As 2010 comes to a close, it's a good time to make sure all of your records, such as a home inventory, are up to date. It’s important for home owners, and even renters, to keep a home inventory — especially these days, with the popularity of flat-screen televisions, iPhones, video games and other expensive electronics.

But the process can be time-consuming and difficult. The Insurance Information Institute’s Know Your Stuff tool can make doing a home inventory a breeze.

Know Your Stuff helps you enter items by room and upload photos or scanned receipts. Once the information is in the system, items can be sorted by price, date of purchase or type (silverware, major appliances, etc.). You can even customize your own categories.

Once completed or updated, the Know Your Stuff report also can be printed, saved on a computer, e-mailed or burned on a CD.

The site has an informative video about the Know Your Stuff tool, giving you a quick look at the process and the importance of doing a home inventory!

Take stock with free home inventory tool

Using this tool is as easy as following this link:

www.knowyourstuff.org

After taking inventory, if you need to insure what you have, contact Goen & Goen Inc insurance agency to find the best policy to fit your needs.

Information from Safeco Insurance Company

Hunting Season

Well, it is hunting season again.  If you own land you have probably been asked by someone if they can hunt on your land - for a fee or for free.

If you just have family and friends hunt on your land and you do not charge them for the privilege, there is not much legal liability involved.  However, if you lease out your land for extra income, it gets more complicated.  When you charge someone to hunt your land, you assume more responsibility - and liability - for the hunter.

Some farm and ranch liability policies can cover this hunting exposure for an additional charge to the policy premium.  Other policies don't have this option and you will need to purchase a hunting liability policy.  This is like a commercial general liability policy, but it applies to your leased hunting operation.  Premiums vary depending on how many acres are involved, how much revenue is generated, and what limits of liability you choose.  However, what ever the premium is will seem like a bargain if you end up getting sued by a hunter (or their family) after an accident on your land.

Good luck to all you hunters, and be careful out there.

Distracted Driving

Have you ever been talking on your cell phone while driving and almost hit something in the road (maybe another vehicle)?  Distracted driving is a problem that is on the rise as cell phones are used more and more.

More than 80% of the nation's 94 million cell phone owners use them while driving, at least sometimes.

Many states have legislation to regulate cell phone use in moving vehicles. At least 13 nations, including England, Germany and Japan, have banned the use of cell phones in cars.

In the past few years, cell phone usage has been an issue in several lawsuits, and employers are being

held responsible if a worker causes an accident while talking on the phone. Cell phone usage is a

distraction while driving, like a lot of other things. So why are employers worried?

·

Cell phone records can be subpoenaed to prove the employee was on the phone.

·

were distracted and not driving safely.

Other distractions cannot be identified to a specific time, and many drivers don’t want to say they

·

For example, in 2000, a lawyer struck and killed a teenage girl in Virginia. The attorney who was returning

from a work meeting was allegedly talking on her cell phone with a client at the time of the accident. The

deceased’s family filed a $30 million lawsuit against the employer. In October 2004, the jury awarded $2

million in damages to the family of the young girl. Plaintiff's lawyer filed suits against both the driver and

the driver's employer after it became clear through an examination of phone records that the driver had

been talking to a client when she hit the girl.

Interestingly, the distraction problem does not seem to exist with twoway radios, which are as much a

staple of contractors as cell phones. This is because those calls are usually much shorter. However;

some states that ban hand held phones may consider twoway radios the same. Check with your state’s

regulations on the use of twoway radios.

For protection, companies should consider establishing a written policy that employees must read and

sign restricting use of cell phones. The restriction should include the use of handsfree headsets, since

studies indicate it’s the conversation not the physical act of holding the phone that contributes to accidents.

An insurance company’s sample policy states:

·

Cellular phones should not be used while operating a vehicle.

·

Allow voice mail to handle your calls. Return the calls and messages when you are not driving.

·

If you need to place a call or send a text pull off the road to park in a legal and safe location.

·

Ask a passenger to make or take the call.

·

Inform regular callers of your driving schedule and when you will be available to talk.· Keep your hands on the wheel and your eyes and mind on the road while driving.
Develop a policy that works for your company.  Be aware of what is going on around you while driving.
Parts of this were taken from CNA Insurance Company.  http://www.cna.com/

If you have questions about coverages or need auto insurance, contact Goen & Goen Insurance at http://www.goen-goen.coom/
Liability cases against employers from cell phone use by employees.

