Blog | Johl & Company

Personal Insurance: Don’t Drink and Bike

Everybody knows to not drink and drive. But did you know that drinking and biking is a big issue as well? Per the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, deaths among intoxicated cyclists are considered to be a “significant problem” and are not declining as much as drunk driving deaths.

In fact, over 20% of all cyclists who were killed were a result of alcohol. In addition to this, impaired cyclists were much less likely to be wearing a helmet. There is probably a correlation between less helmet wearing and an increase in fatalities.

While cycling drunk can be a bad decision for your safety, it can also be bad for the cars around you. Remember: if you are biking on the road, you are just like a car and cause problems for other people. Imagine you are biking while intoxicated, run a red light, and cause an accident. Depending on the severity of the accident, and whether or not you are found to be at fault, this could be very bad for you and your bank account.

If you plan on biking a lot on the streets, we recommend investing in a personal umbrella insurance policy. If you are biking and cause some type of accident, an umbrella policy will help to cover you past what your renter’s insurance will. It is important to ensure that you will be fully covered while you are on the road. If you are not fully covered, you may be risking a lot and could lose everything. An umbrella insurance policy will give you peace of mind while out there biking.

Interested in adding a personal insurance policy?

If you are in Westwood and would like to add umbrella insurance to your policy feel free to contact us! One of our independent insurance agents will take care of your needs!

Buying vs. Leasing a Vehicle: Which Is Better For You?

Are you planning to purchase a new vehicle this year? Whether your car is a lemon and about to bite the dust, or you are just in the market for an upgrade, the decision to buy or lease a car can be a tough one. There are many things to consider when making a purchasing decision including how your decision will affect your car insurance.

So, if you are in the market for a new car, how should you determine if you should buy or lease? Before getting into anything, this is a decision that will be dependent on many different variables that are unique to your situation. For example, if you have to drive a long way for work, or are constantly on the road, going to meetings, leasing a car is not for you, due to the mileage constraints. Buying and leasing both have viable advantages over the other. What is important is to weigh the advantages and disadvantages according to your specific situation.

Below, we compare advantages and disadvantages of buying vs. leasing:

Short Term Cost: In the short term, leasing a car is less money up front and per month than buying a car.

Long Term Cost: If you plan on driving your car for a long time, buying a car will end up costing you less in the long run. If you decide to lease vehicles, you will always have a monthly payment, which is not the case for buying a car.

Maintenance: Maintenance on a leased car will typically be less expensive than buying a car, as it always falls under the vehicle’s factory warranty.

ALSO READ: Car Insurance for Students Away at College

Mileage: Driving a lot of miles can be hard on your vehicle and can break your lease contract. Therefore, if you drive a lot, it is recommended to buy a vehicle. Typically, a lease will have a 9,000-15,000 mile restriction, and you pay a fee for every mile you go over. If you drive a lot, this fee could become quite costly.

Time and Commitment: If you decide to buy your car, you can keep it for as long as you like, or sell it whenever you want. If you have a lease, it can be hard to get out of your lease contract, so you might find yourself stuck. Once your lease is up (usually a 24-39 month period), you can upgrade the make and model of your car by starting a new lease.

There are many online tools and quizzes that you can take to help you determine which option is best for your scenario. Here is a quiz from CNN Money to help you make a decision.

Also, whether you are buying or leasing a vehicle, make sure you know how much you car insurance rates will be. Car insurance will vary based on many factors about yourself and your vehicle.

Do You Need Car Insurance in Westwood, NJ?

Whether you lease or buy, you need to insure your new set of wheels. If you are in the Westwood, NJ area, and would like to save money on your insurance, click here.

Should I Have Renters Insurance?

Do you currently rent an apartment, condo or townhouse? Do you have renters insurance? Chances are you currently do not have a form of renters insurance, but it’s never too late. Renters insurance is able to offer you protection on a number of different cases.

Like homeowners, you still have possessions. Your furniture, electronics, clothes and anything else you own have the possibility of being damaged, destroyed or stolen. Besides protecting your possessions, renters insurance can also include liability coverage. In the event that something happens in your apartment that causes harm to another person or their property, like water or fire damages, your renter’s insurance will be able to help cover the damages and legal fees that you may have had to pay out of pocket. Your agent will be able to explain the details of your policy and what is covered and not covered.

Another reason to consider insurance is for covering additional living expenses. What this means is, if your rented space was damaged to the point where you could not live in it until it was fixed, renters insurance may be able to help with the extra costs, like the cost of staying at a hotel.

Renters insurance is commonly overlooked by most people, but it is critically important to anyone renting a home, apartment or condo. Working with the team at Johl & Company, we can make sure that the policy you get is the policy you need. Don’t let an accident ruin your life.

Interested in Renters Insurance in the Westwood, NJ area?

