O'Connor Insurance Agency

Insurance Agency in St Louis MO

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Winter Driving Tips – What To Do If You Are Stranded

Below are some great winter driving tips from the Missouri Department of Transportation (MODOT). Consider these suggestions if you are ever stranded during inclement weather. Find more tips on our website, or visit MODOT’s website.

  • Call for help if you can. Note the nearest mile marker or cross-street so your car service or emergency responders can find you.
  • Stay in the vehicle. Don’t leave to search for help. It’s easy to become disoriented and lost in blowing and drifting snow.
  • Display a trouble sign. Hang a brightly colored cloth on the antenna.
  • Run the engine for about 10 minutes each hour. Run the heater and turn on the dome light only when the vehicle is running.
  • Keep the exhaust pipe clear of snow, and open a window slightly for ventilation.
  • Clap hands and move your arms and legs occasionally. Don’t stay in one position for too long.
  • If more than one person is in the car, take turns sleeping.
  • Huddle together for warmth.
  • Use newspapers, maps, and even car mats for added insulation.

Check out road conditions before you go. MoDOT’s Traveler Information Map offers current views of road conditions and is available as an app for iPhones and Android phones.

Call MoDOT’s toll-free customer service center for current road condition information at 888-ASK-MODOT (888-275-6636). The Customer Service Center is staffed 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

Winter Driving Tips – During Your Trip

Below are some great winter driving tips from the Missouri Department of Transportation (MODOT). Consider these suggestions while driving during inclement weather. Find more tips on our website, or visit MODOT’s website.

Check out road conditions before you go. MoDOT’s Traveler Information Map offers current views of road conditions and is available as an app for iPhones and Android phones.

Call MoDOT’s toll-free customer service center for current road condition information at 888-ASK-MODOT (888-275-6636). The Customer Service Center is staffed 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

If possible, postpone your travel until roads have been plowed, treated, and cleared. You don’t want to slide off the road, and we (MODOT) don’t want to plow around disabled vehicles.

  • Slow down and adjust your speed to the conditions.
  • Give snowplows plenty of room, and don’t pass them.
  • Always wear your seat belt.
  • Remember that driving is most dangerous when temperatures are near 32 degrees.
  • Watch for other vehicles having problems with road conditions.
  • Keep mirrors, windows and lights clean; keep your lights on.
  • Don’t pass other vehicles on or near bridges.
  • Keep your fuel tank at least half full.
  • If you don’t feel comfortable driving, pull off of the highway and park at the first safe place.

Winter Driving Tips – Before Your Trip

Below are some great winter driving tips from the Missouri Department of Transportation (MODOT). Consider these suggestions before taking a trip during inclement weather. Find more tips on our website, or visit MODOT’s website.

Check out road conditions before you go. MoDOT’s Traveler Information Map offers current views of road conditions and is available as an app for iPhones and Android phones.

Call MoDOT’s toll-free customer service center for current road condition information at 888-ASK-MODOT (888-275-6636). The Customer Service Center is staffed 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

Winterize your car with fresh antifreeze, a good battery, a properly operating exhaust system, and oil that will withstand the rigors of cold weather.

Do a thorough pre-trip inspection of your vehicle, paying special attention to your tires, brakes, windshield wipers, and windshield wiper fluid.

Equip Your Vehicle With:

  • A flashlight with extra batteries
  • Cell phone and charger
  • A first-aid kit
  • Necessary medications
  • Blankets and/or sleeping bags
  • Extra mittens or gloves, socks, a warm cap and rain gear
  • A small sack of sand to use for traction under your wheels
  • A small shovel
  • Booster cables
  • Small tools – pliers, wrench, screwdriver
  • A brightly colored cloth to use as a flag
  • Nonperishable foods
  • Bottled water

November 2013 Green Energy Report

O’Connor Insurance was an early participant in the Green Power Community Challenge. Each month we post our carbon offset results from our solar energy array on our headquarters in Creve Coeur.

We are proud to be doing our part to make Creve Coeur one of the leading communities nationwide in deriving our power from renewable resources.

This month, our carbon offset is 1,220 lbs. We have offset the equivalent of 21 trees.

Thanks to our solar vendor, Microgrid Solar, for the photo.

November’s Energy Tip – Save energy at no additional cost

Use shades, blinds and drapes to help with heating and cooling. Open them to gain the sun’s heat during heating season and close them to block the heat during cooling season. Make it a habit today.

Adjust your thermostat when you are asleep or away from home. You can save as much as 10 percent a year on heating and cooling by simply turning your thermostat back 7 to 10 degrees Fahrenheit from its normal setting for 8 hours a day. Recommended thermostat settings when you are home are 68 F in winter and 78 F in summer.

Four Steps for Community Associations to Take BEFORE Disaster Strikes

 

Who Ya Gonna Call?
When disaster hits, be it a minor catastrophe like a burst pipe or a major calamity like a tornado, who do you first call once everyone is safe?

