Saving 15% This week Etler-Kettenacker Agency has posted a story and the Jones family and the Smith family who both experienced a devastating tornado.  The Jones family chose not to switch insurance carriers thus not saving 15%.  The Smith family chose to switch to a new carrier and ended up saving 15%.  To find out what happened to each family read the story at http://www.ekagency.com/saving/15_percent.aspx.   If you have any questions regarding your homeowne...

April is Distracted Driving Awareness Month and Philadelphia Insurance Companies has made it a priority to educate drivers on the importance of staying aware while behind the wheel.  Etler-Kettenacker Agency stands behind this campaign to make drivers aware of the dangers of driving while distracted.  First, we must admit we all do it.  Our cell phone rings and we glance to see where it is on the seat next to us or in our purse.  We glance away from the road just for a few se...

By now most parents are aware that they can get significant discounts for their teen drivers if they can show proof that their teen driver is a good student.  Before the “why” behind a good student diving discount the following are some recent teen driving statistics from the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety.  Teen driving fatalities have decreased since the 1970’s however the 2012 statistics show there is still room for improvement on educating our teens on good...

The topic of this blog, "Observing Safety Vehicle on the Road" was inspired by several recent witnessed events between emergency vehicles and passenger vehicles.  Many readers may think this is common sense when traveling the roadways but we all should be reminded that these laws are in place to save lives.  What if your loved one was in one of those emergency vehicles racing to the hospital?  Or you were killed in a collision with an emergency vehicle?  Lives would be change...

So youve booked your vacation, purchased your travel insurance, and are all packed for your trip! The only thing left is getting there. Whether youre traveling by car or plane, renting a car or taking your minivan, there will likely be some form of driving on your trip -- even if its just to the airport! So today, we are talking about driving safety. Heres your safe-driving checklist: Have your car serviced before a long trip! This way, you wont run into any car trouble at 1 am when you...

Car seat guidelines have changed dramatically in recent years. For instance, the AAP now recommends that babies continue to ride in their rear-facing seats until age 2 (at least!). However, after your childs second birthday, there are still strict safety rules you need to follow. After your child turns 2, the AAP advises continuing to use the rear-facing seat until he or she exceeds the manufacturers recommended height and weight limits. Once that happens, you can then switch your childs ...

Mortgage/rent, groceries, savings, insurance... these are the non-negotiable expenses in someones monthly budget. And lets face it, most of us arent exactly thrilled to shell out a portion of our hard-earned money for insurance -- especially car insurance. The fact of the matter is, many of us pay our car insurance premiums diligently every month -- and never actually have to use it. We dont get into any major accidents -- and small scuffs from taking a curb too close simply arent worth filin...

Its back-to-school season, which means new shoes, apparel, gear and technology for kids -- and a gigantic Visa statement for parents. According to a recent report by Forbes, parents of kids in K-12 will spend an average of $873 per child, while college parents will spend more than $1,100 per child. Multiply this by a few kids -- and thats a lot of money! If youre looking for ways to save this back-to-school season, youve come to the right place. Here are 5: 1. Buy used books. If your ...

With many Tri-State schools starting up this week, we thought it appropriate to issue a little PSA: Dont text while driving. Please. Whether youre a 16 year old who just got their license or a veteran driver -- please, put the phone down! A few facts and figures: The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported that in 2012 driver distraction was the cause of 18 percent of all fatal crashes – with 3,328 people killed – and crashes resulting in an injury &...

Weve all been there -- youre driving on the road, minding your own business, when a deer suddenly jumps in front of your vehicle. Or, perhaps you notice a squirrel or bird in the middle of the road as you approach -- but it doesnt seem to notice you. Or, youre in your neighborhood when a cat wanders into the street. As the temperatures cool down, youll notice more animals wandering around -- especially deer. You generally have precious few seconds to react -- and how you respond could be the ...

We "fell back" last weekend; and while that may have bought you an extra hour of sleep on Sunday, you were probably shocked to find it getting dark at 5 p.m. Daylight savings time brings winter, shorter days and longer nights -- which means youll likely be driving in the dark a lot more. Here are our top tips for making sure you stay safe as you navigate the dark: 1. Check your vision Even if you have 20/20 vision, youll find your depth perception isn’t as keen at night. If you...

Daylight savings time creates a number of issues we didnt have to think about during the summer; such as driving in the dark and navigating that nighttime run. A few weeks ago, you could enjoy your post-work 5K in the light; but now, its completely dark by 6 p.m. Whats a runner to do? The best tip for nighttime runs is to run with a partner -- human or furry. That way someone is with you in the event of an emergency! If thats not possible, you can still enjoy your evening run. Just ke...

You may not think of Thanksgiving as a dangerous holiday -- but lots can go wrong as you hustle around your kitchen prepping your familys feast! Avoid any mishaps on Thursday by following these 10 simple tips: 1. Start prepping early to pace yourself and avoid the rush-around-the-kitchen. 2. Unless youre a pro chef, dont deep fry your turkey. This is a potentially dangerous method best left to the pros! Also, it goes without saying, but all turkey deep frying should be do...

