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If you live in a low-lying area where flooding is likely to occur, you will benefit from learning about flood insurance coverage. Review the coverage guidelines that follow. Then, contact a TruePoint Insurance agent who serves Savannah, GA, for more information about flood insurance.
Water Damage Costs
Consider the cost of repairing and replacing items that are water-damaged. Structural materials, furnishings, and household goods could be affected by a flood. Water damage restoration costs could be high, especially if you live in a large home or own many items.
Value Considerations
Assess the value of the contents of your home. Purchasing a flood insurance policy could be a smart move if you own artwork, jewelry, or other items of value. The policy would cover the cost of repairing or replacing any items damaged by water.
Risk Factors
Consider the location of your home. If heavy rain and poor drainage are concerns, having insurance coverage may be in your best interest. If you have ever endured flooding, consider the likelihood of this occurring again.
If you previously dealt with a lot of water damage, plus were responsible for paying for the cost of repairing or replacing items in your home, having access to a flood insurance policy will prevent any issues in the future. Your policy will protect your land and your home from flooding waters.
Contact TruePoint Insurance
Now that you have reviewed some reasons to obtain flood insurance, contact a TruePoint Insurance agent. An agent who serves Savannah, GA, will assess your residential land and home. They will recommend coverage that will protect your assets from water damage.
If you live in the Savannah, GA area, the agents at TruePoint Insurance want you to know and understand the importance of flood insurance. Some people believe that flood insurance is automatically included in their homeowner’s insurance policies, but that is not the case. A flood insurance policy is created separately from your homeowner’s insurance policy and the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).
What Does Flood Insurance Cover?
Flood insurance covers damages to your home that can occur when water enters your home. This can happen anywhere you live, not just in flood-prone areas. With today’s weather, more flooding events are occurring than ever, so it is a great idea to have a flood insurance policy in place.
When it comes to flood insurance, there are two different options you can choose from to include in your particular policy.
You can choose a flood insurance policy that will help cover any damage to the structure of your home and other areas of your home up to a certain dollar amount. This will help you make any necessary repairs to your home after flooding has occurred.
The second option, when it comes to flood insurance, helps you replace all of your personal belongings lost to water damage from a flood. These things can include your personal items, including clothing and toiletries, as well as household items, furniture, and even appliances that you have spent a lot of money on in the past.
Some flood insurance policies will even cover your stay at a hotel or some other location while your home is being repaired after a flood.
What is Not Covered Under Flood Insurance?
Some things are not included in a flood insurance policy. Those things can include the cash that you have at your home, jewelry that is made of certain precious metals, and even stocks and bonds. It is better to keep these types of items in a safety deposit box at another location rather than your home.
While your flood insurance policy will cover your home, garage, and basement areas, other things, such as sidewalks and trees, will not be covered. You can inquire with your trusted flood insurance agent to see if items like hot tubs, septic systems, decks, and swimming pools can be covered under your flood insurance policy.
Contact TruePoint Insurance
To get your flood insurance policy, contact the experienced flood insurance agents at TruePoint Insurance in the Savannah, GA area today!
A variety of businesses
are routinely operated in homes. This article discusses aspects of particular
operations. Refer to Home Businesses – Basics for background information
on coverage as well as our other articles discussing different in-home
businesses.
Retail – Persons with in-home retail operations must look
beyond an HO policy for coverage.
Home-Based Retail Business owner prepare packages
The Businessowners Policy (BOP) provides broad coverages for buildings, personal property, loss of business income and extra expenses incurred to remain in business (after a fire or other covered cause of loss), premises liability and medical payments. If you have more than $1,000 of goods in transit, you will need to add additional coverage. Goods stored at other locations must be added to the policy, normally as an additional location.
You will need workers compensation coverage for any employee, even part-timers. You may need commercial automobile insurance if you deliver anything or if your vehicle is larger than a car, van or small pickup or if the vehicle is owned by a corporation.
Note: some insurance companies can offer amendments to your homeowners
policy that can cover certain, in-home businesses.
