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After listening to Danica’s message visit us at: Scott Lynch Agency or call us at (317) 420-2867 to discuss your options.
Danica Patrick’s Message
Protect Your Pets from Hot Cars
by Jennifer Sonntag on July 7, 2017
To a dog, there’s nothing more exciting than going for a ride, having the window rolled down and feeling the wind in your ears. However, when the car stops and owners run a “quick” errand, what can happen to your pet is dangerous. According to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), hundreds of pets die in hot cars each year. Time passes faster than owners realize and car temperatures can climb to well over 115 degrees, putting your pet’s life in danger.
How fast does a car’s temperature rise? Here are some examples:
When it’s 70 degrees outside, your car’s temperature inside is 89 degrees after just 10 minutes and up to 104 degrees after a half hour. If you’re traveling with your pet on an 85 degree day, your car’s temperature is 104 degrees after 10 minutes and nearly 120 degrees after a half hour. Pets cool themselves by panting and through their skin and have a harder time cooling down in hot weather. In a hot car, heat stroke can happen in just a few minutes.
What to do if you see a pet in a hot car
Take caution when you see a pet in a hot car. If you identify a pet is in distress in a hot vehicle, the best thing to do is contact local law enforcement. Some states have laws against leaving a pet in a hot car, however, it varies. Obtain guidance from law enforcement before taking action and breaking a car window on your own. Once you call law enforcement, stay by the vehicle and keep an eye on the pet until help arrives.
How to treat a pet with heat stroke
First, it’s important to know the signs of a heat stroke:
Warning signs: panting, drooling and lethargy
Advanced stage: grey or blue gums, limp body posture with heavy breathing and the pet may be in shock
Cooling the Pet Down
- Get your pet to an air-conditioned environment
- Work to cool the pet down by wetting the ears and pads of the feet with cool water (do not use frigid water, use cool water).
- Place cool, wet towels over the shoulder/neck, under the front legs and in the groin area
- Refresh the water frequently
- If the pet will drink, provide cool water or small ice chips
What to do if the pet is unresponsive
- Call an emergency veterinarian immediately and tell them you’re on your way.
- If the gums are gray/blue, they are in need of immediate treatment and should be rushed to the nearest emergency treatment center.
- They will help cool the dog and administer subcutaneous fluids.
Additional Tips for Pet Owners in the Summer
- Short-nosed, long-haired and young dogs are more at risk and prone to heat stroke.
- On hot days, limit exercising your pet to early morning or evening hours.
- Asphalt gets very hot and could burn your pet’s paws.
- Pets with light-colored noses or light-colored fur on their ears are vulnerable to sunburn and skin cancer. It’s safe to use sunscreen on their noses and ear tips.
If you’re going out during the summer, it’s best to keep your pet at home, in a cool, air conditioned environment.
To protect your family, visit Scott Lynch Agency
Seriously Good Car Insurance
For Seriously Good Car Insurance visit: Scott Lynch Agency or call (317) 420-2867
Recorded Webinars: Laws That Business Owner Should Know
by Carolyn Sennett on June 2, 2016
Employee terminations and payroll record keeping are just two examples of routine business matters that if not handled properly could quickly spiral into a serious problem for business owners.
Employee termination checklist
The law presumes that employees are employed at will. That means an at-will employee may be fired at any time, for any reason (except for a few illegal reasons). But even when termination decisions are made with good cause, there are hundreds of potential grievances that could be filed by former employees. The defensibility of those claims is often dependent on the actions that employers take before the decision to terminate an employee is made or shared.
Watch a 20-minute webinar that guides employers in how to better manage the process before decisions are made so they can take steps now to mitigate those risks.
Overview of federal wage and hour laws
Federal wage and hour claims under the Fair Labor Standards Act (“FLSA”) continue to rise nationwide. Simple errors in payroll or recorded hours worked, while seemingly insignificant on a per employee basis, can lead to significant exposure under the FLSA due to the collective action nature of these litigations.
Watch a 20-minute webinar that guides employers in avoiding common errors and mitigating risks.
The videos were provided under an arrangement with The Hartford Steam Boiler Inspection and Insurance Company. Contact a local Erie Insurance agent to learn more about affordable ways to protect your business.
Insurance Terms Made Easy: Subrogation
Watch this video to learn about Subrogation. For more information about insurance visit our website Scott Lynch Agency
Insurance Terms Made Easy: Subrogation
6 Free Apps for Contractors
by Amanda Prischak on April 4, 2017
Payroll, taxes, operations—there are lots of details to stay on top of when you run your own business.
Fortunately, today’s evolving technology makes it easier than ever to be organized. And small business owners rely on it: A survey conducted by the National Small Business Association revealed that 70 percent of small business owners said that technology is key to their success.
Of course, more complex technology solutions can cost quite a bit. But many others charge only a modest fee—or are even free. That’s the case with the six phone apps below. They can help you get the job done at no extra cost. Read on to see how.
