Tips for Driving Safely in the Rain

Losing control of your car on wet pavement is a frightening experience. Skids are scary but hydroplaning is completely nerve-wracking. Hydroplaning happens when the water in front of your tires builds up faster than your car's weight can push it out of the way. The water pressure causes your car to rise up and slide on a thin layer of water between your tires.

Taking these simple tips into account can save your life.

• You can prevent skids by driving slowly and carefully, especially on curves. Steer and brake with a light touch. When you need to stop or slow, do not brake hard or lock the wheels and risk a skid. Maintain mild pressure on the brake pedal.

• If you do find yourself in a skid, remain calm, ease your foot off the gas, and carefully steer in the direction you want the front of the car to go. You must be prepared to turn the steering wheel again and again until the front of the vehicle is traveling in a straight line. For cars without anti-lock brakes, avoid using your brakes. If your car has ABS, brake firmly as you steer into the skid.

• Avoid hydroplaning by keeping your tires inflated correctly. Maintain good tire tread. Don't put off replacing worn tires. Slow down when roads are wet, and stay away from puddles. Try to drive in the tire tracks left by the cars in front of you.

• If you find yourself hydroplaning, do not brake or turn suddenly. This could throw your car into a skid. Ease your foot off the gas until the car slows and you can feel the road again. If you need to brake, do it gently with light pumping actions. If your car has anti-lock brakes, then brake normally. The car's computer will automatically pump the brakes much more effectively than a person can do.

• A defensive driver adjusts his or her speed to the wet road conditions in time to avoid having to use any of these measures.

Hosting A Super Bowl Party? Be aware - you could be liable if your guests get out of hand!

One-third of homeowners fail to realize they can be found legally liable if an intoxicated guest causes a car crash, according to a survey by the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America.
Courts in most states will rule against hosts of parties where alcohol is provided to minors. Also, liquor must not be served recklessly to any guest who clearly has had too much to drink.
Generally, inebriated guests cannot successfully sue party hosts. But third parties victimized in alcohol-related accidents can and do, particularly when the drunk driver has little or no insurance.
Drunken driving lawsuits can lead to financial ruin to the party found liable. This past February, for example, a Colorado man won an $18.5 million settlement after a drunken driver ran him over in his own driveway.


Other party liabilities

Hosts also can be liable for losses that happen at the party. Consider an underage guest who was served alcohol and whose cigarette sets a couch on fire. If the resulting blaze destroys neighboring homes, the party host can be held responsible.
Depending on state social host liability laws, party hosts may be liable even when no alcohol is involved.
A guest who falls on the front sidewalk of the host's property can sue the host. A costly lawsuit also can result if partygoers become seriously ill after eating food served at the party. Items on the host's property, such as swimming pools, trampolines, gun collections and pet dogs, expand the list of potential charges.


Insurance for home parties

The first step in planning a party is to verify that the host's homeowner's insurance (or renter's or condo dweller's insurance) policy provides enough coverage for party-related mishaps. Hosts should ensure there are no policy exclusions related to serving alcohol.
Another survey by the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America reveals another serious issue: two-thirds of renters have no renter's insurance at all.
After a careful assessment of the financial risks, party hosts may decide to buy an umbrella liability policy that offers much higher maximums than the underlying coverage. For a relatively low premium, umbrella liability policies usually provide an extra $1 million or more of coverage.
Adequate insurance can be a godsend for hosts who face devastating legal settlements.


Substituting fun for alcohol

Risk-averse party hosts may decide that legal responsibilities that accompany serving liquor are too daunting.
One option is to shift the focus of the party away from alcohol by playing games, inside and out, if possible, to increase physical activity.  Other alcohol-free alternatives include inviting guests to compete in interactive video games or participate in friendly competitions related to the event you are hosting.
Party hosts also might want to replace alcoholic beverages with a range of exotic soft drinks with flavors such as cherry wine and citrus peppermint.