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.