You may be the boss but you need workers’ compensation insurance as a form of protection for both yourself as the employer and your employees. Workers compensation insurance just might save your business. It offers financial support in the event that one of your employees gets hurt or becomes ill while performing their job-related duties. Without workers' compensation insurance, YOU can be responsible for paying for medical care, lost earnings, and other associated costs, which might have a crippling financial impact on your company.

Workers compensation claims can arise from jobs like construction that require a lot physical exertion but they can also happen in office environments. It's a policy that every company needs regardless of the work they perform.

When an employee sustains an injury or falls ill as a result of employment-related activities, workers' compensation insurance pays payments to the employee. These benefits may cover things like medical expenditures, rehab fees, and lost pay incurred while the person was unable to work. The employee agrees to give up their right to sue the employer in return for medical treatment and/or wage replacement.

It is crucial to remember that most states have laws requiring workers' compensation insurance, so not having this protection in place can have serious legal and financial repercussions. Working with an experienced insurance expert is crucial to ensuring that you have enough coverage for the specific needs of your company.

There have been reports of Tesla paint being more susceptible to chipping than other car manufacturers. This may be due to several factors, including the type of paint used, the thickness of the paint, and the way the car is designed. Some people have reported that even small pebbles or debris can cause visible paint chips on their Tesla.

If you are concerned about your Tesla's paint chipping, there are a few things you can do to try to prevent it. First, you can try to avoid driving on roads with loose gravel or debris, or at least keep a safe distance from other vehicles to avoid being hit by flying debris. Good luck on that one!

You can also consider installing a clear protective film on your car to prevent rock chips and other damage. This film can be professionally installed and is designed to absorb the impact of small rocks and other debris without damaging the paint.

Another option is to consider having your car professionally detailed and polished. This can help to remove any small scratches and imperfections in the paint, making it less likely to chip in the future. Regular washing and waxing can also help to protect the paint and keep it looking its best.

If you do notice any chips or damage to your Tesla's paint, it's important to address it as soon as possible. This can help to prevent further damage and protect the underlying metal from rusting. You can have the paint touched up or repaired by a professional auto body shop or by a Tesla service center.

Our client's at Blue Sky Insurance seem to be opting for the clear protective film but I am sure they are also washing and waxing their Tesla's too!

If you have gotten the clear coat you will want to check with your insurance agent about this upgrade. You will most likely need to add some form of customization endorsement to the insurance policy to make sure that your upgrade is fully covered in the event of an accident or claim.

Without a customization endorsement, the aftermarket or custom parts added to a vehicle may not be covered by a standard auto insurance policy. In this case the aftermarket addition is the clear coat and without the endorsement the vehicle owner would be responsible for covering the cost of repairs to the coating out of pocket.  Depending on the cost of the clear coat this could be a significant financial burden.

To wrap it up just know that a customization endorsement to an auto insurance policy can provide peace of mind for vehicle owners who have invested time and money in customizing their vehicles. It can also help to ensure that they are adequately protected in the event of damage or loss. It's typically not that expensive in relation to the potential out of pocket costs for repairs and makes the claims process much smoother when you only have to worry about covering your deductible.

Drive Safe!

I realized today that wedding season is right around the corner. This time of year, we will usually get a few questions about covering the big day with wedding insurance. 
What is it and how much?

Wedding insurance helps protect you financially in case unexpected events or issues arise before or during your wedding day. Some common examples of covered issues include venue closures, vendor no-shows, extreme weather, and illnesses or injuries to key participants, among others.

The cost of wedding insurance varies depending on several factors such as the level of coverage, location, and the size and scope of the wedding. Don’t fear, I am confident that hiring the DJ or the band will cost you more! The premiums tied to wedding insurance aren’t that bad.

On average, wedding insurance can cost anywhere from a few hundred dollars to a few thousand dollars, depending on the extent of the coverage needed. It's essential to do your research and compare different policies to ensure you're getting the right level of coverage for your specific needs and budget. This is where Blue Sky Insurance can step in to take a task or two off your plate. We will ask a few questions and then research some options for you.

Overall, wedding insurance can provide peace of mind and financial protection for couples planning their special day, allowing them to focus on enjoying their celebration without worrying about potential risks or setbacks.


​-Steve M.