Employee Theft

While many people have lost their jobs over the last couple of years, the employees you still have may be struggling also.  While we don't want to think it could happen to us, employee theft can be a problem when times are tough.  CNA Insurance offers some advice for small businesses to protect themselves from employee theft.

Small businesses, especially those that do not conduct regular audits, should be aware of factors that can

contribute to small business fraud. For example:

. Inadequate Employee Pre-screening---

Oftentimes, small business do not spend the money to check work references or records of potential hires.

. Limited Controls---

Small businesses frequently have insufficient personnel to adapt adequate controls, including internal  and external audits and fraud hotlines.  In addition, some of the very things that can make a small organization a pleasant place to work, e.g., flexible work hours, employees not required to clock in or use a security badge to enter and exit the building, can also enable thieves to succeed.

Three major categories of occupational fraud to consider are:

. Asset Misappropriations -- These schemes involve the theft or misuse of an organization's asset by such means as skimming revenues, stealing inventory or committing payroll fraud.

. Corruption -- This occurs when fraudsters wrongfully use their influence in business transactions to procure some benefit for themselves or another person.  One of the most common is accepting kickbacks or engaging in conflicts of interest.

. Fraudulent Financial Statements -- These generally involve falsification of an organization's financial statements by overstating revenues or understating liabilities or expenses.

Preventing Employee Theft

. Establish a written policy that outlines employee responsibilities, standards of honesty, general security procedures and consequences if not followed.  Ensure new employees read the policy, understand it and sign it as a condition of employment.

. Follow strict hiring practices.  Verify all information and contact all references listed on an application.

. Keep and maintain accurate records on cash flow, inventory, equipment and supplies.  Have it reviewed regularly by someone other than the person responsible for maintaining it.

. Limit access to keys, the safe, computerized records and alarm codes.  Engrave "DO NOT DUPLICATE" on store keys.  Change locks and access codes when an employee is terminated.

. If internal theft is discovered, take action quickly.  Contact your local law enforcement agency and be sure to send a message to your employees that theft will not be tolerated.

. Reward employees for uncovering security problems and good performance.

Insurance Cards

Have you ever been pulled over for a speeding ticket and panic?  That sinking feeling you get is because you are not sure you have your auto insurance card to prove you have insurance.  One more hassle to deal with along with the speeding ticket!

The paper ID cards that were once the only way to prove insurance coverage is now obsolete. With a click of a button, any Texas law enforcement officer can pull the information on your vehicle and know if you have insurance thanks to TexasSure.


TexasSure is the financial responsibility verification program and its goal is to reduce the number of uninsured Texas drivers.

Of course, it is easier if you can prove you have insurance by giving the officer your insurance card. But TexasSure can take one more worry out of the situation if the officer will look up your information.

Additional information can be found at http://www.texassure.com/

Health Insurance

With all the talk about health reform, you may have thought about taking out a group health policy for your business.  FirstCare, through the Lubbock Chamber of Commerce, has several options - and the premiums on these plans have come down from last year.  Included are PPO's and HMO's, including a very cost effective policy that uses only Covenant Hospital as the in-network hospital.  If you are not a member of the Chamber, you can still use FirstCare's regular group policies.

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas also has group policies, with many options to choose from.  Their network is one of the best around and their rates are competitive.  Blue Cross has many deductible and co-pay options to work with, so you can find the best fit for your group.  High deductible Health Savings Accounts are also available.

Don't delay.  If you need coverage now, or want to wait until the first of the year for your policy to start, now is the time to get quotes, look at coverage options, and make the choice to offer this benefit to your employees.

Welcome to Our Blog

Thanks for visiting our blog. We hope to bring you the latest updates on what is going on with us and within the insurance industry. To start off here's a little bit about Goen & Goen and our staff.

Goen & Goen Inc. is a locally owned family agency since 1926.  Started by A.C. Goen in 1926, he was then joined by his son Polk Goen. Polk was joined by his son Dale Goen in 1955 and ran the agency by himself until Dale's nephew Kyle Smith joined the agency in 1987. Kyle is now the owner of this family business located in Floydada, Texas.

Our offices are located at 102 E. California, Floydada, TX 79235

Kyle Smith is President of Goen & Goen.

Pam, Rebecca and Jana make up the Property and Casualty Department. 

Pat and Gail make up the Crop Insurance Department. 

 Please check out our website at www.goen-goen.com to find out more information about what insurances we offer and how we can help you. Please feel free to contact us by phone toll free at 800-288-2865 or by email at info@goen-goen.com.