Auto Home INSURANCE | Lots of Quotes | No Hassle | FoxFirefly.com
  • Home
  • Why Firefly Agency?
  • Get A Quote
  • Auto Insurance
  • Homeowners Insurance
  • Claims
  • Blog | GFoxIns
  • About Me
  • Reviews
  • Home
  • Why Firefly Agency?
  • Get A Quote
  • Auto Insurance
  • Homeowners Insurance
  • Claims
  • Blog | GFoxIns
  • About Me
  • Reviews
Search by typing & pressing enter

YOUR CART

Fox Insurance | Firefly Agency

Blog

8/26/2019 0 Comments

Summer Safety: Residential Grill Use

Picture
If you plan on using a residential grill this summer, ensuring the safety of you and your family is critical. Barbecues are a common outdoor activity that allow friends and families to connect with each other. While the spirit of these events uplift many, it is known that accidents related to outdoor grills increase during these hot months. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) reports that “peak months for grilling fires are July, followed by June, May, and August.”1
Although there are a variety of grills that can cause potential fires, owners are able to follow recommended safety precautions to avoid danger. In 2019, the NFPA reported that ”10,200 home fires are started by grills each year, on average.”2 While some residential grill fires are due to infrequent mechanical errors, avoiding danger around the BBQ can be easy if you stay proactive.
Keeping your family and friends safe from grill fires requires a grill owner to stay cautious and attentive. Five common causes for a BBQ fire include: 

  1. Failing to clean the grill. If the grill does not receive the proper care from its owner, it can be more susceptible to hazards. 
  2. Issues regarding the location of the grill. The NFPA requires that a ten feet distance be kept between the grill and any structure. 
  3. Mechanical errors. Owners must regularly attend to the grill and check to ensure there are no visible signs of a mechanical error or other potential hazard. 
  4. Leaving the grill unattended. Until the equipment has been turned off completely, an owner must be present to monitor the grill at all times. Additionally, keep the grill attended for 15 minutes after it is turned off or no longer in use. Some fires have occurred when grills re-ignited or were tipped over while unattended shortly after use. 
  5. A leak or break in a gas line: A situation like this could cause a devastating accident for an unaware grill owner and their family.
It is critical that grill owners take the appropriate safety precautions to prevent a grill fire. Although many try their best to avoid BBQ fires, the U.S. Fire Administration estimates “about 5,700 grill fires take place on residential property every year.”4 (Grilling Safety and Insurance). 

Due to how some grill fires are errors that are often unavoidable, it is important to protect yourself with an appropriate insurance policy. Berkshire Hathaway GUARD Insurance is committed to providing the highest quality of care to their clients.

Berkshire Hathaway GUARD has been a dedicated provider to the insurance community for over three decades. We provide property and casualty insurance (among other lines) to hundreds of thousands of policyholders – both commercial and personal. Our clients include traditional homeowners, landlords, condo and apartment owners, renters, and home-office professionals. Rated A+ (“Superior”) by A.M. Best, our company is ultimately owned by the Berkshire Hathaway Group.
1NFPA Offers Tips for Safe Grilling This Memorial Day and Beyond, as May and Summer Months Represent Peak Time of Year for Outdoor Grilling Fires. May 13, 2019. https://www.nfpa.org/News-and-Research/Publications-and-media/Press-Room/News-releases/2019/NFPA-offers-tips-for-safe-grilling-this-Memorial-Day-and-beyond
2HPBA’s “State of the Barbecue Industry” consumer survey. NFPA’s 2019 “Research Fact Sheet”.
3United States, Congress, “NFPA 1®, Fire Code, 2012 Edition.” NFPA 1®, Fire Code, 2012 Edition, NFPA STANDARDS DEVELOPMENT SITE. www.nfpa.org/Assets/files/AboutTheCodes/1/1_A2014_FCC-AAA_SDReport_Part1.pdf
4Grilling Safety and Insurance. Insurance Information Institute, 
www.iii.org/article/grilling-safety-and-insurance

0 Comments

6/18/2019 0 Comments

Earn a 3 Free Night Award with the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless™ Credit Card

Earn a 3 Free Night Award with the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless™ Credit Card by Chase Bank.  I can be rewarded too if you apply here and are approved for the card.  Click HERE to Learn More. 
0 Comments

6/18/2019 1 Comment

Welcome to Texas!  TX Driver's License & Vehicle Registration 2019

Welcome to Texas! 
Vehicle Registration | How to Apply for Texas Drivers License | Save Money by Getting a Toll Tag | Vehicle Inspection

Maybe this is your first to do... Get a NTTA Toll Tag | Apply online HERE.
Don't forget to save money by getting a TOLL TAG! You can get this with your current plates and just update plates online when the new ones come in. 

