flow of traffic, under most circumstances, is a bad idea.</span></li> <li><span style="font-family: georgia;">Carry flares or triangles to use to mark your location once you get to the side of the road. Marking your vehicle's location to give other drivers advance warning of your location can be critical. Remember to put on your hazard lights!</span></li> <li><span style="font-family: georgia;">In the case of a blowout or a flat tire, move the vehicle to a safer place before attempting a repair - even if it means destroying the wheel getting there. The cost of a tire, rim or wheel is minor compared to endangering your safety. Tips provided by the Insurance Information Institute, Inc. (<a target="_blank" href="http://www.insurance.info/">http://www.insurance.info</a>)</span></li> </ol> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: 10px;"><em><br /> </em></span></p> <p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: 10px;"><em>Source: Insurance Information Institute;</em></span><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: 10px;"><a target="_blank" href="http://www.iii.org/">www.iii.org</a></span></p>urn:uuid:3a8a8285-f6cb-4885-b821-cc55c3a9ae91<img src='http://www.lawtonins.com/img/%7Ewww.lawtonins.com/model%20T%20pile-up.jpg' align='left' /> Don&rsquo;t become a victim of one of the 6.3 million car crashes that occur each year. Here are five critical mistakes good drivers make and what you can do to avoid them. Mistake No. 1: Overconfidence Why it matters: Think you&rsquo;re a good ...Mon, 23 May 2011 14:00:42 -0500<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0c0c0c;"><strong><span style="font-size: 16px;"><img alt="" width="438" height="287" src="/img/%7Ewww.lawtonins.com/model%20T%20pile-up.jpg" /></span></strong></span><span style="color: #0c0c0c;"><strong><span style="font-size: 16px;"><br /> <span style="background-color: #c6d9f0;">Don&rsquo;t become a victim of one of the 6.3 million car crashes that occur each year. Here are five critical mistakes good drivers make and what you can do to avoid them.<br /> <br /> </span></span></strong></span></div> <h2> </h2> <h2 style="background-color: #c6d9f0;">Mistake No. 1: Overconfidence</h2> <p><strong>Why it matters:</strong> Think you&rsquo;re a good driver? So do 99 percent of people on the road, according to a National Safety Council survey. Never mind that 93 percent fail to follow basic safety practices like turning off cell phones or obeying the speed limit.</p> <p>Driving safety instructor Bob Green calls the phenomenon delusions of adequacy or &ldquo;D.O.A.&rdquo;</p> <p><strong>What to do instead:</strong> Acknowledge your vulnerability. And even with advanced vehicle safety features, don&rsquo;t take it for granted that your car is going to protect you.</p> <h2 style="background-color: #c6d9f0;">Mistake No. 2: Multi-tasking</h2> <p><strong>Why it matters:</strong> A 2004 study by the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute shows that driver distraction preceded almost 80 percent of crashes.</p> <p>At 60 mph, you can cover a lot of ground fast &mdash; 30 yards per second or the length of a football field in the time it takes to unwrap a hamburger. If you veer off course, you&rsquo;d better hope there isn&rsquo;t a bicycle, pedestrian or vehicle in your way.</p> <p>Driving under the influence of anything, including everyday distractions, is every bit as debilitating as drinking and driving, experts agree. That includes talking on a cell phone, hands-free or not.</p> <p>Drivers using cell phones are four times more likely to get into a crash, according to the <a href="http://www.iihs.org/" target="_blank">Insurance Institute for Highway Safety</a>. And a handsfree phone doesn&rsquo;t reduce the risk.</p> <p><strong>What to do instead:</strong> Think of yourself as an airplane pilot &mdash; check controls and settings before you take off.</p> <p>&ldquo;Train your eyes to look 12 seconds out so you can concentrate on what&rsquo;s ahead,&rdquo; says Green. &ldquo;And remember: smart drivers just drive.&rdquo;</p> <h2 style="background-color: #c6d9f0;">Mistake No. 3: Failing to Secure Loose Objects</h2> <p><strong>Why it matters:</strong> Loose items, from pets to pop cans, cause 13,000 injuries in accidents every year, according to the <a href="http://www.nsc.org/" target="_blank">National Safety Council</a>.</p> <p>Remember high school physics? In a crash, your car comes to a sudden stop, but anything not battened down keeps moving at the same speed. At 30 mph even the smallest object becomes a dangerous projectile. Think of your 4.4-ounce cell phone as a deadly missile aiming for your toddler with a force of 11 pounds, or two bricks. Or imagine your 60-pound black lab hurling against the back seat with the might of 1,200 pounds.</p> <p><strong>What to do instead:</strong> Put your junk in the trunk. Luggage, laptops and other heavy objects are best stowed in a closed compartment or under a cargo net.