While our customers are always welcome to call us – and we do have an emergency number – the FIRST call you should make is to a mitigation team. Insurance contracts specify that property owners must act swiftly to keep damage from becoming worse. The best way to maximize your insurance settlement and minimize the cost to your association is to get professionals on site quickly to ensure tarps are stretched over damaged roofs, water is removed from flooded floors, and that every necessary stopgap measure is taken. Be sure to store the number of a disaster recovery firm on your cell phone – this should be the first call you make.
Choose Your Contractor
The simple step of choosing a damage mitigation company ahead of time can make all the difference in the world in the event of a big mess. A good company has the experience to act as a general contractor, coordinating various trades, including plumbing, electrical, and drywallers. Choosing a contractor ahead of time will also protect you from unscrupulous storm-chasers who do shoddy work, preying upon unprepared property owners.
Be a Preferred Customer
Many such recovery companies will make your property a “preferred customer.” Just like being a preferred customer gets your streets plowed first in a snowstorm, as a mitigation contractor’s preferred customer you will see the trucks and workers first when there is an event that affects the entire area. There are many great companies in the area that our adjusters respect and with whom we have great relationships. We can help you find one.
Gather Everyone’s Contacts
In the event of an emergency where residents are displaced, it is important you have obtained residents’ cell phone numbers and email addresses before they go to a hotel. Don’t limit yourself to just the resident’s phone, either. Ask them to share the phone number of friends or family with whom they might stay.To do their work, recovery contractors and insurance adjusters have to coordinate with homeowners and condo owners in order to assess the damage and begin mitigation and repair. You would be surprised how recovery efforts can drag out due to problems with communication. In past disasters, email has proven to be a reliable way to keep residents informed of progress, and the contractors will be glad to be able to reach out to a resident when needed.

 

October 2013 Green Energy Report

O’Connor Insurance was an early participant in the Green Power Community Challenge. Each month we post our carbon offset results from our solar energy array on our headquarters in Creve Coeur.

We are proud to be doing our part to make Creve Coeur one of the leading communities nationwide in deriving our power from renewable resources.

This month, our carbon offset is 1,786 lbs. We have offset the equivalent of 21 trees.

Thanks to our solar vendor, Microgrid Solar, for the photo.

October Energy Tip: Save on energy saving compact fluorescent light (CFL) or light emitting diode (LED) bulbs from Ameren.

Purchase ENERGY STAR® certified compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) and Light-Emitting Diode bulbs (LEDs) at participating retailers and online to enjoy instant rebates. Visit Ameren’s website for details.

Swim at your Own Risk – Do You Have Flood Insurance?

Are you insured against a flood? You may be surprised to learn you aren’t. If you live in a condominium community, most condo associations in the St. Louis Metropolitan area do not provide flood insurance in the Master Policy. A Master Policy is insurance commonly carried by a condominium association and paid for by condo fees. A Master Policy covers property in a development, with the condo owner insuring the contents of their unit, such as furniture and personal possessions.

Homeowners living in detached homes should consider their flood exposure too. While most communities in our area are not in a Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) or a high-risk area, it would be a mistake to dismiss the possibility of flood. Many conditions can result in a flood even where there hasn’t been one before, conditions such as clogged or outdated drainage systems or unexpected overflow from new buildings and development nearby.

Given this, anywhere it rains, it can flood. In fact, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) reports that last year that more than 25% of paid flood claims involved properties that were not in an SFHA.

There is a lot to learn about the risk of Flood and Flood insurance. A great place to start is FloodSmart.gov and, of course, your insurance agent.

Five Expensive Insurance Mistakes and How Community Associations Can Avoid Them

Consider these five insurance tips to keep your community association out of trouble:

No Umbrella Policy For When It Rains Liability
A recent case in Florida found that untrimmed shrubbery led to a tragic accident. The jury awarded $12 million to the plaintiffs. Without an umbrella liability policy, such a judgement would bankrupt a community association.
The Untrustworthy Trustee
In Missouri, a woman was indicted for stealing $300,000 over the course of many years from the community association that placed its trust in her. Without adequate fidelity insurance, the association would never be able to recover those lost resources.
Common Structures and Features Need Property Insurance Too
A car actually drove into the pool of one of our associations, causing a great deal of damage. Fortunately, the loss was covered – thanks to property insurance that covered structures and features like fountains, streetlights, gazebos, paved walking trails and, in this case, the community pool.
When the Lawyers Are Swinging Hammers, Directors and Officers are Nails
Directors and officers of community associations need protection in the event of a court conflict. Even an innocent board member can lose money and time in a lawsuit. Directors and officers insurance covers the legal fees for board members should they ever be summoned to court.
Our Residents Were Expecting the Whole Clubhouse to be Replaced, not 60%
Too often, community associations are only insured for the market value or the depreciated value of their property, not the full replacement value. A-20-year-old clubhouse may cost $150,000 to replace, but if it is only insured for $90,000, the balance has to be paid by the association. Should this happen, residents may have to be assessed, and will blame the trustees for inadequate coverage.

