You may have read the story about a violent brawl at a baby shower which happened in Stoughton, MA over the weekend.  The Boston Globe reported that “bottles and punches were thrown and furniture was smashed.”

If someone was hurt and the injured party brings a law suit against the perpetrator, would the person who initiated the violence be covered by insurance?  Assuming they had a homeowner or tenant’s policy in place to begin with, most likely not.  Homeowner’s insurance policies do include coverage for liability and property damage.  However, the liability section of a home policy excludes “bodily injury or property damage which is expected or intended by the insured”.  Every company’s policy can be worded differently, but for the most part intentional acts are not covered.

So are there any types of intentional acts involving violence that might actually be covered for liability under the homeowner’s policy?  Depends on the scenario, but the answer is “maybe”.  A situation where bodily injury or property damage is not “expected or intended” by the named insured may be a covered loss.  For example, when a person acts in self defense and accidently causes property damage or bodily injury which is not intended or expected, just may be such a situation.

Based on reports, it seems as though for most of the participants in the baby shower brawl, their actions were intended and expected.  They should not expect their insurance to respond to any claims.

Fortunately, it wasn’t the big one.  But the 4.0 magnitude earthquake that struck the Portland, Maine area on October 16, 2012 and sent tremors through much of New England is a reminder that earthquakes are not just a west coast phenomenon.  Just over a year ago a 5.8 magnitude quake caused damage in Washington, D.C. and Virginia – and was felt along the east coast from Maine to Georgia and as far west as Michigan.

Even though the likelihood is not high, the U.S. Geological Survey says there’s a significant probability that a serious earthquake will occur in this part of the country in our lifetime.  And it wouldn’t take a magnitude 7.0 earthquake to cause significant damage.   Unlike structures in California that must conform to strict codes, most buildings in this part of the country were never built to withstand earthquakes.

So whether you’re a homeowner or business executive – or both – it’s important to ask yourself this vital question:  “If we were to have an earthquake here, would our current insurance cover the cost of repairing or rebuilding our property?”

First, let’s think about what an earthquake would mean for a homeowner.  Most homeowner, renters, and condo insurance policies cover damage caused by fires, hurricanes, or tornadoes – but not damage caused by earthquakes or floods.  So if an earthquake caused cracks that compromised your home’s foundation, moved your home off its foundation, or even destroyed it completely, the cost of repairs or replacement would not be covered by your homeowners insurance.  Without earthquake insurance, you would have to foot the entire cost.  And if you had a mortgage on your home, you would face a double whammy.  Not only would you have to come up with the money to repair or rebuild, you would, in most cases, still be responsible for paying off the mortgage.

When it comes to businesses, damage caused by earthquakes is not covered under standard business policies.  And an earthquake could have serious ramifications.  An industrial building could sustain significant damage or even be condemned.  A retail business could lose sales.  Warehouses inventory could be damaged or destroyed.  A move to a temporary location could be costly.  Productivity would almost certainly take a hit.  Without an earthquake insurance policy or an endorsement to your business insurance coverage, the costs associated with this kind of disaster would have a devastating effect.

The bottom line?  Earthquake insurance is an investment that protects your financial future.  What kind of policy – and how much coverage – do you need?  Because there’s no ‘one size fits all’ answer, I invite you to talk to us.  You’ll get the answers that will help you make a good decision, and we’ll get a chance to demonstrate the commitment of Mid-State Insurance to ‘individualized solutions’.

As I write this, tropical storm Isaac has just morphed into a hurricane and is following the same path as Katrina seven years after that hurrican devastated New Orleans.

Computer models differ on what the storm will do next, but whatever it does, it offers all of us in New England a good reminder that the peak of the Atlantic hurricane season – from Mid-August to late October – is here.

Although there’s a natural tendency to start preparing for a hurricane once meteorologists begin tracking its route up the coast, at Mid-State Insurance Agency we believe that Isaac is a good reminder to have a plan in place long before severe weather strikes.  Here are a few elements of such a plan:

- Maintain an emergency kit that includes water, nonperishable food, first aid and other supplies, as well as copies of important documents.  Also, be sure to store key documents in a safety deposit box at your bank or in another location at a distance from your home.

- Create a family communications plan and check to see that everyone has the cell phone numbers of other family members programmed into their phones.

- Know what you need to do to secure your property once a hurricane is projected to hit the area.  That may mean having plywood on hand to board up windows, or even investing in permanent storm shutters.

- Make sure gutters and downspouts are securely fastened and free from clogs.

- Bring in outdoor furniture, garbage cans, and other objects that could become projectiles.

- Consider investing in a generator for this or other emergencies that involve power outages.

