2015’s Top Safety Picks

Which Cars Measured Up To This Year’s Safety Tests?

Each year, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) tests the year’s cars by running them through rigorous crash tests. They have released the champions for 2015, with the Hyundai Genesis emerging as the forerunner with perfect scores. Take a look at this year’s seven safest rides on the road.

  1. 2015 Hyundai Genesis: This luxury car excelled in the crash tests, even stopping the car moving at 25 mph before it hit a solid object with its automatic brake function.
  2. 2015 Subaru Legacy: Surpassing the safety of last year’s model, the 2015 Legacy earned high marks on every crash test it endured. Especially notable was its “superior” rating for the optional collision warning system Subaru offers.
  3. 2015 Chrysler 200: Also scoring high in every test, the Chrysler 200 was noticed for its auto brake collision warning system that helped it earn a “superior” rating in front crash prevention tests.
  4. 2015 Volkswagen Golf/GTI: With “good” scores in the side crash test, rollover test, roof test, head restraint test and small overlap front crash test these smaller Volkswagen cars both earned Top Safety Pick titles.
  5. 2015 Hyundai Sonata: This midsize car earned a “good” rating in the majority of its safety tests, and with a mid-range price tag it is sure to become a popular pick this year.
  6. 2015 Subaru Impreza WRX: This famously fast car will keep its passengers safe, as it earned a “good” score on all of its safety tests.
  7. 2015 Honda Fit: When this car failed to pass the small overlap front crash test, its engineers redesigned its bumper. After running the tests again, the car received high enough ratings to be named a Top Safety Pick.

Let Cappuccino Insurance Agency in Westlake Village, California protect you in ways even your car cannot with a great insurance policy. Our dedicated team is committed to getting you the coverage you need for the most competitive rates. Contact us today for all of your Conejo Valley auto insurance needs!

Do You Need Renters Insurance?

Get The Protection You Need For Your Residence

With homeowners insurance almost constantly marketed, it can be easy to think that you do not need to secure an insurance policy while you are a renter. If, however, a situation should arise where you need liability insurance, lacking coverage could create a financial situation that could be too much for you to handle. Safeguard your residence and your livelihood by securing renters insurance today.

When choosing a renters insurance policy, make sure you select one that will cover both your liabilities and the contents of your home. If you are unsure about the coverage you need, estimate the amount of personal property you have in your rented space. Include clothing, furniture, electronics, landscaping equipment, appliances, jewelry, tools and any other valuables. Make sure that your policy would cover the cost of replacing all of your belongings. If you are not sure about how to get them covered, contact your insurance agent today so you can avoid a gap in coverage that could cost you down the road.

If you were not expecting the additional expense of renters insurance, do not worry. These policies are generally very affordable, running between ten and twenty dollars a month. In most cases, the policy will also cover other adults living in your residence with you. You can also explore adding extra coverage, such as water and sewer coverage or pet damage coverage, without expecting your premium to increase by a large amount.

To learn more about the options for renters insurance that is available to you, contact Cappuccino Insurance Agency in Westlake Village, California today! We can offer you comprehensive coverage at competitive rates. Call us today for a free assessment of your coverage needs so you can get the right policy for your lifestyle. Whether a renter or a homeowner, you deserve the peace of mind that great insurance coverage will bring.

Do Not Let Slips & Trips Harm Your Holiday

Keep The Season Safe By Avoiding Common Workplace Injuries

A little slip in the parking lot or trip over the corner of a rug may not seem like a big deal, but the National Safety Council reports that 25,000 trip, slip, or fall accidents occur each day in the United States. Accidents of these kinds on the same level are the second leading cause of workplace injuries. Save yourself and your employees from hazardous situations with increased awareness around these types of incidents.

Take a walk around your business property. Are the walking surfaces uneven or marked with holes and cracks? Do puddles collect in certain areas? Are the walkways, sidewalks, and parking lots properly lit? Walking your property with an eye to potential safety hazards will help you understand the risks on your business site so you can properly address them.

How can you increase the safety of your location? Make sure all entryways offer a place to wipe off wet shoes, and that mats are secured. Provide janitorial staff with “Wet Floor” signs to mark potentially unsafe areas after cleaning. If you have a slippery floor surface like high-gloss tile or smoothly polished stone, consider investing in runner rugs for the main walkways.

In the event someone does trip, slip, or fall make sure the accident is documented. Take down the names of all of the people involved in the situation and take photographs of the hazardous area. Not only will this help you avoid similar accidents in the future, but this information could come in handy if an insurance or workers’ compensation claim is required.

Make sure your company is protected with the business insurance it needs by contacting California-based Cappuccino Insurance Agency today! Serving Westlake Village and all of Conejo Valley, our dedicated team is here to help you secure the coverage you need to make your work community a safe place.

