What kind of auto insurance coverages are there? A)
Liability – Is required by all states.
1. Bodily Injury - Pays for injuries suffered by others in an accident you caused up to your policy limits.
2. Property damage- Pays for damages you caused to another person’s property in an accident up to your policy limits.
3. Uninsured and underinsured- If you’re involved in an accident where the other party is at fault but your damages are greater than their coverage limits then your uninsured/underinsured coverage will cover the balance not covered by the at fault party up to your policy limits.
B) Non-Owned Liability – Is important coverage to purchase if you consistently drive cars that do not belong to you. Such as frequently rented cars, borrow cars, or have use of a company vehicle.
Back to TopDoes my auto liability insurance cover personal damages?Liability insurance pays for bodily injuries and or property damages suffered by others when you are at fault in an accident. Your injuries and property damages are not covered under your liability insurance. You would need medical or personal injury protection coverage for your injuries and physical damage coverage to repair your vehicle.
Back to TopWhat auto insurance coverage pays for my injuries? Medical payments – generally pays for medical cost when you are hurt in an accident regardless of who is at fault.
Back to TopWhat coverage do I need for my property damage?Property damage coverage:
a. Comprehension – Provides coverage for damages to your vehicle from such things like fire, theft, vandalism, falling objects, colliding with an animal, natural disasters like hail damage.
b. Glass repair or replacement – My be a part of comprehension or may need to be added. Pays for the repair or replacement of the glass in your car.
c. Collision – Pays for damages to your car when you cause an accident.
You will usually have a deductible for these coverage. For example a $500 deductible says you will pay $500 of the total claim.
Back to TopWhat coverage do I need if my car breaks down on the road? Emergency road service coverage – also known as towing and labor can help cover cost associated with towing, tire changes, battery service, fuel delivery, locksmith services.
Back to TopDoes my Auto Insurance cover substitute rental cars while mine is being repaired?Rental reimbursement helps pay for the cost associated with a rental car while your insured car is being repaired after a covered loss. You would need to purchase this optional coverage.
Back to TopWhat is an SR-22? An SR-22 is a certificate of financial responsibility providing proof of car insurance certifying that you meet the state’s minimum car insurance requirements. A standard auto insurance ID card may not meet the state’s “proof of Insurance”. An SR-22 guarantees that you meet the state require minimums.
Back to TopWho needs an Sr-22? SR-22 filings are typically related to serious traffic violations. Generally you will be required to file an SR-22 for the following reasons:
a. Driving under the influence
b. Serious accident
c. Driving without auto insurance
d. Driver’s license has been suspended or revoked
e. You have an excessive amount of points on your record.
How long are you required to file for SR-22? Most states require an SR-22 certificate to be filed for 3 years If you commit no other violations.
How do I get an SR-22? You will need to purchase a policy from a carrier that is a SR-22 provider. Back to TopSome things that are NOT covered by your personal auto policy.Generally most auto insurance policies do not cover these items: (read your policy for the exclusions)
a. Intentional damages
b. Non owned vehicles
c. Livery service – Uber or other “for hire” services are not covered.
d. Basic vehicle maintenance like oil changes, brake replacement, tire replacement etc..
e.Corrosion
f. Damage caused during a race or rally.
g. Custom parts such as electronics, engine enhancements, custom tires and wheels, custom paint etc.. The policy usually limits coverages to “original” parts.
Back to TopWhy do I need Homeowners insurance?There are two main reasons to purchase a homeowners policy. First to protect what is most likely your largest asset, your house, as well as coverage for your personal property and liability.
Second your mortgage lender will require you to carry insurance and list them as mortgagee on the policy.
Back to TopWhat Coverage is in my Homeowners Insurance?Most homeowners policies provide a package of coverages. The main types of coverage are described below. You select the amounts for your dwelling, liability, and medical. Other structures, personal property, and loss of use are stated in the policy as a percentage of the dwelling value, additional amounts may be available to purchase.
a.