You can find other helpful suggestions on preparing your home or business for hurricanes at the FEMA website:  www.ready.gov.

Despite our best efforts, a severe hurricane will almost certainly damage property.  So it’s important to have adequate insurance coverage for your home, automobiles, boats, and other personal property.

Hurricanes can also produce extensive flood damage.  While your homeowner policy covers damage caused by high winds, it does not cover damage caused by floods.  At Mid-State Insurance, we can obtain quotes and write flood policies backed by the U.S. government’s National Flood Insurance Program (NPIF).  And while we’re at it, we can also review your current policies to see that you have the coverage you need to protect your property from other kinds of loss.

We welcome the opportunity to put our commitment to ‘individualized solutions’ into action by answering your questions and helping you find the best solutions for your situation.  Just give us a call 508.791.5566 or visit us at www.midstins.com and click on Questions.

School’s out.  The calendar tells us that summer is officially here.  And if we need one more sign, it’s that just about every backyard pool is ready for a season of fun.

Here at Mid-State, we’re all for fun.  But we’re also about safety.  According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, an average of 390 children under the age of 15 drown each year in pools.  Another 5,200 are injured.  Of these, about 75 percent are children younger than five.  The good news is that there are steps everyone can take to keep themselves, their families and friends safe during pool season.

Here are a few tips* for pool safety.

 - Visit www.PoolSafely.gov or @PoolSafely on Twitter for some interesting and important safety information on child safety in and around pools and spas.

 - Check with your city or town to make sure your pool meets safety standards as well as code requirements.

 - Install fencing around the pool area to keep people from using the pool without your knowledge.

 - Create other ‘layers of protection’ such as door alarms and locks to reduce the chance that a child will slip out of the house and into the pool undetected.

 - Never leave small children unsupervised – even for a few moments.   And don’t leave toys in the pool as these can be irresistible temptations for toddlers.

 - Be sure everyone who uses your pool knows how to swim.  Children should have swimming lessons as early as possible.  Learners should be accompanied by a good swimmer. and no one should be allowed to swim alone.

 - Consider taking first aid and CPR training.

 - Have a phone nearby – along with emergency numbers.

 *These tips come from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, the Consumer Product Safety Commission, and the Insurance Information Institute.

And while you’re implementing these safety precautions, this is a good time to review your insurance coverage with your Mid-State Insurance representative.  Do make sure we know you have a pool, and talk with us about whether you’re carrying adequate insurance.  You may also want to consider a personal umbrella policy that provides the kind of liability coverage you’d need if – despite all your safety precautions – a tragic accident should occur.  And finally, especially if your pool is new or expensive, you’ll want to be sure you’re carrying enough insurance to repair or replace it if it should be destroyed by a hurricane, tornado, or other disaster.

And now that you’ve taken the necessary precautions, prepare, as they say at Mardi Gras, to “let the good times roll!”

Imagine for a moment what happens to a family whose home is destroyed by a fire, hurricane, tornado or other disaster.  As they survey the ruins, they find it difficult to remember all of their possessions.  Or supposing a woman comes home from work to find that her jewelry box has been stolen.  Would she be able to recall exactly what was inside?  And even if she remembered that her mother’s engagement ring was among the missing items, would she be able to document its value or even prove that it had been in her possession?

If as a Mid-State client, you experience a loss, we stand ready to help you file your claim and assist you through the process.  However, since the best time to prepare for a loss is before  you have one, we encourage you to set aside some time now to make a record of your home and its contents.

These days, it’s fairly easy to take such an inventory.  You may want to start by taking pictures or a video of the exterior of your home from several angles.  Once inside, go from room to room taking pictures of everything.  Don’t forget to include the contents of closets, kitchen cabinets, storage boxes, your garage, and even your attic and basement.

We recommend specifically scheduling high value items such as jewelry, watches, paintings, antiques, musical instruments, and collectibles on your homeowner policy.  You’ll also want to save sales receipt or appraisals for these items, as well as documentation of your spending on home improvements such as a new addition, roof, boiler, or even new appliances.  And finally, don’t forget to update your records as changes occur.

Once you’ve assembled those photos, videos, and paperwork, you’ll want to keep them together in a home file or safe.  It’s also important to keep a copy in another location – perhaps in a safe-deposit box, with your attorney, or even with a trusted friend or relative who lives in another area.

A review of these documents is an ideal time to review the limits on your homeowner insurance policy.  If you were to have a total loss, would your policy cover the cost of rebuilding your home and replacing its contents?  If your answer is ‘no’ or ‘I’m not sure,’ we invite you to talk with us about replacement cost coverage.  If you do ever have a major loss, this coverage will make a huge difference in your financial future.  And if, as we all hope, you never have to face that scenario, you’ll still have made a great investment in peace of mind.

