Distracted driving has become a very serious issue.   In the U.S. federal research indicates that about 11 percent of all highway deaths are the result of distracted driving.   For teenagers the statistics are even more startling as 6 out of 10 accidents are the result of driver distraction.  In Ontario distracted

Finally!!  The long cold winter weather is behind us and spring break is here! Here are a few tips to ensure a safe vacation for those crossing the border. Whether you're in a rental car or driving your own vehicle, there are measures you can take to ensure the trip is safe and enjoyable. Don’t forget that  all passengers in your

You can help prevent serious damage to both the roof and inside of your home by minimizing the likelihood that an ice dam will develop, and by removing one as soon as you spot it. Ice dams can form when water from melting snow re-freezes at the edge of your roofline. Without roof snow removal, an ice dam may grow large enough to prevent water

At L.D. Dermody Insurance Brokers we want to make sure that everyone has a safe and wonderful holiday season.  We have accumulated a number of safety tips related to winter driving.   Some advance preparation and common sense can go a long way towards helping prevent a costly disaster.  Prepare your vehicle for the winter

As winter is on our door steps it’s a good time to discuss your home insurance.  During the winter we see some of the worst claims occur as the results of flooding, freezing pipes and slip and falls just to name a few.  Fortunately many of them can be prevented with a little maintenance.  Ice dams An ice dam is a wall of ice

Buying a home is often the purchase of a lifetime. To avoid unpleasant surprises, Chubb has put together a checklist to help your customers ask the right questions before starting a new life in a new home.  Is the basement dry?  Check the basement area for dryness. Stains on walls are one indicator, but the existence of a sump pump is

With fall here, wind, rain, hail, and winter storms are ahead its time to  inspect your roof for damage and undertake any necessary repairs. Trim trees and remove dead branches so they do not damage your home or injure someone if they fall. Check for damage to your roof, and clean gutters and downspouts to keep debris from accumulating.

This article is courtesy of the Insurance Bureau of Canada. It’s important to create a firebreak around your cottage – an area that won't fuel a fire. Your basic protection is to keep the grass cut and raked. But there is much more you can do to create primary and secondary firebreaks. A primary break is a clearing of all ground within five metres of your buildings. Space trees so the tops are at least five metres apart. Saw off branches less than three metres above ground level. Prune branches so they're at least three metres away from a chimney or stovepipe.

On a warm summers evening, by the water’s edge nothing beats roasted marshmallows and scary ghost stories around a crackling fire.  A long tradition at the cottage or while away camping.  This seemingly harmless tradition can turn quickly into a tragedy if certain precautions are not taken.   We had this happen to one of our clients.    Their 13 year old son sprayed their camp fire with insect repellant hoping to help the fire spread faster.