▶  Connect to your carrier(s) to access your policy documents and ID cards
▶  Pay a bill, initiate a claim and check your auto telematics (carrier depending)
▶  Request policy service with multiple channels of communication
▶  Request quotes on additional lines of business that you may not have with us
▶  Refer us out to friends and family with a simple touch of a button
▶  Engage with our website and socials
▶  And so much more coming…
Use this link to set up your personal GloveBox Account with Blue Sky: 
https://my.gloveboxapp.com/agency/connected-external/1080

Picture this... you're out of town visiting a friend for the weekend and you come home to find your laundry room floor and walls soaking wet. There was a leak. And it was big. What's going to be big is the bill and the mess to clean up. 
The solution to avoiding this problem is becoming more popular. Leak Detection Devices. There are a wide range on the market today, some more intuitive than others. Some will send you text alert when there's more water flow than usual, some will actually shut off your water for you to avoid further damage. 
As insurance agents, we highly recommend these devices as water claims are the biggest and most frequent claims we see for our homeowners. And more and more insurance companies are offering discounts if you have one of these blessings in your home and the Southern Nevada Water Authority is offering a rebate on your purchase! 
Here are a few recommendations to check out:
 1. https://www.streamlabswater.com/safeco Promo code: U6mbvw6 ($30 off)
2. https://partner.meetflo.com/safeco/ Promo code: Safeco04140751 (One rate for install and product purchase). This one comes with a guarantee to cover your deductible if the device were to fail.
3. https://bit.ly/Amazonleakdetection 

Between the rebate, and the policy discounts you can get peace of mind for pennies.

​Properly maintained brakes are crucial to a safe driving experience.
Know what it means when your brakes begin making a noise.

When it comes to driver safety, one of the most important components of any automobile is the braking system. The performance of a car’s brakes can spell the difference between avoiding a collision and a terrible tragedy.


If a car’s brakes begin making an unusual noise, it’s important to have them checked by a professional to determine if there’s an issue that could lead to a serious accident.
To understand the types of noises a car’s brakes can make, it helps to understand exactly how brakes work. Most cars today include metallic discs called rotors behind each wheel. When the brake pedal is depressed, sandwich-like devices called calipers clamp down on the rotors, squeezing them and bringing the car to a halt. The part of the calipers that actually make contact with the rotors are the brake pads, and those pads wear down over time.
Some cars incorporate a drum-and-shoe system for the rear brakes, where stepping on the brakes pushes the shoes against the inside of a round drum. Although the design is different, the basic principles are the same.
There are typically three types of noises a braking system will make. Although they differ in the seriousness of the problem they indicate, each call for immediate attention.
Squeaking or squealing – many types of brake pads today include wear indicators; metal tabs that rub against the rotor and make a squeaking noise when the pads have worn down beyond a certain point. The noise may initially occur only when depressing the brake pedal, but left unchecked will eventually occur most or all of the time. It’s imperative to replace brake pads as soon as the wear indicator begins making a noise to avoid more serious problems.
Other issues that can cause brakes to squeal include glazing; a crystallization of the pad surface than can occur due to excessive heat caused by slamming on the brakes. In addition, debris caught between the pad and rotor can cause squealing as well.
Grinding – A grinding noise from a car’s braking system indicates a more serious issue. The first step to take if the brakes make a grinding noise is to pull over, turn off the car and have it towed to a repair center.
The most common cause of a grinding noise from a car’s brakes is brake pads that have worn completely down. What typically occurs in this situation is that the metal backing behind the pad material makes contact with the rotor, digging in to the rotor surface. Aside from being a serious safety hazard, it can result in significant (and costly) damage to the rotors and calipers.
Clicking or thumping - Other types of brake noises can be caused by the components that hold the rotors, calipers or pads in place being loose or broken. Some braking system issues don’t result in unusual noises, but can show themselves via a shudder or vibration in the brakes or a difference in how far the pedal must be depressed to bring the car to a halt.
Don’t take a chance!
Although accidents caused by brake failure are relatively rare, they do happen. Failure to properly maintain a car’s braking system puts not just a car’s driver and passengers at risk, but other drivers as well. Any unusual noise or change in the performance of a car’s braking system should be investigated by a trained repair professional. Your life could depend on it.

​A news station out of Portland, Oregon asked 86 inmates currently serving time for burglary, what they looked for when breaking into homes, what would deter them and what time of day they would typically commit their crimes. 
Below is a summary of the answers they received. 
It's quite eye opening.