COPYRIGHT: Insurance Publishing Plus, Inc. 2016
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.
If you own a car in Georgia, the state requires that you meet certain financial standards. For most of us, that means that our vehicles be covered by an auto liability insurance policy. Furthermore, the auto liability insurance limits must meet State mandated requirements.
For most of us, the first thought when our car is involved in an accident is getting it back on the road. How will we replace or repair our own vehicle? For that, you need to have a collision and/or comprehensive insurance coverage. While this coverage is important, it is not the insurance coverage mandated by the State.
Georgia
Auto Liability Insurance
If you are involved in an accident and found to be at fault, you can legally be held financially responsible. This is why you buy personal auto insurance! The Georgia minimum insurance requirements are aimed at protecting other drivers and passengers using the States roads and highways..Your auto liability policy protects other drivers. Specifically, it provides coverage for bodily injury and/or property damage that results from your actions.
As mentioned, you may be held responsible for the full cost of damages, With a personal auto liability insurance policy in place, your insurance company, subject to the specifics of the policy, will be on the hook. However, their requirement ends once the policy limits have been paid.
What does that mean?
It means that the prudent thing is to develop a better understanding of what will happen if the cost of damages exceeds our auto liability policy limits. As a mere insurance agent, I am not qualified to directly answer that. But, commonsense would suggest that at a minimum, inadequately insured auto owners are leaving Pandora’s Box wide open.
The Georgia minimum auto liability insurance requirements are:
• Georgia motor vehicle liability
coverage minimum for bodily injury:
o $25,000 for bodily
injury liability coverage per person
o $50,000 for bodily
injury liability coverage per accident
•Georgia motor vehicle liability
coverage minimum for property damages:
o Georgia auto owners are at least $25,000 for claims made against them as result of damaging the property of others
Georgia’s Car Insurance state-mandated minimums are most commonly stated as:
25/50/25
…or…
$25,000 (BI) per person / $50,000 BI per accident / $25,000 (PD)
Does cheap refer to a Good Deal or a Bad Deal?
Before asking an insurance agent for
the “Cheapest Car Insurance, you got,” consider the following:
• Cheap car insurance more than
likely means you are getting the state-mandated minimums.
• How far will those dollars go if
you are the cause of a severe auto accident?
• Settlement cost seldom equal medical costs. Why? For one, pain and suffering. If you want an estimate for total settlement cost, a good rule of thumb is to multiple medical bills by 3. If your negligence was the cause of a car crash and the other party sustained $10,000 in medical expenses you are looking at $30,000 to settle the claim. $5,000 higher than the state minimum!
• How far will $10,000 go in an
emergency room today?
• How far will the $50,000 per
accident limit go if you hit a car with multiple passengers? What if you are
the cause of a multiple car collision or if the other vehicle isn’t a car but
rather a bus?
Cheap car insurance can cost you in
more ways than you realize. Ever wonder how insurance companies come up with an
auto insurance premium for you and your car?
Your premium is the result of a number of factors. Every car insurance companies have their own unique formula. Each aimed at helping them attract clients and make a buck too. What you may find surprising is that many companies will penalize you if your current insurance limits are the state minimums. Never buy the state-mandated minimum without first considering the cost of better coverage. It’s likely to be less than you think and it will save you in the long run.
In the end, cheap auto insurance may wind up costing you more than you bargained for. Even if you never have an accident! Consider your options, prepare for the worst and be sure that you find an insurance agent the is willing to spend the time to help you through the process.
Each day more people decide to create their own Websites, blogs or otherwise participate in social media activities. The reasons for having a Website or blog vary or other activities range from frivolity to earnestness. Personal Websites and blogs commonly describe the host, his or her family, and interests such as a particular hobby, sports, profession, humor, etc. Whatever the reason for creating a Website or blog, they, along with social network activity can represent an additional source of loss that may require additional insurance. The loss potential is directly related to the purpose and content found on the Website.
New Opportunity For Old Losses
Website liability is an extension of the age-old accountability for what you say or write. Such responsibility extends to household members; so it’s important to be aware of what a family’s little E-wizard may be doing. The types of losses that may be created by a Website, blog, or social media activity include:
Libel – knowingly publishing false information that harms a person’s reputation.
