We all want our family vacations to go perfectly, but even with the best intentions, things can happen.  Ticket mishaps, delays, schedule changes, auto accidents, and more can cause your vacation to be ruined. Your personal insurance program can be expanded to include travel and accident insurance. Call our office for a free review.

Vacation Pre-Planning
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A little work in advance can help reduce the likelihood of bad things happening on your vacation.  Here are some things to consider before you leave home:

• Make sure all your insurance is paid and up to date.  Having your auto insurance lapse due to non-payment would not be a good thing while you are driving to Disneyworld.
• Do not take all your credit cards with you.  Take only the ones you will need.
• Create an itinerary of where you are planning to be and on what date. Give this to a neighbor or relative.
• Make copies of passports if traveling out of the country. Give a copy to a relative or friend.
• Never wear anything that projects affluence (i.e. gold chains, expensive watches, rings, high-end luggage, or other paraphernalia).  It is best to leave your expensive jewelry at home.
• Never put your home address on your luggage tags. Write your phone number instead.
• Wait until you get home to post your vacation pictures on social media. Facebook is a goldmine for burglars.
• Always lock your car, and never leave anything of value inside.
• Do not use wireless networks in cafes or coffee shops.
• Be aware of animals.  In some foreign countries, people will place a monkey on your shoulder and make you to pay to get it off!
• You will need special auto insurance if you plan to drive into Mexico.
• Separate your money so your spouse has a portion and you keep a portion.
• Do you really want your first motorcycle ride to be in Mexico? Do not rent equipment or vehicles with which you are not familiar.

 
We offer commercial and personal insurance to ensure that you are protected from catastrophe.  Our staff is dedicated to providing all of our clients with complete coverage at the best rates our companies can offer.  Our years of experience and education allow us to guide our clients in making well-informed decisions regarding their insurance needs.
 
 

Many businesses today offer college students the opportunity to hold a summer intern position. These can be rewarding for the college student as well as provide some help to the business. Offering paid or non-paid internships can create risk for your business. We wanted to highlight some of the business risks associated with having interns. Before you bring that person on board, make sure your business is well prepared.

• You should have a written plan. It should include a job description, hours, and line of authority.
• Check to see if there are any state regulations that might be impacted.
• If you offer a paid internship, you will need to treat the intern like any other employee. We suggest having a formal agreement indemnifying the terms of the agreement, including the time period of the internship.​
• If the internship is a paid position, don’t forget about workers’ compensation.
• Make sure you comply with Healthcare Reform relating to employee benefits.
• Make sure the intern understands they are not entitled to “regular” company benefits, i.e.  retirement, insurance, vacation, etc.
• The internship must provide similar training that would be given in an educational environment.
• There must be a “true” benefit for the intern.
• The internship cannot be for the sole benefit of the company.
• The intern must not replace regular employees, and should work under the close supervision of existing staff.
• Unpaid internships for for-profit companies are subject to the U.S. Department of Labor’s Fair Labor Standards Act. There are provisions if you offer educational credit. Here is a link to the U.S. Department of Labor.

We recommend you check with the department of labor to make sure your program meets all of the requirements. There have been many businesses who have been sued as a result of improper internship programs. 
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​We believe in supporting local businesses and being involved in the community. Whether it’s raising money for bikes for special needs children or delivering meals for Meals & Wheels, we understand that helping out within the community is going to make the community a better place for all of us to enjoy. 
Dallas Area Location 
972.238.8174  
​Austin Area Location
512.582.2424   

A Business Insurance Update
If you are in the business of designing, manufacturing, servicing, selling, and distributing any product there are risks involved. When the product you represent causes injury or damage to a another person or business, you need insurance protection. Depending on the insurance coverage you have, you may not be adequately protected from a product liability claim arising out of your actions. Many “standard” insurance policies have limitations for product liability claims. For example, a contractor installed windows in a custom home, and 9 months later the windows leaked, causing thousands of dollars of damage. The window manufacturer said their windows are fine; it was the installation that was done incorrectly. The contractor may be held responsible for the damage. Product liability insurance would provide protection in this case.

Our experienced and licensed staff will work with you to help find the right commercial insurance and solutions for your business. Our team can work with most business; we know and understand your industry.

What is product liability insurance?
Product liability insurance can provide protection from damages, injury, claims, and other liability arising out of the selling, distributing, manufacturing, servicing and design of products. Damages can include bodily injury, property damage, and even death.

An essential feature of product liability insurance is the legal defense coverage. The cost to defend an allegation can create a strain on your firm’s resources.
Claims can come from any of the following:

• Poor workmanship
• Breach of warranty
• Failure to warn
• A defect in design or manufacturing
• Material defect
• Failure to provide adequate instructions

Classes of businesses we work with:

• Contractors
• Artisan Contractors
• Manufacturing
• Restaurants
• Distributors
• Food Processors
• Wood Products
• Automotive
• Sporting Goods
• And More

We have a number of highly rated insurance companies to select from. Call us today for more information. 

Striving for High Levels of Service:
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As our name implies, we strive to make your insurance experience positive. We understand you have many options when it comes to getting insurance, so we are going to strive to give you first class customer service you deserve.