Home Insurance Solutions Of Texas - HISOT - Before an Accident.

Auto - Vehicle

Be sure to keep your vehicle registration, auto insurance ID card and emergency contact list in your car. Always carry your driver’s license with you when driving. Keep a set of orange cones or warning triangles in your trunk to help alert traffic in the situation of an accident.

Emergency Accident Kit For Your Vehicle

Whether your vehicle happens to blow a tire and skid out in the deep wilderness at night or gets hit by a bus in rush hour city traffic, it’s always a wise idea to have an emergency kit right there and ready for immediate use.

These are some great items to include in a personalized vehicle emergency kit that will come in handy regardless of the accident’s severity. Some items might seem obvious but you can never be too careful during preparation to ensure all bases are covered.

• Cell phone with camera and voice recording function
• Disposable backup camera
• Car insurance card
• Medical information card noting special health conditions and insurance carrier/number
• All emergency contacts including family, friends, doctor and desired injury lawyer
• Pen/pencil and paper to write on
• First aid kit
• Roadside flares
• Small cones
• Small, powerful LED flashlight
• Water bottles, insulated drinking containers
• Snacks like peanuts
• At least one blanket and towel
• Hat/gloves/change of clothes if you travel in cold weather areas

• Keep your vehicle locked at all times, even while driving
• When parked, never leave your keys in the car
• Never leave your car running and unattended
• Avoid leaving valuables inside your vehicle where passersby can see them
• Do not leave your vehicle title in the car. Too often a car thief is pulled over and gets away from the police because he or she can produce the auto registration. If multiple drivers use the vehicle, the best suggestion would be to hide the registration in a secret location in the car that only the owners know
• Know where you’re going. Avoid known high crime areas even if the alternate route takes longer
• Install an anti-theft system in your vehicle if it doesn’t have one. Thieves are reluctant to steal vehicles if they know the cars can be recovered quickly. Many insurers offer discounts for the types of systems listed below
• Thieves prefer to work in the dark. Be particularly cautious at night about where you park your car. Park it in a well-lit area if possible
• Look around. Be aware of your surroundings, especially in garages, parking lots and gas stations
• Have your car’s vehicle identification number (VIN) etched on each of the windows. Car thieves want to get off cheap. They don’t want to go to the expense of replacing all the glass
• On an incline, leave your car in park or in gear with the wheels turned toward the curb or some other obstruction. This makes it harder for thieves to tow your vehicle
• If confronted by a carjacker, do not resist. Cars can be replaced; you can’t

Types Of Anti-Theft Systems

• A mechanism that locks onto the steering wheel can be a very visible sign that you’ve taken steps to protect your vehicle
• Ignition cut-off systems that prevent a car from being started
• Some new cars come with passive alarms that activate automatically when the key is removed from the ignition
• One system emits a signal that can be tracked by the police

Who You're Dealing With - Professional Thieves

• Professionals commit the majority of auto thefts
• They prefer high-performance cars, as well as less exotic, more popular models whose parts are interchangeable
• These thieves usually turn the cars they steal over to “chop shops,” which dismantle them and sell the parts
• They also steal cars for export to other countries, often “stealing to order” to fulfill requests for certain types of vehicles

Joy-Riders

• Joy-riders favor high-performance or luxury cars. These cars are usually recovered but often suffer significant damage

'Bump-and-Rob'

• Carjackers may bump your car from the rear, then steal it when you get out to look for damage. When stopped at a traffic light, leave room to maneuver around the vehicle ahead if you need to
• If another car bumps yours and you feel threatened, drive to a populated area or, if you have a cellular phone, call the police for assistance

Homeowner Liability

As part of a legal term, "premises liability," homeowner liability states that you can be held responsible if someone is injured on your property. That's why it's so important to take all the necessary steps to protect your family and your visitors.

Dangerous slip and fall conditions, unsafe railings, dimly lit exteriors, as well as many other factors can lead to serious injuries. So be sure to check your property for any potentially hazardous conditions.