Invasion of Privacy – disclosing information that interferes with another party’s peace of mind.
Infringement – violating or interfering with another’s property rights or the right to pursue business
Oops, You May Not Be Covered
Are you insured for libel and slander? Most aren’t!
Most homeowner policies protect against liability for tangible injury to another person or for actual damage to another party’s property. Liability created by publishing or broadcasting content typically involves a personal (or non-physical) injury that is not covered by a typical homeowner policy. While individuals may be able to add protection (such as add-ons to a homeowner policy or umbrella coverage), certain losses may still be uncovered because they involve intended acts or business activity.
Can You Protect Yourself?
The good
news is you can take steps to eliminate or, at least, minimize the possibility
of facing electronic publishing-related loss. The first step is to identify
areas of concern. The key to understanding and addressing any possible Website
liability is to focus upon:
the nature of
the Website or activity
the Website or
account’s contents
who may be
harmed by the site or activity
how a party may
be harmed
It is
important that you think hard about these issues and approach the job
objectively. Your building a site, blogging or using social media
just for “fun” could end with you explaining the punch line in court.
Two people can interpret information in radically different ways. Use a method
of examining your Website that helps you view it through “fresh” eyes
that won’t gloss over important facts. Asking the help of others could be a big
plus.
Considerations
For Your Web Site, Blog or Social Networking
If you or
someone in your household operates or is building a Website, or is active with
social media, you need to be aware that the site (or activity) could open you
to legal situations. Here are some questions you should consider:
Who
created the site or page?
Key
consideration: depending upon the circumstances, a private party that created
the site for you may share (or even own) the responsibility for damages caused
by the site.
What is
the purpose of your site or activity?
Key
consideration: Is there ANY business activity or purpose? If so, you may have
an immediate need to secure appropriate protection.
What
content is found at your site or page?
Key
consideration: Not only do you have to think about YOUR message, but you must
think of other parties that appear at your site such as friends, companion
businesses or even miscellaneous links.
Who do
you intend to attract to the site and how do visitors use your page?
Key
consideration: There’s a big difference in the type of people you’re targeting,
such as inviting:
relatives to see
baby pictures or family newsletters
customers to
request product/service information or to place orders
hobbyists to
distribute or solicit stories or advice
strangers to a
forum for discussing sports, political or other topics
Is there
anyone you would not want to see the site or page? Why?
Key consideration:
Answering this question honestly is critical. It can identify prime sources for
possible legal action against you. It may also suggest what precautions you may
take, including the easiest action such as eliminating the reference to a
person, group or organization.
Does Your
Site or Activity Create An Insurance Need?
After
examining the key concerns about your Website, you should be prepared to take
precautions which may include:
adding security
features to your Website
changing the
content
adding waivers
or disclaimers about links or certain pages that appear on your site
adding user agreements
to your site
creating
guidelines on maintaining current and future content at the site
changing your
homeowner coverage
buying
additional or special personal or business liability insurance
adding or
eliminating a guest book (if you have a guest book, pay close attention to
what visitors say)
eliminating the
Website
Once
you’ve carefully examined your situation, a discussion with an insurance
professional could be an excellent step to identify coverage needs which may
include having to buy commercial coverage. The instant and widespread access
represented by the Internet creates new perils for individuals. Don’t hesitate
to seek the help of an insurance professional or even competent legal advice.
COPYRIGHT: Insurance Publishing Plus, Inc. 2016
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 the written consent of Insurance Publishing Plus, Inc.
Kentucky is one of the most expensive states for auto insurance.
If you live in Kentucky and own a car, then you’re paying too much for Automobile Insurance.
If someone is telling you otherwise, I’ve got some excellent advice for you. Stop listening to that person! They obviously don’t have a clue about the cost of auto insurance in Kentucky.
.
