Five things to know about fireworks safety

Fireworks should be treated with respect. It is essential people read all cautions and warnings and use common sense. Lighting fireworks indoors, throwing them from automobiles and lighting multiple devices at the same time can lead to accidents and are not how fireworks are intended to be used. Obey all local laws pertaining to the use of fireworks. Here are five things to consider to be safe on the upcoming Fourth of July.

1. Keep all pets indoors while setting off fireworks.
Many animals are scared of the loud noise, which can often send them running away or trying to bite at the sparks.

2. Make sure to stay a safe distance from any live fireworks.
Keep an eye on children and hold their hands for safety. Set fireworks and aim away from people, buildings, cars or nearby objects.

3. Read and follow the instructions on the fireworks’ package.
The warning often gives an expectation for that particular firework.

4. Only light fireworks outdoors.
Keep a water bucket or hose nearby in the event of a fire.

5. Do not check any duds.
After waiting several minutes, spray and soak the fireworks in water and then discard appropriately.

Ronald Dwyer is an independent insurance agent licensed in Michigan for Home - Auto – Business Insurance. He can be reached at rondwyer@roninsureme.com or 248-390-6345. His website address is www.roninsureme.com , Linkedin address is www.linkedin.com/in/ronalddwyer and Facebook address is www.facebook.com/dwyerinsurance

Texting and Driving. Don't Do It!

Sometimes only a picture can get our attention!
Her last call was from a new cell phone... Do you see the motorcycle?

Now do you see it?

The Honda crotch rocket rider was traveling at approximately 85 mph. The VW driver was talking on a cell phone when she pulled out from a side street, apparently not seeing the
motorcycle. The riders reaction time was not sufficient enough to avoid this accident.
The car had two passengers and the bike rider was found INSIDE the car with them.
The Volkswagen actually flipped over from the force of impact and landed 20 feet from where the collision took place.

All three involved (two in the car and the bike rider) were killed instantly. This graphic demonstration was placed at the Motorcycle Fair by the Police and Road Safety Department..
Pass this on to car drivers or soon to be new drivers, or new motorcycle owners
AND ESPECIALLY EVERYONE YOU KNOW WHO HAS A CELL PHONE!!!!!
A picture is worth a thousand words.

Save a life…

Stop talking on Cell phones and Texting while trying to drive.
The life you save may be your own...or mine.


Ronald Dwyer is an independent insurance agent licensed in Michigan for Home - Auto – Business Insurance. He can be reached at rondwyer@roninsureme.com or 248-390-6345. His website address is www.roninsureme.com , Linkedin address is www.linkedin.com/in/ronalddwyer and Facebook address is www.facebook.com/dwyerinsurance

Family Day Care Liability Insurance - Are you Covered?

Why Do I Need Liability Insurance?

While most providers never need to file a claim, daycare liability insurance is a wise investment. As careful as you are with the children in your care, accidents can happen. If a child in your care is injured or there is an allegation of abuse or sexual misconduct, you can be sued. Even if you win the case, litigation could cost you a great deal of money for legal fees. Childcare liability insurance gives you peace of mind.


Doesn't My Homeowner Policy Cover My Day Care Business?

Most homeowner policies exclude coverage of family day care. In fact, some insurance companies will not insure a home at all where a child day care business is run. You can check with your insurance carrier to find out if you are covered. Be aware that if your insurance carrier will not cover a day care home, you may end up having to seek coverage elsewhere. However, it is better to have proper coverage than to avoid the issue.

If you are not covered by your homeowner policy, you can seek separate family day care liability insurance coverage. This would be an insurance policy that is separate from your homeowner policy. There are several companies that offer coverage. Some companies offer coverage to providers across the nation, while others are more localized.

Shopping for Liability Insurance
The rates for liability insurance vary greatly from one area to the next. When shopping for family day care liability insurance, look at the amount of coverage you are purchasing, as well as what is covered by the policy. The basics should be covered: bodily injury, property damage, accidents, medical payments, and personal injury.

Additionally, you should look for coverage that includes a provision for sexual abuse. False accusations or misinterpretation can result in the need for such protection. Such issues as libel, slander and alienation of the affection of a child toward his/her parents should also be covered.

Look for a policy that covers claims on an occurrence basis. This means that claims that occur during the policy period will be covered, regardless of whether they are reported after the policy expires.

What is Not Covered by Liability Insurance?

You must look at your individual policy for the "Exclusions" section to find out exactly what is being excluded from coverage. Most companies will not cover claims resulting from: transporting children in a motor vehicle, swimming pools, certain breeds of dogs, admitted sexual misconduct, willfully hurting a child or failing to follow state licensing regulations.