</p> <p>Never place objects on or near the airbag module; even a tissue box is nothing to sniff at when an airbag deploys. Keep pets secured in a latched cargo crate or with a doggy seatbelt.</p> <h2 style="background-color: #c6d9f0;">Mistake No. 4: Drowsy Driving</h2> <p><strong>Why it matters:</strong> More than half of American motorists admit to driving while drowsy and one in five say they actually nodded off or fell asleep at the wheel during the past 12 months, according to a report in the New England Journal of Medicine.</p> <p>&ldquo;Fatigue is an impairment,&rdquo; says Green. &ldquo;You can&rsquo;t play a good basketball game or a violin solo if you&rsquo;re whooped. So why would you think you could drive?&rdquo;</p> <p><strong>What to do instead:</strong> Pay attention to your body. Constant yawning, a nod of the head, heavy eyelids, blurred vision and lane drifting are warnings you may be on the verge of falling asleep.</p> <p>If you&rsquo;re tired, stop driving. Rolling down the window, drinking coffee and cranking up the stereo are only temporary fixes. You&rsquo;ll feel more refreshed if you take a 20-minute power nap. On long trips, stop to stretch every 100 miles or two hours. Drive with someone else in the car whenever possible.</p> <h2 style="background-color: #c6d9f0;">Mistake No. 5: Thinking Green Means Go</h2> <p><strong>Why it matters:</strong> One in three Americans admitted to driving through a red light or stop sign without coming to a complete stop in a 2005 poll commissioned by Volvo Cars of North America in partnership with the National Association of Police Organizations and the National Sheriffs&rsquo; Association.</p> <p>That means that even if you&rsquo;ve got the green, you could be right, but you could be dead wrong.</p> <p><strong>What to do instead:</strong> Yield anyway, even if you have the right of way. Look both ways and then look both ways again. Know what it takes to bring your vehicle to a complete stop.</p> <p>Don&rsquo;t trust anyone, insists Bob Schaller, adviser to <a href="http://roadtripamerica.com/" target="_blank">RoadtripAmerica.com</a> and author of <em>70 Rules of Defensive Driving</em>. &ldquo;People trust the other driver to be predictable and do the right thing. They often do not, and we often do not. The result is the 138 people who die each day in traffic crashes on our streets and highways.&rdquo;</p> <div style="text-align: right;"><br /> <span style="font-size: 10px;">Aaron Smith<br /> 5/23/11<br /> Information provided by Erie Insurance</span></div> <div style="text-align: right;"></div>urn:uuid:5a9359cc-79f1-4c48-b1d2-9862d881fd5b<img src='http://www.lawtonins.com/img/Library/Carriers/erielogo.gif' align='left' /> If you&rsquo;re looking for insurance, you&rsquo;re interested in lowering your auto insurance rates. Have you ever wondered how auto insurance rates are determined? Insurance companies must balance rates with the cost to cover claims. Factors tha...Mon, 07 Feb 2011 11:28:35 -0600<strong> <p style="text-align: left;"><img alt="" src="/img/Library/Carriers/erielogo.gif" /><br /> <br /> If you&rsquo;re looking for insurance, you&rsquo;re interested in lowering your auto insurance rates. Have you ever wondered how auto insurance rates are determined?</p> <p>Insurance companies must balance rates with the cost to cover claims. Factors that may affect your policy: </p> <ul> <li><span style="color: #1f497d;">Accident history</span> </li> <li><span style="color: #1f497d;">Driving record</span> </li> <li><span style="color: #1f497d;">Vehicle make and model</span> </li> <li><span style="color: #1f497d;">Annual mileage</span> </li> <li><span style="color: #1f497d;">Vehicle usage</span> </li> <li><span style="color: #1f497d;">Your credit-based insurance score </span></li> <li><span style="color: #1f497d;">Your age and eligibility for discounts</span> </li> </ul> <p>Auto insurance rates vary by state too. Rates in any given state are based in part on historical claim frequency and repair costs for car accidents or theft, as well as other factors like the cost of medical care. Within a state, some territories have higher rates than others. </p> <h2><span style="color: #1f497d;"><em>Keeping Rates as Low as Possible</em></span></h2> <p>Why are auto insurance rates rising?</p> <p>Insurance companies pay claims using the money collected from their Policyholders. Higher auto repair costs, higher medical bills, and costlier auto accident lawsuits have made claims more costly to settle. </p> <p>ERIE does all it can to control expenses and offer low rates, but as the costs increase for goods and services, premiums must be raised to cover those expenses. Premiums could also increase on individual policies because additional drivers are added, there is a change in the autos insured, or an accident or violation results in the loss of a discount.</p> <p style="text-align: left;">Erie Insurance is committed to keeping your auto rates as low as possible through fiscal responsibility and disciplined underwriting practices. ERIE further lowers your rates through numerous <a href="http://auto.erieinsurance.com/Auto-insurance-discounts.aspx">discounts</a>.