 

After an Accident in your Community

There’s been a serious accident on the common property – someone falls, a pedestrian is hit by a cyclist, or (as in the case of one of our clients) someone drives a car into the community pool. What do you do after you call 911?

Losses due to accidents differ from those caused by storms, floods or other “acts of God” in that there is a possibility of civil liability. One cannot sue the Almighty, but one can sue a community association if there was a broken railing on a gazebo.

The authorities only investigate for criminal liability. The fire department will certainly look for signs of arson after a fire, but they are finished as soon as the smoke clears and are satisfied no crime was committed. The same is true with other kinds of accidents. In many cases, there is no evidence collected beyond a written report where an officer essentially writes “nothing to see here.”

Insurance companies employ skilled investigators who look into incidents such as these to collect evidence and testimonies. They will visit the accident scene to take photos and gather interviews. This is important, because without evidence, a court will have little to go on other than the testimony of those involved.

Having evidence protects both the community association and the person who was injured. Insurance exists to make people whole. The insurance companies we do business with are fair and more than willing to cover genuine losses. On the other hand, having a solid body of evidence can keep people out of court as the photos and testimony collected by investigators can help those involved in a claim recognize where liability truly lies.

When there is an accident, and once everyone is safe, call your insurance agent and tell them what happened. Do not hesitate to call our office, we will make sure the interests of everyone are protected and will work with you to determine the next steps.

Tornado Aftermath

The cell phone video told the story.

Even in the dark images, you could see bare roofs and torn shingles sent to me by Patrick Fox, board member of a 314-resident condo development called ‘The Boulders at Katy Trail.’  The video included the wind and lightning. Even through my cell phone, the distant rumbling was ominous that Friday evening in May.

Soon after I looked at the video, Patrick and I were talking.

“Patrick, we have to get tarps up as soon as it is safe,” I said as we discussed the next steps. Insurance carriers expect property owners to take reasonable steps to mitigate damage. “I will be on site in the morning, and I’ll get in touch with the insurance company tonight.”

By 6 o’clock the following morning, the extensive damage was easy to see. As tarps were stretched over damaged shingles, Patrick, other board members, and the management team toured the development. Beyond the obvious damage to roofs and siding, several units had fallen ceilings where water had coursed through the damaged roof. ‘The Boulders at Katy Trail’ have several lovely water features throughout the landscape. The tornado had sloshed out the water leaving the pumps running dry.

As residents emerged, board member Debbie Jackson, said, “This was the first tornado I’ve ever been through, and the ordeal was pretty scary. It is reassuring to see all of the residents pull together in their efforts to clean up and check on their neighbors.”

Indeed they had. Neighbors were checking on one another, picking up loose shingles, broken balcony rails and tree limbs. They were clearing the sidewalks, parking lots, and lawns. By late morning, the clubhouse was turned into an ad-hoc command center.

I joined board members and the management team on hand to inform residents what to expect as contractors began to arrive on the property. We warned them to be wary of “storm chasers” who swoop in after a storm and do shoddy work. Residents were encouraged to check with us before engaging a contractor.

By 3 P.M., we were able to organize a residents’ meeting. After serious property damage, it is understandable that folks’ nerves were a bit frazzled. Fortunately, the condo association board at ‘The Boulders at Katy Trail’ and I had spoken about what to do in the event of a storm or fire. Despite the rush, we even had an agenda for the meeting, and we took the opportunity to assure residents that things would be put right.

Today, ‘The Boulders at Katy Trail’ are sporting new roofs, repaired rails, and trimmed trees. Even the fountains are back to lending their peaceful pitter patter to the community environment. The members and management team demonstrated exactly how to cope with a disaster, and I am proud to be their insurance partner.

Contact Us

O'Connor Insurance Agency
12101 Olive Blvd.
St. Louis, Missouri 63141
Get Directions
(314) 434-0038
Info@oconnor-ins.com
Opening Hours
Monday 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
Tuesday 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
Wednesday 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
Thursday 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
Friday 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
Saturday Closed
Sunday Closed

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Serving The States Of: MO, IL,KS, FL, AZ, VA, VT

Directions To Our Office

From I-270, take the Olive Exit. Go West on Olive and take the FIRST right turn into Kohl’s. As you are driving toward Kohl’s parking lot, you will be facing our building and see our sign, “O’Connor Insurance.” We are upstairs, and Greater Missouri Imaging is downstairs.

If you are coming East on Olive toward I-270, our building is on the left just before you reach I-270. But to reach it, you have to turn right on Coeur DeVille alongside St. Monica Church. Then turn left at the first stop light, which takes you under the Olive bridge. Then turn right at the stop sign, and we are the first building on the right.

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