Vehicle Registration: Your vehicle must have a current passing inspection to qualify for vehicle registration.
      - First take your vehicle(s) to get inspected as that’s required prior to getting registration. Longo Toyota (1-2 miles from Windsong Ranch) can do them, doesn’t matter the brand vehicle. Expect 15-30 minutes per car. Then go to the county tax assessor for registration (only do this if you pass inspection). 

Texas DMV Gov Website | How to Register your vehicle(s) HERE in Texas. 

The closet vehicle registration location (county tax collector office) to register in person: City of Frisco (City Hall / Frisco Library) in Frisco Square. It's Fast & Easy to register your vehicles in the County tax offices (getting your Driver's License is another story and challenge).  The City of Frisco Library/City Hall (Tollway & Main (on Frisco Square Blvd). Even though we're Denton County, we're on the border, and able to use the Collin County tax office in Frisco. 

Have a Texas Driver's License, Texas Home address, Vehicle's registered in Texas, usually your insurance score will be better, getting you better insurance rates. 
Get a Auto / Homeowners Insurance Quote HERE.

Learn more about How to apply for a TEXAS Driver's License online HERE.

1. Complete the online Application.
2. Collect all required identification and materials.
3. Consider making the drive to the DMV Driver's license office in SHERMAN, TX; approx. 50 minute drive; but maybe worth your time and sanity. There’s something you need to know about the mega centers and other local drivers license offices. Be prepared to wait 3 hours. Even if you try to book appt, get up early, go an hour early before they open, you will be there 2.5 hours. Sherman was the easiest for me because it’s a small office in a small town. If you go to the Plano or Carrollton Mega Center, bring laptop or something to read; and, put on your patience cap on; Do not be deceived. 

Give me a shout out or recommendation on the Windsong Ranch Residents page!
Have a great day and Welcome to Texas!


1 Comment

3/15/2019 0 Comments

Hit by an Uninsured Driver in Texas?

In Texas, it's illegal to drive a car without liability insurance. However, it's estimated that 25 percent of drivers in the Dallas-Fort Worth area don't have the proper insurance, meaning that if you're in a wreck, there's a one in four chance that the other driver is uninsured. 
So what happens if the driver who hit you doesn't have insurance? Don't panic. You do have options. 

Answer These Three Questions First
Are You Sure the Other Driver Doesn't Have Insurance?

If they give you an expired insurance card at the scene of the accident, don't jump to conclusions. Write their information down and contact their insurance company anyway. It may just be that they haven't updated their information yet. Even if the insurance company confirms that this individual no longer holds a policy with them, they may still have insurance elsewhere.

Do You Have UM/UIM Motorist Coverage?
If you're certain that the at-fault driver doesn't have insurance, it's time to review your own insurance. By law, every insurance company must offer you uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage (also known as UM or UIM). You have the option of opting out when you sign up with a new insurance company, but it's advisable have this kind of coverage. It costs a little extra, but if you're ever in a situation where you need it, you'll be really grateful that you have it. 
If you have UM, you and your lawyer can pursue a claim for compensation to cover any medical bills related to the accident, compensation for missed work as a result of the accident or your injuries, etc. Your lawyer can also fight to seek damages to compensate you for the pain and suffering you've endured. 

Were You Involved in a Hit and Run Accident? 
If so, you'll also need to use your uninsured motorist coverage. 

What is Uninsured Motorist Coverage?
Uninsured motorist (UM) coverage is insurance that you buy with the intention of protecting yourself if you are hit by a negligent driver who doesn’t have insurance, or if you're involved in a hit and run.
Sadly, despite the fact that the law in Texas requires all drivers to carry a minimum of $30,000 in auto liability insurance, the reality is that around 25 percent of all Texas motorists are uninsured. Having UM, however, means that you and your lawyer still have the ability to make a claim (against your own insurance company) even if you are hit and injured by someone who doesn’t have any insurance.

Specifically, What Counts As "Uninsured?"
Here's a description of what constitutes an uninsured vehicle under Texas law. A driver who does not have any of the following:   
  • Bodily injury liability insurance
  • Property damage liability insurance
  • Enough insurance to fully compensate another driver after an accident
  • Insurance exists but the negligent driver’s insurance company legally denied coverage
  • Insurance exists but the liable insurance company is unable to pay due for some reason
A vehicle may also be considered to be “uninsured” in cases where the at-fault owner or operator of the vehicle is unknown or cannot be determined. In such situations, it is possible to make a claim against one’s own uninsured motorist coverage in a hit-and-run accident, if the injured party has uninsured motorist coverage.

