Lawton Insurance Agency
Customer News 
Lawton Newsletter January 2010
In This Issue
Message
Thank You!
Identity Recovery Coverage
Did You Know?
Dealing With The Elements
Frozen Water Pipes
Visit One of Our Offices!
 
lawton miff office

 
 
 
 
Lewisburg office
 
 

 
 
 
225 E Chestnut St Mifflinburg PA 17844
570-966-3145
 
57 Reitz Blvd Ste 101 Lewisburg PA 17837
570-524-4200
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thanksThank You!
Lawton Insurance Agency would like to thank all of our customers for their great response to our referral and testimonial contest.  We have been  pleasantly surprised at the amout of referrals you sent to our agency.  Please continue to "Just Keep Talking"  about the Lawton Insurance Agency and we will continue to reward you for each referral and testimonial you give us.
 thiefIdentity Recovery Coverage
Identity Recovery Coverage is available on your homeowner's policy.  Cost is $20 per year, for up to $25,000 of coverage.  This coverage helps you regain your identity, if a thief steals your personal information and begins to open other credit cards and loans in your name.  Examples of real life identity theft cases follow.  We all think it won't happen to us!
- A California man pleaded guilty to using stolen bank account information to deposit $764,000 in counterfeit checks in a bank account he established.
- A computer hacker was sentenced to nine years in federal prison for tapping into the computer system of a home improvement store and downloading credit card numbers.  The FBI said he and a co-defendant accessed the retailer's central computer through a Michigan store's wireless network.
- A woman admitted she obtained a fraudulent Florida driver's license in the name of the victim and used the license to withdraw more than $13,000 from the victim's bank account.  She also was issued five department store credit cards in the victim's name and charged approximately $4,000. 
Contact us today to add this valuable coverage to your home policy! 
license plate Did You Know?
If you are storing away cars for winter and dropping coverage to Comprehensive only, you need to handle your registration with PennDot properly or risk losing essential coverage.  When an insured temporarily drops liability insurance on a seasonal or inoperable vehicle, but fails to surrender the tag to PennDot, he or she could be in for a nasty surprise.  Pennsylvania law deprives an individual of first-party benefits, including medical coverage, if he or she owns a vehicle that is registered and not insured, even if that person is injured in another vehicle that is properly insured.  The issue has been adjudicated consistently.  Make sure when you drop a vehicle from your policy and you don't transfer the tags to a new vehicle you return the registration and license plate back to PennDot! 
car accident Dealing With The Elements
The term "joy ride" does not apply when it's pouring and the wind gusting.  The best strategy for driving in bad weather is to avoid it.  But if going out is necessary or you get caught in bad conditions once you're already on the road, follow thse safety tips:
- Make sure your headlights are on.
- Increase your following distance.
- Slow down.  Braking takes longer on slippery roads- the slower you go, the easier it will be for you to stop.
- Make sure your car is prepared for the conditions (check your battery, antifreeze, windshield wiper fluid, windshield wipers, headlights, tires).
- Use caution near intersections.
- Stay in one lane as much as possible- avoid unnecessary lane changes.
- Keep two hands on the wheel and two eyes on the road at all times.
faucet Frozen Water Pipes... What to do?
Frozen water pipes are all too common during extended cold snaps in winter.  Below are some tips on how to thaw frozen pipes.  Keep in mind that open flames or torches can ignite combustible materials around pipes such as wood beams, flooring, insulation, etc.  Use a hair dryer or space heater to thaw frozen pipes gradually. 
If you think a pipe is frozen, start the thawing process as soon as possible or call a plumber for help.
- Open all faucets- One or more pipes may not be completely frozen and even a small water flow might thaw the obstruction.
- If that fails... Use a hair dryer at the suspected freeze site.  Make sure the taps are open while the pipes are heated.
- If you have a basement- locate the spot where the pipe enters the home.  See if the pipe passes through a non insulated area.  Apply heat to the suspected area.
- If you have a crawl space- Look for an area where cold air can enter.  Apply heat to all sections of pipes located in this area.
- If you live in a mobile home- There is a a greater chance the main supply will freeze at the point where it enters your home.  You should apply heat where the pipe leaves the ground and enters the mobile home.
- If you don't have a hair dryer- Use an electric space heater or heat lamp.  Make sure the outlet is properly grounded to prevent electrical shock.
- Once the obstruction is cleared and the water is flowing again, turn off all faucets and check for leaks!  Pipes tend to split/burst in the area where the obstruction occurred.  Any leaks you find should be repaired immediately. 
 just keep talkingJust Keep Talking Referral Program
 
When your friend, relative, or colleague mentions insurance tell them to call Lawton Insurance.  To say thank you, you will automatically receive 5 Free Lottery Tickets.  Your name will then be entered into our monthly drawing for a $40 gift certificate for a fine dining experience to a local restaurant of your choice.  All names will also be entered to for our year end drawing where you could win up to $1000.  We love it when you "Just Keep Talking" about the special treatment, great prices and exceptional service you receive f rom us, so keep telling them to give us a call.