3 Tips to Avoid Expensive Auto Losses

Posted on July 26, 2018January 12, 2021 by admin

Do you have employees driving for your business?

Check out these tips to ensure you experience the fewest auto losses possible:

Develop a system for hiring
Provide Driver Training
Supervise Effectively

Looking for an outline of how to put these things in place? We gotcha covered.

By systematically managing your drivers with a program that works for you and your employees and practicing the same steps for each hire, you’ll save yourself a lot of headaches.

1. Develop a System for Hiring

Find ways of hiring qualified, positive, competent candidates.

Ideas include: anticipate job openings to reduce a rushed hiring process, consider applicants’ history of stable employment, check their MVR, and publish the opening in as many different places as possible.

This will help you acquire the largest pool of candidates, giving you your choice!

The Hartford Financial Services also suggests including a few tests in the hiring process.

Not sure how to regulate or plan these tests? Check out the free resource from Hartford, one of our preferred vendors.

Hartford Financial Services created this incredible resource which includes: Driver Employment Application, Driver Evaluation Form, Driving Test Evaluation Form, Road Test Evaluation Form (with tips!), a Vehicle Collision Form, Supervisor’s Vehicle Collision Form, AND Vehicle Condition Reports (truck, van, automobile). Click here for free access to a systematic way of hiring!

2. Provide Driver Training

Using a combination of a basic overview of any equipment employees will use, mentorship, supervision, consistent group meetings, and self-teaching, new employees’ training and road to excellence (no pun originally intended) will hasten.

3. Supervise Effectively

Create and outline goals. Make them measurable and attainable!

Motivate employees with clear, concise instruction

Measure work and any important data

Review goals regularly to adjust the plan or motivate change.

Evaluate every driver’s success and safety. Discuss any driving problems that arise with that employee.

Why do all this?

Avoiding auto losses on a fleet will save money, improve company morale, and increase productivity.

For more expert info, watch the Commercial Auto part of our video series on Contractors Insurance. Click below!

Get More Out of Your Commercial Auto Policy

Resources: The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc.

Do I Need Workers Compensation Insurance?

Posted on June 4, 2018January 12, 2021 by Deborah Rogy

She slips…

She falls!

Who’s responsible?

To help you answer this question, we’ve put together a brief summary of your legal responsibility as an employer:

Employers have a legal responsibility to their employees to make the workplace safe. Unfortunately, accidents happen even when employers and employees take every safety measure. That’s what workers comp is for.

Protect and Provide

Workers comp protects employers from lawsuits resulting from workplace accidents. It also provides medical care and compensation for lost income to employees who have been hurt in a workplace accident.

Because of this, in almost every state, businesses are required to buy workers compensation insurance.

Protect Yourself & Your Business

What does it do?

Covers workers injured on the job (whether they’re hurt on the workplace premises or elsewhere, or in auto accidents while on business).
Covers work-related illnesses.
Provides payments to injured workers, without regard to who was at fault in the accident, for time lost from work and for medical and rehabilitation services.*
Provides Death benefits to surviving spouses and dependents*

Don’t I already have workers comp insurance under a BOP?

Workers compensation insurance must be bought as a separate policy.

Although in-home business and business owners policies (BOPs) are sold as package policies, they don’t include coverage for workers’ injuries.

If you already have workers comp, click the button below to ensure you’re getting the lowest rate and best coverage

OR if you don’t have workers comp, click below to learn more about it and receive a free quote.

*Note: Each state has different laws governing the amount and duration of lost income benefits, the provision of medical and rehabilitation services and how the system is administered.

For example, most states regulate whether the worker or employer can choose which doctor treats the injuries and how disputes about benefits are resolved.

Protect Yourself & Your Business

Do You Run a Business? Here’s a Bright Idea

Posted on May 25, 2018January 12, 2021 by Seth Arruda

Business Owner’s Policy (BOP) – A Bright Idea

Commercial property insurance is designed to insure commercial property owners from a potential covered loss. Many business owners purchase commercial building coverage as part of their Business Owners Policy. The Business Owners Policy is a robust policy offering many coverages under one policy.

