Do I need commercial auto insurance if I use my personal vehicle to make quarterly visits to my employer’s clients?

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If you are an employee who uses a personal vehicle for business purposes, commercial-auto-insurance is usually going to be necessary. Even though you might only use your personal vehicle for these business reasons on a limited basis, it is important to understand that your own personal policy will typically not include coverage for these business trips.

You need to review your personal auto insurance policy with your agent in Newark, NJ to learn precisely what is covered and what is excluded, but most personal policies have a clause that will specifically say that if the vehicle is being used for business purposes any damage caused or sustained will not be covered under the terms of the policy.

Since the personal policy will usually not cover any damage, it is important to get commercial-auto-insurance so that you are protected while making business trips, no matter how short or how infrequent they might be.

Your employer will need to be made aware of this, so be sure to speak with your employer and let him or her know that you are not covered under your personal policy and that you need to get proper protection under a commercial policy.

Your insurance agent can work with you to create a policy that includes both personal coverage for your own needs and commercial coverage for the needs of your job and your employer. When you arrange both policies with the same insurance agency, you may even be able to get a discounted rate for doing so!

Feel free to call us or contact us online anytime to get free quotes for commercial car insurance today!

What is the difference between general liability and commercial liability?

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As a business owner, you already know that you need to be fully protected by your insurance policies, but you may not know the differences in two essential types of liability insurance. Most businesses should have both commercial liability and general liability, but you should discuss this with your insurance agent to be certain you are properly covered for your specific situation.

General liability is the liability insurance that all businesses need to have. Most states in the U.S. require this, so you should talk to your insurance agent about the level that will be required to stay compliant in your state. This is the insurance that will provide protection for claims resulting from damages people suffer while on your business property. Further, it will typically also cover claims resulting from product damages, for example if a product produced by your company is found to cause injury.

Professional liability is designed to protect you from different types of claims, namely claims resulting from failure to fulfill business obligations. If your company fails to fulfill the terms of a contract or fails to fulfill obligations and someone has proven damages resulting from that, this insurance will cover those damages.

In some cases you may find that the state minimum levels of liability insurance will suffice for your situation, but many business owners find that it is best to have a more customized level of insurance that will cover every potential damage to the business. Your business is essential to your future and your livelihood, and it should be treated as such. Talk to your independent insurance agent about the coverage needed to protect your business today!

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Will homeowners insurance cover mold damage and restoration?

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Black mold, technically called toxy stachybotrys, can cause significant health problems, from dizziness and nausea to hallucinations, anxiety, depression, and personality changes–which is why addressing mold problems in your home is a serious concern. Of course, most black mold isn’t toxic and doesn’t cause side effects. But no matter what kind of mold you’re trying to remove from your home, you could be facing tens of thousands of dollars in remediation costs.

Will homeowner’s insurance cover mold remediation and restoration?

Most standard homeowner’s insurance policies don’t cover mold remediation. Not, that is, unless it’s linked to a peril specifically covered by your policy. For instance, if a pipe leak that is covered by your home insurance results in mold damage in the ceiling and wall beneath, that mold damage would likely be covered.

Your policy is most likely to be denied if the claim is based solely on the mold itself, not linked to a contributing factor. Claims are also more likely to be rejected if your home is exposed to heavy humidity on a consistent basis or if a leak or other issue has been neglected for some time.

Finding out for sure whether your damages are covered

Because every homeowner’s policy is different, your first step is to document your mold problem–take pictures and try to tell how extensive the damage is–and then contact your insurance agent. They’ll be able to go over your policy with you, answer your questions, and help file a claim.

If you’re concerned about mold damage in the future, you may be able to switch to a home insurance policy that’s sure to cover the damage; in this case, contact a local independent agent to talk about your coverage options.

My teenager is going away to college. Do I need additional insurance for their personal belongings?

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Additional insurance may or may not need to be purchased to cover the personal belongings of a teenager who has recently gone away to college. Whether or not additional coverage will need to be added to cover personal belongings will depend upon where the child will be living and where the items will be stored.

Teenagers from Newark, NJ that stay in dorms will be covered by their parents’ homeowner’s policy. The homeowner’s policy typically will cover any incidents of theft, fire, or vandalism that may occur with a teenager’s personal belongings.

When covered under a parent’s homeowner’s policy, the coverage that is offered is limited. Most homeowner’s policies will place a 10% limit on the amount that will cover a teen’s personal property. If the 10% limit is not enough to cover the cost of personal belongings, the parents may need to consider increasing the personal property limit on their policy.

There is also another limitation placed on being covered under a parent’s homeowner’s policy – the child and their belongings must return home every 45 days. If a child is staying in a dorm for longer than 45 days, their personal belongings may not be covered under a homeowner’s policy and additional coverage may need to be purchased.

Teenagers that are going away to college and living in off-campus housing or a frat/sorority house will need to have an additional policy purchased as a parent’s homeowner’s policy will not cover personal belongings kept at these locations. An additional policy, such as renter’s insurance, may provide the additional coverage needed to protect these items.

If you are sending a child off to college make sure you have the proper insurance needed to protect personal belongings. As your independent agent, we can help you find and compare policies from different companies that will offer protection for your child’s personal belongings while they are at school.

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.

If I have a bad driving record can I get lower insurance rates by purchasing a car and getting a new policy in the name of my spouse?

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A bad driving record means that it can be challenging to get the best rates available for your car insurance. Even though it can be possible to lower some rates with the help of a spouse who has a better driving record, you will still need to keep your name on a policy if you plan to drive the car.

Driving Without Coverage

Buying a new policy for your car under the name of your spouse may lower insurance rates due to the better driving record, but it also means that you cannot drive the car unless you also add yourself to the policy. The impact on the rates if you are listed as a secondary driver may not be enough to make it worth the effort of changing your current plan.

Driving without coverage for yourself may make your policy invalid since you live in the same house as the primary driver on the policy.

Listing as a Secondary Driver

Even though it is necessary to list your name on the policy as a secondary driver if you plan to drive the car, putting your spouse as the primary driver can help lower your rates, particularly if you do not drive regularly and the other individual has an excellent driving record.

As a driver who is listed on the policy, you will still have coverage if you are in an accident, but the amount that you pay may be reasonable.

A good driving record is essential if you want to have the best rates on your auto policy. Contact us to talk to an agent to learn more about reducing the cost of coverage and the options that are available.

Does homeowners insurance cover wood damage and chewed wires caused by squirrels?

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Squirrels and other animals that are found in the area around your house can cause unexpected damage to your property. The animals may chew through wood or even damage electrical wires by chewing on them. When your home in Newark, NJ has been damaged by a squirrel, it may be possible to make a claim on your homeowners insurance policy.

The Policy Details

Ultimately, the details of your current policy will play a significant role in the ability to make a claim. Every homeowners insurance plan is different and the details about what is covered and what is not may vary.

Evaluate your policy to determine if you are covered against damage from animals. Some insurers may specify situations that are covered while others may cover several situations as long as they are out of your personal control and do not relate to regular maintenance. In some cases, you may have clauses or exceptions that exclude damage from squirrels, so read the policy thoroughly before you make a claim.

Paying for Damages

In many cases, insurers will pay for the damages to your wiring system and the house after a squirrel has caused damages. The amount that is available to repair the problem may vary based on your current policy. Insurers may offer a set percentage based on the situation, so you may or may not be able to make a claim for the full amount.

Squirrels and other animals can cause damage to your property, but the coverage and the details regarding the claims process can seem complicated. Depending on your plan, you may or may not be covered against certain damages from animals. Contact us to talk to an agent for more information about your policy options.