Oh Deer, Tips for avoiding Deer Collisions.

Oh Deer, It’s That Time of Year Again in Massachusetts and Connecticut

The arrival of the cooler weather marks the return of cozy sweaters, shorter days, pumpkin-flavored everything and – if you happen to live in Massachusetts or Connecticut – deer mating season. While a welcome sight in your backyard, packs of deer are a big concern on the road. If becoming one of over a million drivers who are involved in deer collisions every year isn’t on your wish list, now is a great time to take a refresher course on accident prevention. Below is a quick rundown of what you need to know to stay safe behind the wheel all season long.

1. Keep Your Eyes Open for More. Like most humans, deer love company. Frequently traveling in packs, their unpredictable numbers can instantly throw surprised drivers off track. If you spot a pair of antlers in the distance, assume that many more are hiding in the shadows.
2. Check the Clock. Deer are especially active at sunrise and at dusk. That doesn’t mean you won’t see any earlier in the day or late at night, but that’s when you’re statistically the most likely to cross each other’s paths.
3. Buckle Up. Hitting a deer is a serious business. To avoid life-threatening injuries, always wear your seatbelt, even if you’re just driving to the nearby grocery store. Since local back roads are quieter than highways, they’re more attractive to deer herds on the go, so it’s important to always be on alert no matter where you’re going.
4. Find the Middle Ground. When you’re traveling on roads with multiple lanes, create an invisible buffer zone by merging into the middle lane. Because any stray deer will have to enter the roadway from one of the sides, driving in the center automatically gives you more time to react.
5. Read the Road’s Sign Language. Now that deer mating season is about to be in full swing, paying attention to yellow diamond signs that designate common corridors for traveling deer is a safety must.
6. Stay Calm and Collected. If you do see a deer, honk your horn and drop your speed as slowly as you can to avoid a collision with the driver behind you. Although swerving will probably be your first instinct, it can throw you off the road or right into the path of the fast-moving deer you were trying to avoid.

While following the tips above will decrease your chances of accidentally hitting a deer, they aren’t foolproof. Because collisions are sometimes unavoidable, you need to be prepared in case the unexpected happens. If you hit a deer, find a safe spot on the shoulder to assess the damage and call the police. As tempting as it can be to check on the deer, leave that job up to the pros. When hit, deer can become confused and aggressive, making the road conditions more dangerous for other drivers and putting you at risk for serious injuries.

Reasons You Should Have Cyber Liability Insurance.

Why Your Business Needs Cyber Liability Insurance

In today’s competitive business environment, an internet presence is considered a necessity. Online services continue to expand and now include sophisticated e-commerce capabilities and mobile access. Businesses of all sizes are collecting credit card information and assembling sophisticated customer databases. By providing information to the public, a business assumes the role of a traditional publisher. This exposure can lead to an assortment of potential liabilities. Whenever data is collected or distributed by a business, the company assumes responsibility for the safety and accuracy of the information. If customer data is stolen or lost, the business can face significant legal liability and possible regulatory action.

The Importance of Cyber Liability Insurance

Cyber liability insurance is critical for every business that operates a website or stores vital customer information. While large ecommerce sites receive the most attention when a cyber crime is committed, over 50 percent of all data breaches occur at companies with less than 100 employees.

Most general liability policies expressly exclude losses incurred from online activity. Conversely, cyber liability insurance covers internet related losses such as penalties, fines, server infrastructure damage and actions related to client data. Cyber liability insurance mitigates these risks and provides protection regardless of where the data is stored.

Since internet liability laws are still in their infancy, many business owners assume they are protected from the effects of a data breach, especially if it occurs through a third party hosting service. Small businesses typically use point-of-sale systems that are outsourced to an independent provider. While the control of the system may be offsite, any revenue losses resulting from a breach are the sole responsibility of the subscriber and not the host.

How Cyber Liability Insurance Reduces Risk

Also known as e-commerce insurance, cyber liability protection was developed to help reduce the risk associated with a company’s internet presence. Policies provide specific safeguards to combat the harmful effects of a cyber attack. While insurance carriers offer different policy features, the most common coverage includes:

• Data Breach Insurance: This provision covers expenses relating to incident management, investigation, victim credit checking services, remediation, legal costs and regulatory fines.
• Cost Reimbursement: This coverage provides reimbursement for costs relating to any cyber attack including staff hiring, independent contractors, supplies and other related expenses.
• Defamation Protection: Coverage is provided for any legal action relating to defamation, copyright infringement or invasion of privacy.
• Network Security Protection: Businesses are covered against third-party inflicted damages that result from denial of access attacks, theft of data actions and other expenses related to lost information.
• Extortion Liability Protection: This provision provides coverage for losses resulting from extortion threats and the professional fees associated with addressing the crime.

Key Elements in a Cyber Liability Policy

Cyber liability insurance policies can be tailored to meet the specific needs of the client. Most policies provide basic coverage and offer a variety of additional options. The core policy should always include coverage for data loss or theft, data corruption and loss of business income from a documented attack. Liability coverage for legal costs, judgments, regulatory actions and settlements is also recommended.

Information about ride sharing and the risks you might be taking.

Ride Sharing – A dangerous business activity you might want to be informed on.

Ridesharing is gaining in popularity because it is more convenient than calling a taxi. It also provides those with insured automobiles a way to earn some extra money. Before you decide that you would like to engage in this business activity, you might wish to inform yourself about some of the unpleasant things that are happening in this industry.

Who Can Participate in Ridesharing?

In order to participate in this venture, you must have automobile insurance, but it would be to your advantage to read the fine print first. Much of the most important coverage on your personal auto insurance policy is excluded while a vehicle is being used for “public or livery conveyance.”

A public or livery conveyance is when you use your vehicle to transport people in exchange for a fee or money. Whenever coverage is excluded, as with the “public or livery conveyance exclusion”, you will be personally liable for damages or injuries caused by you while in the process of performing your ride-share duties.

Does the Company Carry Liability Insurance?

Some ride-share companies provide excess liability insurance for their drivers. Uber is one of those companies. It carries a $1 million liability policy, in excess of, your own personal liability coverage. However, this does not mean that you will always be covered. If the right circumstances present themselves, you may be entirely on your own if you cause a collision.  For example, collision coverage….the coverage that pays for damage to your own vehicle…..would not be covered under the ” public or livery conveyance exclusion”!!!

A Case in Point

Lyft and Sidecar

Another thing to beware of is how executives describe their companies. Some organizations like Lyft and Sidecar shy away from the “rideshare” label, but that is exactly what these companies are offering to their customers. Drivers and riders come together for a fee, so Lyft and Sidecar drivers are also susceptible to the public or livery conveyance exclusion even if their companies advertise their services as something different.

Parents, share this information with your students away from home. Share it with your friends, share it with anyone who you think might have reason to be informed.

Read More about how your policy might respond to Ride-Sharing Situations.