If you are renting a space to live, don’t go unprotected. The team at Johl & Company can make sure you get the right policy to protect your valuables and yourself.

Want to receive information like this and more? Follow us on Twitter and like us on Facebook!

Tips For Detecting Phishing Emails

You have probably heard of phishing before. No, not the kind where you grab a rod and reel and head to the dock. Phishing is the practice of sending fraudulent emails pretending to be a reputable company or individual. Phishing is an attempt to gather your personal information (passwords, credit card info. etc.) for malicious purposes. It is no coincidence that phishing and fishing are homophones, as the fraudulent email acts as the bait, and you just might be the unsuspecting fish about to be hooked.

Phishing emails are most likely made to look like they are coming from a bank, credit card company, or another type of financial institution. Phishing emails can also occur as a prize or an offer that you need to claim.

Phishing emails occur every single day. So, how can you detect which emails are phishing attempts and avoid them? Below, our team offers several tips to keep your inbox and personal information safe.

Tip #1: Time sensitivity

If you receive an email that requests important and personal information in a short time period, be suspicious. One technique that scammers use, is to pressure you to get information before you have the time to think about the legitimacy of the request. Along with emails, this could occur via text message or phone call as well.

Tip #2: Pay attention to the email address

If you receive an email that requests your personal information, you should always be aware of who is sending the email. While a scammer might closely mimic the look and feel of a real email from a reputable source, you should always scrutinize the sender’s email address.

Tip #3: Hover over the links

Anytime you receive an email requesting you to click a link to complete a form or provide information that is needed, you should hover your cursor over the link. When you hover your cursor over the link, you will be able to see the URL of the page it is linking to. You do not want to click on a link and end up on a site that is full of malware.

Tip #4: Look for grammatical errors

If you notice grammatical or spelling errors in an email, it is probably a phishing email. Large companies and institutions will not allow a mass message to be sent that has errors throughout it.

Tip #5: An offer that is too good to be true

If you receive an email for an offer that you think is too good to be true, it probably is. If you receive an email from someone you don’t know with a great offer, you should avoid this email.

For more information, you can read the Federal Trade Commissions page on phishing.

The team at Johl & Company hopes that these tips can keep you safe from scammers. Keeping your information safe from scammers can give you peace of mind while surfing the web, posting on social media, and communicating via electronic mail. So go ahead, find that next funny video to post to Facebook, and have fun!

Are you in need of Insurance in Westwood, NJ?

Click here to request a quote from Johl & Company.

Homeowners Insurance | Things To Know About Home Burglary

Do you think you could be a victim of a home burglary? While chances aren’t high, you still need to protect yourself against it. Why? Because according to the FBI, there is a house/apartment/condo broken into every 15 seconds in the US. In all of those burglaries, it was reported that the victims experienced a loss of $3.6 Billion of goods in 2015. That doesn’t even account for any sentimental value or the value of feeling safe at your home.

So, what are some things you can do to protect yourself better against burglars?

Burglars look for houses that are unoccupied. If you make your house look like there is someone there, a burglar will likely be deterred. Below are a few tips to make your house look occupied throughout the day:

Put your lights on an automatic timer to turn on and off throughout the day.
Play a radio loud enough to be heard from outside of your house.
When you are home, park your car in the garage with the door shut. If a burglar notices that your car is parked in the driveway when you are home, and your car is gone when you aren’t, they will take advantage of this.
Get a dog! A dog has a great sense of hearing and will cause a stir when they hear someone outside of your house.

In addition to making it seem as if someone is occupying your house, you should take some extra precautions to protect yourself. These precautions include:

Having the locks changed when you move into a new house or apartment.
Make sure you are using high-quality locks, and that they are all functioning how they are supposed to. You may want to consult a locksmith for this job.
Use shatter resistant glass for all windows that are within arms reach of a lock. This will make it much harder for someone to break your window to unlock a deadbolt.
Install a security system and place their stickers on your windows and a sign by your front door. These signs and stickers usually deter any type of theft.

If you are going to be away on vacation, or for a long period of time, you should ask your neighbor to look after your house. Your neighbor knows no one will be at your house and will be tipped off if they see anyone around. In addition to this, you should have your neighbors pick up all of your mail and newspapers; This is a better alternative than having your services stopped.

Are you covered by in the event of a burglary?

Make sure you keep an updated list of all your belongings and their value. If your home is broken into, you want to make sure you have an up-to-date list of belongings, so you know what was taken. In addition to this, you should report your belonging to your insurance company, and make sure your homeowners insurance policy is kept up-to-date.

In need of homeowners insurance?

At Johl & Company, located in Westwood, NJ, we can help you create a policy to protect your valuables. Get a homeowners insurance quote today!

Be sure to follow us on Twitter and like us on Facebook.