The two most common reasons your auto insurance rate will increase is a traffic violation and and at-fault accident. While there's not much you can do after having an at-fault accident to improve your driving record (other than being more careful), there are a few things you can do to clean up your driving record.

How to clean your driving record

• First, resolve to fight tickets if you think they are questionable. This will require a court visit. However, getting a violation dropped could you save you from a rate increase. But pick your battles — make sure the violations really are questionable. Mention any special circumstances. For instance, a judge might give you a break if you were rushing to the hospital because of an emergency.
• You may be able to take a defensive driving course to improve your auto insurance rate. Ask your CIE agent for details and availability.

Got questions? Please contact your CIE agent or our friendly customer service staff! We're always happy to help! (860) 666-5443 or [email protected]

Where it lands is the key to liability...
Q: Let's say a neighbor's tree falls during a storm and crashes into your home. Who pays for the damage? This isn't meant to be a 'trick' question, but it may seem like one.

A: Even though it's your neighbor's tree, it's your responsibility. If the tree was in good health and it came down due to an act of God, nobody can be held responsible for that.

Tree damage — who pays for what?

• The property owner whose house is hit by a tree is covered under their homeowner's policy.
• The property owner whose vehicle is hit by a tree is covered under their auto policy — but only if they have "comprehensive" coverage on the vehicle.
  
• If the tree that falls is rotted or diseased and should have been pruned or cut down, then a question of negligence can be raised. The property owner may seek to hold the tree owner liable for damages.
  
• Tree removal is only covered if a structure or vehicle is hit by the falling tree. NOTE: Pools are not covered. So, if a tree falls only on your lawn or garden — with no damage to your home or vehicle —the cost of tree removal, damage to lawns, gardens or damage to pools are generally not covered. Check your policy for specifics.
• If a tree on your property falls into your neighbor's yard without damage to their home or vehicle, tree removal is not covered by either party's insurance. You and your neighbor must discuss who pays for cleanup.

Contact your Connecticut Insurance Exchange agent at 860 666-5443 or email us at [email protected] if you have questions about tree damage liability. We will be happy to review your policy and exposures to make sure you are properly covered!

There's a lot more to a home remodeling project than the price of the job. If you’re planning to do the work yourself or hire a general contractor (GC) or subcontractors, your FIRST CALL should be to your insurance agent to make sure you are adequately insured during the renovation and after it is completed.

Here are five 'what ifs' you may need to know BEFORE you begin…
1. What if the project can't be finished? After you’ve selected a GC — but before you sign a contract for the project — be sure the GC is licensed and bonded. If they can’t finish the job for some reason (such as illness or bankruptcy), the bond is intended to provide coverage for financial losses you may incur in getting the job finished. Your contract with the GC also should agree all work that is to be done is in accordance with current building codes and all permits will be obtained.
    Request a copy of your contractor's Certificate of Insurance. Check its effective and expiration dates to see if the coverage will be in force the entire time work is being done. Contact the insurance agency that issued the certificate if you have questions about coverage.
2. What if materials or equipment are stolen from my project? In general, building materials and equipment belong to the GC or subcontractors are NOT protected from theft by your homeowner's policy. A Builder's Risk Policy can be tailored to cover any of the contractor's equipment or materials that are left on your property to be installed. EXAMPLE: with the high cost of copper, thieves target construction sites looking for copper plumbing pipe.
    You should consider the purchase of a Builders Risk Policy for the length of YOUR renovation project. Be prepared. Determining the proper coverage and policy may require several conversations with your insurance agent as well as lenders, but is well worth the effort.
3. What if a subcontractor gets injured at my home? Confirm if your subcontractors carry Workers’ Compensation coverage of their own or are covered under the GC’s policy. If not and a subcontractor is injured on the job at your home, YOU could liable for injuries!
4. What if policy limits are inadequate? General Liability limits vary, but most GCs carry a $1 million limit. This amount may not be enough to cover damages. As the homeowner, you should consider adding additional limits with the purchase of an umbrella policy.
5. How much more is your home worth AFTER the renovation? Remember to speak with your insurance agent about increasing coverage for the NEW value of your property after it’s been remodeled.

Got questions about your upcoming home renovation project? We're here to help!
Connecticut Insurance Exchange offers a full line of insurance products, including Builder's Risk and Umbrella policies. Contact us at 860 666-5443 or [email protected] to see how we may be able to assist you.

According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS), an estimated 17.6 million persons, or about 7 percent of U.S. residents were victims of at least one incident of identity theft in 2014.

Once cybercriminals have access, they can steal personal and financial information, hold computer files for ransom, and hijack anything from webcams and thermostats to smart TVs!

Here are tips from Ready.gov for what to do to prevent and manage a cyber attack.
 
Protect your online profile

• Only connect to the Internet over secure, password-protected networks.
• Do not click on links or pop-ups, open attachments, or respond to emails from strangers.
• Always enter a URL by hand instead of following links if you are unsure of the sender.
• Don't respond to online requests for personally identifiable information (PII).
• Limit who you are sharing information with by reviewing the privacy settings on all social media accounts.
• Trust your gut — if you think an offer is too good to be true, then it probably is.
• Don't re-use the same password; choose a password phrase that means something to you and you only; change your passwords on a regular basis.
• If you see something suspicious, report it to the proper authorities.

What you can  do if you are experiencing an online breach

• Check to make sure the software on all of your systems is up-to-date.
• Run a scan to make sure your system is not infected or acting suspiciously.
• If you find a problem, disconnect your device from the Internet and perform a full system restore.
• If you have anti-virus software installed on your computer, update the virus definitions (if possible), and perform a manual scan of your entire system. Install all of the appropriate patches to fix known vulnerabilities.

If you think your personally identifiable information (PII) is compromised

• ​Immediately change all passwords; financial passwords first. 
• Restart your computer in safe mode and perform a full system restore.
• Contact companies, including banks, where you have accounts as well as credit reporting companies.
• Close any accounts that may have been compromised. Be alert or set up alerts for any unexplainable or unauthorized charges to your accounts.
• File a report with the local police so there is an official record of the incident.
• Report online crime or fraud to your local United States Secret Service (USSS) Electronic Crimes Task Force or the Internet Crime Complaint Center.
• Report identity theft to the Federal Trade Commission.
• If your PII was compromised, consider other information that may be at risk. Depending what information was stolen, you may need to contact other agencies. For example, if someone has gained access to your Social Security number, contact the Social Security Administration. You should also contact the Department of Motor Vehicles if your driver's license or car registration has been stolen.
• For further information on preventing and identifying threats, visit the United States Computer Emergency Readiness Team's (US-CERT) Alerts and Tips page.

​Ask a Connecticut Insurance Exchange agent about Identity Theft insurance. It's relatively inexpensive and could save you a lot of time and grief in the long run.