Open Enrollment is Open!

Have you signed up for your health care coverage for 2015 yet? If you have not, make sure to sign up before the Open Enrollment period ends on February 15, 2015. If you do not sign up for a new health insurance plan, you will face more expensive fines than ever before and will not be able to sign up until the next Open Enrollment period. If you do not sign up for health insurance, you will be fined 2 percent of your yearly household income, or $325 per person for the year, whichever is more expensive.

The only way that you can sign up for health insurance outside of the Open Enrollment period is if you qualify for a Special Enrollment period. Some of the most common qualifying life events include:

  • Getting married or getting divorced.
  • Moving your permanent residence to a different state that does not offer the same health insurance that you previously had.
  • Having a baby, adopting a child, or putting a child up for adoption.
  • Having a change in your household income status that changes your eligibility for cost sharing reductions of tax credits.
  • Gaining status as a member of a federally recognized shareholder or tribe in an Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act Corporation. If you are a member of a federally recognized Indian tribe, you can change your plan or enroll in a new plan once a month throughout the year.
  • If you lost your health insurance because you lost your job, aged off of your parent’s health insurance plan, lost your eligibility for CHIP or Medicaid, or any other similar circumstance.

For all of your health insurance needs throughout the Conejo Valley, contact the insurance professionals at Cappuccino Insurance Agency in Westlake Village, California.

Stay Safe This Thanksgiving With These Tips

Thanksgiving is just a couple of days away, so it is the perfect time to make your shopping list to be sure you have all the ingredients for your Thanksgiving feast. It is also the best time to ensure that you stay safe while in the kitchen. Keep these simple Thanksgiving safety tips in mind so that everyone has a safe and happy holiday.

  • Before you start cooking, thoroughly clean your oven and stove. Built up grease from past meals can easily start a fire.
  • Do not leave you house while you are cooking. If something is on the stove, do not leave the kitchen so that you can keep an eye on the food.
  • Do not allow children within three feet of the oven and stove since they can easily be burned from boiling water or splattering grease.
  • Keep you floor free from any obstacles, such as toys and bags. Keep your pets out of the kitchen so that you do not trip over them.
  • Keep any flammable objects, such as towels, potholders, plastic bags, and food containers away from the stove so that they do not catch fire.
  • Keep a fire extinguisher that is rated for grease fires in your kitchen. Make sure that multiple people in your house know how to use it.
  • Check all of the smoke alarms in your home to make sure that they are working properly. Replace any alarms that are outdated or broken.
  • Before you go to bed at the end of the day, double check to make sure that all appliances are turned off, especially the oven and stove.

Cappuccino Insurance Agency in Westlake Village, California would like to wish you and your family a Happy Thanksgiving!

Check Out These Local Events!

The cool fall weather is here, and there is no better way to enjoy the season than by spending time with your loved ones in the local community. Make sure to mark your calendar for these exciting events in the Conejo Valley, this fall.

The 10th Annual Conejo Valley YMCA Turkey Day Dash is the perfect place to spend your Thanksgiving morning. Starting at 8 am on November 27th at California Lutheran University, the Turkey Dash will be fun for the whole family! There are two races to participate in, a fun run that starts at 8 am and a 5K Run/Walk that starts at 8:30 am. The event is just a couple of hours long, ensuring that you have plenty of time to make it back to your Thanksgiving dinner plans. All of the proceeds from the event will help to benefit the Conejo Valley YMCA.

If you are looking to get into the holiday spirit, you will not want to miss An Irish Christmas at the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza on December 21st. The family friendly event features Kevin Horton of Riverdance leading the traditional Irish dance. The event will have music, traditional dance, storytelling, and tons of Irish soul. Make sure to get your tickets today before this popular show sells out.

The 3rd Annual Holly Jolly Half Marathon 5K and 10K is taking place on December 21st. The course takes you over gentle rolling hills through Camarillo. Make sure to wear your best holiday costume for a chance to win a prize!

Cappuccino Insurance Agency, located in Westlake Village, California would like to invite you and your family out to enjoy all these fun, local activities this fall.

Prevent a Break-In With These Tips

The holiday season is fast approaching, which means you may be leaving your house vacant while you are visiting family. Before you pack your bags, it is important to make sure you know how to keep your house safe for the season. Keep these tips in mind to help prevent a break-in at your home.

  • Keep it bright – install a timer on a couple of lights in your home so that they will come on at different times in the evening to keep your home bright.
  • Lock up – before you leave, check to make sure all the doors and windows, even the ones on the second story, throughout your home are locked.
  • Keep your gardener – if you are leaving for an extended period of time, make sure that your gardener keeps up with your landscaping. Nothing says vacant house like overgrown grass and bushes.
  • Stop your mail – ask the post office to hold your mail until you get back, or ask a trusted neighbor to pick it up each day so that it does not pile up.
  • Close the blinds – keep your blinds closed so that burglars cannot see all the valuables in your home. Also, make sure to lock any small valuables, such as jewelry, away in a safe.