Lately, it’s practically impossible to watch television without being bombarded with commercials urging you to pick up the phone and get a quote on your homeowner or automobile insurance.

The offer to find you the lowest rate may sound appealing.  But as many people are finding out, no matter how appealing the spokesperson may be, once you place the call, get a quote, and sign on, you find yourself at the end of a brief, impersonal relationship.

When you do business with us at Mid-State Insurance, it’s a completely different story.  With us, the end of the transaction is just the beginning of a great relationship.

What are some of the elements of that relationship?  I’m thinking of some of the words of appreciation we’ve heard from our clients over the years.  “I love your partnership attitude,” one client told me.  “Thanks for the great advice on insuring our son and daughter who are away at college,” another said.  And a man whose roof collapsed under the weight of that record snowfall over a year ago told one of our advisors that some of his neighbors were facing big financial problems because they didn’t have the right kind of insurance.  “Thanks for saving us from the same fate,” he told her.

So how do we do it?  It all comes down to personalized service.  Whether you’re a client – or just exploring your options – when you talk to us, we begin by helping you figure out how much and what kinds of insurance you need.  And becuase we work with a number of excellent companies, we’re able to match you with the one that offers the best price for the coverage you need.

But we don’t stop there.   We welcome your questions.  We encourage you to review your coverage whenever changes occur in your life or business.  And if you ever have a loss, we’re here to assist you with your claim.

So whether you’re exploring options or seeking answers to questions, we invite you to be in touch.  We love to demonstrate our commitment to ‘individualized solutions’ – our personalized approach to serving our clients and the communities in which we work.

Last year at this time, our area was being blanketed with record snowfalls.  And the wild weather patterns didn’t stop there.  In June, destructive tornadoes struck Springfield and other Western Massachusetts communities.  In August, tropical storm Irene arrived, followed by the snowstorm labeled the ‘October surprise’ that produced huge power outages.  Each of these storms caused significant amounts of damage.  Across the country and around the world, a record 820 disaster produced $105 billion in losses covered by insurance.

The tornadoes that recently cut a path of destruction through the midsection of the country reinforce what meteorologists have been telling us:  extreme weather is becoming the ‘new normal’.  And the catastrophes they produce are a major reason why rates are going up–especially for property-based insurance.

The insurance review…

Fortunately, Mid-State Insurance is here to help.  And one of the best places to start is with an insurance review.  To get things started, just give us a call at 508.791.5566.  One of our advisors will be happy to sit down with you and help you assess your needs, review your current insurance, explore the various options available from multiple carriers, and help you choose the coverage that provides the best value.  You may decide, for instance, that it makes sense to save money by raising your deductible on your home or auto, or dropping some of the coverage on an older car.  You may want to take advantage of a multi-policy discount by having your home and vehicles insured by the same company.

The review might also point to areas where you are underinsured.  For instance, if you were found responsible for an accident in which you, a passenger in your car, or the occupants of the other vehicle were seriously injured, would your policy limits be high enough to cover huge medical bills?  If the answer is ‘no’, you’ll want to consider increasing your coverage or purchasing an umbrella policy so that a serious loss will not put your entire financial future in jeopardy.

During the review, you can also explore whether changes in your life-a new car, a second home, a child heading off to college, an expansion of your business, retirement, or other events – require changes in your insurance.

Mid-State’s individualized solutions…

If you’re talking to friends or business associates who would also benefit from such a review, we hope you’ll invite them to contact us.  Just as we’re always happy to provide you with the information and advice you need to make wise insurance decisions, we also welcome the opportunity to extend our ‘individualized solutions’ to others who will benefit from them.

On March 11 at 2 a.m., Daylight Savings Time officially begins.  As we ‘spring forward’ we’ll all lose an hour of sleep, but we’ll gain an extra hour of early evening daylight.

When we change our clocks in the spring and fall, let’s also get in the habit of checking our smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors.  During the past several months, there have been several stories in the news of people who escaped from their burning homes because a smoke alarm alerted them to the fire.  And there have also been a couple of tragic stories of people who died in fires in homes that did not have working smoke alarms.

Smoke alarms have been required in Massachusetts for decades, but new regulations were put in place in 2010.  Some of these have to do with types of detectors and their location.  This is especially relevant for anyone planning to sell a home in Massachusetts.  Homes sold here must be inspected by the local fire department to be sure they have working smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.

Carbon monoxide detectors are also required on every level of a home.  This includes all single family homes, multi-unit buildings, apartments, condos, and townhouses that use oil, gas, wood, coal, or other fossil fuels.  This law – known as Nicole’s law in memory of a seven-year old girl who died when a snowdrift blocked a heating vent and cuased a lethal level of odorless carbon monoxide to build up in her home – has been in effect since 2006.