Proving that the cost of Kentucky Auto Insurance is High
The Proof
Which states would you expect to pay the most for insurance? States with bigger cities, and heavy traffic? Commonsense would lead most of us to expect to find New York, California, and New Jersey at the top of the list. Using the same logic we can also add Massachusetts, Illinois, Florida, and Connecticut. And while not a state, I would also expect to see Washington D.C. on a list of states with higher auto insurance premiums.Â
Six states have average auto
insurance rates that range from $1,750 to $2,500. Starting with the most expense:
1. Michigan
2. Louisiana
3. Florida
4. Connecticut and,
5. New York
6. Kentucky
For the most, this likely seems appropriate. But for many it will be eye-opening to find how high car insurance is in the Commonwealth of Kentucky. Surprisingly the residents of Kentucky pay more for auto coverage than California. The same is true for Washington D.C., Maryland, New Jersey, Massachusetts, and Illinois.
Who is this person that says you’re
car insurance is not expensive?
Kentuckians on average spend $1,752 annually for auto insurance. That’s almost 30% more than the national average. It is a fact; your auto insurance is expensive.
If you are a good driver in Kentucky, you pay too much for insurance.
If you’re a bad driver you pay too much.
Kentucky car owner’s that drive too fast, pay to much.                                                                    Â
 Compared with most other states, Kentucky auto insurance cost more. While this is true for most residents, not everyone in Kentucky overpays. Uninsured and underinsured drivers clearly don’t pay too much for car insurance. But don’t read that to say that this group doesn’t have a hand in cost of car insurance in Kentucky. Their contribution is significant. Those that drive with inadequate auto coverage, raise auto premiums for everyone. This increase in state demand for uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage. Which in turn places upward pressure on the overall cost of auto insurance premiums.
It’s a fact that Auto Insurance is higher in Kentucky than it is in most states
The price for car insurance in
Kentucky is high. Some may try to argue
this. Beware of those that argue against
the facts.
Kentuckian plays about $400 a year more than the U.S. Average. Why is Kentucky auto insurance so
expensive?
How does Kentucky compare to other states in our region? To the north, Kentucky borders, Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio. Each of these states is ranked as one of the ten least expensive U.S. States for car insurance. The average auto premium for the three is $973. Compared to these three Mid-Western states, Kentuckians are paying almost $800 a year.Â
Why are we still listening to the nuts that still think we aren’t paying too much to insure our personal auto?
If you would like to have an insurance agent look you in the eye and tell you:
“Yes, you are paying too much to insure your
car,” then try TruePoint.
Want to learn about factors that make Kentucky auto insurance the 6th highest in the U.S.?
Give us a call at (502) 410-5089.
Serious about lowering your auto insurance cost? Then get your insurance documents together.
Call or drop by, and we will do our best to help you reduce the value of your home and auto insurance.
In 2010,
during a party that involved minors drinking alcohol, one guest was shot and
killed when a gun, being played with by its owner (another party attendee) went
off. The parents of the deceased sued the parents of the gun handler. The
latter requested coverage from their homeowner insurance company. The company
denied coverage and, eventually, a court ruled that no obligation existed under
the insurance policy. The company was released from the lawsuit.
Homeowners coverage, like other insurance policies, is
intended to protect against losses that are accidental. Often, accidental
losses can be readily determined, but incidents involving firearms are
complicated.
Accidental discharge of a gun can be a crime
When one
person injures another, both the act and the intent are considerations of
whether an incident is an accident. In the shooting incident mentioned above,
it was determined that the gun handler was guilty of negligently handling the
gun and was jailed. Since a court determined the incident was a crime, it did
not qualify as an accident. A loss caused by a crime is ineligible for
coverage.
When a
loss involves firearms, it is often treated far differently than other
circumstances. Consider the following:
Jim is
hosting a party at his house for a bunch of high school friends and Fran is one
of the persons attending it. Jim, well known to his friends as the group’s
clown, is fooling around with an item. Fran, who is nearby, is seriously
injured. Later, Fran’s family sues Jim’s parents and they file the lawsuit with
their insurance company.
