June is National Safety Month. While workplace and home safety are important every day of the year, the National Safety Council (NSC) specially focuses on safety during the month of June to help educate the public. Highlighting the following four themes throughout the month, the NSC aims to reduce the leading causes of injury and death – at home and in your workplace.

Umbrella insurance is the subject of a few misconceptions that lead people to think it’s unnecessary. Some believe it to be applicable only to the lifestyles of the extremely wealthy, while others think their existing homeowners and auto policies provide enough protection. Both of these views fail to take into account how much exposure the average person is subject to on any given day. You drive your children to school, take your dog for a walk, update Facebook about your interaction with an unfriendly neighbor, have friends over for dinner—all without realizing that a single mishap or accident during any one of these activities could result in a lawsuit.

Have you ever dreamt of ditching the standard hotel room in favor of British castle or spending your vacation on a private island instead of a crowded resort? Thanks to home-sharing services such as Airbnb and HomeAway, either option is now attainable with the click of your mouse.

If the term “home-sharing” is unfamiliar to you, just imagine Uber’s business model with shelter taking the place of transportation. Home-sharing services are community marketplaces that allow people to rent out their houses, apartments, or even spare rooms to guests visiting the area. The practice offers travelers a unique alternative to hotels, and it can be a great way for homeowners or tenants to bring in extra money.

But while its benefits can certainly be extolled, the practice of home-sharing is not without risks. Whether you’re interested in hosting or renting, understanding how to best protect yourself from potential liabilities is the key to a successful home-sharing experience.

The saying goes “April showers bring May flowers,” but storm season can sometimes do more harm than good when it comes to your foliage. Fallen trees can result in significant damage, so this is the ideal time to review what is covered by your insurance policy when it comes to the damage they cause.

Here are five different scenarios involving fallen trees and your homeowners insurance policy:

Spring brings rising temperatures, extended daylight, and blooming flowers. Though the cold weather and icy road conditions of winter are gone, it’s important to remember that the spring and summer months have their own hazardous weather conditions that require preparation.

According to the National Safety Council, motor vehicle deaths increased 6% in 2016 over the 2015 data, with an estimated total of 40,200 lives lost. The annual death toll from car crashes hasn’t surpassed 40,000 since 2007, so the new data is concerning.

Why such an increase? Officials say part of this escalation can be attributed to higher road density. An improving economy and higher employment rates combined with lower average gas rates to put more drivers on the road, and these motorists are covering more ground.

Whether you’re flying two states over for a business trip or exploring a new country on your dream vacation, travel requires a lot of planning. In the midst of booking flights, confirming hotel rooms, reserving rental cars, and packing suitcases, travel insurance can seem like an unnecessary addition to your to-do list. Ask any seasoned traveler for advice, however, and they’ll tell you it’s the one thing you should never set off without. No matter how much planning you’ve put into your trip, the unexpected can, and often does, happen. The good news is, you can plan for that too—and purchasing the right travel insurance policy is just the way to do it.

Whether it’s a pocket watch passed down to you from your great-grandfather, an engraved necklace from your parents, or that perfect engagement ring your spouse spent months picking out, we all have possessions we value. Like anything valuable, our most treasured items deserve to be protected. One of the easiest ways to do just that is to make sure our cherished belongings are properly insured against loss, theft, damage, and the unexpected.

From all of us at Gibson, we wish you peace, prosperity, and a happy new year!

The holidays are officially here! 

As much as we'd all like to solely focus on the fun and spirit of the season, there are safety hazards that come along with the celebrations. Christmas trees, decorations, and candles are the culprits for serious fire damage during the holidays. And the hazards for pets and small children are numerous. 

How can you make this a safe holiday season for your family?