Linda Woshner Insurance Agency

09/21/2021

PROGRESSIVE INSURANCE

WHY YOU NEED A PERSONAL UMBRELLA POLICY
With a Personal Umbrella policy you can extend your auto, homeowners, and other personal liability insurance coverage to better protect your assets in the event of a lawsuit.

With jury awards on the rise, the liability coverage provided by your auto and home policies may not provide enough protection.

The average jury verdict in the U.S. for injury cases is $985,675.

EXTRA PROTECTION FOR VEHICLE ACCIDENTS
DID YOU KNOW...
85% of umbrella claims are the result of auto accidents?

EXTRA PROTECTION FOR ACCIDENTS AT HOME
DID YOU KNOW...
The #1 cause of personal liability claims on homeowners policies is a dog bite?

EXTRA PROTECTION FOR INCIDENTS NOT COVERED BY HOME AND AUTO POLICIES
A Progressive Personal Umbrella policy additional coverage not included on most auto and home policies:

>International Coverage - for incidents that happen abroad
>Vacation Rental Liability - for rented boats and jet skis
>Defense Coverage - for legal defense when the primary auto or home carrier does not have duty to defend
>Personal Injury - for liability due to libel, slander and defamation of character

08/03/2021

PREVENT TICK BITES

USE insect repellent with 20% DEET
WEAR protect clothing
USE permethrin on clothing + gear
STAY on cleared trails
CHECK self, gear+ pets for ticks

Prevalence of Ticks in Pennsylvania is High, Take Steps to Prevent Tick Bites and Tick-borne Diseases

With the high prevalence of ticks in Pennsylvania this summer and the numerous diseases that ticks can carry it’s important to understand the ways residents can protect against tick bites.

DEP collected two times more Blacklegged tick nymphs compared to last year. This is especially concerning considering the extremely small, poppy seed-like size of the nymphs.

The following are a few simple ways to reduce the chances of being bitten by ticks:

Cover exposed skin with lightweight and light-colored clothing
Avoid tick-infested habitats such as areas dense with shrubbery or tall grass
Use an EPA-approved insect repellent
Once returning home, immediately check yourself, children, and pets for ticks
Take a shower immediately to remove ticks that may be crawling on skin
If possible, dry clothing and gear in a dryer to kill any ticks
Blacklegged ticks, also known as deer ticks, are the most common carrier of Lyme disease, anaplasmosis and Powassan virus. Ticks typically thrive in tall grass, brush and wooded areas, but deer ticks have been found in every county in the commonwealth and can live in any habitat.

Common signs of a tick disease include fever, headache, chills and muscle aches. Lyme disease is often characterized by a bullseye-like rash, although Lyme disease may not always present itself with this obvious sign. Additional symptoms for Powassan virus may include vomiting, weakness, confusion, loss of coordination, difficulty speaking, or even seizures in severe cases.

While transmission for Lyme disease from tick to human takes approximately 24 hours or more, Powassan transmission from a tick bite can happen in as little as 15 minutes. If you have symptoms that are consistent with a tick-borne disease, it is important to speak to a doctor immediately.

For more information on ticks and tick-borne diseases in Pennsylvania, visit the Department of Health website at www.health.pa.gov.

From Senator Wayne Fontana

06/29/2021

A message from Duquesne Light Co.
Duquesne Light Co.

