by Penny Insurance Agency | Oct 22, 2019 | General Tips, Home Insurance, Insurance, Personal Insurance
The Real Scare of Halloween: Why You Need Homeowners Insurance with Liability
When considering a homeowners’ insurance policy, it is imperative to consider personal and family liability protection as part of the policy. Accidents happen, and you need to be proactive about your coverage before it’s too late. With Halloween being right around the corner and increased liability and property damage risks, not having a comprehensive insurance policy can be scarier than Halloween and here’s why:
Trick-or-Treaters on Your Property
According to the National Retail Federation, 69% of Americans plan to hand out candy to trick-or-treaters on Halloween to celebrate. If you have your porch lights on, you are welcoming people onto your property, and this can pose a number of risks. While giving out candy and complimenting kids on their costumes is a fun tradition, if a trick-or-treater hurts themselves on your property, you could face serious consequences such as legal fees, medical fees, and more. Some common liability incidents that occur each year include, but are not limited to: trick-or-treaters tripping on homeowners’ sidewalks or falling because of bulky costumes, children having allergic reactions to candy or other sweet treats, and pets getting spooked by the unfamiliar visitors and causing harm. Hand out candy worry-free this year knowing you’re covered if a mishap occurs.
Accidents at Parties
Pumpkin carving contests and alcohol are popular elements at any Halloween party, but are also accident-prone elements. Sharp tools used to carve pumpkins and burning candles to light up jack-o’-lanterns are obvious risks for party participants, but did you know that you could be held responsible and face serious consequences if one of your alcohol-infused guests causes harm to someone else’s property or to another person? In addition, without liability insurance, you could face serious consequences if an underaged party guest gets a hold of alcohol. Host Halloween parties with confidence knowing you won’t have to face haunting repercussions.
Spooky Season Pranks
It is undeniable that the number of pranks and damage to personal property spike during spooky season. In fact, there are 17% more insurance claims for theft and vandalism on Halloween versus any other day of the year. If your personal property is not protected, you could be fronting the costs of fixing car vandalism, repairing damage to your home, replacing smashed mailboxes, and more. In addition, if you plan on decorating your home or dressing up to surprise trick-or-treaters, be sure to keep it reasonable as motion-sensored decorations and scary costumes can easily frighten children, causing them to run away or hurt themselves and suffer from physical or mental distress at your expense. It’s spooky out there– make sure you’re covered.
Consider these risks this season and don’t let a liability mishap haunt you. Make sure your homeowner’s insurance policy includes liability coverage to protect you and your family. We want you to have an enjoyable fall season with a peace of mind knowing that if something happens, we’ve got you covered. If there’s something strange in your neighborhood, don’t call the Ghostbusters, call Penny Insurance Agency! We’re here to help.
https://nrf.com/insights/holiday-and-seasonal-trends/halloween/halloween-data-center
https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/business/Halloween-Spike-in-Home-Auto-Insurance-Claims-498670681.html
https://www.ghostbusters.com/
https://www.insurancejournal.com/news/national/2016/10/31/430898.htm
https://www.esurance.com/info/homeowners/family-liability-protection-and-homeowners-insurance
by Penny Insurance Agency | Oct 10, 2019 | Insurance
In today’s digital landscape, an informed awareness of cyber-security threats and best practices for guarding personal information and data for businesses is absolutely essential for protecting your hard-earned assets. With countless avenues in which critical information is shared via the internet, cyber-attacks and data breaches are on the rise more than ever before. “…A report issued by the Director of National Intelligence named cyber-attacks as the principal national security threat facing our country—above terrorism, espionage and weapons of mass destruction.”² In light of October being National Cyber Security Awareness month (NCSAM), we’ve compiled some key things to keep in mind to safeguard your information from hackers:
Be Aware
It may seem obvious, but creating a habit of regularly checking the privacy settings on various accounts and devices and consistently monitoring online accounts can catch suspicious activity early and reduce potential damage.³ Be aware of the various tactics hackers use such as phishing, home Wi-Fi hacking, and any third-party individuals with access to your information.
Use Strong Verification
Updating passwords on a consistent basis is a must for cyber-security awareness, as well as using multi-step verification, when possible.4 Strong passwords and hard-to-crack authentication layers can make you less vulnerable to hackers.5
Monitor Purchases
With the world of online banking and shopping, it is now easier than ever for hackers to steal personal and financial information. Guard yourself by keeping a keen eye on purchases and immediately reporting any suspicious account activity to your bank.
Your Information is Valuable– Insure It!
Safeguard your valuable information for personal or business accounts with Cyber Liability Insurance to ensure protection in the case of cyber-attacks. Cyber Liability Insurance covers issues resulting from personal information, such as your social security number, usernames, or bank account information being stolen and can also cover the extreme costs that may result from your business’ critical data being compromised. Insurance is for the things you value most in life, so why not insure your information?
At Penny Insurance Agency, we’re here to keep you and your information protected for your peace of mind. To speak with an advisor today about how we can help keep your information secure, please fill out our contact form or call us directly.
[1] CyberSmart: Understanding & Managing Cyber Threats to High Net Worth Individuals. Copyright 2015
[2] https://www.dni.gov/index.php
[3] https://staysafeonline.org/
[4] https://staysafeonline.org/
[5] https://staysafeonline.org/stay-safe-online/identity-theft-fraud-cybercrime/identity-theft-fraud/
About National Cyber Security Awareness Month (NCSAM)
National Cyber Security Awareness Month (NCSAM) was created as a collaborative effort between government and industry to ensure every American has the resources they need to stay safer and more secure online. Now in its 15th year, NCSAM was co-founded and is co-led by the Department of Homeland Security and the National Cyber Security Alliance, the nation’s leading nonprofit public-private partnership promoting the safe and secure use of the internet and digital privacy. Recognized annually in October, NCSAM involves the participation of a multitude of industry leaders ‒ mobilizing individuals, small and medium-sized businesses, nonprofits, academia, multinational corporations and governments. Encouraging digital citizens around the globe to STOP. THINK. CONNECT.™, NCSAM is harnessing the collective impact of its programs and resources to increase awareness about today’s ever-evolving cybersecurity landscape. Visit the NCSAM media room: https://staysafeonline.org/resources/.
