Watch out for Biting Dogs, Mother Hens and Falling Cows

From lumbering, wild farm animals to cute and cuddly household pets, animals serve several purposes in our lives: providing love and companionship, improved health and sometimes even food. But cute and cuddly, domesticated or wild, animals can sometimes be dangerous—a fact many people don’t take seriously enough.

 

Domesticated Animals

 

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about 4.5 million people are bitten by dogs each year. Sometimes it’s because a stranger approaches and startles or threatens them. Other times, they’re simply defending their owners or property.

 

Cats can also hurt people by scratching or biting unexpectedly, sending their owners or visiting friends to the emergency room. Additionally, they can transmit diseases that make others ill and cause more serious health issues, leading to doctor bills and hospital visits that an insurer may or may not cover.

 

Regardless of the reason, pets that injure others can create financial and insurance issues for homeowners or renters, who are always liable for their pets’ actions.

 

The Wild Variety

 

Household pets aren’t the only animals that can injure. Farm animals are also a source of wounds people may not expect—and sometimes their actions are anything but an accident.

 

For example, when confused or threatened, many cows, horses, goats, turkeys and pigs will stomp, kick, spit, head-butt or bite. That’s why it’s important for anyone nearby to signal their presence by speaking; approach animals from the front; and avoid making loud noises or sudden movements that will startle them.

 

Mother animals with newborns are especially sensitive to the presence of humans. If she suspects her babies are being threatened, a mother hen, fox or goat may attack suddenly, catching a passerby totally unaware. If someone gets hurt, it will be the responsibility of the property owner or his insurance company to pay the medical bills.

 

The Unexpected

 

Sometimes accidents happen. Take for instance the case of a man we’ll call “Farmer Brown.” Innocently milking his cows one morning on his dairy farm in Florida, one of Farmer Brown’s Jersey cows accidentally fell on him, pinning him to the ground. Not seriously injured, he was transported to a hospital some distance away.

 

But Farmer Brown was lucky. His injuries were mild, and he was released later that day.

 

In another strange case, a cow wandered off a cliff and smashed onto a minivan below, narrowly missing killing its occupants.

 

On further observation, the cow, which weighed about 600 pounds, had fallen nearly 200 feet before smashing onto the car’s hood, demolishing the vehicle and breaking the windshield. Somehow, Charles Everson Jr. and his wife, Linda, escaped harm—and were glad to be alive.

 

Can you imagine trying to explain that to your car insurance company?

 

Staying Protected

 

Whether a rancher with a gaggle of farm animals or a homeowner with a house full of dogs and cats, you’re responsible for your animals’ actions. That’s why it’s important to buy insurance coverage that protects your home and wallet.

 

Complete your quote request today, and talk to a licensed insurance agent. You’ll get the protection you need—and keep you and your animals covered.  

For Agents & Consumers ->Insurance Quotes, Advertising, Leads for Agents and Social Network

For Insurance Agents

How Well Do You Listen To Your Customers?
 Are you regarded as a good listener? How do you know? In my opinion, active listening is one of those skills which requires constant attention and practice. I still find myself once in a while interrupting when I shouldn’t or thinking about what I am going to say next in a conversation and forget what a person was stating to me- yikes! This is not good practice, especially in a sales/customer service situation.

 Therefore, if you find yourself in the same predicament from time to time, remember that active listening is crucial when determining the needs of a customer and providing the best products for them. Active listening involves more than just listening…active listening involves probing for more information, paraphrasing, and acknowledgement that you are listening. If you do not listen well, you may lose a sale.

 Here’s a fun listening exercise that I participated in during a training class a few years back (however, it’s better facilitated as a listening exercise- not a reading exercise). It goes like this:

 You are the bus driver. At stop #1 three people got on the bus, one of them was wearing a blue baseball cap. At stop # 2, five people got on and one exited the bus. At stop #3 two people got on, one person was carrying a bag and the person with the blue baseball cap got off. What is the bus driver’s age?

 If you answered the age, which is yours by the way since you are the bus driver, then you passed! If not, then that’s okay, this exercise is a reminder to us all to make the effort to listen effectively to our customers. (Keep in mind that this exercise should be provided verbally in order to be effective)

 Have some fun with your co-workers and see who can pass the listening test!

Social Networking Insurance for Business

If you’re a young agent well versed in using the Web for business, you’re probably familiar with online social networking sites like Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook. Sites like these hold much promise for the future, as insurance customers wander around online, chat with friends and business associates and talk about their lives.

Why not make insurance part of that discussion? And why not meet customers online, right where they are, and do business where they’re most comfortable?

According to the Auto Insurance Report, insurance companies like State Farm are joining the world of social networking, attempting to connect with and service customers all over the country.

And sites like these aren’t just for young people and companies anymore–or for corporations. Small agencies and individual agents are also finding their voice in social media, amidst everyone else looking for a piece of the pie. There they can answer questions, dispell myths, offer service and talk about breaking news in the insurance industry that might affect their customers.

Rather than pretending their clients have nothing but good to say about them and tuning any negative remarks out, insurers are wise to listen up, participate in the discussion and know what’s being asked and said about them online. This immediately puts them on the offense, rather than the defense, and offers the opportunity to inform, engage and connect with customers–instead of playing damage control after the fact.

Not only that, but by tweeting on Twitter or posting comments on their Facebook wall that link back to their own Web sites, agents who participate in social media strategies can increase their business by driving potential customers who need insurance directly to their own contact information.

Are you using online social media sites to increase business opportunity? If you’ve never made use of sites like Twitter, LinkedIn or Facebook in growing your business, we recommend you check them out. If you have, drop us a comment and let us know how it’s working out for you.

Though it does take some time and effort to establish a “following” of existing and potentially new customers, it could be well worth the time you put into it when examining your bottom line.

Insurance Agents Social Network

Car Insurance: Money-Saving Tips

Many people lament the purchase of auto insurance. So we’re here to make it less painful. Check out these six money-saving tips and take the sting out of buying insurance.

#1 Raise your deductible. It’s a gamble, sure. You’ll be responsible for a larger amount of the bill should you get into an accident. However, this is a guaranteed way to lower your annual insurance costs.

#2 Shop around. Staying with the same insurance company year after year may not be in your best interest. You can cancel or change your policy at any time—you don’t need to wait for the policy to expire. So shop your insurance every six months and compare prices to ensure you are getting the best deal.

#3 Remove unneeded extras. Although knowing you have towing and rental car coverage may help you sleep at night, those add-ons are rarely used and not necessarily worth the cost. You pay between $10 and $30 a year over the life of your policy to cover towing. And in the unlikely situation that you need a tow, you’ll pay about $100. Likewise, a small economy car costs $20-$25 a day to rent and car rental tacks on another $20-$40 to your insurance bill each year. So you can sleep well knowing that you saved yourself some money.

#4 Protect your credit. More insurers have begun using credit-based insurance scores to determine what you pay for your policy. So paying the water bill on time will actually keep your insurance costs down.

#5 Research discounts. Cars with safety and anti-theft devices cost less to insure. You can also knock off a few bucks if you insure your car and home with the same company. People who abstain from alcohol, get good grades in school or take a driver education course are also rewarded with lower premiums.

#6 Get informed. The easiest way to save on any insurance is to research before you buy. And get recommendations from family and friends.

And now for the shameless plug: shope here to find quotes and matched with agents from your area! Get your Free Car Insurance Quote Today.