Thanksgiving Holiday Hours

Happy Thanksgiving from Pinnacle Insurance

  

 

In observance of the Thanksgiving holiday our office hours will be as follows:    Wednesday, November 26th the office will close at 3:00 PM   Thursday, November 27th the office will be closed   Friday, November 28th the office will be closed     We will return to regular office hours (8:30 to 4:30) on Monday, December 1st     Visit our website at www.pinnacle4ins.com

Labor Day Hours

Ever wonder about the history behind Labor Day? Sure it serves as a painful reminder that the summer is pretty much over, the pools are closing, and football is starting, but where did this day off actually come from? 

Well according to Wikipedia, "It is a celebration of the American labor movement and is dedicated to the social and economic achievements of workers. It constitutes a yearly national tribute to the contributions workers have made to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of their country.

Labor Day was promoted by the Central Labor Union and the Knights of Labor, who organized the first parade in New York City. After the Haymarket Massacre, which occurred in Chicago on May 4, 1886, U.S. President Grover Cleveland feared that commemorating Labor Day on May 1 could become an opportunity to commemorate the affair. Thus, in 1887, it was established as an official holiday in September to support the Labor Day that the Knights favored.^[1]"

So basically long story short it's an excuse for a day off & here are our holiday hours:

Friday August 29th:            Office will close at 3:00 pm

 

Monday September 1st:      Office closed in honor of the Holiday

 

Tuesday, September 2nd:   Regular office hours resumed

                          (8:30 am to 4:30 pm)

 

Best wishes on a wonderful holiday weekend and if we can be of any service please call us at 412-816-1000 or visit us online at www.pinnacle4ins.com.

 

Grilling Tips

Cooking out on the grill & the summer months go hand in hand.  With that said it seems like the perfect time for us at Pinnacle Insurance to pass along some safety tips to ensure a summer of grilling that doesn't include a trip to the emergency room.  Here are some do's and don'ts we found online at the National Fire Protection Association when it comes to grilling:

Propane and charcoal BBQ grills should only be used outdoors. (rather obvious but hey you never know)

The grill should be placed well away from the home, deck railings and out from under eaves and overhanging branches.

Keep children and pets away from the grill area.

Keep your grill clean by removing grease or fat buildup from the grills and in trays below the grill.

Never leave your grill unattended.

Charcoal grills

• There are several ways to get the charcoal ready to use. Charcoal chimney starters allow you to start the charcoal using newspaper as a fuel.
• If you use a starter fluid, use only charcoal starter fluid. Never add charcoal fluid or any other flammable liquids to the fire.
• Keep charcoal fluid out of the reach of children and away from heat sources.
• There are also electric charcoal starters, which do not use fire. Be sure to use an extension cord for outdoor use.
• When you are finished grilling, let the coals completely cool before disposing in a metal container.

Propane grills

Check the gas tank hose for leaks before using it for the first time each year.  Apply a light soap and water solution to the hose.  A propane leak will release bubbles.  If your grill has a gas leak, by smell or the soapy bubble test, and there is no flame, turn off the gas tank and grill.  If the leak stops, get the grill serviced by a professional before using it again.  If the leak does not stop, call the fire department.  If you smell gas while cooking, immediately get away from the grill and call the fire department.  Do not move the grill. 

Overall

We wish everyone a great summer and hope you enjoy vacations, picnics and plenty of meals on the grill.  Feel free to share your summer recipes in the comment section too.

Give us a call at 412-816-1000 or visit us online at www.pinnacle4ins.com for any insurance needs we can assist you with.

4th of July Holiday Hours

 

 

4th of July Office Hours:

  

Thursday, July 3rd:       Office will close at 3:00 pm

 

Friday, July 4th:            Office closed in honor of the Holiday

 

Monday, July 6th:         Regular office hours resumed

                   (8:30 am to 4:30 pm)

 

Best wishes for a safe and enjoyable 4th of July weekend from Pinnacle Insurance.  Give us a call at 412-816-1000 or visit us online at www.pinnacle4ins.com for any insurance needs we can assist you with.

Memorial Day Hours

 

 

Memorial Day Office Hours:

  

Friday, May 23rd           Office will close at 3:00 pm

 

Monday, May 26th         Office closed in honor of the Holiday

 

Tuesday, May 27th        Regular office hours resumed

                   (8:30 am to 4:30 pm)

 

Best wishes for a safe and enjoyable Memorial Day weekend from Pinnacle Insurance.  Give us a call at 412-816-1000 or visit us online at www.pinnacle4ins.com for any insurance needs we can assist you with.

