Discrimination and Your General Liability Coverage

Posted on April 29, 2021July 13, 2021 by butlervetinsurance

Discrimination and CGL Policies

What Does General Liability Cover?

Commercial general liability (CGL) is a type of insurance policy that provides coverage to a business for bodily injury, personal injury, and property damage caused by the business’ operations, products, or injuries that occur as the result of the business operations. Commercial general liability is considered comprehensive business insurance, though it does not cover all risks a business may face.

These policies have different levels of coverage. A policy may include premises liability coverage, which protects the business from claims that occur on the business’ listed physical location. It may also include coverage for bodily injury and property damage that is the result of a finished product or service done.

What is Discrimination

Discrimination is the unfair or prejudicial treatment of people and groups based on characteristics. The most commonly discussed categories of discrimination are race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, or gender identity), national origin, age (40 or older), disability and genetic information (including family medical history).

Why Is Discrimination Not Covered Under CGL?

Imagine you are looking to promote one of your employees to a managerial position. Suzie is young and newer to the team, but has a go-getter attitude and you believe she is the right fit. You announce Suzie has been chosen for the position and you believe strongly in your decision and the impact you feel it will have on the company as a whole.

Soon after announcing Suzie’s promotion, you get a lawsuit from another employee, Steve, claiming age discrimination. Steve has more education, more experience and has been with the company longer than Suzie. He is asking for $40,000 in compensation for the difference between his current pay and benefits, and those he would have received had he been promoted.

Using this example, even if your policy does not specifically exclude discrimination, there are two main reasons why your claim could be denied under your commercial general liability policy: it’s not a covered injury as intended by the policy form and it’s not accidental.

Not A Covered Injury

Steve’s lawsuit is asking for reparations because of damages for economic losses like back pay, loss of future earnings, and lost benefits. A commercial general liability policy normally covers claims including damages for bodily injury, property damage or personal and advertising injury. Steve’s lawsuit does not allege the company for a covered injury.

Not Accidental

General liability policies cover injury or damage that results from an occurrence (accidental or sudden event) and discrimination doesn’t usually occur accidentally. Rather, discrimination results from intentional acts committed by employers.

Looking for more to read?

What Policies Cover Discrimination?

Usually, discrimination does not fall within the coverage terms of the commercial general liability policy and may even be specifically excluded. Employment practices liability insurance (EPLI) covers a variety of employment-related claims, normally including discrimination.

EPLI may provide protection against many kinds of employee lawsuits, including claims of:

Sexual harassment
Discrimination
Wrongful termination
Breach of employment contract
Negligent evaluation
Failure to employ or promote
Wrongful discipline
Wrongful infliction of emotional distress

Questions? Want to learn more? Here’s 4 easy ways to reach us:

Phone: 951-600-5751
Email: [email protected]
Text: 951-482-8144
Web: agency.thebutlerweb.com

PS Here’s a few words from one client that trusts Stromsoe Insurance Agency:

“I have dealt with Stromsoe Ins for 13 years. They have been outstanding in customer service and finding me the best policies for my needs. I regret having to say good-bye as I say hello to retirement.”
Robert Siever – Gasket Pro – Costa Mesa, CA – Client Since 2014

PPS Every policy is backed by our iron clad, 100% complete satisfaction guarantee. Ask for your copy today!

11 Safe Driving Tips to Keep YOUR Family Safe

Posted on April 22, 2021July 13, 2021 by butlervetinsurance

With the streets and highways of our great nation being so busy, there is never a bad time to refresh your driving safety! Being an attentive, safe driver is important for yourself, your loved ones and everyone on the road. Here are 11 safe driving tips from Stromsoe Insurance Agency to help you get home safely.

Tip #1: Don’t Drive Under the Influence

It is not a smart idea to drink and drive. When you drive while inebriated, you not only endanger yourself and everyone else in the car with you, but you also endanger anyone else on the road. Driving under the influence puts not just your life and the lives of those around you in danger, but it also puts you at risk of severe penalties for first-time offenders.

You could go to jail.
You car can be impounded.
Your driver’s license can be revoked.
You may have to do community service.
A judge could make you attend substance abuse classes at your own expense.
The monetary cost of a DUI conviction can cost thousands of dollars in fines and legal expenses.

Tip #2: Obey the Speed Limit

Public streets and highways are not the safest places to put your racing skills to the test. If you have a straight path ahead of you, stick to the speed limit. Excessive speeding is one of the leading causes of road accidents today.

Tip #3: Don’t Text While Driving

In the long list of things that can distract you when driving, texting is at the top. The FCC has some astounding figures on the dangers of texting while driving. An amazing 40% of American teenagers say that they have been in a moving vehicle while the driver used a cell phone. According to the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute, your chance of getting in a crash is increased by 23 times while texting and driving. In addition, 11% of drivers from the ages of 18 to 20 years old whom were involved in an traffic accident admit that they were sending or receiving text messages when they crashed.

