Category Archives: Colorado

Expensive Bites: Your Dog Could Cost You $25,000

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Did you know that more than 4.7 million people in the U.S. are bitten by dogs each year?  Roughly 900,000 of those people require medical attention as a result of the bites, reports the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Dog bites accounted for more than 1/3 of all home insurance liability claims paid out in 2009, equaling $412 million in costs.  During the last six years, the cost of the average dog bite lawsuit has been growing by almost 30 percent:  in 2009 the average lawsuit was $24,840 – rising slightly from $24,461 in 2008.  The lawsuit costs are rising due mainly to increased medical expenses, and they’re rising fast.

Think your dog could never attack anyone?  Neither did the owner of the bulldog who bit off a woman’s in 2006.  The Santa Rosa bulldog owner insisted that the animal had never bitten anyone or acted aggressively, but ended up paying out a $1 million lawsuit.

These dog bite lawsuits can be a major headache for dog owners – especially because it’s already difficult to get a home insurance policy if you have a certain breed.  The difficulty and expenses may grow if these dog bite lawsuits continue to increase.

So what’s the best advice for dog owners?

If you’re having trouble with a dog you already own, the best thing to do is to prove that the dog has completed an obedience program.

If you don’t yet have a dog but are planning to own one, be careful when choosing one. The current leading types of “red-flag dogs” are Pit Bulls, Chows, Akitas, Alaskan Malamutes, Doberman Pinschers, German Shepherds, Presa Canarios, Rottweilers, Siberian Huskies, wolf hybrids, and Staffordshire Bull Terriers – but the list is always growing and changing.

You may also want to invest into an umbrella policy. If your fuzzy little friend decides to attack someone and that someone decides to file a claim, an umbrella policy will provide you more protection than just having a regular homeowners policy.  Having an umbrella policy has gotten many dog owners out of some sticky scrapes.

For more information on homeowners insurance or umbrella policies, contact us today!  At Dagley Insurance, we specialize in Texas and Colorado home and umbrella insurance, and lots more.  Visit www.dagleyins.com today!

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Basic Home and Auto Security

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In today’s times it is imperative to be vigilant and proactive to minimize exposure to potential opportunist. Regardless of the neighborhood or community in which you reside you need to consider the potential risk and make an effort to mitigate any possible threat. This can be easily achieved by implementing strategies found on the web as well as the important information below.

MAKE SURE TO LOCK THE VEHICLE AT ALL TIMES WHEN PARKED.

  • Do not leave any valuables in the car, including garage opener.

-Utilize the latest technology built in to the car where they can program their garage door opener into it.

  • Park the vehicle in the garage.
  • Consider implementing a security film on the windows of the vehicle.

-This could discourage Burglars from breaking into a vehicle.

-Research this added security feature that are out in the market

For those who were victims of burglarized motor vehicle (BMV):

  1. Disengage the manual release on the garage door opener, and use a chain and padlock to secure the garage door for the meantime.
  2. Check your manual on how to change the code on the garage door opener.
  3. For further assistance, contact the manufacturing company of the garage door opener for other safety measures if it has limited codes.
  4. Consider using a deadbolt lock on the entrance door from the garage to the main house. Reinforce the strike plates with a security grade 3” screw.
  5. Consider marking valuable items with a unique ID. Use an engraver to apply permanent mark/ID on items.
  6. Consider contacting a crime prevention practitioner in your area to conduct a security survey on the property.

 

Taking precautions is always the best practice. When shopping for a home or auto the best proactive measure you can take is to find and secure a reputable insurance agent that has a local office, someone who knows the community. If you are in Texas or Colorado Dagely Insurance and Financial Services is just that company. For all of your insurance and financial service needs Dagley is the place.

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6 Tips for Texas and Colorado Insurance Discounts

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Over the past couple weeks our dedicated social media team at Dagley Insurance & Financial Services has been posting tips on our Facebook page that can help our loyal and prospective insurance customers save money on their Texas and Colorado home and auto insurance policies.

For those who aren’t fans (why not?), we decided to share the tips in a single blog entry to provide a single resource for anyone with access to the Internet.

Insurance Savings Tip #1: Take a driving education course! The course is good for an insurance discount lasting three years which more than makes up for the incremental cost of the driving course.

Insurance Savings Tip #2: Renovate your home; upgrading your homes heating, plumbing, electrical or roof may create insurance saving opportunities. Reducing electrical fire and water damage from a leak, hail-resistant roofing, or a new furnace can open a door of savings, just talk to your local agent.

Insurance Saving Tip #3: Take the Smartride! Nationwide has created a special online learning center to help parents and teens talk about driving smart. The Nationwide Smart Ride Site is full of online learning sessions, interactive quizzes and tests.

Insurance Savings Tip #4: Add a security system to your home. Discounts of up to 10% are available when you install a monitored alarm in our home. Note: It’s always best to consult your trusted agent first to learn how to receive the maximum discount.

Insurance Savings Tip #5: Good students are disciplined and, chances are, they paid good attention in Driver’s Ed. For this reason, Nationwide rewards students with a GPA of 3.0 or higher with a Good Student Discount. Visit us online to find out more info or give us a call (281-644-1000) to speak with our educated customer service agents.

Insurance Savings Tip #6: Be sure to tell your insurance agent where you went to school, what you do for a living and any groups or associations you belong to. You could receive up to 10% discount if you belong to one of our partner alumni associates, fraternities, financial institutions, professional groups, or sports organization.

With a little education and some good habits, insurance savings are available from many different places. More than anything, we at Dagley want to be seen as your trusted insurance partner, so we’re happy to share knowledge that will keep money in your pocket while keeping you protected.

If you think your insurance provider is over-charging you for inadequate Texas/Colorado, home, auto, or business insurance, let us know and we’ll be happy to research a policy that works for you.

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Colorado on your Side with Consumer Guide to Insurance on the Web

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Important legislation passed a couple years ago that most likely flew under the radar for many Colorado residents. In 2008, the Colorado legislature passed a bill called HB1385 that mandated the state of Colorado create a “Consumer Guide to Insurance on the Web,” addressing important questions such as:

  • What types of common insurance are needed?
  • Which types of insurance are required — and which are recommended?
  • What factors should I consider before I purchase any insurance?

At Dagley Insurance and Financial Services, we’re always scouring the web for resources that can help our loyal customers understand insurance better so they can make more informed decisions. We covered resources for the Texas Department of Insurance already, so we thought we’d share a little about the Colorado Department of Regulatory Services (DORA) Division of Insurance.

The most useful page for Colorado residents can be found on the Consumer Alerts and Tips page which offers valuable resources on claims processing, insuring your teen driver, how to file a protest, tips for saving on homeowners insurance, credit scoring and even a series of reports documenting the number of complaints lodged against Colorado insurance companies.

If insurance-related reading material just isn’t your thing (you’re not alone) or it creates more questions than it answers, we’re happy to answer specific Colorado Insurance queries for clients and non-clients alike. Just give a call or even post it on the Dagley Facebook page, where the lights are on 24/7.

We’re proud the Colorado is leading the nation in creating insurance awareness and will happily support those efforts in any way possible.

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