My Story

I have lots of stories, but I think everyone in this industry remembers their first claim that comes to perdition. I was fresh out of school had just received my insurance license, and the company I was working for at the time did an excellent job of stressing how important it was to be well covered and to always focus on the value of the policy not the dollar amount.


I had just written a policy for the sweetest couple transplanting from California to Washington for retirement. I remember how excited and sweet they were booming with anticipation, ready to move into their new home in the beautiful Spokane forest. Normally I’d do a sit down meeting with the clients for a more personal review, but based on the out of state situation it wasn’t a possibility. And they needed insurance for their newly built home ASAP. So we reviewed over the phone and I made my suggestions for the couple. We even laughed about how he had never had a ticket or accident in 50 plus years of driving, but we both agreed insurance was an important purchase.

Later that week I was out at dinner with a friend of mine. We were enjoying ourselves at this new swanky restaurant. I gave my cell phone out to clients for emergency, and told them not to worry if it’s an emergency to call me anytime. Sure enough I receive a call at 9:30pm, and I hear Nancy’s voice on the phone and I can immediately tell it’s bad. She’s crying and hysterical, and she should be.

“Heather, my husbands been in a serious accident, and he’s broken his neck. The doctor’s aren’t sure if he’s going to make it.” He had been medivacted by helicopter to a surgeon in Spokane, still in a coma. He had flipped his truck four times when his trailer jackknifed on the freeway on his way up from California. Thankfully Nancy was not in the truck at the time. There was nothing left of the Dodge, it was now a piece metal that looked like it had been put thru a can crusher. The trailer was broken apart and their livelihood sprawled upon the ground over 100’s of feet. “Our whole life was in that trailer” she sobbed. I told her not to worry; I can fix the truck and your TV. But you need to be with your husband now.
I still remember that day like it was yesterday, I remember bringing him flowers at the hospital, seeing him wrapped up in a full cast, having a machine breath for him. I had wished our first meeting would have something completely different, I had wished his wife could have her husband as he was a week ago. But this story will always stick with me, because we do what we do because we love to serve people. I always want the best for my clients, and I will never underestimate what can happen. For we always hear in this industry, “I’ve paid all these years for insurance and never had an accident”, and too those folks I can say be thankful, some are not as lucky. Let me share a story with you.

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Understanding Auto Insurance: The Importance of Having a Good Agent

The NAIC survey also found that some of the basics of auto insurance are not well understood, even though it is one of most commonly purchased types of coverage by people of all ages and demographics. The survey found that:
•More than six in 10 Americans (63 percent) do not understand that if property gets stolen from their car, it is covered by their homeowners/renters policy—and not auto insurance.

•More than half (54 percent) do not realize that, depending on the state in which you live, your credit history may be one of the factors considered by insurance companies when determining your premium. Other factors that can affect your auto insurance coverage include: driving record, type of vehicle and the deductibles you choose.

•Eighty-six percent of Americans do not know that when their liability coverage is 100/300/100, the last figure represents the maximum amount that their insurance company will pay in property damage for an accident.

Monthly Gift Card Winners

Thanks for the Referrals Guys! And Grats to the $25 Gift Card Winners this Month. Michael Eng and Ruby Estell!

Just them eh? U.S. Seeks Permanent Ban on Texting by Bus, Truck Drivers

I really tend to think some laws written fall under plan common sense. But apparently we need to spell it out to American drivers that texting while driving a bus full of people is a bad idea. And while I'd like to think we don't need such things blatantly written on some warning label, we do have people sue for hot coffee in this great country. We have low grade television spilling crap unto our airwaves just look at ABC, pretty much any show put out by the that network requires a fourth grade mentality to understand. Now that I think about it ABC is a fitting name for a network with such a low grade comprehension. And just when I think another glimpse at originality; such as a show like the Dollhouse it get cancelled for not enough viewers.


So in Closing I say spell it out to the masses, write another common understood social rule because we as Americans are too lazy or ignorant to grasp the most basic concepts.

"U.S Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood has proposed a federal rule that would to specifically prohibit texting by interstate commercial truck and bus drivers. The proposed rule would make permanent an interim ban announced in January 2010 that applied existing safety rules to the specific issue of texting.



The Department of Transportation also announced a partnership with Cornell University to increase public involvement and collaboration in the rulemaking process. The Cornell e-Rulemaking Initiative (CeRI) partnership will make the federal regulatory process more accessible to the public through Regulation Room, an online public participation environment where people can learn about and discuss proposed federal regulations and provide feedback.

The proposed rule will be on public display in the Federal Register March 31 and will appear in print in the Federal Register on April 1. Citizens can find more information on the Cornell online effort and provide comments on the proposed rule at regulationroom.org over the next 30 days.


Federal research shows that drivers who send and receive text messages take their eyes off the road for an average of 4.6 seconds out of every 6 seconds while texting. At 55 miles per hour, this means that the driver is traveling the length of a football field, including the end zones, without looking at the road, according to researchers.


Drivers who text while driving are more than 20 times more likely to get in an accident than non-distracted drivers. Because of the safety risks associated with the use of electronic devices while driving, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) is also working on additional regulatory measures that will be announced in the coming months.


Last September, LaHood announced the department's plan to pursue this regulatory action, as well as rulemakings to reduce the other risks posed by distracted driving.


President Obama also signed an Executive Order directing federal employees not to engage in text messaging while driving government-owned vehicles or with government-owned equipment. Federal employees were required to comply with the ban starting on Dec. 30, 2009.


A number of states have texting while driving also."

National Mention for Spokane Real Estate

National shout out to Spokane Washington for Real Estate and quality of life.  So to all those Spokane haters, plus one for the rest of us that enjoy this historic town.

 http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/35983005#35983005