Installing a security system in your home is one of the best ways to protect it! Not only will it deter burglars from breaking into your home, but it can also help to lower the cost of your homeowners insurance.

For all of your home insurance needs throughout the Conejo Valley and to ensure that you are protected in case of any unfortunate situation, contact Cappuccino Insurance Agency in Westlake Village, California. We will work with you to ensure that you have the right amount of coverage for your specific situation.

Stay Safe this Halloween with These Tips

Happy Halloween from Cappuccino Insurance Agency! While celebrating the holiday this year, it is important to make sure that you know how to stay safe. Keep these Halloween safety tips in mind to ensure you have both a fun and safe holiday!

  • When setting up decorations, make sure to keep the walkway of your house clear so that nobody trips and is injured when trick or treating. Also, make sure that there are no other potential hazards, such as hoses or toys.
  • Make sure your pets are safely locked away from trick or treaters and do not jump on or bite anyone that comes to your door.
  • When choosing the right Halloween costume for your child, make sure to choose one that fits properly to avoid tripping and falling. Dress your children in comfortable shoes, since they will be walking long distances.
  • Use face paint instead of a mask to complete you child’s costume because masks can interfere with their ability to see. Make sure to test the face paint on a small area to ensure it does not irritate your child’s skin.
  • If you have older children who are trick or treating with a group of friends, make sure that they stay in neighborhoods they are familiar with, and have a designated times to be home.
  • Only cross the street in crosswalks, and follow all traffic laws. Teach your children to make eye contact with a driver before they cross the street, so they know the driver sees them.
  • Have your child carry a flashlight or glow stick to make them more visible to drivers and to help them see better at night.

Cappuccino Insurance Agency in Westlake Village would like to encourage you and your family to keep these tips in mind, to ensure you stay safe and have fun this holiday.

Check out These Local Pumpkin Patches!

There is no better way to spend the cool fall season than checking out the local pumpkin patches in your community. Make sure to bring the whole family to enjoy all of these pumpkin patches in the Conejo Valley, this fall!

Great Pacific Pumpkins is a family owned pumpkin patch that people of all ages are sure to love. You will have your choice of different pumpkins, gourds, squash, and corn, both as decorations or delicious treats. Make sure to jump on a horse drawn hayride down to the barn, to visit all of the farm animals. Come this weekend and enjoy live music by the Shoemaker Brothers and Mid Life Crisis.

Stu Miller’s Pumpkin Patches has two different locations, in Thousand Oaks and Simi Valley. All pumpkins are locally grown, and there are plenty to choose from. Do not miss the different mechanical rides and giant inflatable slide! If you are feeling adventurous, make sure sign up for the bungee jump!

Underwood Family Farms in Moorpark is putting on its annual Fall Festival throughout October, and includes everything you expect from a farm! The festival features live music, tractor rides, pig races, and a corn maze. They will also be plenty of pumpkins to choose from to carve the perfect jack o’ lantern for Halloween.

Cappuccino Insurance Agency in Westlake Village would like to invite you and your family to enjoy all that these pumpkin patches have to offer!

The Right Insurance for Manufacturers

There are very specific risks that are associated with companies that manufacture their own goods. Having the right insurance policies is the best way to ensure that the company is not financially devastated in case of a problem with the products. Make sure to invest in these specific insurance policies if your business manufactures their own goods.

  • Product recall insurance – covers the cost of situations associated with the recall of one of your products, including shipping, repairs, and customer notification.
  • General liability insurance – will cover most losses or injuries that your business causes to others, as well as the legal representation needed if you are sued.
  • Property insurance – covers the cost to replace or repair any business property, both the building and the contents of the building that is destroyed or damaged due to a named peril, including theft, fire, or flood.
  • Interruption of business insurance – will cover the cost of lost incomes and other expenses if your business is forced to shut down. When looking for the right policy, make sure to invest in one that will give you enough time to get back up and running.
  • Goods in transit insurance – provides coverage for your goods while they are being shipped to the customer.
  • Employee dishonest insurance – will provide coverage for losses that are caused by a theft within the company, including embezzlement and the loss of materials, products, and cash.
  • Worker’s compensation insurance – provides health care coverage for any employees who are injured on the job, no matter who is at fault.

For all your business insurance needs for your manufacturing business in the Conejo Valley, contact Cappuccino Insurance Agency in Westlake Village, California. We will work with your business to ensure that you have the most comprehensive coverage for your specific needs.