As of December 2015, text messaging while driving is banned in 46 states as well as the District of Columbia. Distracted driving is one of the top contributors to vehicle-related fatalities. According to the the National Safety Council and their annual report on unintentional injuries, the three biggest contributors to fatalities on the road are alcohol(30.8%), speeding (30%), and distracted driving (26%).

Tip #4: Wear Your Seatbelt

The first thing you can do to stay safe when you get into your car is fasten your seat belt. Okay, this one should go without saying, but we all still see a lot of people who don’t do it. Wearing a seat belt when driving an automobile is now mandated by law in most states. The purpose of your seat belt is to keep you from receiving a traumatic head injury. By not wearing your seat belt, you are leaving yourself open to the possibility of slamming into your windshield or sailing straight through the windshield altogether in the event of a crash.

Tip #5: Clean Your Windshield

You ever see those cars going down the road on a cold morning with just a little circle about the size of your fist cleared off for them to see through? Allow your vehicle to warm up and defrost your windows during the colder months. It should go without saying that if you can’t see, you can’t drive, so take a few extra minutes to clean your windshield. If your windshield is dirty, the sun’s glare would be magnified, potentially blinding you. This is particularly true at dawn and dusk.

Tip #6: Be Sure Your Mirrors are Adjusted Properly

Many drivers fail to use their vehicle’s mirrors correctly because they are not properly positioned, making this an important step in following safe driving tips. There is a precise location in which the interior and exterior rear-view mirrors should be aligned to either eliminate or minimize blind spots. The Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) states that your outside mirrors should be adjusted outward far enough that they will slightly overlap the viewing area of your interior rear-view mirror.

Tip #7: Look Far Ahead When Driving

Don’t gaze directly ahead of you. If you don’t see a danger in the road ahead of you, you can not have enough time to respond if you don’t see it first. Keep a half-mile to a mile ahead of you in mind when scanning the lane. Since your peripheral vision works best at close ranges, keep your eyes going and searching the whole field in front of you at all times.

Tip #8: Position Your Headrest Correctly

Although you may no longer hold gloves in your glove box, your headrest was still built with a particular function in mind. A correctly positioned headrest can reduce painful whiplash in the event of a rear-end collision. Furthermore, you should never remove the headrests from your car to boost your visibility.

Tip #9: Avoid the NO-Zone

Safe driving tips wouldn’t be complete without mentioning the largest vehicles on the road. The NO-Zone applies to larger vehicles such as trucks and buses. Some drivers are unable to see certain areas close to them due to their elevated location. If you’re driving behind one of these and can’t see the truck driver’s mirrors, you can bet they can’t see you either. You should also be mindful of a large blind spot in front of large trucks and buses. If you’re passing them or traveling in front of them, stay out of this area, be sure that you can see the entire front of the vehicle in your review mirror.

Tip #10: Avoid Driving When You Are Tired

When you are driving fatigue can sneak up on you easily. If you find that you are falling asleep behind the wheel, there are a number of things you can do to stay safe.

Make a pit stop for coffee
Pull over into a safe parking space and take a 20 to 45-minute nap
Roll down your windows all the way
Play loud music
Talk to your passenger (If you don’t have one, talk to yourself, no one will know)

Tip #11: Always Drive With Your Headlights On

“I didn’t even see them.” This is what many motorists will say when recalling an accident they were part of. Motorcycles are required by law to always have their headlight on while in operation for exactly this reason. Vehicles with their headlights turned on are visible at nearly four times the distance of those with them off.

Other Safe Driving Habits

Beyond safe driving tips, you should still be prepared in the event something happens while on the road. The risks of life are around all of us every day. Constant diligence to make sure you have the right insurance protection in place is a must. Please make sure to keep in touch with your local independent insurance agent often to make sure you and your loved ones are always properly protected.

Questions? Want to learn more? Here’s 4 easy ways to reach us:

Phone: 877-994-6787
Email: [email protected]
Text: 951-482-8144
Web: agency.thebutlerweb.com

PS Here’s a few words from one client that trusts Stromsoe Insurance Agency:

“Arranging for new car insurance was easy as faxing the sales receipt directly from the dealership to the office. Thanks for the personal service and prompt attention.”
Bob and Sarah Sandor – Fallbrook, CA – Client Since 2000

PPS Every policy is backed by our iron clad, 100% complete satisfaction guarantee. Ask for your copy today!

Essential Car Insurance | Bumper Damage

Posted on April 8, 2021July 13, 2021 by butlervetinsurance

Car Insurance Scenario

You’re slowly backing into a parking space at the gym but don’t realize that there is concrete surrounding the light post and this causes you to misjudge the space. Next thing you know, you hear a crunch. You get out to check and your rear bumper is scratched and dented. What should you do about the bumper damage?