Depending on the terms of your policy, some of the coverage offered by a “BOP” are the following:

Fire coverage for the covered building and contents scheduled on the policy.
Water damage to the building and contents in case of a flood or broken pipe.
Lightning/storm which damages an outdoor sign
Inventory
Loss of business income due to a covered peril
Sounding good so far? There’s more!
…
Liability coverage in the event of a covered law suit
Data Breach coverage in the event confidential information is obtained by a hacker. Make sure to read the exclusions of this coverage as there can be limitations.
Employment Practice Liability coverage can be included to protect an employer from a claim made by employees alleging discrimination, sexual harassment, wrongful termination, etc.
Hired & Non-Owned coverage provides coverage to employees driving on the job. This coverage will pick up the additional cost that may be inquired after using the employees personal auto policy.

As a business owner, if you are unsure of what’s covered on your current policy reach out to your agent and review your coverage. There may be gaps that could cost you a fortune.

Fortunately, you’ve got us. At Alta Vista Insurance, we work to help your business reach new heights.

Call today at (888) 724-2124 to see whether you might be vulnerable to a loss or click to get a quote!

Click to Get a Quote!

Offering a variety of solutions for Southern California’s diverse needs

Posted on April 17, 2018January 12, 2021 by admin

At Morgan Hege Insurance, we know Southern California real estate. One of the major concerns here is fire hazards. Most of the regions in the Southern California are in a high or high brush area, and that poses several challenges when it comes to insurance, especially since insurance has recently become a more important part of the real estate transaction than it used to be. Recent changes have made the insurability of a property one of the most important things when it comes to ownership. Agents and insurers must be aware of brush hazards and certain additional hazards in low-lying areas. Morgan Hege Insurance assists agents by providing them with not only our knowledge and expertise in regard to doing specific underwriting—we will work with agents and their clients to provide them with the proper policy they need for the property. We are a full service, independent brokerage. We work with most of the top companies here in Southern California, so we can provide clients with the best coverage and also find them the best rate for their premium dollar. We also have the ability to find the carrier that has the proper coverage to fit areas with very specific challenges, like high brush or mountain hazards. We can accommodate luxury homes and elegant homes, and we also have other specialty markets for properties in farm areas or with prior loss history. Working with Morgan Hege Insurance gives you the advantage of our expertise in real estate transactions. We have the available markets to offer clients a variety of solutions for to cover all types of risks and lifestyles found in Southern California.

California Wine Country, WATCH OUT!

Posted on April 13, 2018January 12, 2021 by admin

Earthquakes in California aren’t a big surprise to anyone. Recently, studies have shown a more daunting side to this well known occurrence. San Francisco’s recent quake has shook up geologists everywhere. There are four major faults in this area that could greatly affect the farming world.

Researchers from the U.S. Geological Survey and San Francisco State University believe Central and Northern California should be preparing for earthquakes anywhere from 6.8-7.1 magnitudes.
Southern California and the farmland of Central Valley rely on the man-made water system that connects to the Sacramento and San Joaquin rivers, commented James Lienkaemper, the U.S. Geological Survey geologist who was the lead on the story.
All four of these fault segments are extremely vulnerable. Each belonging to the San Andreas fault system, this geological dividing line marks where California’s western and and northwestern shift away from the rest of North America at about 2 inches a year.

With this threat of an earthquake, we can’t predict when the next might occur, but we can do our best to avoid financial disaster. Here are 3 ways to be prepared as a winery or vineyard:

1. Locate your vineyard to a close, reliable water source.

2.Location, location, location! Make sure you do your Geography homework! Research where faults are in the area you are looking to buy/cultivate in. you can NEVER be too careful!

3. Climate control! Make sure to have some sort of back up source of energy in case the power goes out.

4.Don’t store your wine up to high! Storing your wine low can help prevent breakage and will help keep your inventory full!

Green or Scheme?