Happy New Year! If one of your 2016 resolutions was to get your finances in order, youll want to bookmark our blog. All year long, well be talking about ways to save money and get on track. Today, we are looking at Emergency Funds. Why an Emergency Fund? Simply put, life is unpredictable. An emergency is a life-changing event you cannot plan -- like a hospitalization or job loss. Consider your absolute necessities – the things you can’t live without. If you depend ...

For many of us, paying our insurance premiums every month can feel like, well, a waste of money. If were lucky, we dont actually see our money being put to use -- because, the majority of the time, those worst-case catastrophes never happen. Heres the thing: insurance doesnt just protect you from worst-case, life-changing events, it also protects you from that annoying, ugh-why-is-it-happening-to-me-now stuff that can really put a damper on your monthly budget. Safeco coverage is added to...

As winter wears on and you find yourself spending more time indoors, you may be noticing little things around the house that you normally wouldnt. The worn-away grout in your bathroom. The drafts coming from your doors and windows. Your old, out-dated appliances. Blame it on one-too-many HDTV reruns, but, if you find yourself wondering whether its time to upgrade or not, here are the guidelines: Dishwasher... 9 years. Average cost to replace: $240-$700. If you want to...

Driver education classes, "practice" driving hours and memorizing road rules are all important parts of learning to drive -- but there are things only seasoned drivers know (like how you just know that guy in front of you is going to stop suddenly and turn, despite his turn signal not being on). A lot of driving is just getting experience, but you can do your best to set your teen up for success! Before you kid hits the road this spring, be sure you’ve shared the following 3 items: ...

It may sound like something out of The Jetsons -- but self-driving cars are here! According to recent data, as many as 10 million cars will be outfitted with self-driving features by the year 2020. While exciting, these futuristic vehicles have opened up a whole can of worms. Especially for insurance companies. How are they insured? Who’s to blame in the event of an accident? Can you trust machine over man? We don’t know the answers to these questions, but here are some f...

With warmer weather here, perhaps you’re dusting off the motorcycle for the summer! Or, maybe you’re in the market for one of these fun (and fuel-efficient!) vehicles. Before you hop on your hog, please consider the following: 1. Consider upping your liability coverage Liability insurance is required in most states; however, how much coverage a driver has can vary. Liability insurance pays for damages or injuries you cause in an accident, as well as your legal defense if neede...

We all know we shouldn’t text and drive. So when Apple introduced its CarPlay system, we had lots of questions.. and concerns. Here’s a brief breakdown of the issues at play. What: The CarPlay is a system that integrates the iPhone with in-car entertainment systems. The setup includes a console touchscreen as well as buttons on the steering wheel that activate Siri, Apples voice command system. CarPlay allows drivers to make calls, listen to voicemails, hear and dictate text mess...

By its most basic definition, insurance is protection against the unexpected. It’s paying for piece of mind. No one expects to run into car trouble an hour into their road trip -- but things happen! As you hit the road for vacation this summer, we recommend adding roadside assistance to your insurance policy. Think of Roadside Assistance like AAA; only, instead of having to purchase a separate AAA membership, you can bundle this extra coverage into your current policy. Generally...

If you’ve ever joked about hiring a chauffeur to shuttle your kids to and from their various activities, you’re not alone! With back-to-school season upon us, many of us are in desperate need of a little help getting our kids around town. Between transporting your kids to and from school, extracurriculars, soccer practice, weekend football games, study sessions and playdates, your family minivan is probably feeling more like the family taxi. For working parents, the 9-5 sc...

Weve talked about self-driving cars before, debating the pros and cons of these cars of the future. However, this week, Bloomberg Technology posted a bullish case for self-driving cars. In this article, the media mogul quoted a recent study by insurance broker Aon Plc. According to Aon, premiums for U.S. auto insurers may drop more than 40 percent once the use of automated vehicles has been fully adopted by 2050. Aon analyst Paul Mang was careful to specify the conditions under which ...

Next time you hail an Uber in Pittsburgh, you might end up riding in a machine-run vehicle! In August, NPR reported on Ubers plan to run an experiment in Pittsburgh, where it will test the first-ever self-driving fleet thats available to everyday customers. For safety purposes, an Uber staff member (an engineer or specially trained driver) will be inside, acting as a human "co-pilot." So technically, its not a car without a human. In fact, for the time being, a human co-pilot is a neces...

Thanksgiving is one of our favorite holidays -- but its also one of the most hazardous. All that turkey and stuffing prep means lots of work in the kitchen, which is almost always ground zero for house fires. Protect your house -- and your guests! -- this year by following a few simple safety precautions courtesy of the National Fire Protection Association: Watch the bird Check your turkey often - and dont leave anything unattended in the oven! If you have any last-minute errands, wai...