Preventing Falls on Your Property

• Hands On – Secure handrails on all stairs. Add handrails to both sides if you're able
• Light It Up – Make sure all steps are clearly lit and visible
• Slippery When Wet – Install grab bars and non-slip mats in showers and bathtubs
• Stick to It – Secure area rugs and runners to the ground

Be proactive and stop slip and fall accidents on your property before they happen. If a visitor is injured at your home, you could be held responsible.

Protecting Children From Falls

• Toddlers – When learning to walk, these little ones can fall a lot. Be sure to baby-proof all sharp edges of furniture, your fireplace, and anywhere else that could be dangerous
• Windows – Never put climbable furniture near windows. Be sure all windows are locked if a little one is able to access it
• Stairs – Use safety gates wherever you see steps and stairs to keep your kids safe
• Playgrounds – If you have an at-home playground, consider putting safety material underneath the playground structure to help cushion any falls

Preventing Outdoor Falls

• Clear It Out – Keep sidewalks and walkways clear, especially during the winter months. Make sure you know the best ways to clear snow and ice from your property
• Fix'er Upper – Fix any broken or crumbling steps and walkways
• Illuminate – Make sure exterior walkways and steps are bright and visible at night
• Clean Up – Put away any ladders or extra home improvement equipment to prevent injuries from visitors or guests

Space Heater Safety

• Never put space heaters near anything that can ignite
• Turn off space heaters when leaving a room or sleeping
• Supervise children or pets when a space heater is in use
• Never use a space heater to dry clothing or blankets

Dog Bite Safety

• Evaluate your environment before buying a dog to make sure it's safe for both you and the dog
• If you have children, teach them how to behave around a dog, and train your dog to behave around children
• Be wary of dogs with histories of aggression or biting

As a homeowner, you'll want to make sure you're protected in the event of an accident on your property. Be sure to check the limits of your homeowner's insurance to financially protect yourself in case someone gets hurt at your home.

Report the accident to your agent so we can help you or to review your Limits, 281-293-7744 Toll Free 1-877-260-0808. Also, talk to us about an Umbrella Insurance policy.

Umbrella Insurance

Certainly one of the most certain things in life is, Uncertainty.

Can this happen to me - Yes No Yes?

Your dog could bite the neighbor’s kid. Your teen driver could hit a cyclist. A guest could fall down your stairs. A rainy morning commute on worn-out tires could result in a multi-car accident. And you could be held liable to others for the cost of damages – injuries, property destruction, emotional distress, lost wages and more.

Good thing you have insurance. But, wait, your policy covers $300,000 of liability, and, in a lawsuit, you’re judged liable for $1 million. That leaves $700,000 left to pay. How will you cover it?

If you have umbrella insurance and your policy covers the incident, the additional $700,000 will come from your policy. If not, it will come from the assets you have now, such as your home and savings, and from future assets, such as your wages or inheritance.

The fact is, it only takes one serious accident and a resulting lawsuit to put everything you own – and will own – at risk. It only takes one umbrella policy to help protect it all.

And, you can use our Quick Quote form to get started.

Protect your Home

The cost of home security systems have decreased significantly and can lower the cost of your homeowners insurance.

Burglar Reveals 15 Trade Secrets - A Look Into The Mind of a Burglar.

Here’s what I’m looking for to make your house my next target -

Before picking a house I have to scope the whole neighborhood. To do this I’m not going to be walking in the traditional cat burglar uniform. I’m going to be walking around with a rake, dressed up as the cable, electric, or phone repairman. In some cases I even post a flier on your door for a closer look. Usually my work hours are from 8AM-11AM. I want to avoid any kind of confrontation. -

• High privacy fences – This way your pesky neighbors can’t sneak up on me or call the police
• Any sort of high vegetation, like trees or shrubbery, covering your windows – this way they can’t see me break your window. I prefer lots of cover
• Toys or playground equipment in your yard – Toys or playground equipment in your yard are signs that kids live there, which to me equals a mother lives there and “cha-ching” that means JEWELRY
• I’ll post a flyer on your door to get a closer look of your home. I’m also checking to see if you have a burglar alarm

Here’s how I break into your home.