Be Prepared: High Temperatures Can Cause Power Outages
High temperatures are expected to continue throughout the week. Even in the absence of a storm, extreme heat can cause power outages. Our top priority is providing safe and reliable power to the region. To prepare, we're increasing our staffing so crews can respond to outages as quickly and safely as possible. While we're doing everything we can to ensure you don't lose power, we're here to help you prepare in the event you do experience an outage.
Duquesne Light only knows of outages that are reported. Customers who experience an outage can report their outage on our mobile app or via the website. In addition, be sure to follow our Facebook and Twitter pages for up-to-date alerts regarding outages in the area.
HOW YOU CAN PREPARE
Take a few, simple steps to help prepare in the event of an outage:
Report an outage on our website or with our free mobile app available for download from the App Store or Google Play.
Make sure your cell phone, tablet and other electronic devices are fully charged.
Keep supplies in an emergency preparedness kit. Include water bottles, non-perishable food, blankets, first-aid supplies, flashlights and a battery-powered radio.
Avoid opening the refrigerator or freezer. Food will stay frozen in a fully loaded freezer for 36-48 hours if the door remains closed.
Check medications that require refrigeration to be sure you know if they will be affected by a prolonged interruption of power. Consult a doctor if you aren't sure. You may want to keep a small cooler handy to use for special medication. Also, be sure medical equipment has the appropriate back up for continued use.
Visit the Outages & Safety section at DuquesneLight.com for additional storm information including: Current Outages, Restoring Power, Electrical Safety and more. Our DLC Team is here to assist you!
EMERGENCY CONTACTS
If you or a loved one has a medical condition that will be impacted by an outage, call 9-1-1.

05/18/2021

PENNSYLVANIA'S NEW "MOVE OVER" LAW.

The statute requires drivers approaching an emergency response area who can't safely merge into a lane further away from the response area to slow to 20 mph less than the posted speed limit.

Two points for failure to merge into the lane not next to the emergency response area.

Fines of $500 for the first-time offenders, $1,000 for second offenders and $2,000 for third or subsequent offense.

A 90-day license suspension for a third or subsequent offense.
The license suspension also applies to incidents that seriously injure or kill another person. The suspension is six months if the person injured or killed is an emergency service provider or was near the disable vehicle.

Additional fines of up to $10,000 for violators who injure or kill an emergency service responder or a person in or near a disabled vehicle.

Doubled fines for several traffic violations when committed in an emergency response area when first responders are present.

05/18/2021

12/18/2020

WINTER DRIVING SAFETY TIPS FROM AAA

Leave at the right time.
Monitor weather and traffic reports ahead of time to avoid running into built-up holiday traffic or a severe storm.

Drive slowly.
Everything takes longer on snow-covered roads, so allow yourself enough time to maneuver by driving slowly. Also, maintain your speed when ascending a hill rather then accelerating; speed combined with snow or ice can be very hazardous.

Maintain speed to get over the hills.
Build up a little extra inertia before going uphill. Once you're on the hill, avoid strong acceleration or braking. As you crest the hill, reduce speed and steadily descend to the other side.

Don't use cruise control.
Without cruise control, you can instantly decrease speed by lifting you foot off the accelerator. This quickly transfers weight to the front tires, giving them more traction.

Increase following distance.
The normal dry pavement following distance is three to four seconds behind the car in front of you, but should be increased to eight to ten seconds during winter driving.

Don't panic if you enter a skid.
Continue to look and steer in the direction you want the vehicle to go. Avoid slamming on the brakes, as it will further upset the vehicle's balance and make it harder to regain control.

Know when to brake and when to steer.
When traveling over 25 mph in wintry conditions, AAA recommends steering rather than braking to avoid collisions. Braking on slippery surfaces takes more time, so you should be scanning 20 to 30 seconds ahead of your vehicle. Don't brake and steer at the same time-that makes it more likely your vehicle will lose traction.

If you become snow-bound, stay with your vehicle. It provides temporary shelter and makes it easier for rescuers to locate you. Leaving your car in a severe storm makes you more likely to get lost then find help. Make sure you pack extra jackets, gloves, and hats.

12/15/2020

Happy Holidays 2020
Linda Woshner Insurance Agency
412-364-8831

12/07/2020

WINTER
Preparing for a Winter Storm

Stock up on food, water, medicines
Buy bags of salt and sand for use on icy walkways.

Weather-strip windows and doors to help seal out the cold.

11/05/2020

The coronavirus pandemic is unlike any crisis small business has ever faced. Here are 12 things you can do now to help save your business from COVID-19.