Monthly Archives: May 2014

Would homeowners insurance pay for carpeting that was damaged by a fire started accidentally in the home?

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Taking steps to protect your home can be complicated, but most basic homeowner’s policies in Newark, NJ will have solutions to help repair fire damage and related situations. The key is identifying the situations that are covered and the potential clauses that may prevent you from making a claim on your current plan.

Accidental Fires

In most cases, accidental fire damage is covered by the basic home policy. Accidental fires can be caused by a variety of factors, so it may be possible that certain exceptions or clauses may apply to the particular situation. Depending on the fire and the amount of damage, some insurers may provide partial protection to help replace the carpeting that was ruined by the flames.

Accidental fires can start from several sources, such as a candle, cigarette or even the home’s electrical system. In many cases, the insurer will offer coverage to repair the damages.

Exceptions in the Policy

Even though you may have coverage against fire damage, it is possible that an exception may apply to your situation. For example, if an insurer has an exception related to candles, then a fire that you accidentally started by knocking over a candle may not be covered.

Exceptions in any policy can vary based on the plan you purchased, the insurer and any special clauses that you or the insurer added. Evaluate your plan to determine if you have coverage for the specific situation to avoid any miscalculations or potential problems.

A fire is usually covered by a homeowner’s plan, but the details of the situation may impact the amount that you are given for repairs. Contact us to talk to an agent for more information about making a claim.

Does homeowners Insurance cover a dog attack if it happened on the sidewalk or street in front of the house?

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When your home insurance policy protects you from high-cost bills after a dog attack, you may wonder about the potential clauses, conditions and exceptions that may apply. Depending on your policy and the details of your plan, it may be possible to make a claim on your policy if your dog bites or attacks a person on the sidewalk or street in front of your house.

Identifying Property Lines

Depending on the insurance policy and your home, the property lines may or may not play a role in determining if you can make a claim. Some insurers will only pay for attacks that take place on your property while other insurance providers may pay for injuries that occur on the sidewalk or street in front of your house.

If you must identify a property line, then it may extend to the sidewalk or it may stop before reaching the sidewalk. Some insurers may include the sidewalk, but not the street.

Making a Claim

Evaluate your policy to determine if you have coverage for the specific situation. In many cases, insurers will pay for the attack if it happens directly in front of your house, but the specific details can vary.

Making a claim will depend on the situation. In many cases, you will need to contact your insurer as soon as the attack occurs and then provide proof of the cost of medical bills when the bills are available.

As a pet owner, you are responsible for the actions of your dog. If a dog attack occurs in front of your house, then your home insurance policy may offer some financial relief for the medical bills. Contact us to talk to an agent for more information.

Does comprehensive auto insurance cover damage from road debris?

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Most of the time, comprehensive auto insurance covers pretty much every peril not covered by limited liability policies. That means that your property is covered whether or not you were at fault. Comprehensive policies also cover the property you keep inside your car or truck, so if someone breaks in, your belongings will be protected.

Is damage caused by road debris covered under my policy?

Damage caused by debris on the road–or even potholes or other defects with the road itself–can be more of a sticky issue. Often before your insurance company will reimburse you for damages, they’ll have to determine who is at fault. That could be the government, for failing to adequately maintain the road, or it could be another driver who failed to secure his load.

As soon as the damage occurs, contact your insurance agent and describe what happened. They’ll be able to tell you how to move on–and give you an idea of whether or not your policy covers damages from road debris.

Protecting yourself against road debris damage

When you’re buying insurance–or upping your coverage–you’ll want to pay specific attention to the types of physical damage coverage the policy offers. Most standard physical damage coverage includes damages caused by a collision with another vehicle (no matter who was at fault), a single-car accident (such as you losing control of the vehicle), and damages caused by driving over a pothole.

Comprehensive physical damage coverage usually pays for damages from non-vehicle-related causes, like hitting a deer, a falling tree limb hitting your car, road debris damage, or even random vandalism.

If you’re not sure what type of insurance you should invest in–or if you want to find out how much it would cost to invest in comprehensive coverage–take the time to compare quotes online, then talk to an independent agent about your options; they’ll be able to ask questions relating to your specific information to help you make the right choice.

Can I make my auto insurance pay me back for loan payments I made on a car they declared totaled?

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Accidents happen every day in Newark, NJ. If you are involved in an accident that results in damage to your vehicle, you will probably want to file a claim. After the insurance company sends out an adjuster to appraise the damage to your vehicle, several things can happen.

You may receive a check for the cost of repairs. That check will be reduced by any deductible you may have on your collision coverage. Depending upon the amount of the settlement check, you may have to pay a portion of the repair cost out of your own pocket.

A second scenario might occur when a totaled car is declared by the insurance company. In such a case, it is determined that the cost of repairing the car will be worth more than the market value of the repaired car. While you may haggle a bit about the amount of the check, once you accept the settlement, the vehicle is no longer yours to keep. In most cases, the car is scrapped and you have to find another car if you want transportation.

A totaled car does not relieve you of any loan payments you have made or still owe on a financed vehicle. Your insurer has no responsibility to pay off your car loan. If you get $2,500 for your totaled car and owe $2,000 in payments, you must personally pay the loan company the $2,000. Once a car is declared to be totaled, you have to pay off the balance of the loan, even though you no longer have a car.

Cars depreciate in value and you may owe more on it than it is worth. An insurance company will never pay you more than the market value of your car to have it repaired after an accident. Remember, your name, and not the insurance company’s name, is on the contract with the finance company. They have no liability to the finance company, but you may.