Swimming Pool Liability

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liability insurance in Salt Lake CityHaving a swimming pool on your property is a luxury and takes a lot of maintenance, but oh is it worth it on a hot summer day! If you have kids, the swimming pool seems to be their favorite hangout place with their friends. While owing a swimming pool can be a fun experience if you’re willing to maintain it, it also carries a unique insurance liability risk.

Swimming pools carry many risks of injury. To limit your exposure setting strict rules around the pool for safety can greatly reduce the chances of injury occurring. Follow these safety tips when and around a pool:

  1. Supervision – children should never be left unattended around a swimming pool. If your children and friends want to use the pool require an adult be present at all times. If your children’s friends are wanting to use the pool and you can’t watch, ask another parent to supervise.
  2. Require walking – Water and concrete is slippery. Reduce the chances of a slip and fall injury by making sure everyone around the pool walks and doesn’t run.
  3. No Glass Around Pool Rule – Glass can fall into the pool or around the deck and make for a dangerous situation.
  4. Regularly Inspect – inspect the items used in and around a pool like the diving board, slide or flotation equipment.
  5. Fence & Lock the Pool – Most insurance companies will require a fence of at least four feet be present around a pool.
  6. Teach your children how to swim and pool safety – prevention is key. Teaching your kids how to swim as well as to avoid things in pools and spas like drains can reduce the risk.
  7. Install an alarm – You can install an alarm that detects when someone enters the pool.
  8. Protect your pets – Animals are attracted to water, especially on a hot day. Keep your pool area secured from pets when you’re not using it to ensure they don’t fall in.

Pools and spas are a lot of fun! By following proper safety precautions you can have a lot of great memories and your kids can have a lot of fun! Enjoy your pools responsibly. If you have questions on pool requirements for insurance purposes, we have answers. Our licensed agents can help ensure your property is insurable and that you are properly covered in the event you have a claim.

Archibald Insurance Agency in Salt Lake City, UT is a different kind of insurance agency. We represent over 20 top-rated insurance companies to offer you comparative insurance quotes which means more coverage options, better pricing and flexibility.  Agency owner, Marc Archibald and his friendly and knowledgeable staff can quote your auto insurance, home insurance, business insurance & much more! With many payment options you’re sure to find the right company at the right price for your specific insurance needs! Both homeowners and auto insurance rates change, people change, situations change. Our goal is to be your preferred insurance agency for a lifetime.

6 Ways to Prep Your Camper Trailer for Summer Use

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RV Insurance Salt Lake City, UTWith summer around the corner, avid campers are ready to get out and enjoy what nature has to offer. If you own a camper or trailer, it’s time to complete a quick tune up to ensure your vehicle is ready for summer use. While some people may pay to service their camper every year, it’s definitely doable to do it yourself too. Here are six areas to check when it comes to prepping your camper for summer use.

  • Service your axle and hubs – One of the most common things you see with camper trailers is someone on the side of the road missing their entire wheel! Grease in the hubs can dry out and if your bearings fail, the entire wheel can come off! This is a dangerous and scary situation. This can be avoided by having your bearings repacked by your local tire shop.
  • Inspect tires – Most camper trailers sit most of the year unused. Because they sit, the tires develop flat spots and cracks that can be dangerous. Inspect your camper tires for cracks as well as any flat spots. Flat spots can be avoided by using special tire savers. They’re widely available for under $100.
  • Check for mold – If your camper is stored outside or if you put it away when it was wet, you may have some mold to deal with. Fortunately, getting rid of mold in campers is easy if it is just on the surface. More extensive mold issues may require a professional. If you have some surface mold, use a water and bleach solution to spray on and kill the mold. Be careful to not spray surfaces that may be discolored such as upholstery. Check along the bottom of your walls, behind curtains, under the sink or inside cabinets too for dampness. If you find it, leave a fan running over night in the camper while it is open to get circulation through the camper and dry it out.
  • Inspect & test your lights – Before you hit the road, always check your lights for functionality. This should be done every time, not just at the beginning of the season.
  • Check propane for leaks- Your propane system can become damaged by rodents or simply by your lines drying out or becoming bent. Your best detection for a propane leak is your nose and ears. Also, if you suspect a leak, use a soapy water solution to check your lines if you see any bubbles form from damage or suspected leak. All campers should be equipped with a propane detector for safety. If you suspect a leak, contact your local dealer to fix the issue or unplug your propane until you have time to get it fixed.
  • Flush your water system- If you’ve winterized your camper, be sure to flush your potable water system well. The antifreeze in your water lines should be the non-toxic variety using propylene glycol. Regardless, flush the system well and dispose of the antifreeze in a manner consistent with federal and state regulations – not in a drain or stream.

If you are looking for a policy review on your camper, be sure to reach out to Archibald Insurance. A RV policy review allows us to ensure you are getting the best coverage at the best price. We also can add additional coverage if you need it. Contact us today.

5 Habits to Master Every Time You Get Into Your Vehicle

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Car Insurance in Salt Lake CityAccording the National Highway Traffic Safety Association, 391,000 individuals were injured & 3,477 were killed from distracted driving in 2015. Insurance premiums have skyrocketed because of distracted driving and increases in traffic accidents.  Distracted driving isn’t just talking on the phone or texting but can include reading articles or email, eating, brushing your hair, or any other way you’re trying to multi-task while driving.