Dwelling - Pays for the damage to your house and to attached stuctures. This includes fixtures like plumbing, electrical, and permanently installed items.
b.
Other Structures - Pays for damages to fences, sheds, and stuctures not attached to your house.
c.
Personal Property -
Reimburses you for the value of your personal possessions. This includes furniture, electronics, appliances, clothing. Special items such as jewelry may be added as a personal article floater/schedule.
d.
Loss of Use - Pays some of the additional living expenses while your home is being repaired due to a covered loss.
e.
Personal Liability - Covers your financial loss if you are sued and found legally responsible for injuries or damages to someone else.
f.
Medical - Pays medical bills for people hurt on your property or by your pets.
Back to TopWhat affects my homeowners premiums?Your home insurance premiums may be affected by a number of physical and personal factors including the following:
a. Your home’s characteristics
- Age; older homes typically cost more to insure
- Type of structure; for example, brick, frame, stone or synthetic siding
- Wiring type
- Roof materials
- Whether it has a garage, pool, trampoline, and certain animals
b. Your home’s location also has an impact on your premiums
- Its proximity to a fire station and water supply such as a hydrant
- Exposure to extreme weather — hurricanes, tornados or earthquakes
- Whether it’s in a neighborhood that’s more prone to theft than others
c. Protective devices can lower your premiums
- Burglar alarm systems
- Smoke detectors
- Fire extinguishers
- Sprinkler systems
- Dead bolt locks
d. Some personal characteristics affect insurance premiums
- Non-smokers might pay less for homeowners insurance than smokers.
- Good credit history can lower your premiums as many insurance companies consider credit history when determining how much to charge you for insurance.
- Your previous claim history has a big impact on your premiums. Consider not putting in claims for smaller amounts/events to avoid being tagged for a premium increase.
- Consolidating homeowners and auto policies with the same insurer can provide a multi-policy discount.
Back to TopHow much dwelling coverage should I buy?For a homeowners policy you should purchase dwelling coverage amount equal to the replacement cost of the house. The replacement cost is not the same as the market value. The market value also includes the value of the land and depends on the real estate market conditions.
Back to TopWhat is Replacement Cost and Actual Cash Value?You can select to insure your home and contents for replacement cost or actual cash value. There is usually an additional fee for replacement cost coverage.
Replacement cost is the cost to rebuild or replace your home and/or personal property using materials of similar kind and quality.
Actual cash value is the value of your home or personal property considering its age (depreciation) and wear and tear. Actual cash value pays for your loss, but often less than it takes to repair or replace the item.
Back to TopWhat if I have a home business?Most homeowners policies are not designed to cover your business exposures.
You may need to purchase an additional endorsement or consider a business owners policy depending on the type of business exposures.
Back to TopAre there optional coverages I should consider?Yes, read your policy exclusions to see if there are gaps in your coverage that you would like to close.
Some examples might be for back up of sewer and drain, earthquakes, mold, ordinance of law, personal articles floater/schedule for valuable personal property like jewelry, coins collections, art, stamps, antiques.
Also, if you need additional liability coverage consider a personal umbrella policy.
Back to TopWhat is Business General Liability?General liability covers your business for lawsuits your business could face from third parties for things as bodily injury sustained on your property, damages you caused to their property, advertising liabilities such as slander, libel to name a couple. One of the most common claims under general liability is slip and falls.
Back to TopWhat is Professional Liability?Professional liability is often referred to errors and omissions insurance. This type of insurance shields you from third party lawsuits alleging you failed to provide professional service, failed to uphold a contractual promise, or made mistakes and omissions. These are some of the most expensive suits a business could face. You do not have to be "at fault" to be sued, just an unhappy client.
Back to TopWhat is EPL Insurance?EPL insurance is a type of liability insurance covering wrongful acts arising from the employment process. The most frequent types of claims covered under such policies include: wrongful termination, discrimination, sexual harassment, and retaliation.
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