Inside This Newsletter you'll find: Uber and Lyft passenger safety tips; Find the right boat insurance coverage; Classic auto tips and Gallagher in action.

Uber and Lyft passenger safety tips that could save your life. 

Personal Lines

Rideshares have become a popular and convenient way to book a ride from your smartphone, but entering a stranger’s car could put you at risk. A 2018 CNN investigation revealed that at least 103 Uber drivers in the U.S. had been accused of assaulting or abusing passengers in the previous four years. Before ordering your next ride, read these safety tips.

  • Never Ride Alone While Intoxicated. If you’ve had too much to drink, ride with a passenger you trust.
  • Wait Inside For Your Ride. Request your ride and wait indoors for it to arrive. Standing outside while holding your phone could alert passing drivers that you’re waiting for a ride.
  • Confirm Your Ride’s Details. When your ride arrives, confirm that the car’s make, model, color, license plate, and the driver’s name and identity match the app details. Uber and Lyft rides can only be requested through the apps, so never accept a ride that doesn’t match yours, even if the car has an Uber or Lyft emblem. Before entering the car, ask the driver who they are picking up. Never offer your name first.
  • Buckle Up. Always wear your seat belt to reduce injuries—or even save your life—in the event of an accident.
  • Track Your Route During The Ride. Use the GPS in your smartphone to map your trip, especially if you’re not familiar with the route to see if the driver is taking you off track.
  • Never Share Personal Information. Do not disclose your phone number, credit card or details of your personal life to your driver. The Uber app encrypts your phone number and credit card information, and masks your pickup and drop-off addresses in the driver’s trip history for security purposes.
  • Ride In The Back Seat. If you’re the only passenger, ride in the back seat to provide personal space. This will also allow you to safely exit the car from either side to avoid traffic.
  • Share Your Trip Status. The Uber and Lyft apps let you share details about the driver, vehicle, destination and arrival time with contacts in your smartphone, so they can track your trip. As an added precaution, you could also snap a picture of the license plate or take a screenshot of your trip details from the app, and then text it to loved ones.
  • Trust Your Gut. Don’t enter the car of a driver who makes you uncomfortable. Keep the windows down so you can yell for help if needed. If you are in immediate danger, try to safely exit the vehicle. Dial 911 directly from your phone, or use Uber’s Emergency Assistance Button to dial 911 from the app or Lyft’s Critical Response Line to connect to Lyft’s safety team.
  • Rate Your Trip. After your trip, you’ll be asked to provide feedback through the app. This alerts Uber and Lyft’s 24/7 response teams of any safety concerns or inappropriate conduct, potentially keeping future riders safe.

Gallagher wishes you a safe ride home!

 

personal insurance

Find the right insurance coverage for your boat.

Insurance coverage for boats varies greatly from company to company. Researching and selecting the most comprehensive insurance protection available—to ensure the appropriate level of coverage for your vessel, yourself and your onboard guests—is of the utmost importance. Contact Gallagher to help you navigate through the different options and select the coverage that’s right for you.

Watercraft Insurance Coverage Tips

  1. Total Loss Settlement: The most significant coverage difference between various policies is whether the loss settlement basis is agreed value or actual cash value. Agreed value policies typically pay the limit shown on the policy when the boat is deemed to be a total loss. An actual cash value policy may only pay the current market value of the boat, factoring in depreciation. While an agreed value policy generally costs more and provides broader coverage, Actual cash value polices may suit the needs of an owner looking for an economical alternative with less coverage. Note: Some lenders may require you to carry agreed value coverage.
  2. Partial Loss Settlement: Replacement cost coverage normally pays for damage on a new-for-old basis (less your deductible), and age depreciation is not factored in for most losses. actual cash value coverage for partial losses may reduce your claim payment based upon depreciation, and your policy deductible will apply as well. However, some specific parts of a boat may be subject to depreciation.
  3. Liability Coverage: Some important liability features to ask about include coverage for legal defense costs, wreck removal, oil pollution and contamination cleanup, and non-owned (i.e., borrowed) boats. If you employ a captain or crew, you should ensure that Jones Act coverage is included in your policy.
  4. Medical Payments: Determine whether coverage includes you and your family, and that your intended activities are covered, such as waterskiing. Given equal amounts of medical payments insurance, coverage on a per-person basis may be preferable to coverage on a per- accident basis.
  5. Uninsured/Underinsured Boater Coverage:  This is an important feature to have  in your policy since many boaters may not have insurance (or enough).
  6. Supplemental Coverage: Check to ensure that personal property coverage and towing and assistance are available, and choose the limits that suit your needs.

Contact Gallagher today to help you navigate through the different options and select the coverage that’s right for you.

 

Classic auto tips

personal insurance

Whether you own a souped-up Toyota Land Cruiser, restored Aston Martin or a collection of classic muscle cars, a passion for unique and historic cars is something that never goes away—and often grows with the number of cars you own. Make sure you protect your classic cars from damage or additional wear and tear, so you can proudly show them off for years to come.

Here are a few tips to help you protect your car, truck, or other classic vehicle:

  1. Find The Right Storage Facility. The best location is a clean garage with room for your car—and no hazards close by, like lawn equipment, power tools or kids’ toys. You may want a power source, so you can hook up a battery trickle charger. And, if your garage is linked to your home’s fire detection system and is climate-controlled to maintain stable temperature and humidity levels, you’ll be all set.
  2. Keep All Important Documents. The original manuals and historic photos, as well as your car’s repair history, will help you appreciate your investment and might even increase its value.
  3. Research The History Of Your Marque And Model. Find catalogs, books, vintage magazines, parts catalogs and other memorabilia that include your car. Doing the research can be fun, but also can help you verify the originality of parts and confirm proper installation of everything from gauges to engine components and bumper guards.
  4. Take Photos. Do You Treat Your Car  Like  A  Member  Of  The  Family?  Many of us do. Taking pictures of your “baby” each year can help you notice small deteriorations in condition and can be important to future owners.
  5. Do The Maintenance. Find a reliable mechanic who specializes in your marque and address any problems promptly. Keeping up on maintenance will speak volumes to prospective future owners.
  6. Take Her Out For A Ride. Drive your car at least every few weeks, so you can maintain proper lubrication and identify any maintenance needs. Even if you want to keep the mileage down, a couple dozen miles each month won’t hurt the car’s value.
  7. Prepare For Extended Storage Periods. If you have no choice but to keep your car in storage for long periods of time, drain or treat the fuel and take steps to prevent rodent infestations.
  8. Properly Insure Your Classic. Not all insurers are alike. Find one that doesn’t limit your mileage, offers agreed value, and allows you to choose the most qualified repair shop. If your car is damaged, you’ll want it to be repaired to its original specifications with the highest quality parts, so you can protect your investment.

Contact Gallagher to ensure you have the proper coverage for all your vehicles!

The information contained herein is offered as insurance industry guidance and provided as an overview of current market risks and available coverages and is intended for discussion purposes only. This publication is not intended to offer legal advice or client-specific risk management advice. Any description of insurance coverages is not meant to interpret specific coverages that your company may already have in place or that may be generally available. General insurance descriptions contained herein do not include complete insurance policy definitions, terms, and/or conditions, and should not be relied on for coverage interpretation. Actual insurance policies must always be consulted for full coverage details and analysis.


Insurance brokerage and related services to be provided by Arthur J. Gallagher Risk Management Services, Inc. (License No. 0D69293) and/or its affiliate Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. Insurance Brokers of California, Inc. (License No. 0726293).