How Much Does it Cost to Fix Bumper Damage?

If the damage is minimal, you may be able to repair the bumper yourself with a few everyday tools, but this likely isn’t the case. Bumper repair costs vary depending on the severity of the damage and the type of car. Bumpers these days have sensors that help collision avoidance systems and this can mean costly repairs. Pricing to replace a bumper ranges from a few hundred dollars for an average car to thousands of dollars on a high-end car.

Your Insurance Coverage

Your collision coverage will take care of the bumper repair. Collision pays for damage to your own car that’s caused in a collision — not only accidents with other cars but also objects, such as a telephone pole, or fence.

Depending on your deductible, you may or may not want to submit a claim. A common deductible amount is $500. That means if you had $1,500 worth of damage to your car, your insurance company would cut a check for $1,000. You would need to pay the $500 balance. What if you also damaged the telephone pole? Your property damage liability coverage, which is required by law, would go toward the repair to the telephone pole. Normally, there is no deductible for property damage liability coverage.

Should You File a Claim?

There is no right or wrong answer when it comes to this question; it depends on your personal circumstances. However, if you decide to make a claim, your premium may increase at renewal time. It is always best to talk to your experienced, local independent insurance agent to see what is right for your situation.

Next in this series: Essential Car Insurance | Deep Paint Scratches

Questions? Want to learn more? Here’s 4 easy ways to reach us:

Phone: 877-994-6787
Email: [email protected]
Text: 951-482-8144
Web: agency.thebutlerweb.com

PS Here’s a few words from one client that trusts Stromsoe Insurance Agency:

“We’ve had our auto insurance with Stromsoe Insurance Agency for several years now. You guys are doing a great job. Unfortunately, we were paying a higher insurance quote and not being taken care of properly, until we found you.”
Jesus and Inelda Luna – Fallbrook, CA – Client Since 2000

PPS Every policy is backed by our iron clad, 100% complete satisfaction guarantee. Ask for your copy today!

Non-Profit Spotlight: Murrieta Valley Historical Society

Posted on April 1, 2021 by butlervetinsurance

Our community is full of incredible people and organizations, out making a difference for others! In this month’s Non-Profit Spotlight we’d like to recognize the Murrieta Valley Historical Society (MVHS)!

The Murrieta Valley Historical Society was formed in 2016 by a small group of residents who had a long-time interest in local history. For years, they had lobbied the city to recognize and preserve elements of Murrieta’s historic past and to create a Murrieta museum. While the city developed a long-term plan for a history park, it had no funds available to develop the park and build and operate a museum. With historical aspects disappearing as development continued to grow in the area, the residents decided to formally organize and to request use of a city-owned historic structure as an interim museum.

Initially, MVHS’ goals were to preserve and educate, bringing attention to the community’s historic features, seek to preserve them, and to create a place where assets could be collected, preserved and viewed.

MVHS primarily offers a connection to the area’s past. They were successful in gaining collaboration with the city to do achieve their goals. The city leased the small, almost 100-year-old “Hunt House” that sits between the city’s community center and a Little League baseball field that the society then developed into Murrieta’s first museum, which opened in 2019. This is an educational resource for all to use. Managed, funded and staffed entirely by volunteers, the museum was open one day a week for visits and on special occasions for tours, chiefly by third graders who are studying local history. The society developed a curriculum for use by local teachers.

For the month of April 2021 Stromsoe Insurance will donate $21 to Murrieta Valley Historical Society for every referral that comes to our team!

Learn More about The 2021 Vision Referral Rewards Program HERE…

The virus has substantially affected the society by forcing them to close the museum for the time being, restricting the public education it provides, and has caused a community program series to be suspended. Since third graders can’t currently visit the museum, they are working to transform the museum into a virtual visit. Eventually, that video will also be available on their website for viewing by anyone.

Murrieta Valley Historical Society is a membership society that relies solely on memberships, donations and grants to survive. Modestly-priced memberships can be acquired online, and donations are always appreciated. They also welcome volunteers to help run the museum and aid in fundraising efforts.

To get in contact with MVHS, send them an email, give them a call at (951)387-4862 or write them: Murrieta Valley Historical Society; P.O. Box 1341; Murrieta, CA 92564

To reach the Museum Director for information, or to make an appointment for a group tour, call Annette Jennings at (951)757-4123

If you would like to help support the Murrieta Valley Historical Society, please engage with them on Facebook or Instagram.

For the month of April 2021 Stromsoe Insurance will donate $21 to Murrieta Valley Historical Society for every referral that comes to our team!

Learn More about The 2021 Vision Referral Rewards Program HERE…

Would you like to learn more about how we can help protect your non-profit , call your Stromsoe Insurance Total Protection Team at (951) 600-5751 or email [email protected] today!