1. How did you typically break into a home or apartment?
Most inmates broke in through an unlocked door or window. Several burglars kicked the door open.
“I would kick in the door rather than break glass. Loud bangs are better than loud glass breaking, plus you run the risk of getting cut,” said one inmate.
2. Once inside, what was the first thing you looked to steal?
Jewelry, electronics, cash and credit cards are all attractive to burglars. Inmates also added collectibles and guns.
“NRA sticker on car bumper = Lots of guns to steal,” wrote one burglar.
3. Where did you look for hidden valuables?
Most burglars started by searching the master bedroom for valuables, then moved through the rest of the house.
“Everywhere! From the stove and freezer, to the fish tank and toilet tank, book shelves and in boxes of cereal,” said an inmate.
4. What time of the day did you prefer to break in?
Burglars prefer breaking in early morning or afternoon.
“Between 12:30 pm and 2:30 pm. Anyone that was home for lunch should be gone by then and most kids should all still be in school,” wrote a convicted burglar.
5. Did home protection or security signs posted outside the home deter you?
​Burglars had mixed opinions about home security signs. Some burglars said it didn’t faze them. Others said they knew how to disable alarms or avoid setting them off.
6. Did pets in the home, like a dog, make you think twice?
If a homeowner had a big, loud dog most burglars would stay away. Smaller dogs don’t seem to bother them.
“Dogs are a deal breaker for me,” said one inmate. “Big breeds, home protectors are the best to keep people out.”
7. Did you typically knock on the front door before breaking into a home?
Yes. All of the inmates who responded said they would knock on the front door before breaking in.
8. If someone answered the door, what would you do or say?
“Act like I was lost or looking for a friend.”
“I would approach the resident as though they had posted an ad on Craigslist.”
“Say wrong house, sorry and thank you.”
“Ask if they’d seen my dog and leave.”
“Sometimes I would wear nice clothing and print a questionnaire off the Internet and carry a clipboard and see if they could spare a moment for an anonymous survey.”
9. If a home alarm system went off, what would you do?
Most intruders said they would leave immediately if a security alarm went off.
“I would try and turn it off or get the hell out of there,” said one burglar.
10. If there was a security camera visible, would it keep you from breaking in?
Generally, burglars agreed security cameras were a deterrent. But some said it also likely signaled there were valuables inside the home.
11. Did lights on in the home make you think twice?
Responses were mixed regarding lights on in a home. Some said it was a deterrent. But one burglar said the combination of lights on and blinds closed created an attractive location.
“Would drive through upper class neighborhoods looking for many things, like porch light on with all window blinds closed,” wrote one inmate.
12. If you heard a radio or TV on inside the home, would you still break in?
Most burglars feared someone might be home if they heard a radio or TV. They wouldn’t break in.
“Absolutely not,” wrote a burglar.
13. Would it make a difference if there was a vehicle in the driveway?
As a homeowner, this is one of the best precautions you can take. Almost all of the burglars said they’d think twice if there was a car in the driveway.
“Most of the time that is a sure-fire sign of someone being home,” wrote an inmate.
14. What was your ideal target for a burglary?
Burglars don’t want to be seen. They looked for homes with big fences and overgrown trees or bushes.
“Home away from other homes, blind spots, older window frames, cheap wooden doors,” wrote a burglar.
“Large trees, bushes or shrubs around the home, or very reserved and conservative neighbors,” wrote another inmate.
“Nice home with nice car = A person with money,” another said.
15. Did you ever do surveillance on your target?
The responses were mixed. Some burglars did surveillance before a burglary, while others did not.
16. If you did surveillance, what were you trying to figure out?
Of those burglars who did surveillance, most agreed they were looking for the best opportunity to break-in.
“Who lives in the home, what are their weekday schedules (weekends are too unpredictable), what they drive, is there a dog, a hidden key,” wrote one inmate.
“What time the house would be empty and for how long,” wrote another.
17. What is the one thing homeowners can do to avoid being burglarized?
Burglars suggest homeowners make their property visible with good lighting and trimmed bushes and trees. You should get to know your neighbors and alert police if you see anything suspicious.
“In my opinion, I think homeowners should always leave a TV or radio on,” said one inmate.
“Get a camera and make it visible!” wrote another.
“Put bars on your windows and doors, get an alarm, keep an extra car in the driveway, keep lights, TVs and radios on when you leave your home,” read one questionnaire.
“Home alarm, know your neighbor so they can report suspicious people around the neighborhood,” said a burglar.
Many of those inmates who responded were remorseful. They don’t want homeowners to be victimized.
“Thank you for giving me the chance to help and give back something that will actually help people,” wrote one inmate.
“I’ll never be able to give back the sense of security I destroyed but I can help prevent others from losing theirs,” said another convicted burglar.

You can read the entire, including full letters from some of the inmates here: https://www.kgw.com/article/news/investigations/we-asked-86-burglars-how-they-broke-into-homes/283-344213396?fbclid=IwAR272OgR8njbRyhEwFwQjO0KaWzU2BUjKmWN8WB-JDqyEIUNB13TOUwpdbM