Just like hamburgers and hot dogs, a sizzling grill is a symbol of summer and grilling isn’t just about great food. Backyard barbecues often create treasured memories with friends and family.

Keep in mind, however, that when you grill, you’re literally playing with fire. Thousands of residents each year learn this the hard way, suffering damage to their homes or even serious injuries in grilling accidents.

There’s good news, though: You can prevent grilling accidents by taking some simple precautions. The tips below can help ensure you cook only your burgers — and not your house — the next time you fire up the grill.

TIPS FOR ALL GRILLS

Your grill, whether gas or charcoal, should be on a level surface outdoors, away from anything that could be ignited by flames (bushes, fences, etc.).

NEVER use a grill indoors. Odorless carbon monoxide fumes could kill you.

Keep your grill clean and well-maintained. Check parts regularly to determine if replacements are needed.

Never leave a hot grill unattended or let children play near it.

CHARCOAL GRILL TIPS

From Kingsford.com

Do not add lighter fluid directly to hot coals. The flame could travel up the stream of fluid and burn you.

Never use gasoline or kerosene to light a charcoal fire.

Use flame-retardant mitts and long-handled barbecue tongs, as coals can reach up to 1,000 degrees.

To dispose of coals, allow the ashes to cool for at least 48 hours before disposal in a non-combustible container. If you cannot wait 48 hours, carefully place coals individually in a can of sand or bucket of water.

GAS GRILL TIPS

From the National Fire Protection Association

Check your grill’s hoses for leaks before using it for the first time each year. Apply a light soap and water solution to the hose. A propane leak will release bubbles. If you have a leak, and it will not stop after the grill and gas is turned off, call the fire department. If the leak stops when the grill and gas are turned off, have your grill serviced by a professional.

If you smell gas while cooking, immediately get away from the grill and call the fire department. Do not move the grill.

Do not keep a filled propane tank in a hot car or trunk. When getting containers refilled, make that your last stop before going home.

Store propane tanks in an upright position, and never indoors.

From all of us at TruePoint Insurance happy grilling, and stay safe this summer!

TruePoint Insurance Group, LLC

6287 Taylorsville Rd.

Fisherville, KY 40023

(888) 706-5423

TruePoint Insurance Group, LLC is not licensed to practice law, nor can it provide legal counsel. This summary is not intended as a legal opinion. We cannot warrant that the opinions and representations provided in this summary are accurate. TruePoint Insurance Group, LLC has provided this summary of the Virginia Graeme Baker Act for your awareness. The summary may or may not identify your requirements as a pool or spa owner. If you own a pool or spa you are advised by TruePoint Insurance Group, LLC to refer your specific situation to legal counsel.

Under an Owners and Contractors Protective Liability Policy (OCP), the insured (typically a property owner or general contractor) is protected against a lawsuit claiming harm or damage caused by work that an independent contractor performs for the insured. It also covers liability related to the insured’s responsibility of supervising such contractors.

A feature that makes the form unusual is that the named insured is NOT the person who buys the coverage. The buyer is the contractor. The named insured is covered for the actions of that particular contractor and also for their own acts and omissions (failure to take action) related to their supervision of that contractor.

This indirect liability involves injury or damage caused by an employee under a strict employer-employee relationship. However, under the following circumstances, the financial consequences of acts committed by independent contractors may be attributed to a property owner or general contractor:

The circumstance involves work that is inherently dangerous (such as excavation or use of explosives) The act involves duties that, under local, state or federal law, a project owner cannot delegate to others The action that causes harm or damage is the result of negligently hiring an incompetent contractor

There are no requirements concerning the type of work a named insured has hired a contractor to perform. Therefore, the insured project may be personal, farm or commercial in nature. The only requirement is that vicarious liability exists between an owner who has a contractor working for that owner or a contractor who has sub-contractors or independent contractors working on his behalf.

OCP policies have become increasingly popular for various reasons. One reason is that additional insured endorsements are becoming more restrictive. Another reason is that more insurers insist on using forms that include aggregates limits. Related directly to this reason is a growing concern that having more than one insured on a policy increases the chances of exhausting the policy’s aggregate limit.

An insurance professional would be just the person to contact to discuss this very important coverage.

COPYRIGHT: Insurance Publishing Plus, Inc.2014

All rights reserved. Production or distribution, whether in whole or in part, in any form of media or language; and no matter what country, state or territory, is expressly forbidden without written consent of Insurance Publishing Plus, Inc.