Ronald Dwyer is an independent insurance agent licensed in Michigan for Home - Auto – Business Insurance. He can be reached at rondwyer@roninsureme.com or 248-390-6345. His website address is www.roninsureme.com , Linkedin address is www.linkedin.com/in/ronalddwyer and Facebook address is www.facebook.com/dwyerinsurance

Springtime Ripe for Flooded Basements

If you’ve ever had basement flooding then you realize what a catastrophe it can be. It doesn’t sound like much, after all what kind of damage can a little bit of leaking water cause? Well the answer is quite a lot, and it can be seriously damaging to your home and can be a risk to your health if left unattended. So how do you prevent basement flooding from happening?

A flooded basement can happen in a number of ways, most often it is caused by excessive rain storms that flood the area, a large amount of snow melting too fast for the ground to absorb or a backed up sewer. Ultimately flooding occurs when there is more water than the ground can handle and it seeps in to your basement.

The steps to preventing basement flooding aren’t terribly difficult but they’re something you have to make sure you do often.

First you want to do some outdoor maintenance around your property. Make sure that your gutters are cleaned out and clear so water can flow freely. If they aren’t cleared out on a regular basis the water gets backed up and will pool below the gutters, often near your basement which causes flooding.

Take a walk around your yard and look for any standing bodies of water and if there are you need to either clear them out, or better yet make sure you provide some sort of drain for the area. Any standing water could leak in and cause major basement flooding damage.

Make sure any drainage pipes and downspouts are clear and properly aligned to move water away from the foundation of the house. Also, you may want to extend any drainage pipes further away from the foundation if you aren’t certain that the water will be far enough from the basement walls.

Make sure any trees and shrubbery is kept neat and cleaned around the house. By allowing plants to grow wild will prevent the sun from reaching the ground and thereby drying any standing water beneath the plants.

Next, you’ll need to inspect the house itself, especially the basement area. Be sure to inspect your basement’s walls and make sure that you don’t see any cracks. If you do find cracks in your basement foundation you’ll need to make sure they are properly sealed with caulk.

If you have a history of basement flooding in your home, any items you have stored in the basement should be kept a few inches off the ground. The same should be done for any appliances like a washer and dryer, or refrigerator. If the basement gets flooded these items will get rotted or rusted and contribute to the problem.

If you don’t already have a sump pump installed in your basement you should look in to having one installed. Sump pumps remove water that forms in the basement and drain it in to an area where it won’t cause much damage. Also a dehumidifier will help keep the air dry and absorb some of the moisture that could potentially flood the basement if condensed.

As you can see a lot of these tips are very simple and can do a lot to prevent flooding in your basement. With a little upkeep on your property and some minor adjustments to your basement you can prevent serious water damage from basement flooding.

Ronald Dwyer is an independent insurance agent licensed in Michigan for Home - Auto – Business Insurance. He can be reached at rondwyer@roninsureme.com or 248-390-6345. His website address is www.roninsureme.com , Linkedin address is www.linkedin.com/in/ronalddwyer and Facebook address is www.facebook.com/dwyerinsurance

Statewide Auto Theft Continues to Decline, but H.E.A.T. Warns Against Growing Shift in Other Auto Theft-Related Crimes

H.E.A.T. (Help Eliminate Auto Thefts) responded today to 2008 statistics released by the Automobile Theft Prevention Authority (ATPA) in its annual report, which indicated a continued decrease in the number of traditional vehicle thefts in Michigan.


"We expected and are pleased to see the continued decline in the number of vehicle thefts across the state," said Terri Miller, director of H.E.A.T. "However, the battle against auto theft-related crime continues, as we see activity shifting from traditional vehicle theft to more insurance fraud and component theft."


Miller continued, "As vehicles become better-equipped with anti-theft technologies, thieves are finding new ways to cheat the system, and it impacts all of us who pay Michigan auto insurance premiums. Through the H.E.A.T. program, Michigan residents are empowered to assist law enforcement in their steadfast efforts to put an end to auto theft-related crime in our communities."


2009 ATPA Annual Report Highlights:

(Note: This data, which is the most recent available, is from 2008. Data for the 2009 calendar year will be available from the ATPA in February 2011).


Auto thefts in Michigan in 2008 declined by 14.6 percent from 2007. In 2008, 35,467 vehicles were reported stolen in Michigan, compared to 41,510 in 2007.

From 1986 (the year of ATPA's inception) to 2008, Michigan auto thefts dropped by approximately 51 percent, compared to a decrease in auto thefts nationally of only 22 percent. In 2008, Michigan maintained its ranking as the state with the sixth highest total motor vehicle thefts in the nation.

In 2008, Wayne County topped the list of Michigan counties with the highest reported motor vehicle thefts at 59 percent (20,950 thefts). Macomb and Oakland Counties accounted for 8.84 percent (3,134 thefts) and 8.31 percent (2,949 thefts) of Michigan's motor vehicle thefts, respectively.