Scenario
one – Jim recently became interested in tennis. He brings out a very expensive
tennis racket he just received. He brags about how light and powerful it is and
he demonstrates strokes. When he demonstrates a backhand, Fran is passing
behind him and she is hit, suffering a broken nose and several shattered teeth!
Scenario
two – Jim recently became interested in firearms. He brings out a very
expensive pistol he just received. He brags about how light and powerful it is
and he demonstrates how it is supposed to be handled. When he demonstrates how
to aim it, the gun fires and Fran is struck. The bullet hits and fractures her
shoulder.
In both
scenarios, the injuries are a result of Jim’s immature and careless action. In
both situations, no harm was intended. In both instances, Fran is seriously
injured. In all likelihood, the losses will not be handled similarly. A tennis
racket is a piece of equipment that is intended to be used for a particular
sport. It is used for hitting tennis balls and other uses are considered
unusual and, for the most part, not dangerous. This loss has a very high chance
of being treated as an accident.
A gun is
a weapon. It is used for both defensive and offensive purposes and, by nature,
is capable of extremely serious, often deadly harm. It is considered to be a
dangerous instrument. Therefore, the stakes are far higher whenever a gun or
other firearm causes a loss. In many instances, even when harming another party
is completely unintended, acts involving firearms also involve far more
accountability and may not be classified as accidental. In the shooting
scenario, the chance is very high that the loss would be denied.
Because of the danger inherent in guns, it’s important to be aware that losses involving them are often ineligible for insurance protection. That makes it critical that their ownership is treated seriously and every possible precaution against unintended injury be taken.
COPYRIGHT: Insurance Publishing Plus, Inc., 2016
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.
This article briefly discusses how a homeowner policy responds to
coverage for exchange students. Please be sure to read the companion article,
“Exchange Students – Automobile Coverage.”
You have an Exchange Student, Now What?
Note: Check
with your exchange student program coordinator to see what kinds of coverage
are automatically provided for the child. But don’t take anyone’s word; get
copies of documents that prove the coverage situation.
An exchange student in your care who is younger than 21 years is automatically insured under a homeowners policy, treated as if the child were a relative. An exchange student’s property is covered while located at or away from your home. Off-premises coverage is normally limited to 10% of your policy’s Personal Property limit, subject to a minimum of $1,000. On-premises, the policy’s full content limit is available. If your homeowner’s policy had a $70,000 limit for Personal Property, up to $7,000 would be available to handle damage or loss to an exchange student’s property while it’s away from your home, say while at a summer camp. Liability coverage that applies to your family also applies for damage and bodily injury caused by an exchange student who is younger than 21 years of age.
how to prepare for an exchange student.
If the exchange student is older than age 21, then the policy treats the student as a guest. A policy owner can volunteer to extend his insurance coverage to include a guest’s property while at your residence premises or even while you and the guest are at some other location. However, it is sometimes difficult to determine whether an older exchange student is a guest or a tenant – someone who is paying you a reasonable rent for staying in your home.
Hosting an exchange student creates questions you should discuss
with an insurance professional who can help make sure your coverage needs are
met.
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.
As a lucky owner of a
timeshare arrangement, you may have a special coverage need. While insurance is
readily available for individually owned seasonal or secondary residences,
buildings, vacant land, or personal property; a timeshare arrangement may not
be handled by standard homeowner coverage forms. Coverage gaps may exist
because typical timeshare arrangements involve:
real property with multiple owners
living units that are often furnished with personal property that may be jointly or severally owned
living units which are occupied by several individuals or families who have control of all of the property during their time of occupancy
special agreements or stipulations that govern the property’s use.
Here are some steps to
prepare for a discussion of your coverage situation:
Do you need insurance for a Timeshare?
1.
Collect all of your timeshare-related paperwork, especially the contract that
describes your ownership interest and obligations in the timeshare property.
2.
Be open to securing more than one policy to cover the jointly owned property,
any personal property that’s located at the residence, the joint liability
exposure and any special assessments or liability assumptions agreed to under
any contract.
3.