TruePoint Insurance Group, LLC

6287 Taylorsville Rd.

Fisherville, KY 40023

(888) 706-5423

TruePoint Insurance Group, LLC is not licensed to practice law, nor can it provide legal counsel. This summary is not intended as a legal opinion. We cannot warrant that the opinions and representations provided in this summary are accurate. TruePoint Insurance Group, LLC has provided this summary of the Virginia Graeme Baker Act for your awareness. The summary may or may not identify your requirements as a pool or spa owner. If you own a pool or spa you are advised by TruePoint Insurance Group, LLC to refer your specific situation to legal counsel.

Why Renters Should Buy Insurance

People are renters for different reasons. Regardless whether it is because of financial necessity or a lifestyle preference, renters frequently choose not to insure for reasons such as:

Insurance isn’t necessary because there’s no home, garage or similar property to worry aboutThere’s coverage automatically provided by my landlord, host or relative with whom I’m livingI can’t afford itI don’t have enough possessions to insureThere’s little chance that anything will happen to my possessions

Busting Renters Insurance Myths

The only thing true about the above reasons for not getting renters insurance is that they can cause real misery from an uninsured loss. Renters need to consider the following:

Possessions are purchased over time. This fact makes it less obvious that a renter may own tens of thousands of dollars worth of property that needs to be insuredMany belongings are very high-value. Renters should consider what jewelry they own and pay particular attention to their electronics situation (stereos, CDs, CD players, game systems, speakers, computers, etc.) Even modest living areas can hold lots of expensive property.Renters insurance is affordable, often well under $200 per year.Insurance policies carried by landlords typically offer little or no coverage for property that is owned by tenants and guests.The same things that can damage a building can damage the property in the building, particularly natural disasters and fires; so a building’s contents are very vulnerable to loss

What about Being Sued?

Renters who don’t carry insurance should remember that they also need protection for their legal obligations to others. What if you’re on a softball team with your friends and you smash a line drive into the face of another player? Emergency treatment and cosmetic surgery is expensive.

If you rent and you don’t have insurance…then you have a very good reason for contacting an insurance professional to get you covered….now!

COPYRIGHT: Insurance Publishing Plus, Inc. 2013

All rights reserved. Production or distribution, whether in whole or in part, in any form of media or language; and no matter what country, state or territory, is expressly forbidden without written consent of Insurance Publishing Plus, Inc.

TruePoint Insurance Group, LLC

6287 Taylorsville Rd.

Fisherville, KY 40023

(888) 706-5423

TruePoint Insurance Group, LLC is not licensed to practice law, nor can it provide legal counsel. This summary is not intended as a legal opinion. We cannot warrant that the opinions and representations provided in this summary are accurate. TruePoint Insurance Group, LLC has provided this summary of the Virginia Graeme Baker Act for your awareness. The summary may or may not identify your requirements as a pool or spa owner. If you own a pool or spa you are advised by TruePoint Insurance Group, LLC to refer your specific situation to legal counsel.

The insurance approach for covering boats and boating property is quite similar to what is used to protect cars and homes. Essentially insurance is offered on a package basis, meaning that there is coverage for physical property as well as protection against the legal and financial consequences of injuring others or damaging property that belongs to others.

Property Coverage – Typically a boatowners policy covers:

Boats – Refers to property designed to travel on water and includes sails, its permanent equipment, spars and fittings.Boating Equipment – Includes a wide variety of property that is used in conjunction with boats and it includes accessories. Items considered as equipment are property used for communication (radios), navigation, sonar, radar, outboard motors, dinghies, skis and sports equipment (recreational flotation devices) that are towed by boats and similar property. As a rule of thumb, the more related an item is to the ownership and use of a boat, the greater the justification to classify it as boating equipment.Boat Trailers – Trailers used (and designed) for transporting boats (as defined by the policy).

This property must be owned by the person who is named as the policyholder. There are limited instances when such property that is temporarily in the policyholder’s possession also qualifies for coverage.

Items and situations that aren’t covered include boating property that is used in business activity, losses that involve races or competitions (an exception is made for sailboats) and boats that are used, full-time, as residences.

Liability Coverage – Besides protecting boating property, a boatowners policy also responds to claims or lawsuits caused when another person is injured, and /or when another person’s property is damaged or destroyed. An example would be a collision where the owner of a large speedboat collides with a person on a jet ski, seriously injuring the rider and demolishing the jet ski. The policy would handle both portions of such a loss. The liability portion would also provide a legal defense against lawsuits.

Another important coverage under the liability section is medical payments. This provides reimbursement for, typically, emergency or immediate medical treatment expense. Consider a person who slips on a boat deck and needs transportation to an emergency for treatment of a broken bone or concussion. Such costs would qualify under medical payments.

As is the case with property coverage, there are liability situations that are NOT covered by a boatowners policy, including losses that involve business activity, transmission of communicable disease, unauthorized operation of boating property, intentional acts, and criminal activity.

