Month: May 2021

Is Motorcycle Insurance Required in Georgia

Posted on by admin

With the wind in your hair and access to some of the best adventures in Georgia and nationwide, it is easy to see why owning a motorcycle is becoming increasingly popular. Just as you are required to have insurance for your personal automobile in Georgia, the same logic applies to a motorcycle with the state mandating separate insurance. At a minimum, motorcyclists must carry the following coverage:

  • $25,000 in liability insurance per person for injuries or death
  • $50,000 in insurance per accident for injuries or death
  • $25,000 in property damage liability per accident

Keep in mind that these figures are just the minimum coverage required to be in compliance with Georgia law and that many motorcyclists purchase additional coverage to better protect their assets, loved ones, and themselves. Failure to carry insurance while operating a motorcycle in Georgia carries hefty penalties including fines and revocation/suspension of registration. When shopping for insurance, bear in mind that liability insurance does not protect the rider and instead offers compensation and support for any victims of an accident caused by the motorcyclist. Given that motorcycle injuries are generally severe, additional coverage that should be considered includes collision insurance to pay for repairs or replacement of the motorcycle, comprehensive insurance to cover damages caused by theft, vandalism, hail, and more, and uninsured motorist coverage. 

In addition to insurance requirements, Georgia motorcyclists must also have a valid Class M License or Class M Instructional Permit which can be obtained through the completion of an accredited Motorcycle Safety Program Course or passing a vision test, written exam, and riding test administered by the Georgia Department of Driver Services. 

At TruePoint Insurance in Savannah, GA our friendly and dedicated team of insurance professionals is ready and willing to answer all your questions so give us a call today to learn more.

The Commercial Property Policy

Posted on by Brad Smith
Commercial Property Insurance Policy

No matter the size or type of business, tangible property is a major asset. A national standard for insuring such property is the Insurance Services Office (ISO) Commercial Property Program (CPP). The CPP may be written as a single policy (covering only buildings and property) or as a package that provides property, liability and, other important protection for your business.

The Parts of A CPP

A Commercial Property Policy is flexible because it consists of several basic parts:

路        Declarations Forms – these tell you who is covered, the amount of insurance, the type of coverage written, other information about the business and other identifying details.

路        Conditions Forms – these documents contain sets of conditions that control how the policy operates such as the customer’s duties when a loss occurs, the method used for settling a loss or what steps to take when the customer and the insurer disagree over the amount of a loss.

路        Coverage Forms – these include descriptions of the type of property that is covered or excluded and it explains items such as coverages, insurance limits, definitions, deductibles and other important provisions.

路        Causes of Loss Forms – as you might expect, these forms describe the causes of loss (perils) that are insured against and any exclusions.

路        Policy Cover or Jacket – this is, literally, a cover designed by the company providing the policy and it usually includes a table of contents or an index.

The above can be modified o better fit different types of businesses by adding a wide variety of optional coverage forms called endorsements.

Causes Of Loss Forms

The following Causes of Loss Forms are available under the CPP:

BASIC – protects against Fire, Lightning, Explosion, Windstorm, Hail, Smoke, Aircraft or Vehicles, Riot or Civil Commotion, Sprinkler Leakage, Vandalism, Sinkhole Collapse, and Volcanic Action

BROAD – adds several additional covered causes of loss over the Basic Form, including Breakage of Glass, Falling Objects, Weight of Snow, Ice, or Sleet, and Water Damage.

SPECIAL – provides coverage on an “all risk” basis which essentially covers anything not otherwise excluded.

EARTHQUAKE聽– covers earthquake shocks or volcanic eruptions that occur within any 168-hour period.

What CPP Covers

A Commercial Package Policy covers building, completed additions, fixtures, permanently installed machinery and equipment, personal property that is used to service or maintain the building or premises, and, under certain circumstances, construction equipment, material and supplies.

Under personal property, the CPP covers furniture and fixtures, machinery, equipment, stock, all other personal property owned by the insured and used for business, labor, materials, or services furnished or arranged by the insured on the personal property of others, any improvements and betterments made by or acquired by the insured (when a tenant), and any leased personal property the insured has a contractual responsibility for. The CPP, under limited circumstances, also covers property located outside or in vehicles.

What CPP Does Not Cover

Like any insurance policy, there are items that are not covered. A CPP does not provide coverage for accounts, bills, currency (and similar property), animals, automobiles held for sale, bridges, roadways, walks, patios, or other paved surfaces, contraband, property being transported by air or over waterways, land, crops, underground property, most vehicles, expenses related to replacing company records and other property.

Again, this is just a very brief discussion of the CPP. If you need more information, help is nearby. Contact an insurance professional to talk about coverages and your coverage needs.

COPYRIGHT: Insurance Publishing Plus, Inc.2017

All rights reserved. Production or distribution, whether in whole or in part, in any form of media or language; and no matter what country, state or territory, is expressly forbidden without written consent of Insurance Publishing Plus, Inc.

General Contractors

Posted on by Brad Smith

Photo by Mark Potterton on Unsplash

General contractors (GCs) are the playmakers for any significant construction project, taking responsibility for all key operations such as construction assignments, job site supervision, and activity coordination. Typically, GCs have their own construction specialty (example: malls, restaurants, office buildings, stadiums, arenas, parks, etc.). GCs are often larger concerns with a tremendous amount of expertise in their area of specialty. The level of experience is critical since it permits a construction project to be led efficiently and more successfully.

GCs may assign/award work in a variety of ways, such as:

路        supplying all of the specialty contractors for an entire project, such as the excavator, electrician, heating contractor, cement contractor, plasterer, and so forth

路        using their own, permanent employees for certain jobs, and

路        subcontracting the remaining tasks to other, smaller construction specialists

Photo by Daniel McCullough on Unsplash

After land has been purchased and the design/architectural work has been done, the general contractor proceeds, usually beginning with site preparation, through excavation, foundation-laying, framing, and finishing until the building or project is completed. The general contractor provides the materials and equipment according to the applicable design specifications (usually provided by the architect). The GC must comply with all local and state ordinances, codes and zoning requirements. This includes purchasing the necessary permits and obtaining the necessary surety bonds.

GCs may either be hands-on operators, who actively take part in construction, or they may be “paper” operators, overseeing the actual work of other contractors. The general contractor may rent, lease or borrow equipment (including equipment operators) for use by subcontractors. Since the general contractor is responsible for the job site, he/she should be aware of the proper use of the equipment during construction. Is the equipment being used as it was designed to be used? Is the equipment’s load capacity routinely exceeded? Finally, GCs have many contractual and administrative obligations such as making sure that critical project deadlines are met, that payroll is handled, materials and equipment are obtained and that the project’s budget is followed (avoiding cost overruns).

GCs face a myriad of loss exposures that vary substantially according to the type of construction project. Their insurance needs may range from a simple, low limit package of coverage to a huge wrap-up program, involving multiple lines of business, different insurers and reinsurers with various layers of coverage. Firms involved as general contractors must work with insurance professionals who are equally adept at handling large tasks.

COPYRIGHT: Insurance Publishing Plus, Inc. 2017

All rights reserved. Production or distribution, whether in whole or in part, in any form of media or language; and no matter what country, state or territory, is expressly forbidden without written consent of Insurance Publishing Plus, Inc.