The 2000 Dodge Caravan topped Michigan's list of most stolen vehicles in 2008. Thieves' top color preferences for vehicles to steal were once again black, followed by white and blue.

The months with the highest auto theft figures in 2008 were July, August and June.

Though the city of Detroit once again saw an overall decrease in vehicle thefts, from 19,655 in 2007 to 16,117 in 2008 (-18%), it is still the highest ranking city in Michigan for auto thefts.

Among some of Michigan's other large cities, decreases in auto theft were seen in:

Grand Rapids - From 589 in 2007 to 453 in 2008, a decrease of 23 percent.
Flint - From 1,034 in 2007 to 904 in 2008, a decrease of 12.6 percent.
Southfield - 631 in 2007 to 540 in 2008, a decrease of 14.4 percent.
Lansing - From 357 in 2007 to 333 in 2008, a decrease of 6.7 percent.

Some Michigan cities that saw increases in auto theft in 2008 include:

Westland - From 332 in 2007 to 423 in 2008, an increase of 27.4 percent.
Hazel Park - From 170 in 2007 to 205 in 2008, an increase of 20.6 percent.
Warren - From 1,163 in 2007 to 1,274, an increase of 9.5 percent.
Dearborn - From 801 in 2007 to 835 in 2008, an increase of 4.2 percent.

"The decline in Michigan's vehicle theft is certainly a trend we hope to continue year after year," said Miller. "H.E.A.T. encourages citizens to help make that goal a reality by utilizing its 24/7 toll-free tip line (1.800.242.HEAT) and Web site (www.1800242HEAT.com) to anonymously report auto theft-related crime. Tipsters may be rewarded up to $10,000 for their tip."


About H.E.A.T.

H.E.A.T. works with Michigan law enforcement agencies to follow-up on tips. Tipsters are awarded up to $1,000 if the tip leads to the arrest and prosecution of a suspected car thief or a person suspected of auto theft-related insurance fraud. Rewards of up to $10,000 are issued if a tip results in the arrest and binding over for trial of a suspected theft ring or chop shop operators. H.E.A.T. rewards up to $2,000 for information leading to the issuance of a warrant for a carjacking suspect.


The H.E.A.T. tip line is monitored by the Michigan State Police and funded by Michigan's auto insurance companies.

For a complete insurance review please feel free to give me a call at 248-390-6345 or visit my website at http://www.roninsureme.com/

SOURCE Help Eliminate Auto Thefts

Prevent Snow/Ice Dams From Damaging Your House

The winter is a very idyllic time of year. While the world is revelling in the peace and beauty of the snow, it could be wreaking havoc on your roof. Ice dams are a blockage of snow that prevents melting water from running off the roof. A poorly insulated attic is the common culprit, as the warm air rises and melts the snow on the roof. This can cause damage to not only the roof, but also your ceilings inside.

When standing water is prevented from running off your roof, it has nowhere to go but down. The water will make its way underneath the shingles and eventually run down your walls and ceilings. Unfortunately, untreated water damage can cause mold from forming and potentially cause a great health risk to you and your family.

The easiest way to prevent ice dams from forming in the first place is to have your attic properly ventilated. This will prevent the snow from melting in the first place. If the dam has already formed, consider removing the snow using various tools or contacting a snow removal professional to eliminate the potential problem.


The worst-case scenario of course is the roof collapsing. Snow related insurance claims cost millions of dollars, in addition to raising the cost of insurance for homeowners. It is best to look into having the snow removed to avoid these disasters.

There are tools that are specifically designed for removing snow build-up from the roof. These range from snow rakes, snow blades and snow razors. All these tools are designed to slice the snow and pull it down in a controlled manner. Be advised that this is a dangerous task and should only be performed by those with knowledge of snow removal. Calling a professional is ideal and the safest method.

There are measures that can be taken to prevent snow build-up in the future, including venting the attic and clearing the gutters. The worst case would be a new roof to ensure efficiency is maximized. Unfortunately, for older homes, it is more difficult to repair the roof, making snow removal much more frequent

Here are some of the more common ways ice dams can be prevented with the help of professionals.

The first solution is to apply a rubber, waterproof layer to last 8 or 10 courses of shingles on your roof. This does not prevent the ice dam from forming, but it will hinder the standing water from seeping between the shingles. The second option is to install heating cables along the edge of the roof to combat freezing ice. The cables ensure that the ice melts and runs free of the roof. The final solution ensures that the problem ceases to happen, by insulating the attic to prevent warm air from heating the roof.

These methods are all beneficial to preventing the damage of ice dams and snow build-up. However, professional roofers should perform these techniques. Consider calling roofing professionals in your area to do the job.

For a complete insurance review please feel free to give me a call at 248-390-6345 or visit my website at http://www.roninsureme.com .