Identity theft occurs when someone uses your personally identifying information, like your name, Social Security number, or credit card number, without your permission, to commit fraud or other crimes. According to the Federal Trade Commission, the effects of identity theft can last from several months to several years, depending on what information is stolen, how the identity theft occurs and if the criminal is caught. If you haven't been the victim of identity theft, it's likely that you know someone who has been. In a culture of online consumerism, rapid bill pay options and cyber crime, protection against identity theft is imperative.

​While the California Office of Privacy Protection offers several excellent resources to aid identity theft victims (see their Checklist below), a recent study concluded that more than 12 million people experience identity theft annually with an average loss per victim of $2,292. Moreover, the study estimated that the average consumer spends around $400 in out of pocket expenses and more than 11 hours of time trying to resolve their case (according to the Javelin Strategy & Research Identity Fraud Report). That means that protecting against this crime before it occurs is now increasingly important.

Here at Gardner Insurance Agency, we are in the business of protecting our clients' assets and financial future by insuring their homes, vehicles, recreational vehicles and providing ongoing advice about their family's exposure to certain risks. Did you know that a homeowners insurance policy has the ability to protect your family against the long-lasting effects of this common crime? We are pleased that our top-rated carriers have recently rolled out affordable and easy-to-add optional coverages to protect our clients against the damage that identity theft can cause to your whole family.  ID theft insurance can range from basic protection limits to providing coverages like social media identity theft, assisted living identity theft, document replacement services, and tax fraud support. Most importantly, this coverage costs as little as $3 per month.

Your identity, and that of your family, is your most valuable asset, what is it worth to you? Call our expert insurance agents today to get a free homeowners insurance quote with an ID theft package tailored to your family's specific needs and risk.​

Note: While some homeowners policies come with a small, included limit, you should consult your homeowners insurance agent, carrier or one of our knowledgeable agents about what your limit is, if any.   

Since Gardner Insurance Agency has been serving this community since 1958, our customers are like family to us. So when we learn that you are adding a teen driver to your auto insurance policy, we go into “parent mode”: Are they buckling up? Are they texting while they drive? Who is in the car with them? Are they turning on their signals before turning? How can we best help our customer during this time?

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 2,641 teen drivers and passengers were killed in fatal collisions in 2013 and 177,000 teenagers were injured in automobile accidents. In fact, accidents are the leading cause of death for teenagers between the ages of 15 and 19, according to the National Center for Health Statistics.

All you need to do is ride with a teen driver to know that inexperience is the root of these statistics. Parents need to spend time with their young drivers to educate them about the dangers – and responsibilities – of being behind the wheel. Here are some tips to talking to your teen about driving:

• Buckle Up: Remind your teen to always wear their seat belt, whether they're a driver or a passenger. According to the 2013 NHTSA study, 50% of fatal teen accidents revealed that the teens were not wearing their seat belts at the time of the accident. A simple “click” can save a life!
• What's the Rush? Speed kills! NHTSA found that speeding was the main cause of 39% of all fatal teen driver accidents. Driving too fast for road and weather conditions decreases reaction time while increasing stopping distance and collision risk. No destination is worth a life.
• Focus: Distractions are everywhere! Anything that takes your teen's eyes off the road or hands off the wheel is considered “distracted driving”. Texting, posting on social media, eating, talking to passengers, snapchatting or tending to a pet in the car are all activities that draw attention away from the road and the responsibility of driving. Make sure your teen knows the risks and consequences of distracted driving.

Here at Gardner Insurance Agency, we strongly suggest that any customer/parent who is funding their teen's insurance expenses (that is, adding them to their policy) require their teen to sign a Safe Driving Contract in exchange for the benefit of being on their parent's policy. The consequence for violating the Safe Driving Contract? Your teen pays for their portion of the auto insurance, or looses driving privileges, for at least one policy period. We believe that, in this case, “tough love” could save a life! In addition to free teen driver quotes, our office is also making our Safe Driving Contract available below.  Together, we can keep our teens safe!

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, there are about 10 million car collisions every year. Fortunately, most are non-fatal. And while a fender bender tends to be thought of in terms of an annoyance, there are life-threatening dangers in the immediate aftermath of even minor accidents. In fact, the California Highway Patrol (CHP) has joined in spreading this important message via their Amber Alert digital billboards by occasionally reminding drivers: If you are in a minor accident, pull over to the shoulder.

If you commute on our crowded roadways, then you have observed drivers exiting their cars in the middle of the freeway after an accident. This extremely dangerous move could take an auto accident from a “minor” fender bender to a fatal accident. If you can move the vehicle, the first thing to do following an accident is to pull over to the far right shoulder of the freeway. The fast-paced roadways of Southern California are not the place to walk around the site of an accident, exchange insurance information, take photos, or converse with other drivers involved in the accident.

The CHP offers these simple, straightforward safety tips for the moments after an auto accident:

1. Safely pull to the right shoulder.
   
   
2. If you must exit the vehicle, exit on the right side of your vehicle, away from traffic.
   
   
3. Once you arrange for assistance (call 911 or the CHP), return to your vehicle, get back into the vehicle from the right side (away from traffic), and put on your seat belts.
   
   
4. Stay inside your vehicle with the seat belts on until help arrives.
   
   

At Gardner Insurance Agency, we deal with auto accidents daily. Our seasoned insurance agents know that accidents, of any impact, are scary for all parties involved. It is our goal to walk our customers through the claims process and to ensure they are well cared for, even if they are at fault. So before you call your insurance agent, loved ones, employer or even law enforcement, make the safe “call” of moving your vehicle to the right side of the road!