<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <span style="font-size: 10px;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &copy; 1997-2011 Erie Indemnity Co., Erie, Pa., USA, all rights reserved</span></p> </strong>urn:uuid:2b09d375-ebf0-48cf-9be6-3c48dfec945d<img src='http://www.lawtonins.com/img/%7Ewww.lawtonins.com/new%20years%20resolution.jpg' align='left' /> &nbsp; New Years Resolution- Remember! &nbsp; Things slip our mind from time to time, I mean, we're only human.&nbsp; We have put together some tips below that should help refresh your memory.&nbsp; Over time, we can forget to do the simple ...Mon, 10 Jan 2011 11:37:21 -0600<div style="text-align: center;"> <div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 32px;"><strong><span style="font-family: georgia;">&nbsp;<img alt="" width="216" height="147" src="/img/%7Ewww.lawtonins.com/new%20years%20resolution.jpg" /> <div></div> <div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #c00000; font-size: 24px;">New Years Resolution- Remember!</span></div> </span> <div style="text-align: center;"></div> </strong></span></div> <div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 32px;"><span style="font-size: 24px;">&nbsp;</span> <br /> <div></div> </span></div> <br /> <div style="text-align: left;">Things slip our mind from time to time, I mean, we're only human.&nbsp; We have put together some tips below that should help refresh your memory.&nbsp; Over time, we can forget to do the simple things that keep us safe from risk.&nbsp; Make a checklist from the topics below, and review them at the start of each year.&nbsp; They will help keep you better protected and will also give you some much needed peace of mind for the year to come.&nbsp; <strong>Happy New Year to all!!</strong><br /> </div> </div> <br /> <div style="text-align: center;"><br /> </div> <ol style="list-style-type: decimal;" start="1"> <li><strong>Don&rsquo;t be a distracted driver</strong> - Many vehicle crashes are avoidable if you pay attention to the road. Inattentive driving accounted for nearly 6,000 crash fatalities and an estimated 515,000 injuries in police-reported crashes in 2008, according to the <a href="http://www.distraction.gov/" target="_blank">U.S. Department of Transportation</a>.&nbsp; Distractions typically include talking, eating, grooming, attending to children, watching a video, reading, adjusting a navigation system and using a cell phone. </li> <li><strong>Keep your home warm</strong> &ndash; The temperature in your house should be at least 65 degrees to prevent pipes from freezing. According to the <a href="http://www.iii.org/" target="_blank">Insurance Information Institute</a> (I.I.I.), winter storms are the third-largest cause of catastrophe losses, resulting in about $1 billion in insured losses annually. The average water damage and freezing claim was $5,531 in 2007, the most recent year for which there are figures from ISO&rsquo;s Property Claims Services. </li> <li><strong>Protect your home</strong> &ndash; Each year billions of dollars are paid out in homeowners insurance claims, with residential theft averaging more than $1,800 in losses per burglary.&nbsp; Keep your yard well lit and put indoor lights on a timer.&nbsp; If you&rsquo;re going on vacation, have mail and packages picked up and ask a trustworthy neighbor to keep an eye on things.&nbsp; Before the trip, invest in an alarm system &mdash; it&rsquo;ll help keep your house safe and could earn you a discount on your coverage. </li> <li><strong>Check your coverage</strong> &ndash; Homeowners spend billions on additions, alterations, maintenance and repairs each year.&nbsp; Review your insurance coverage to include improvements, major purchases and increased rebuilding costs.&nbsp; If a new addition or gazebo, for example, is destroyed or damaged before you increase your coverage, then you may be responsible for the cost of repairing or rebuilding the addition.&nbsp; If you rent and don&rsquo;t have renters insurance, give us a call as soon as possible so we can help you get the coverage you need! </li> <li><strong>Test the detectors</strong> &ndash; You&rsquo;ve heard it before, but many families simply forget to test their smoke detectors.&nbsp; Make sure yours is in working order with new batteries and that one is installed on every floor and in every bedroom.&nbsp; Test them regularly!&nbsp; The National Fire Protection Association offers a <a href="http://www.nfpa.org/assets/files/PDF/Public%20Education/AlarmInstallGuide.pdf" target="_blank">free smoke alarm installation guide</a> online.&nbsp; Also make sure that your home is equipped with at least one working carbon monoxide detector.&nbsp; Properly working <a href="http://www.epa.gov/iaq/pubs/coftsht.html" target="_blank">carbon monoxide detectors can help protect you</a> and your family by providing an early warning before the deadly gas builds up to a dangerous level. </li> </ol> If you feel you have other tips to share, please feel free to tell us and other insureds like yourself!