Posted on April 13, 2018January 12, 2021 by admin

Green construction is becoming increasingly popular. about 35% of construction in 2013 was green, and it is expected to increase 55% by 2016. Although green construction is becoming the new fad, it may not be the choice. Here are a few topics to consider before going green:

Make sure your green contractor has insurance. If he doesn’t, don’t hesitate to hire a new one. If you like your contractor, but he doesn’t have insurance, as part of the contract, require he gets it.
Property damage coverage is not traditional! Although your building may be fully functional, it may not achieve “green status”, or meet LEED standard. If that’s the case, normal liability policies may not cover that issue. It is important to remember that some certified green professionals may be excluded from some liability policies; property damage may not be covered.

So, how can you stay protected? DO YOUR RESEARCH! Go through a company that specifically offers green insurance. This way, if any construction falls into the “gray-green” area, you will be covered.

3 Business Income Coverages Most People Miss…

Posted on April 13, 2018January 12, 2021 by admin

The end of the year is a good time to review your business insurance policies, especially business income coverage. The following additional endorsements are often overlooked:

1. Coverage for restoration period

It is common to underestimate the time it will take for a company to return back to normal operations after a loss. Cleanup and debris removal can take much longer than anticipated. Building codes, permits and inspections all add many months to the process. Two years of business interruption insurance is generally needed. Make sure to review the dollar limits in your policy.

2. Increased monthly limits for peak months

Be sure your Business Income amount is adequate for your business type. If your business is seasonal, the peak months need adequate limits. Review coverage and limits often

3. Transit coverage

Most businesses rely on fully insured carriers, like UPS or FedEx for shipping customer goods. These carriers generally use a release bill of lading for most shipments. If the shipper damages or loses your items, your coverage may be limited to as little as $100, and you may have no further recourse. If you ship large quantities and values consider a blanket transit policy.

California Business Insurance

Posted on September 4, 2017January 12, 2021 by admin

Make sure your company is properly covered with California business insurance – Team with Alta Vista Insurance today!

As a business owner or executive, you are faced with risk factors on a regular basis. Having a robust business insurance plan in tact will greatly diminish your chances of suffering from major loss. The knowledgeable agents at Alta Vista Insurance will help you assess your potential risks and then build a California business insurance program. While we are located in Vista, CA we are able to serve all of your insurance needs throughout SoCal and California.

State regulations will determine basic Orange County and San Diego business insurancerequirements. Among the commonly required policies are workers compensation, unemployment, and disability insurance. But these may not be enough. Business insurance packages can include any of the following coverages:

Business Owners Policies (BOP)
Worker’s Compensation
General Liability
Errors & Omissions
Commercial Auto
Commercial Property
Group Benefits
Professional Liability

Companies come in all variations of shape and size, so Alta Vista Insurance makes a point to personalize each San Diego business insurance policy we write. There are many coverage lines to consider when developing your California business insurance package, and that can become overwhelming – we understand that. Our agents will work with you to establish a policy that is tailored to your specialized commercial insurance requirements.

Give us a call today at 877.410.9099 for more information or to get started on your California business insurance quote!

Builder’s Risk

Posted on September 4, 2017January 12, 2021 by admin

There is a window of time – when the ground is broken on a new construction project – when liability falls squarely on the shoulders of the general contractor. If a crane falls, a worker is injured, or the work is faulty, it’s the responsibility of the GC to provide compensation.

The good news is that this liability ends when the project is completed. In fact, the GC is only responsible for any liability if negligence is found to be the culprit.

At Alta Vista Insurance, we can provide you with comprehensive and affordable builders risk insurance coverage. It can be customized to cover a host of tools, equipment, and skilled employees in addition to the actual structure being built.

Bonds

Posted on September 4, 2017January 12, 2021 by admin

Let’s be clear: bonds are not insurance policies – they’re guarantees. It is not uncommon for business and contractors to have certain projects bonded to ensure they are completed, no matter what complications may arise. At Alta Vista Insurance, we specialize in providing both large and small businesses with the following bonds: