Please mark your calendars and celebrate the fourth annual day of awareness to Spread the Word to End the Word, March 7 , 2012, with a renewed pledge to end the hurtful and degrading use of the "R-word." This international day of awareness was created by youth with and without intellectual disabilities in order to change the conversation from one of negativity and pain to a positive message, highlighting inclusion and RESPECT for all.

While March 7th is the culmination, eliminating the R-word from everyday speech is a year-round effort with hundreds of events happening throughout the world. In order to assist our local programs, schools and communities in beginning their own local campaign, updated resources are now available online.

To access these resources and discover how you can become involved in the campaign, visit http://www.specialolympics.org/spread-the-word-to-end-the-word_resources.aspx . To make your Pledge, please follow the link below:

The IMT Group, a leading provider of personal and commercial insurance products, today announced its list of 2012 GEM Agencies and has distinguished Kouri Insurance as one of the qualifying recipients. 

Of the more than 800 independent IMT agencies eligible for consideration, only the top 53 performing agencies received the GEM distinction this year.

The IMT Group has a strong relationship and partnership with Kouri Insurance. It is the superior performance and unwavering commitment of agencies like Kouri Insurance that enables IMT to continue living up to their slogan, “Be Worry Free with IMT!”

“Am I overpaying?”

That’s a question that every consumer asks from time to time. Everyone is curious and concerned as to whether he or she is getting a good value for the money, whether it’s for a candy bar, a car or an airline ticket.

It’s a good question to ask about insurance, too. After all, Americans spend a lot of money on insurance for homes, autos and businesses. In 2008, American drivers spent $161 billion for personal automobile insurance, reported the A.M. Best Co., an insurance research and ratings firm.

This large market for auto insurance is highly competitive. Consumers play a large part in keeping insurance rates competitive by virtue of shopping—whether online, by telephone or on the World Wide Web. More than one of four (about 28 percent) of auto insurance buyers shopped around for car insurance in 2009, reported J.D. Power & Associates in its 2009 national auto insurance study.

But consumers aren’t the only ones shopping around for auto insurance. So do independent insurance agents, including Trusted Choice® independent insurance agents like Kouri Insurance. Independent agents differ from company specific agents like State Farm and others, as they offer more than one company solutions for your family and business.

On average, Trusted Choice® independent insurance agent provide consumers with property/casualty insurance options from eight different insurance carriers, reported the 2008 agency universe study conducted by Future One, a collaboration of the Independent Insurance Agents and Brokers of America (the Big “I”) and leading independent agency companies. For automobile insurance, those agents may compare rates and coverages at even more insurance companies, through their use of software that allows them to compare multiple policies and multiple carriers.

For auto insurance buyers, research showed that independent agents rank most highly on the most important element of customer satisfaction. The J.D. Power study measures customer satisfaction with auto insurance companies across five factors (in order of importance): interaction, policy offerings, billing and payment, price and claims. Insurers who sell their auto insurance products through agents performed “stronger in the interaction factor than do direct insurers,” reported J.D. Power.

Overall, customer satisfaction with auto insurance companies reached a five-year high in 2009, reported the J.D. Power study. The biggest improvement in satisfaction among the five factors has been in price. Interestingly, 42 percent of customers in 2009 reported that their auto insurance premiums declined without switching insurers.

Are you overpaying for auto insurance? Thanks to a competitive market that includes Trusted Choice® independent insurance agent, the answer probably is no. If you’re not sure, ask an agent to review your options.

Be Safe, Be Smart On A Long-Distance Road Trip

Whether you’re traveling alone, with a buddy or with your spouse and a car full of kids, there are few things more “American” than the long-distance road trip. Countless vacation travelers will drive the highways looking for fun and making memories with every mile. If traveling down the “holiday road” is in your plans, take the time to prepare for your trip. You’ll have a more enjoyable vacation if you plan carefully. Here are a few driving tips, courtesy of Kouri Insurance.
1) Maintain your car. Make sure your vehicle is up to date on its maintenance schedule, and be sure to check the battery and tires.

2) Plan your trip and know where you’re going. Call ahead for proper and safe directions to get you to your destination safely and have maps of the area on hand to help you navigate once you are off the main road. You’re more likely to make good decisions, even in dangerous situations, if you’re clearheaded and know where you’re going.

3) Be alert. Seems obvious, but driver inattention is surely the cause of a lot of accidents. If you stay focused behind the wheel and plan carefully, you will have a wonderful summer road trip.

4) Take precaution with a cell phone. Cell phones can be a lifesaver when you need immediate access to emergency services after an accident. Keep your phone within easy reach and get to know its features. However, use it prudently. Reports suggest that driving while talking on the phone increases accident rates.

5) Wear your seat belt. Whether or not it’s required by law in the state through which you’re driving, always wear your seat belt as a safety precaution.

6) Protect your car against theft. Help deter criminals from taking your car with steering wheel locks, switches that disable fuel or ignition systems, and electronic tracking devices.

7) If you’re in an accident. Taking immediate steps if you’ve been in an accident can protect your family and your car from further damage. Stop immediately and make sure your car is not blocking traffic. Turn off your car to keep it from overheating or catching fire. Warn oncoming cars using road flares or orange triangle reflectors. After you have protected yourself and your family, call your insurance company immediately.

8) Make sure your auto insurance is up to date. Before you even leave the driveway, you want to be sure you’re protected when you’re on the road and far from home. An independent insurance agent or broker can provide the personal service and advice you need to travel in confidence.

To learn more about what an independent insurance agency offers you, contact Kouri Insurance.

In the midst of the festive and hectic holiday atmosphere, it is easy to forget the serious responsibility involved with hosting a party at your home or business. In many states, individuals and employers hosting holiday parties can be held liable in cases where a guest or third party is injured in an accident related to alcohol consumption at your event. Hosts have been held responsible for medical bills, vehicle repair costs, lost time from work, and even wrongful death. Trusted Choice® independent insurance agents recommend that those planning to host holiday parties this year review their homeowners, renter’s or comprehensive general liability (CGL) insurance policy and ensure they have adequate liability coverage if sued and found liable for the actions of a guest who drank at their home or business. While all holiday partygoers and hosts alike should be responsible and know their limits, consumers need to acknowledge that most risks cannot be eliminated entirely. But planning ahead and learning about what’s involved in hosting a reception is the best defense. 

Liability Coverage Tips:

• If hosting a holiday party, individuals should look to the liability portion of their homeowners or renters insurance policy to provide them protection if they are sued and found liable for an accident involving a guest who drank at their home.


• Employers need to make sure that their comprehensive general liability (CGL) policy provides them coverage for third-party liquor liability policy before hosting that holiday office party.  

• Charging employees for alcoholic beverages in the home or office may not always be the best solution for business parties. It is important for businesses to remember that once they charge a fee for alcohol, they have technically entered the alcohol sales business, even if only for one night. That carries with it requirements for a liquor license and an array of special liability protection needs. It by no means lets these employers off the hook.” 

• Purchasing a personal “umbrella” liability policy—that can provide $1 million or more in additional coverage over the limit offered by a standard homeowners or renters policy—may be a prudent move for the frequent party host.  This type of coverage can cost as little as $125 a year.

 
Party Host Safety Tips:

• Limit guest list to those you know.

• Provide filling food for guests and alternative non-alcoholic beverages.

• Schedule activities or entertainment not involving alcohol. If the party centers around drinking, it is likely that guests will drink more.

• Arrange transportation or overnight accommodations for those who should not drive home.

• Stop serving alcohol well before the time the party is to end.

• Do not serve guests who are visibly intoxicated.

• Review your insurance policy with your Trusted Choice® independent insurance agent before the event to ensure proper liability coverage.

• Consider hiring an off-duty police officer to discretely monitor guests’ sobriety or handle any alcohol-related problems as guests leave.

• Stay alert yourself, always remembering your responsibilities as a host.

Millions of Americans donate time—their most valuable asset—to serve as a volunteer board member on non-profits, booster clubs, churches, PTAs and civic organizations, just to name a few. The decisions these folks make can have a dramatic impact on their respective organization—and not always for the better. If a volunteer endeavor goes bad, would a volunteer board member have coverage against a lawsuit under his or her homeowner’s policy?

Homeowners’ Insurance
The last thing volunteers want to consider is what would happen if their favored organization file suit against them as a result of their efforts. But it happens, and not infrequently. This does happen, especially when volunteers make decisions that directly influence the finances of an organization. Often, the only insurance these volunteers have to back their efforts is a homeowner’s policy. Unfortunately, this policy may be of little assistance.

The reason homeowners’ policies do not usually cover liability stemming from actions as a volunteer is the nature of the claim. The policy is designed to cover claims of “bodily injury,” such as someone slipping on cracked pavement in your driveway; and/or “property damage,” such as accidentally setting your neighbor’s house ablaze when burning some brush on a windy day.

Claims against board members do not usually involve bodily injury or property damage. Rather, they involve bad decision making that results in financial loss to the organization, such as the decision to invest in an IT system that turns out to be a debacle, costing the organization tremendous time and money.

There is another problem. Homeowners policies do not cover “professional services.” This is important to note, because board members are often asked to serve in a capacity consistent with their profession. For example, a church member who is a CPA may be asked to serve on the church’s board as finance chairman. Even though he is not paid for his services, the “professional services” exclusion under his homeowner’s policy would still apply.

In addition to the above, homeowners policies do not cover claims of personal injury unless this coverage is specifically added. Personal injury insurance is added to the homeowner’s policy to cover claims such as libel, slander, wrongful eviction, and false advertising.

What to Do
Events causing claims are unpredictable. While the reasons shown above prove it’s unlikely, not all claims against volunteer board members are excluded by a homeowners policy. Decisions to purchase personal injury coverage and a personal umbrella policy will increase your ability to find coverage for a suit against you. 

The best method for insuring the actions of board members is for the organization to purchase a directors and officers (D&O) liability policy. These policies are relatively inexpensive for most non-profits. Before volunteering, request information on the organization’s D&O policy. The absence of this insurance leaves you at risk of having no personal insurance to defend a suit brought against you by the organization and should influence your decision to serve.   

Ideally, every claim would be smooth and trouble free. Unfortunately though, that is not always the case as companies and policyholders can both have reasonable views that don't line up. How does this happen? Often it is a result of a miscommunication or a missing piece of information that causes a conflict which is then quickly resolved. Sometimes it is just a difference between the numbers approach that a company takes versus a more emotional approach that the person suffering the loss uses. More of a style than substance issue. Other times though, there may be a distinct difference in opinion that can be difficult to resolve. In more rare occasions, it may be a matter of the company being wrong and then we work with you to correct their position.

When a loss occurs, a company is going to look at the claim and put a dollar value on the cost of repairing or rebuilding your property and proceed accordingly. This may feel a little cold, but their goal is to replace your lost property with a safe, comparable replacement and to do so as quickly as possible. Since it is difficult to provide an exact replacement for most things, the insurance company will try for the most comparable. For example, if your 5 year old car is damaged, they look to repair it with parts comparable to the age of the car. If it needs to be replaced, they look at the dollar value of cars of similar age, mileage and condition. If it is your home that is damaged, they look to rebuild or repair it to a like new condition that is of comparable size, style and features. With a home policy, the materials used will be brand new and of like kind and quality. In fact, a home loss generally allows the homeowner to end up with a home that is nicer than what they had due to the updated materials used in the repair or rebuild.

One of the bigger issues when a claim occurs is the loss of value that may occur to the damaged property. This is mostly related to homes and vehicles and is dependent on the type and extent of damage incurred. This is a real concern for policyholders because the loss can be substantial. Unfortunately, except for some liability type claims, loss of value is not covered under your insurance contract. As such, the company cannot pay for any loss in value that occurs. This is not an attempt by the company to avoid a payment, but a recognition that the policy does not provide this type of coverage. While we hope that the insurance industry will try to address this, one of the big concerns is how do you price for it and how do you calculate the damages? The amount of loss decreases over time and even if you sell the property once it is fixed, the loss in value, if any, is only going to be an estimate at best.

So the question is, with all of the above, how can we make a claim go as smooth as possible? We have listed several steps that you can take to keep a claim on track.

1. Go into a claim with the mindset that the company is working for you, but be ready to support your position. A good company adjuster understands the need to pay what the policy allows and will listen to your concerns.

2. It is important to understand that the company cannot do more than what the contract allows, but they also can't do less.

3. Focus on a fair settlement, not trying to get more than what was lost. The company will reimburse you for what you lost, not for upgrading or a loss in value.

4. When an event occurs to many people at the same time, patience is required as the adjusters will be in great demand. Be sure to make the necessary repairs and cleanup  while waiting for the adjuster. You do not need to wait for an adjuster to take the steps necessary to prevent further damage, or to begin the cleanup. 
 
5. If you do not agree with the adjuster, it is well within your right to get a second opinion. In fact, most companies welcome this additional opinion to assist in concluding your claim. We strongly encourage you to consult with a QUALIFIED third party if you feel the company is wrong. When there is a disagreement, it is important to have your position supported with quality information.
 
6. Contact your agent when a question or problem arises. We are here to work with you and facilitate the claims process. In many cases, we can resolve issues that create problem claims. You are not alone when a claim occurs.

When you have a good company- and ours are-  they will listen to your viewpoint and supporting materials and then will either explain and back up their position, or they will make any necessary corrections if warranted by the information you provide. We see it happen all the time. What doesn't work as well is to demand a different action, but not be able to provide justification as to why it needs to done that way. Unfortunately, while emotions and opinion are listened to and considered, they do not have the same authority as facts and supported positions. Companies have a responsibility to pay your claim fairly, promptly and to ensure the result does not put you in an unsafe circumstance. By the same token, it is necessary for policyholders to remember that they also have the responsibility to be fair in expectations, be cooperative, and to realize that coverage is dictated by the policy.  This is where your agent comes into play as we can help you navigate the claim process and ensure your voice is heard.

Claims are a part of life; they happen every day and range from life changing to an inconvenient nuisance. They all share a common element though; they all involve recovering from a loss and putting you in a condition comparable to where you were at before the loss occurred. While Insurance policies are designed to put you in the condition you were at the minute before the loss occurred, there can be disagreement as to exactly what that condition was and if it is possible to do so. Though conflicts are fairly rare, they do occur as mistakes and incorrect decisions are sometimes made. A good insurance company will work through these times to ultimately reach a fair conclusion. The purpose of this article is not to defend the insurance company, but to simply provide some background as to the reasoning behind why a  decison may be made. In the following paragraphs I will provide some examples of the more common claims that create questions.

Under the auto policy, questions tend to pop up most often under two circumstances. First, a car is damaged and the company is asking that reconditioned vs. OEM parts be used. The idea is that a five year old car has five year body panels and replacing those parts with brand new OEM parts is improving the car, while using reconditioned parts puts the car in comparable condition to how it was prior to the loss. Using reconditioned parts reduces the cost of the claim which helps keep premiums lower. Unlike 10 or 20 years ago when this was first introduced, from a safety and appearance standpoint, there should be no noticeable difference between the results of the two repair methods. The second scenario is payment for a totaled car. This can be a tough claim as we can all agree that when your car is totaled, it is hard to find a comparable example to buy. Instead, you will likely upgrade the car to meet your current needs. Unfortunately, this upgrade will not be paid by your insurance company as the insurance policy is only concerned with valuing the car that was lost, not the one that will replace it. The difference between the customer action and the policy coverage can be a tough point in a claim.

The home policy is generally a replacement cost policy, so repairs and replacements are done more on a basis of using current costs and materials to repair or replace items. The depreciation that is part of most policies is removed when a repair or replacement takes place. While this often reduces conflict on valuing a claim, there are still issues that occur when a customer wants replacement and the company wants to repair. Why does the repair vs. replace issue happen? It happens because the home policy requires the insurance company to choose the lower cost between repairing and replacing. If it is less expensive to repair, that is what the policy dictates. When there is disagreement with being able to repair an item, you will see the company rely on a third party to make the determination. You will be able to provide input, and very often choose, this third party inspector. This is especially true of large home losses where we will see a restoration company and a structural engineer brought in to make sure the decision made is the correct one. We also may see this anytime there is a question on the extent  and cause of damage . Your insurance company should be very open with the information they use to settle your claim. They should also let you bring a representative in to review the estimate and view the inspection process when there is significant disagreement. In most cases, we find that it is not the insurance company trying to be difficult as much as it is the company following the conditions of the contract.

When questions arise during the claims process, your agent is there to help you navigate through the process and ensure that your voice is being heard. In my next post, I am going to talk about how to make the claims process go smoothly.

I was looking at my calendar in amazement at the number of great events being held this weekend. We have the Sioux Falls Marathon, Buddy Walk, Dakota Bowl, Sidewalk Arts Festival, German Fest and of course, the biggie of them all, our very own Anne's wedding on Saturday.

We are very pleased to be among the sponsors and participants of the Buddy Walk, the Sioux Falls Marathon and the Dakota Bowl. All three are amazing community events. I am sure you may also see some of us at the Sidewalk Arts Festival and the German Fest.

I encourage you to look ahead to Volunteer Sioux Falls which will be held on September 24, 2011. This is a tremendous volunteer event where over 1,500 volunteers will spend part of the day helping a variety of organizations and families. You can sign up as an individual or group. Perfect work event!  We are very proud to be one of the original sponsors.

The great thing about being a locally owned agency is our ability to support the events in our community. Kouri Insurance has always been a firm believer in giving back to Sioux Falls.

All of us at Kouri Insurance are pleased and honored to have again been recognized as one of The Local Best Insurance Agencies in Sioux Falls. We have been honored with this designation each year since 2007. Also winning again under the company heading is a company we have represented since they entered SD. We extend our congratulations to Progressive Insurance for winning this award every year it has been offered.

We are also very proud of the fact that we have an agent that has won this year. Bryan Kouri (your author), has been recognized as one of The Local Best Insurance Agents in the second year of this category.

While we are proud of our agency achievements, we are also humbled by the fact that so many of our customers took the time to vote for us. We strive to do our very best and will continue to do so. Thank you for these honors!