Be reasonable about coordinating coverage needs among the timeshare’s other
owners. Doing so will help make certain that all needs as met at the time
coverage is initially purchased and later, should coverage circumstances
change.
4.
Be flexible. Proper coverage may have to be provided by a specially modified
personal insurance contract or even some form of commercial coverage may be
necessary.
Since coverage needs can
vary substantially from one arrangement to the next. It is important that you
discuss your current coverage needs with a qualified agent. Don’t leave the
meeting with any unanswered questions. Ask that any points be fully explained
to you in order to make sure that you’re protected adequately and affordably.
COPYRIGHT: Insurance Publishing Plus, Inc. 2016
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.
It’s quite likely that you face many demands…a job, family, hobbies, volunteer work, children’s school, and recreational obligations. Those items don’t cover chores, such as the lawn and garden, house cleaning, repairs and on and on. Like many of your peers, you might find that you just don’t have the time to get all of it done. Also, like many of your friends and neighbors, you may be “outsourcing” some of your responsibilities. Increasingly, people are hiring others to either assist or to take over duties such as:
child-rearing
gardening
decorating
housecleaning
laundry
grocery shopping
personal errands
child-transport
minor home repairs
lawn maintenance
meal preparation
exercise
While such help used to fall under the auspices of butlers, maids, and nannies, today, individual specialists are providing similar services on either a part-time or full-time basis.
Personal Services and
Personal Liability
Many service providers have insurance
When personal services
are provided by employees of a commercial business, such as a limousine
service, laundry service or a lawn care company, there’s generally no need to
worry about being held liable for injury to another person or for damage to
their property.
Example: The Burlies never had time to take care of their
lawn. As their grass grew thinner and the weeds spread, Mr. Burlie decided to
sign-up for the “Green Thumb” package from Lucy’s Lawn Services. One
afternoon, a Lucky Lawn specialist arrived at the Burlie’s home, unraveled a
hose and began to spray weed killer. A few minutes later, Stevie, who lived
several homes away from the Burlies, came rushing by on his skates.
Stevie didn’t see the hose until it tangled his wheels and sent him
headlong onto the cement sidewalk. In this instance, Lucky’s Lawn Services
would be responsible for the injuries.
However, as individuals
are hired by Joe and Jane America to perform personal services, the
responsibility for injuring other people or damaging the property of others may
begin to fall upon Joe and Jane. In these cases, will Joe and Jane have any
help in paying for damages or injuries?
Homeowners Insurance to
the Rescue
Homeowner’s Insurance
A person who employs the services of another may be held legally liable should the “employee” cause an accident. Can the average person who is guilty of nothing more than trying to make their lives a little less hectic depend upon their homeowner’s insurance for protection? Well, coverage depends upon the details surrounding an event. Generally, a homeowners policy will exclude coverage for losses that are related to the covered person’s (insured’s) business or when other coverage, such as workers compensation or disability insurance, should apply to the loss.
Handyman
Example: Molly Kelp really likes her neighbors’ son,
Peter, who is home from college. Molly knows that Peter is struggling for money
to keep attending school, so she occasionally hires him to do jobs around her
home and yard. One day, she asks him to trim the branches of a tree that is in
the front of her home. The branches are low enough to disturb traffic in the
street. Peter jumps down from the ladder he’s using for the job at the same
time that a car is passing by. The ladder tips over and crumples car’s hood as
well as smashes out the windshield. The driver slams on his brakes and is
severely cut-up in the process. In this case, Molly’s homeowner policy may
apply to the damage and injury caused by Peter. Why? Because the work was
strictly related to maintenance of Molly’s residence and premises. If Peter
caused an accident while carrying a ladder to paint Molly’s law office which is
housed in a converted bedroom of Molly’s home, the loss would be excluded from
her policy.
Do Your
“Homework” On Personal Services
If you’re not sure about
what happens when a person you hire causes a loss, you need to do your
homework. Discuss the details with an insurance professional and bring a copy
of your insurance policy. Between the two of you, you should be able to make
sure that your needs are covered.
COPYRIGHT: Insurance Publishing Plus, Inc. 2015
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.
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