Do I Need Uninsured Motorist Coverage in Texas?
This kind of insurance is not required by law in Texas. However, I highly recommend that every driver carries UM. In Texas, it's estimated that 25 percent of drivers aren't covered by insurance (yes, that's illegal! People do it anyway). If you're in a wreck with someone who doesn't have insurance and you aren't carrying UM, you're out of luck. 

Uninsured Motorist Covers You Even If the Other Driver Has Insurance 
Even if the other driver has insurance, sometimes it's not enough. 
For example, if a driver crashes their car into yours and it turns out that they only have the state minimum of $30,000 in liability insurance coverage, but your medical bills amount to $40,000, you can use your UM to cover the missing $10,000, plus money for your lost wages, pain and suffering. 
You might feel reluctant to make a claim against your own insurance company. This is understandable. However, I always tell my clients that if you’re paying for UM, you should use it. Your insurance company is NOT allowed to raise your rates based solely on this type of claim, so that’s one more reason to do it.
How to Use Uninsured Motorist Insurance in Texas 
In situations where you need to make a claim against an uninsured motorists policy, your own insurance company takes the role of the at-fault 
 
0 Comments

3/15/2019 2 Comments

What's Medical Payment Coverage (Med-Pay)? Benefits and Coverage Explained.

Picture
Med Pay is optional auto insurance coverage that pays for your medical bills if you get into a car wreck. It doesn't matter whether you caused the wreck or another driver did - Med Pay will cover you. Med Pay is different than typical health insurance because it doesn't come with the "red tape" - Med Pay doesn't involve things like deductibles and it doesn't restrict the network of doctors you're allowed to visit. Med Pay will cover your fees from any licensed doctor, ambulance, hospital, etc. 
Med Pay's only coverage restrictions deal with how much coverage you buy. In my experience, I've seen policies range from $1,000 to upwards of $100,000. 
If you're considering purchasing Med Pay, I want to warn you that some policies sneak in a condition that will force you to pay them back after you use them. If you're going to buy Med Pay, make sure you're getting a no-deductible, non-reimbursable policy. 
Though the benefits sound pretty great, I don't recommend purchasing Med Pay. Read on to find out why. 

When Your Attorney Handles Med Pay
When an attorney is handling Med Pay for a client, they can submit it anytime the client has bills. The benefit of having your attorney handle your Med Pay is because you might be able to keep some of the Med Pay proceeds (as opposed to an adjuster sending it directly to the doctor or hospital). However, not all attorneys handle their clients Med Pay for them. If you have questions about who's in charge of your Med Pay, talk to your attorney. 

Med Pay vs. Personal Injury Protection (PIP)
Med-Pay coverage and PIP are both entirely optional in Texas. However, if you are considering adding Med Pay to your auto insurance policy, I would encourage you (as a Fort Worth injury attorney) to instead purchase Personal Injury Protection (PIP).

Personal Injury Protection coverage and Med-Pay are very similar, but they are also very different in a number of crucial areas.

PIP will cover you for your accident-related medical expenses AND lost income due to your inability to work. Med-Pay, on the other hand, only covers the cost of your medical expenses. Since the cost of purchasing Med Pay and PIP is virtually identical, it makes sense to buy PIP instead. 

The other important difference between PIP and Med Pay is that Med Pay creates a right of subrogation for your insurance provider, whereas PIP does not. Subrogation basically means that if you recover compensation from the at-fault party’s insurance policy, then your insurance provider can make you pay back the money that they already paid you from your Med Pay coverage.

If you're thinking of getting insurance and are considering buying Med Pay, don’t – get Personal Injury Protection instead. And while you’re at it, get Uninsured Motorist Coverage too.

Is Med Pay Worth It?
As I described above, Med Pay is a waste of money. I discourage my clients from purchasing it and recommend they buy PIP instead. Med Pay is similar to PIP in that it is a "no-fault" type of insurance that you can purchase on your own. However, Med Pay only covers medical bills - it doesn't reimburse you for your lost wages like PIP does. 

The worst part about of Med Pay is that if you ultimately recover money from a third party in an injury claim, you must pay the Med Pay carrier back. That means if you're hit by another car and you file an injury claim against the other driver, any money you're awarded will be taken away from you by your own insurance company. Your insurance company is basically only loaning you the money to pay your medical bills until your case settles. 
 
2 Comments

2/13/2019 1 Comment

HERE’S WHY YOU CAN’T BE SURE MOST INSURANCE AGENTS ARE DOING WHAT’S BEST FOR YOU:Firefly agents make insurance easy & affordable for you. The message on their websites is usually:One agent | Lots of Quotes | No hassle | Guaranteed And they make goo

1 Comment

    Author

    Write something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview.

    Archives

    August 2019
    June 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

Lots of Quotes | No hassle | Guaranteed
469.459.1232
CSR@FoxFirefly.com