• I’ll knock on your door to see if anyone is home. If someone answers the door I’ll just come up with some bogus story
• I’m going to check if the front or back door is unlocked. Sometimes people usually hide a key somewhere easy to access. If I can’t find a key I will check the windows. If worse comes to worse I’ll just smash a window
• I can also get into a home through your doors using my trusty crowbar
• If I can’t make it into your house in one minute I just move onto the next one

Now here’s what I’m doing once I’m inside your home.

• I always use the same search pattern. I go straight to the master bedroom. I look for cash, jewelry, or anything that might be valuable. People often make the mistake of leaving money or jewelry in the most common areas
• I’ll even look under the bed and in your closets
• I’m always listening for outside noises. It’s a 6th sense
• I check your bathroom medicine cabinets for any narcotic prescriptions. Pills are easy money
• I’m going to check your kitchen and living room for electronics, credit cards, car keys, and personal information
• After I have gathered everything I need, I call my backup driver to meet me so we can load up all the goods in the car or van
• Once I have loaded all the goods, my associate and I drive away to the next target. It’s a never ending cycle

And that’s it folks. It usually takes me about 8-12 minutes to get in and out of your home. It’s as easy as that!

In closing, there are a lot of things that you can do to avoid someone like me. A security system is a no brain-er. If that’s not an option, leaving a TV or stereo on during the day usually helps someone like me avoid your home. This usually indicates someone is home. Also most burglars won’t even attempt entry if they know there’s a large dog in the home.

Know what Is and Is Not covered with your homeowners insurance policy

Flood and Windstorm insurance

Understand what these policies cover that Homeowners insurance does not. Give us a call so we can answer any questions and review your current coverage, 281-293-7744 Toll Free 1-877-260-0808.

And, you can use our Quick Quote form to get started.

Flood insurance has a mandatory 30 day waiting period before your policy will take effect. And, when a hurricane enters the Gulf of Mexico (80 degrees longitude and 20 degrees latitude), you may no longer change or buy windstorm coverage.

Preparing for hurricane season

Start collecting supplies

• Water
• Nonperishable food supply for 3 -7 days
• Manual can opener
• Batteries: know the sizes you need
• LED Flashlights, battery operated lanterns
• First aid kit & prescriptions
• Wood shutters for windows
• Tarp to cover openings in roofs and windows
• NOAA weather radio
• Special items for infants or elderly or special needs people
• Cash
• Check your generator if it's been awhile since it has been started
• Have an inventory listing of your belongings. Take pictures of each room.
• Trim trees back to avoid heavy limbs falling on people, home, & autos
• Plan your evacuation route in advance of a storm including finding pet friendly hotels if necessary
• Get wind and flood insurance if you do not have it. Plan early. It takes flood insurance 30 days to take effect

Before a storm comes:

Understand the difference between a hurricane watch and a hurricane warning. A hurricane watch means a hurricane may occur within the next 24-36 hours. A hurricane warning means that a hurricane will probably strike your area within the next 24 hours.

• Prepare a survival kit for first aid.
• Close storm shutters and board up all windows
• Review how to shut off utilities in an emergency with all family members
• Secure all outdoor objects or move them inside
• Secure your boat or car and move to a safer place
• Fuel your car in case you must leave immediately

Evacuate if necessary. Please follow the authorities' request to evacuate. Inform significant others of where you plan to evacuate.

During a storm:

• Listen to the radio for important storm information and instructions
• If at home, stay inside and away from all windows, skylights and glass doors
• Do not go outside, even if the weather appears to have calmed. The "eye" of the storm can pass quickly, leaving you outside when the strong winds resume
• Close all interior doors if you can do so safely
• Take refuge on the first floor in an interior room like a closet or hallway or bathroom
• If you are in a second story home, go to a first floor interior room (winds are stronger at higher elevations)
• If you must evacuate, leave as soon as possible and be sure to tell someone outside of the storm area where you will be