April 2023 Newsletter

Car accidents can be scary and overwhelming, but knowing what to do after an accident can help you stay calm and take the necessary steps to protect yourself and others involved. Here's what you should do after a car accident.

Check for injuries. First and foremost, check yourself and any passengers in your car for injuries. If anyone is injured, call 911 immediately.

Move to a safe location. If possible, move your car to a safe location, away from traffic. Turn on your hazard lights to warn other drivers.

Call the police. Even if the accident is minor, call the police to report the accident. They can help document the accident and file a report.

Exchange information. Exchange information with the other driver involved in the accident, including names, phone numbers, addresses, insurance information and license plate numbers.

Document the accident. Take photos of the accident scene and any damages to your car or the other driver's car. This can be useful when filing an insurance claim.

Notify your insurance company. Contact your insurance company as soon as possible to report the accident and file a claim.

Seek medical attention. Even if you feel fine, it's a good idea to see a doctor after an accident. Some injuries may not show up right away, and it's important to get checked out to ensure your safety.

Remember, safety should always be your top priority after a car accident. By following these steps, you can ensure that everyone involved is safe and that the necessary steps are taken to handle the situation properly. Don't wait until it's too late to protect yourself and your car.

If you are involved in a car accident, call us right away so we can help you with your claim. We are always here for you.

Power outages can happen unexpectedly and disrupt your daily routine, leaving you without electricity for hours or even days. While you may not be able to prevent a power outage from happening, you can take steps to prepare for it. Here are five tips to help you get ready for a power outage.

Create an emergency kit. Assemble an emergency kit with essential supplies such as flashlights, batteries, a first-aid kit, non-perishable food and water. Keep the kit in an easily accessible place and ensure that everyone in your household knows where it is.

Have a backup power source. Consider investing in a backup power source like a generator or battery backup. Make sure it's properly installed and maintained, and that you have enough fuel to keep it running for a few days.

Charge your devices. Keep your electronic devices fully charged before a power outage. If you have a backup power source, use it to charge your devices during the outage.

Unplug appliances. Unplug all non-essential appliances and electronics to avoid power surges when the power is restored.

Stay informed. Stay informed about the status of the outage by listening to a battery-powered or hand-crank radio. Follow your local news and emergency management agencies on social media for updates and instructions.

By following these five tips, you can be better prepared for a power outage and minimize its impact on your daily life.

If you’re concerned about what a power outage means for your insurance policy, call or email us today.

Achieving happiness is the goal we strive for in any activity. Whether it’s getting fluent in a language, practicing a musical instrument or trying to learn the names of the different bird species in your local park; usually it is not the achievement of the goals themselves which brings happiness. It is actually the general air of growth, development and learning that you’re cultivating, which fosters that overall sense of joy. Here are just a few ways you can boost your happiness through learning.

Expand your knowledge on something you already love. Whether you’re a birdwatcher or petrolhead, trainspotter or film buff, building further knowledge on a subject you are already passionate about brings a sense of meaning and a drive for self-improvement.

Learn in different ways. Improved happiness can be found through learning across a wide and varied range of mediums. For example, reading a phrasebook when learning a new language, then watching a video to see and hear how speakers interact, then listening to music in that language to hear the beauty and artistry of the language.

Find a community around your learning. One of the best ways to truly get the most joy out of the learning process is doing it with others. Finding a class, a study group or even just friends who are passionate about the same things will increase your sense of belonging and help you to elevate and be elevated by others.

Share your knowledge. An incredible amount of satisfaction comes from knowing that you’ve actively helped somebody else in their growth and development. Whether it’s telling a friend or teaching a class, find ways to pass on what you’ve learned!

Imagine you’re walking in the park. Part way along the path, you spot a mysterious message painted on the ground: “stand here for dance party”. It seems like a normal day and you spot nothing else out of the ordinary; children are playing, dog walkers are walking and no one appears to have noticed the note. You stand in the marked spot, out of curiosity.

Suddenly a beat starts playing and out from the bush appears a breakdancer. Behind you another, and over to the left, the businessman on the bench has dropped his sandwich and is pulling disco moves. The old couple who were admiring the flowers are now moving their hips and the joggers down the path are doing cartwheels. You cannot help but become sucked in and join in the dance party.

This is the joy that renowned undercover comedy troupe Improv Everywhere brought to Manhattan for their first project since the end of the pandemic. The collective are famous for their public flash mobs, in which hundreds of disguised performers join up to create immersive art, comedy and all-round happiness in public places, around unsuspecting members of the public.

For “Stand Here For Dance Party”, they enlisted over 100 dancers to bring this spontaneous happiness to surprised onlookers at Grand Army Plaza. The public’s reaction to their latest effort was a reminder that spontaneity and sudden collective joy is something we all need, as people joined in the party, howled with laughter and whooped and cheered on the dancers.