You can get more information on smoke and carbon monoxide detector requirements by visiting the website of Massachusetts Executive Office of Public Safety at www.mass.gov/eopss.

Changing our clocks can serve as a reminder not only to check the batteries in our smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, but also in our flashlights, portable radios, and other things we’d need in case of a power outage or another type of emergency.

And finally, if one of these alarms should go off, be sure that  you and everyone in your household get out immediately.  Your safety is  your top priority.  And at Mid-State Insurance, it’s also ours.

This year’s October surprise dumped an unprecendented amount of snow on the Northeast, leaving a trail of damage in its wake.  Although it’s the kind of favor we could have done without, it does serve as a reminder of the importance of preparing for nature’s worst even as we hope for the best.

Here are some steps you can take to prevent storm damage to your home and prevent the injuries that can accompany snow and ice storms.

Ice dams.  Remember last winter?  Many people found themselves dealing with ice dams as a result of melting snow and freezing rain.  In the most severe cases, the dams prevented the water from draining off the roof, and backed up into the house – damaging both the exterior and interior walls – and in some cases, producing mold.

How can you prevent ice dams – or at least minimize their impact?  For starters, make sure you clear all leaves and debris from gutters and downspouts before a snowfall.  Once the snow arrives, shovel around downspouts to allow them to drain – preventing a buildup in your gutters.

In storms with significant snowfall, it can be helpful to clear the snow off your roof before it has a chance to melt, refreeze, and create ice dams.  If you have a long-handled rake that allows you to reach the roof from the ground, this can be a DIY job.  However, if your roof is not accessible from the ground, it’s much better to call a contractor than to risk a fall and injury.

By far, the most important step you can take is to analyze and correct underlying problems.  Since ice dams are often a sign of inadequate insulation and ventilation, it’s a food idea to have  your home evaluated by an insulation contractor or energy consultant.  Adding insulation prevents interior heat from escaping and causing  the melting-refreezing pattern that produces ice dams.  An added benefit is that a well-insulated attic can also lower your home heating costs.

Other ways to promote safety and reduce damage.  Make sure to clear snow and ice from your sidewalks, steps, and entrances to your home to prevent injuries from slip-and-fall accidents.  remove dangerous tree branches that could break off in a snow, wind, or ice storm – damaging your house or car or injuring a family member or passerby.  If you use a fireplace, wood stove, or electric heater, make sure it’s working properly and that you observe safety guidelines.  If you go away, set the thermostat high enough to prevent pipes – including those in the walls – from freezing.  It’s also a good idea to have a neighbor, friend, or family member check your house regularly.

Dealing with a worst-case scenario.  And what if despite all your precautions, the worst happens?  Your first step should be to mitigate the damage.  For instance, if your pipes should burst, turn off the valve and mop up the spills.  Make a list and take photos of damage.  Save the receipts for anything you spend to repair the damage.  And last but far from least, be sure to call us as soon as possible.  Most of the damage described here is covered by your homeowner policy.  And we’ll provide the information, advice, and support to help you sort it all out.

People often ask me whether or not they need condo insurance.  After all, they say, our condo association has a master policy.  Doesn’t that cover us?

Yes and no.  In most cases, the association’s master policy covers the condominium buildings, common areas, and liability for the association.

But that coverage usually does not extend beyond the exterior walls – leaving the condo owners responsible for damages to their furniture, clothing, computer, and other personal property.  It also doesn’t cover the liability or medical bills for a guest who might slip and fall inside your unit, or for personal belongings that are stolen in a burglary.  To understand what’s covered and what’s not, it’s a good idea to familiarize yourself with both the association’s master policy and its bylaws.

Then, to make sure your personal property and the interior of your unit are protected and that you have liability protection in case someone is injured on your property, you’ll need a condominium owner’s policy.

Condo policies come with multiple options.  So whether you’re in the market for a new policy or simply reviewing your current policy, you’ll probably have questions.  Should you choose coverage that pays the cost of replacing your damaged, destroyed or stolen property instead of its depreciated value?  If you insure your condo and automobile with the same company, would you be eligible for a multi-policy discount?  If the building and common areas were destroyed by a hurricane or other insured disaster and the losses are not fully covered by the master policy, will your condo policy help pay the assessment that may be imposed on all unit owners to help cover the loss?

We invite you to bring us these and any other questions you may have.  We welcome the opportunity to demonstrate Mid-State’s commitment to “individualized solutions” by helping you find a condominium owner’s policy that meets your specific needs.

Owning a condo can be a great investment.  And having the right condo insurance is an important way to protect that investment.