The app: Google Keep
Best for: Creating lists
What it does: When you need to offload an idea for later use, this is the app you’ll want to use. Google Keep lets you create notes and lists, set reminders, loop in a “collaborator” and more. Even better, it automatically syncs to your devices.
The app:Bubble Level (for Android) and iHandy Level (for iOS)
Best for: Calibrating surfaces
What it does: Forgot your level? That’s no problem when you have either of these apps. They’ll help you check surfaces, calculate angles and more.
The app: Safety Meeting App
Best for: Getting help with OSHA compliance
What it does: With versions for 34 trade types, Safety Meeting App lets you track safety meetings, accidents, employee attendance and much more. It also has information on 950 safety topics. The first year is free.
The app: Wave
Best for: Staying on top of accounting
What it does: Whether you want to create and send an invoice, scan a receipt or create an accounting report, Wave has you covered. The free version offers a surprising number of services—and more complicated functions like paying employees are available for a fee.
The app: Construction Manager
Best for: Staying connected to the people in the office and the field
What it does: Whether you need to share project estimates, time sheets or maintenance logs, Construction Manager has you covered. It lets everyone stay in the loop, no matter where they may be. It also lets salespeople and estimators create on-site estimates for projects. The app is free, and you have the option of purchasing options that block advertising, give you unlimited form submissions and more.
The app: SignNow
Best for: Gathering signatures
What it does: How does signing a document or getting someone’s signature with no need to mail, fax or scan anything sound? SignNow makes that possible with just one simple finger stroke serving as your signature. The free version gives you five signatures a month—after that, it’s just $6.99 a month for the service.
Erie Insurance does not endorse the apps described above. Please do your own investigation and make up your own mind whether any of these apps is right for you.
For Business Insurance in Indiana visit: Scott Lynch Insurance
Ask ERIE: What’s the Difference Between a Certificate of Insurance and an Additional Insured?
by Amanda Prischak on March 22, 2017
You typically come across these issues when you’re talking about business insurance. It’s easy to get them confused.
The key difference between a certificate of insurance and an additional insured comes down to whether you have coverage under someone else’s insurance policy. This only applies if you’re named as an additional insured on a policy.
What’s an additional insured?
When you’re named an additional insured on a policy, you are typically insured for covered claims arising from the Named Insured’s negligence (or your joint negligence) with regard to the premises, project and equipment that’s described in the additional insured endorsement. This commonly will include defense costs should you need to hire an attorney if the claim falls within the terms of the additional insured endorsement.
Businesses typically request to be named as an additional insured on a policy if another business’s negligence could affect them. Two examples could include:
- A general contractor hires a subcontractor to help with a project. The subcontractor does negligent work, which leads someone to get injured and file a lawsuit against both the general contractor and the subcontractor. By being named an additional insured on the subcontractor’s policy, the general contractor may obtain coverage under the subcontractor’s policy within the policy’s limits.
- A wholesaler-distributor distributes products manufactured by another company. A product injures someone, and the injured person files a lawsuit against the wholesaler-distributer and the manufacturer. By being named an additional insured on the manufacturer’s policy, the wholesaler-distributer may obtain coverage under the manufacturer’s policy within the policy’s limits.
A business is usually added as an additional insured via an endorsement to a business insurance policy. Many contracts spell out who should be named as an additional insured on a business’ policy.
There are two ways most policies treat additional insureds: on a specific basis and on a blanket basis. A specific basis is just that—a specific person or business is named as an additional insured on a policy.
Meanwhile, a blanket basis covers anyone who meets the definition of “additional insured” as it’s spelled out in the policy. The policy typically names broad types of parties like “contractors” or “landlords.”
What is a certificate of insurance?
A certificate of insurance is a document that shows that insurance coverage is in effect. It shows the dates of coverage, the limits, and the line of business that’s covered.
The certificate shows that a policy is in force—but that doesn’t mean the person or business requesting it is covered as well. As a certificate holder, you are only receiving proof that the insurance policy exists; the certificate of insurance is not an insurance policy and does not provide coverage or serve to amend or alter the terms of an insurance policy.
A certificate of insurance is usually requested by one party in an agreement, contract or transaction to make sure another party has the appropriate insurance coverage. A certificate of insurance does not entitle you to rights as an additional insured. For example, you aren’t provided any coverage under the other party’s policy in the event of a loss, unless the policy has been endorsed to provide coverage. For that reason, the best way to verify that you have been added to a policy as an additional insured is to request proof that the additional insured endorsement has been added to the insurance policy. If the policy has been endorsed with the additional insured form, the certificate will often include the form number and specific information about the endorsement that reflects what has been added to the policy. Proof may therefore be a certificate with this information listed or an actual copy of the declarations showing the endorsement.
As you can see, additional insureds and certificates of insurance can be pretty tricky. And not having the right information can put you (as well as your business) at financial risk. That’s why it’s so important to have an insurance professional like an Erie Insurance agent in your corner. An Erie Insurance agent in your community can help you make sense of these issues and more.
