How an Open House Can Become a Nightmare.

One of the most exciting times in any young persons life is when they put on a cap and gown for high school graduation. One could argue that only a first kiss or getting their drivers license might rival this milestone.

Traditionally, parents throw an open house to celebrate the graduates past success and dreams for their future. These events are always an enjoyable experience but come with some risks that you most likely don't come across very often..

Serving Alcohol to a Minor, Criminal Implications

The legal drinking age in the State of Michigan is 21. As much as you may agree or disagree with the law, it is important to remember that if a minor at your event is served alcohol and you're somehow caught by law enforcement you may receive a $1000 fine and up to 60 days in jail. 

You can be held responsible for the actions of a minor if you provide them alcohol. It is considered a felony, should the minor you provide alcohol to die or is responsible for the death of another. This can be punishable up to 10 years in prison and a $6000 fine. 

Serving Alcohol to a Minor, Civil Implications

Providing alcohol to a minor makes you directly responsible for their actions. Even if the minor is 20 years of age, you're still responsible for any damages that occur while they are considered to be under the influence. 

For example, at your child's graduation party you are serving their friends, all under the age of 21. One of the boys in the group, Jeremy, has had too much and is getting angry at Floyd for talking to his girlfriend. Jeremy decides to take a swing at Floyd and knocks Floyd out. Floyd is taken to the hospital and has suffered vision damage for the rest of his life. As the hosts of the party and adults serving Jeremy, you can be legally found responsible for Jeremy's actions and dragged into a civil lawsuit. 

Serving Alcohol to someone 21 or over

With any celebration and party you might have a guest that gets carried away. Please keep in mind that Michigan is a social host liability state. This means is that you can be held liable if a guest injures themselves or someone else as a result of alcohol consumption from your party.

Serve Your Guests Responsibly

If you are going to serve your guests here are some tips:

- Limit your own alcohol intake so that you can better judge your guests sobriety

- Do not serve guests who are visibly intoxicated

- Stop serving alcohol at a certain time, switch to other products such as pop or coffee

- Encourage guests to have a designated driver 

- If you have guests who are intoxicated without a ride, offer to call them a cab or allow for them to stay at your home.

Be Responsible and Enjoy Your Time

Although the graduate loves this time of year and looks forward to their graduation party, there is a lot of stress that goes into planning an open house. As our agency staff knows these parties keep you busy with planning, cooking, and cleaning. So although you're putting on the party, don't forget to enjoy the celebration.

Spalding Insurance Agency is an independent agency with two locations in mid-Michigan to service your insurance needs. We want to wish all of the 2013 graduates the best of luck in their future endeavors. For a quote on your personal or business insurance click here.

What is an Umbrella?

It is hard to change the channel as Umbrella by Rihanna  comes on to your favorite radio station. The song is so catchy it is nearly impossible to not sing along with the chorus.

A lot of people do not know that the insurance industry has our very own version of an Umbrella. The sad truth is, for the majority of people, an umbrella is a policy they know nothing about or don’t think they need

.

So what is an umbrella?

An umbrella is a policy that provides liability coverage for you above the limits you carry on your auto and homeowner’s insurance. It offers protection for you against liability claims or judgments.

Why is this coverage important? 

Sadly, we live in a world that lawsuits are not uncommon. There are plenty of instances in which you might be dragged into a lawsuit, legitimate or frivolous. The biggest question is, can you afford the potential damages awarded to a victim of a lawsuit you were dragged into?

Not always the other family!

A lot of people wonder how often an umbrella policy is even needed. Bad things in life happen daily and like my mom always told me “it’s not always happening to other people.”

Prime Example

Bob and Jane (fictitious names) were an older couple driving home from a weekend up in Traverse City. Driving down U.S. 127 right before the I-69 interchange they hit a bad storm. Bob lost control of the vehicle and it rolled into the ditch. Sadly, his wife Jane did not survive the accident.

Sometime after the funeral Bob was served with papers stating that his children were filing a wrongful death lawsuit against him for the death of their mother. The court awarded the children a settlement that exceeded the liability limits that Bob had on his auto insurance policy.

We had an Umbrella policy in place for Bob that picked up the damages where his auto insurance limits ran out. The umbrella picked up the remaining balance and Bob, already emotionally damaged, was not financially ruined.

Should I Carry an Umbrella? 

Yes, everyone should carry an umbrella policy. For as little as $12 a month you can purchase an extra $1 million worth of liability coverage. Plus, if you have Auto-Owners insurance you qualify for a 5% discount on your home and auto insurance policies.

Shovel your Sidewalks!

Do you live in Michigan? If so, it is likely at some point in your life you awoke to a blanket of snow covering your sidewalks and driveway. 

Most towns have laws and ordinances demanding snow removal from "city" owned sidewalks within a 24 hour period. If you live in certain Michigan towns or cities you might know someone who has been fined for not obeying these laws.

As an insurance agent I know how important it is to clear your sidewalks not only because of these ordinances but because of the liability exposure you face for not doing so.

Let me give you an example:

It is a few days after a snow storm and you have neglected to clear off your sidewalks. Luckily for you the township hasn't been enforcing the law so you have not received a fine. 

However, that same day the local youth basketball team is going door-to-door fundraising for new jerseys. All of a sudden the boys get to your home and make their way through the snow still piled on your walkways. The team captain approaches your home and as he puts his right foot up to walk up your stairs he slips, falls, and breaks his arm. Your laziness or disregard to remove the snow, now might be looked at as negligence to this injury. At this point in time you have opened up yourself to a potential lawsuit.

Trust me, I hate shoveling snow as much as the next guy. Getting bundled up to brave the cold is not an idea of morning fun for me but it is vital in protecting yourself from a potential claim. 

Winter Driving Tips!

So the weather looks like it is going to be a rough for commuters on their way home tonight. It is important that we take these conditions as a serious driving hazard. There are a lot of tips about driving in these winter months. My favorite tip sheet comes from one of our carriers, Fremont Insurance. 

Here are some great winter driving tips! 

Clean off your car!!!

I awoke this morning to fresh powder covering my car. Like many people the biggest pain in my morning routine is cleaning off the snow while braving the winter cold. 

Traveling down the highway this morning I was amazed to see the amount of people who still had frost/snow covering their windows, side and rear-view. (only the insane would have left the windshield covered). 

All I could think about was how difficult and unsafe it is to make a lane change in what was already pretty difficult driving conditions. Why is it that people cannot spend the extra minutes before driving to help improve their own vision? If it is because of lack of knowledge of how, today is your lucky day. Here are some tips for cleaning off your car:

1) Buy an ice scraper and leave said ice scraper in vehicle.

2) Open your door car and remove scraper upon the need for ice scraper to be used

3) Remove snow and ice from windows, mirrors, and lights.

4) Get into vehicle and travel safely. 

Seems pretty easy? A couple of minutes is all it takes. So buck up, buttercup. Brave that cold for just a few more minutes to make make it safer for us all.