 

Easter Holiday Office Hours

Easter Holiday Office Hours:

  

Thursday, April 17th         Office will close at 3:00 pm  

Friday, April 18th              Office closed for Good Friday

Monday, April 21st            Regular office hours resumed

 (8:30 am to 4:30 pm)  

 

Emergency calls during the holiday period will be accepted by Pinnacle Insurance at 412-816-1000.  Best wishes for a safe and enjoyable weekend from Pinnacle Insurance and visit us at www.pinnacle4ins.com

Recognition Award!

Pinnacle is proud to have recently received a recognition award from Donegal Insurance Company.  Thanks to all of our customers and staff that helped make it possible.

Seen these cars? Heard of ride sharing? Here's the insurance side of things...

 

 

 

Ridesharing companies use mobile apps to connect passengers with drivers using their personal cars to compete with taxi cab companies.  These companies have begun negotiations with the city to offer their services in Pittsburgh.  Uber and Lfyt are two of the more popular ones on the road thus far and both have launced their respective services just recently.  It turns out those mustaches on the front bumpers of cars around the area are more than just a fad gone wrong.

Unfortunately, the way that personal auto insurance policies are currently written, coverage may be voided for most of the drivers hired by theses services.  Following is the exclusion found in most personal automobile insurance policies:

 Any insured's liability arising out of the ownership or operation of a vehicle while it is being used as public or livery conveyance.  This exclusion (A.5.) does not apply to a share-the-expense car pool.

For a ridesharing driver to be covered properly, a commercial auto policy would need to be purchased due to the large liability exposure.  Please note that a commercial policy would be extremely expensive and not readily available in Pittsburgh's insurance marketplace.

Most major ridesharing services carry their own commercial auto insurance which offers limited liability coverage to passengers, other vehicles & pedestrians.  The ridesharing company's policy is intended to respond when drivers are en route to pick up a ridesharing client or have one in the car.  This policy would not cover the drivers when they are in between fares.  It is not clear if the ridesharing company's policy would cover damage to one of their driver's cars.  Potentially, there could be a lot of uninsured drivers on the road.  Even if you don't use one of these services you might want to call our office and check on your un and underinsured limits in the case you get into an accident with a ride sharing vehicle.

Until personal automobile insurance carriers begin to offer policies that address new exposures such as ridesharing, be extremely guarded when considering ridesharing as an occupation.  This may not be a good way to earn a second income.  Pizza delivery drivers face a similar issue.  There is a hidden exclusion in a delivery person’s personal auto insurance policy that states, "all coverage is excluded for any insured using vehicle while employed in the pickup or delivery of newspapers or magazines, food or any products for the purpose of compensation".  At a time of loss an insurance adjuster has the ability to deny coverage due to this exclusion in the policy. The same type of thing could be a possibility for ride sharing drivers so you want to check with your auto insurance carrier and the company you are thinking of being a part of before becoming a driver.  

As this is an ever changing new marketplace its best to keep up to date on how these companies are covered and know what risks you might be taking as an individual by being a passenger or a driver.  It's an exciting service that brings what seems to be a need for more cab service to the area, we just want you to be fully aware that there may be gaps in coverage from an insurance standpoint. 

 

Please feel free to call us at Pinnacle Insurance at 412-816-1000 if you have questions or feel we can be of service.  www.pinnacle4ins.com

 

 

 

Insuring Jewelry & Other Valuables

With Valentine's Day just around the corner now is the perfect time of year to make sure any new jewelry you buy for your loved ones (or already have) is properly insured.  Unfortunately, most people aren’t aware that homeowners and renters insurance policies have sub limits (limited coverage) for Jewelry, Cameras, Guns, Silverware, Furs, Fine Arts, Coin & Stamp Collectables, Musical Instruments, Sporting Equipment, Computer & Electronic Equipment. The coverage limits can range from $ 1,000 to $ 2,500. This means in many cases you are underinsured for these items. 

In order to properly insure these items they need to be scheduled on your homeowners or renters insurance policy. Normally, an appraisal or sales receipt is required to add items on to you homeowners policy. By scheduling your jewelry (or other valuables) you can rest assured that your most important and treasured items are covered for their actual value in the case of a loss or mysterious disappearance . As always, if you have questions or feel we can be of service, call Pinnacle Insurance at 412-816-1000.  www.pinnacle4ins.com