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All You Ever Wanted to Know About Insurance

Push, don't lift and 10 other tips for safer snow shoveling

Winter Storm Jonas: Oh, brother, was that a snow shoveler's worst nightmare. The January 2016 blizzard dumped a record 30.2 inches on Harrisburg. No one knows what the future holds for snowfall, but it's always a good...

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Big-ticket Christmas gifts and their insurance implications

Purchasing all the gifts listed in "The Twelve Days of Christmas" will set you back $34,363 this year, up from $233 in 2015, according to the 33rd annual PNC Wealth Management Christmas Price Index. Of course, maybe a...

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To keep your home safe, water your cut Christmas tree daily and keep it away from heat sources

In January 2015, a massive fire in Annapolis, Md., claimed the lives of a couple and their four grandchildren, ages 6 to 8. In the mansion's great room stood a 15-foot Fraser fir Christmas tree that had been lit 24...

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When dog bites man, your homeowners insurance could bite back

Welcoming a dog into your home comes with a long checklist of considerations, from leashes and food dishes to potty training and socializing. One other item that bears significant thought is insurance liability should...

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How to build an emergency supply kit

Fifty-two percent of Americans don't have copies of crucial personal documents, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Forty-eight percent don't have emergency supplies; 44 percent don't have...

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Get your family ready in the event of an emergency evacuation

Hurricane Matthew left a trail of devastation in its wake, claiming more than 1,000 lives in Haiti and at least 33 in the United States. The Category 5 storm also caused billions of dollars in property damage. Florida...

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With inland marine coverage, your tools and equipment are covered wherever you take them

A construction site can go from being a hub of activity during the day to utter blackness overnight. A chain-link fence surrounding the property can deter thieves, but you'll often read about the theft of tools and...

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If a neighbor's tree falls on my house, who pays for any damages?

The subject of trees falling can lead to intriguing philosophical questions. For instance, if a tree falls in the forest and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound? But we're more about practical matters at...

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Picture this: a safer, more respectful way to take selfies

In Greek mythology, Narcissus saw his reflection in a pool of water and fell in love with it. He was so taken with his own face that he stared at it until he died. In modern-day reality, a love of selfies is sometimes...

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Go to the head of the class by following these school bus safety tips

The wheels on the bus go round and round, round and round. Each year, school buses travel more than 400 million miles in Pennsylvania and 10 billion miles across the United States. Nationally, school buses keep an...

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Odds are you won’t be struck by lightning, but these steps can keep your family even safer

Benjamin Franklin was in Philadelphia when, with the help of a key and a kite, he proved that electricity and lightning were one and the same. It also was in the City of Brotherly Love that Franklin invented the...

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Permanently attached equipment specifically should be noted when contractors buy commercial auto insurance

If you’re a building contractor, your truck is your livelihood. You spend an awful lot of time in it, driving to and from work sites. It’s your home away from home, so it’s likely you’ve modified it to accommodate so-...

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Tough bounces: trampoline use comes with high risk of injury and potential homeowner liability

Trampolines have their ups and downs – and that’s the problem. While jumping and somersaulting has enormous appeal to children, the danger associated with landing improperly has led the American Academy of Pediatrics to...

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Distracted driving is dangerous to driver, passenger and bystander - all of the time

No doubt you’ve passed another driver who appeared to be focused more on his smart phone than on the road ahead. Then again, maybe you’ve done the same thing. It is what’s known as distracted driving, which comprises...

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Take the plunge into swimming pool safety

Nothing says refreshing like a dip in a swimming pool on a hot summer day. But nothing speaks of danger more than young children near water. Drowning is the leading cause of injury-related death among children ages 1 to...

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Water line protection: low cost for a low risk

A letter from Pennsylvania American Water began with a series of bullet points, the first of which noted that one of the recipient’s neighbors “recently had their water pipe repaired.” The letter, which arrived in a...

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Car safety seats: They are required by law and highly effective if used properly

We haul everything in our cars, from groceries and dry-cleaning to sports equipment and home-improvement products. But there’s no more precious cargo than the people we move, especially our children. And yet as a nation...

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Most homeowners policies don't provide flood coverage, but it can be purchased separately

September will mark the fifth anniversary of massive flooding in central Pennsylvania caused by Tropical Storm Lee. In Hershey, the flood water buckled pavement at the Route 322 off-ramp near Hersheypark Drive;...

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Lawn mowing is not child's play: 12 safety tips

Just like morning dew and fireflies at night, the whirring of lawn mower blades is a staple of summer (not to mention much of spring and fall). We love our manicured lawns and take great pride in maintaining them. But...

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If you owe more on your car than it is worth, you should consider gap insurance

A new automobile can be a lot of things: simply a means of getting from Point A to Point B, or a fun, frivolous lifestyle accessory. But a sound investment it might not be. On average, according to Edmunds.com, a new...

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A roundabout way: improving safety, reducing delays

If you’re a fan of the progressive rock band Yes, then you’re probably familiar with the song “Roundabout.” The lyrics are obscure, to wit: “I'll be the round about/The words will make you out 'n' out” Traffic...

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Take stock of your stuff with a home inventory

Digital photography, particularly with the advent of smart phones, has made us a culture of camera buffs. By one accounting, people upload an average of 1.8 billion digital images every day. We photograph our friends...

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Off-season is the perfect time for 5 maintenance and safety tips for your wood-burning fireplace

Even as winter winds down and warmer weather beckons, it’s a perfect time to think about preventive maintenance for your fireplace. By planning ahead, you’ll be in great shape when the need for heat returns in the fall....

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If you provide a professional service, you should consider professional liability insurance

For all of the talk about gridlock in politics, some issues elicit bipartisan agreement. Take, for instance, Pennsylvania Act 65 of 2012. In June of that year, legislation mandating that all dentists in the commonwealth...

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Pedestrians 14 percent of motor vehicle crash deaths: safety tips for walkers and drivers alike

The next time you go to the movies, think about how you got there. You probably drove. On your way, you may have witnessed someone crossing a street, jogging, or even walking to the same cinema. As you settle into your...

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Business insurance coverage starts with a general liability policy

The U.S. Small Business Administration recommends that businesses assess their insurance needs on an annual basis. As a business grows, after all, so do its liabilities. A good place to start is with general liability...

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