Cincinnati got its first snowfall of the season yesterday -- and all the traffic holdups and headaches that come with it. According to the National Weather Service, this snowfall is a preview of whats to come: recent reports indicate that this season will bring more of that white stuff than last year. Dont panic -- prepare! Here are 3 car insurance tips for the winter: 1. When possible, stay home! Theres a reason local schools close when it snows -- slick roads mean more accidents! No...

2017 has just begun -- but, as this video shows, the future is already, in fact, here. Weve talked about self-driving cars before; most notably, how these smart vehicles could affect insurance premiums (both negatively and positively for consumers and insurers!). However, the biggest "pro" on the Self-Driving Cars Pro/Con list, is, of course, the potential for safer driving conditions and fewer accidents. Realizing that an accident was about to occur on the A2 highway in the Nether...

As we get older and go through lifes many milestones, our car insurance premiums can change. We know its probably the furthest thing from your mind (especially as youre saying "I do!" or welcoming a new baby), but its true. Much of the time, these life changes affect your premiums for the better; meaning, theyll result in significant savings. Here are 5 life milestones that affect your car insurance: 1. Getting Married Saying "I do" doesnt just mean metaphorically joining your li...

A recent accident involving self-driving cars has once again put this new technology in the news. Last month, an Arizona driver turned left across three lances of traffic just as the light was turning from green to yellow. According to a report from the Tempe, Ariz., Police Department, the first two lanes were backed up with cars, and the driver crossed them at a speed of about 20 mph. Then, she approached the third lane when a self-driving Uber SUV came through the intersection, hitting...

Its a fact: most car accidents are the result of distracted driving. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, each day over 8 people are killed and 1,161 are injured in crashes that are reported to involve a distracted driver. Whats more alarming, is that the number is likely much higher due to inconsistencies in reporting. Distracted driving is driving while doing another activity that takes your attention away from driving. The CDC classifies three main types of di...

We all know we shouldnt be texting while driving. Soon, Apple will make it impossible to text and drive. Apples iOS 11, a new version of the operating software for Apple mobile devices, will contain a "Do Not Disturb While Driving" feature. Whenever the device is connected to a car using either Bluetooth or a cable -- or if the car is moving -- the phone will withhold any notifications for things like text messages or news updates. (Dont worry about being rude -- the sendee will get an auto...

Car insurance companies are paying out claims in record high numbers. Inevitably, this will have an effect on your insurance premium, as insurers have to raise rates to offset these claims. Whats causing this spike in claims, and what can you do? The experts at Selective Insurance explain the 4 reasons your car insurance rates are rising: 1. Drivers are driving more Maybe its due to airfare being expensive, having to commute to work or gas prices making car travel more affordable - but Ame...

  Self-driving cars promise to transform the automobile industry - and not just for insurers. A recent report in Insurance Journal states that self-driving cars will completely change life for motorcyclists -- for the better. Its a simple safety equation: when robots are at the wheel, far fewer bikers will die on the road. As a result, more people will be inclined to use this alternative form of transportion, which previously had been seen as too dangerous. How, exactly, will self-dr...

This week is National Teen Driver Safety week!  It feels like just yesterday your kiddo was born and today, they’re getting their driver’s license.  It’s exciting and terrifying all at the same time!  You have to trust that your child has listened to all of your words of wisdom, when they take control of that 3,000 pound vehicle/death machine.  Take a deep breath parents!   While no one can take away the concern you will have when you w...

We’ve had a very mild winter so far, but January is here and cold weather is sure to follow! When you are preparing yourself for cold weather you should also include your vehicle.  Follow these tips to help make sure you are prepared when the temperatures start dropping.   Important items to keep in your car. No matter what the weather there are some items that are always good to keep in your car.  Below is a list of items you should have in your car in the event of ...

Many times we receive the question, "Why is my auto insurance more expensive than my neighbors or friends?"  There are many different factors that go into insurance rates and no one is exactly the same.  Here are just a few of the components of auto insurance rating.  Insurance score- Each company has their own way to calculate your insurance score, but most follow this method. They calculate your score from information on your credit report, accident, and insurance claim h...

If you are looking to add a Kia or Hyundai to your insurance, you may have a hard time due to a new social media trend.  This trend is teaching people how to hotwire certain vehicles that do not have an engine immobilizer.  This has caused many companies to halt writing new business with these vehicles.   How do you know if your vehicle falls under this risk? Your vehicle may be included if it is a Kia between the years of 2011-2021, or a Hyundai between 2015-2021 with a standar...

If you are looking to add a Kia or Hyundai to your insurance, you may have a hard time due to a new social media trend.  This trend is teaching people how to hotwire certain vehicles that do not have an engine immobilizer.  This has caused many companies to halt writing new business with these vehicles.   How do you know if your vehicle falls under this risk? Your vehicle may be included if it is a Kia between the years of 2011-2021, or a Hyundai between 2015-2021 with a standar...