Boating property is a substantial investment and boatowners coverage is an efficient, affordable way to guard against accidental losses.

COPYRIGHT: Insurance Publishing Plus, Inc. 2015

All rights reserved. Production or distribution, whether in whole or in part, in any form of media or language; and no matter what country, state or territory, is expressly forbidden without written consent of Insurance Publishing Plus, Inc.

TruePoint Insurance Group, LLC

6287 Taylorsville Rd.

Fisherville, KY 40023

(888) 706-5423

TruePoint Insurance Group, LLC is not licensed to practice law, nor can it provide legal counsel. This summary is not intended as a legal opinion. We cannot warrant that the opinions and representations provided in this summary are accurate. TruePoint Insurance Group, LLC has provided this summary of the Virginia Graeme Baker Act for your awareness. The summary may or may not identify your requirements as a pool or spa owner. If you own a pool or spa you are advised by TruePoint Insurance Group, LLC to refer your specific situation to legal counsel.

Ready, Set, Summer!

Summer generally arrives with a huge surge in recreational activity. School ends and parents start searching for leisure and recreational activities for themselves and their children. The activities range from elaborate vacations or summer-long camps to simply buying play and sports equipment (or getting it out of storage) and renewing park and pool passes.

Summer Fun’s Dark Side

One thing to be aware of is that the simplest activities can go wrong. Using sports equipment such as tennis racquets, baseballs, baseball bats, Frisbees, lawn darts, or horseshoes has the potential to harm others. Danger accompanies the use of skateboards, bikes, mopeds, go-karts, and radio-controlled cars, helicopters and planes. A larger concern involves inviting friends over to use your driveway, play equipment or swimming pool. Potential liability comes from either you having fun at the expense of other persons or their property, or failing to take precautions that persons you’ve invited to your residence (or other places) are safe to enjoy themselves.

How to Preserve Your Fun

The easiest way to prepare for your summer liability is to ask the questions:

What can I do to keep other persons safe from my activities?Am I prepared to be responsible for people I hurt or property I damage?How do I make my home and yard safe for fun-seeking visitors?Am I keeping my guests to various events safe?

While accidents happen, many can be prevented by making sure that you and your children enjoy your activities responsibly. Operating bikes safely and in low traffic areas reduces the chance that others will be hurt. The proper use of games and equipment also make the likelihood of having someone injured more remote. In other words, it’s important that your family uses sports and game equipment safely and appropriately. Adult supervision is critical for potentially dangerous activities such as the use of motorized recreational equipment, trampolines, and swimming pools (including small wading pools). It’s also important to make certain that guests you invite for camping or hiking trips are watched after carefully. In many instances, you are responsible for the safety of your guests when you invite them to enjoy outdoor activities, particularly boating or other activities involving water-related equipment.

Home Inspection

Another way to reduce the chance of others being hurt is to do an inspection of your home and yard. Do you have an adequate fence (with secure or self-locking gate) to protect young children from a pool when you’re not around? Is your playground equipment well-maintained and strong enough to support the weight of the children using it? Is your yard and driveway free of tripping hazards? Are dangerous items such as tools, chemicals and lawn equipment kept out of reach of children? If you can answer "no" to any of these questions, you’re inviting trouble.

Insurance Plays a Role

When accidents happen, they may be followed by medical expenses and, more seriously, lawsuits. You must be protected against such financial consequences. Don’t assume you have coverage, especially when an activity involves motorized or powered equipment. You may have to add coverage to your homeowner policy or even buy special coverage for mini-bikes, mopeds, boats, all-terrain vehicles, etc.

So make safety a part of getting ready for summer fun. It’s also smart to include a visit or call to your insurance professional to make sure you have the right coverage to support a fun summer.

COPYRIGHT: Insurance Publishing Plus, Inc. 2013

All rights reserved. Production or distribution, whether in whole or in part, in any form of media or language; and no matter what country, state or territory, is expressly forbidden without written consent of Insurance Publishing Plus, Inc.

TruePoint Insurance Group, LLC

6287 Taylorsville Rd.

Fisherville, KY 40023

(888) 706-5423

TruePoint Insurance Group, LLC is not licensed to practice law, nor can it provide legal counsel. This summary is not intended as a legal opinion. We cannot warrant that the opinions and representations provided in this summary are accurate. TruePoint Insurance Group, LLC has provided this summary of the Virginia Graeme Baker Act for your awareness. The summary may or may not identify your requirements as a pool or spa owner. If you own a pool or spa you are advised by TruePoint Insurance Group, LLC to refer your specific situation to legal counsel.