Consider practicing good driving behavior by mastering these 5 habits every time you get inside your vehicle.

  • Put your phone OUT of reach when entering your vehicle.

The back seat or placed in your bag or purse inside your trunk, along with other belongings can be a good start. If you can’t fathom doing this, continue to ask yourself, “Can it wait?” every time you want to reach for your device. Most likely it can. It may help to put your phone on mute to avoid the desire to reach for it when it alerts you of an incoming call or new text message/email. If you feel you always have to be readily available to take a phone call, pull your car over & park it before answering the call.

  • Program your GPS or identify where you need to go before driving your vehicle.

Be sure to activate voice commands so your eyes can stay on the road 100% of the time.

  • Groom Before or After, Not While Driving or Sitting at a Stop Light

If you find yourself running late often & grooming last minute, transition yourself out of the habit of grooming while driving. Practice doing this once you’ve arrived at your location or before you even start your vehicle.

  • Eat While Parked

Don’t risk eating and driving. Instead, simple park your car and eat your meal before getting back on the road.

  • Be a Role Model for Your Friends and Family

Not only demonstrate to your kids how you do not drive distracted, but also explain the dangers of doing it. If you find yourself riding along with a friend or family member, speak up if the driver is using an electronic device while driving. Offer to deliver their text message for them, act as the co-pilot or make the phone call.

If we all practice safe driving habits, we will all be better off.

Archibald Insurance Agency in Salt Lake City, UT is a different kind of insurance agency. We represent over 20 top-rated insurance companies to offer you comparative insurance quotes which means more coverage options, better pricing and flexibility.  Agency owner, Marc Archibald and his friendly and knowledgeable staff can quote your auto insurance, home insurance, business insurance & much more! With many payment options you’re sure to find the right company at the right price for your specific insurance needs! Both homeowners and auto insurance rates change, people change, situations change. Our goal is to be your preferred insurance agency for a lifetime.

Does Your Classic Car Insurance Match Your Use & Needs?

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Classic Car Insurance Salt Lake City, UTMany of us collect classic cars and for good reason – they’re valuable assets and they’re fun! Regardless of what you collect or why you collect it, we all share a passion for these vehicles of the past.

For those of us who are classic car enthusiasts we need an insurance policy that matches our use and ensures that the value on our vehicles is appropriate.

Insuring your classic car is not the same as insuring your every-day driver. Insurance policies are typically less expensive and are written on an agreed value. Your classic car insurance policy can be custom tailored just to your specific vehicle, stage of restoration or usage.

Here are some examples of how you can tailor your classic car insurance policy:

Example 1: If you don’t really drive it but want to protect it in the event of an unforeseen claim, you can get a policy like that.

Example 2: If you use your classic car as an off-road vehicle and don’t want to protect the vehicle from damages from branches or other collisions, there is a policy for that.

Example 3: For those individuals who love to take their classic car on a road trip, there is coverage to protect you if you break down & it can offer a replacement vehicle, food, shelter and more.

Example 4: Need unique parts for your classic car due to a loss? There’s a policy that offers stock original replacement parts.

Each person is unique as the vehicle they collect and that is why it is imperative to talk to an insurance agent to find just the right policy for your classic or antique automobile.

Additional consideration should be made if you have a personal umbrella policy with another carrier. That carrier will typically require you to carry sufficient limits on your classic car to match the coverages on your everyday driver. This ensures you don’t create a gap in coverage, even if you rarely drive it.

Archibald Insurance can shop through several of our top-rated classic car insurance companies. Each insurance company specializes in specific policies such as insurance for regular use users, street rod enthusiasts, classics undergoing restoration or classics that need spare parts coverage. We’ll search to find the best coverage for your needs. Get a quote today.

What Does Renters Insurance Cover and Is My Roommate Included?

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Renters Insurance in Salt Lake City, UTAs a local insurance agency, we are here to help with all your insurance questions. When it comes to renters insurance, many people assume that since they are renting an apartment, home or condo, they are fully covered by their landlord if anything unfortunate occurs.

Your landlord’s insurance policy should cover any damage to the property itself but, it will not protect against any of your personal property or liability you cause. If you were to experience water damage, for instance, if your neighbor’s pipe burst above you and damaged your personal property, you would NOT be covered.

Renters Insurance protects:

  • Personal Property: items clothing, furniture, electronics, bicycles or jewelry from theft or fire, smoke, or water damage. If you have expensive individual items you may need additional insurance coverage.
  • Liability Coverage: if someone is injured in your home helps cover legal fees and medical bills if you’re held liable.

Is my roommate covered with my policy?

If you are not related to your roommate (parent, sibling or spouse), most likely your roommate is NOT covered. However, each insurance company is different so please ask one of our licensed agents to confirm.

Luckily, renters insurance is an inexpensive way to make sure that your personal effects are covered in the event that damage occurs in your rental unit. Contact our agency and speak to one of our licensed agents. You may even be able to bundle your renters insurance with another line of insurance, like your auto insurance, for a discount. Get a quote today.