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Wednesday, June 24, 2015

5 Things to Know About Fallen Trees and Insurance Coverage

5 Things to Know About Fallen Trees and Insurance Coverage

Posted by Safeco March 16, 2015

Insurance Claims for Fallen Trees

Know your insurance coverage for fallen trees.
It’s the time of year when the temperatures warm and the flowers bloom, putting us all in a chipper mood. But, it’s also time for thunderstorms, which most often occur in the spring and summer months, according to the National Severe Storms Laboratory.
With spring officially arriving this Friday, March 20, it’s the ideal time to review what your homeowners insurance, and even your car insurance, may or may not cover when it comes to damage from fallen trees.
Here are five important things to keep in mind:
1. Your homeowners insurance likely covers tree removal and damage repairs for your home and other insured structures, such as fences.
A tree falls on your property and damages one or more insured structures. What now? Your homeowners insurance will likely help with the cost of removing the tree and repairing the damage. That’s once you pay your deductible, of course. Examples of covered incidents can include strong winds knocking a tree over onto your roof or lightning striking a tree, causing it to fall on your fence.
However, if a tree falls due to neglect, you may not receive any coverage. So keep your trees in good shape, and ask your neighbors to do the same.
2. If there’s no damage, there’s likely no insurance coverage.
You may assume your homeowners insurance will cover the removal costs of any fallen tree, but that isn’t always the case. If a tree falls on your property without damaging any insured structures, you will likely need to cover the costs of tree removal yourself.
3. Your city or municipality may clean up trees that fall into the street, but you may still have reason to file an insurance claim.
Check with your city or municipality to determine who’s responsible for removing a tree that falls into the street. If your city takes responsibility, it may only be for the portion that’s in the street. Any of the felled tree that’s left on your property will be your responsibility. Your insurance may help if an insured structure was damaged in the incident.
4. You may have coverage even if a tree falls from your neighbor’s property.
When a fallen tree damages your property, your homeowners insurance may pitch in no matter who owned the tree. Depending on the circumstances, your insurance carrier may attempt to recoup some of the costs, including your deductible, from your neighbor’s insurance. This may occur, for example, if the neighbor was negligent in caring for the tree before it fell.
5. Your car insurance may cover damage to your vehicle from a fallen tree.
If a tree falls from your property onto your car, it’s your car insurance and not your homeowners insurance that will likely help cover the cost of repairs. But, the tree doesn’t have to be from your property. You likely have coverage if a tree falls on your car, no matter from where. What may not be covered? The cost to remove the tree from atop your car.
Of course, every insurance carrier handles fallen trees differently. It all depends on the specifics of your policy and your coverage limits, as well as the specifics of your situation. If you need to file an insurance claim for a fallen tree, use the tips below.

Tips for Filing an Insurance Claim for a Fallen Tree

  • Take photos: Photos taken from many angles and vantage points help to establish the extent and cause of the damage. Be careful not to go near fallen trees that are entangled in power lines, however. And don’t climb onto an unstable surface to get better photos.
     
  • Provide as many details as possible: If, for example, a neighbor’s tree was neglected and fell onto your property, causing damage, be sure to tell your carrier. If a storm caused the tree to fall, be sure to provide details about the severity of the weather.
     
  • Be prepared to pay your deductible: If you experience a covered loss due to a fallen tree, you will be responsible for paying the appropriate deductible.
Your homeowners insurance, or car insurance, covers damage from a fallen tree in many instances. But, it’s important to know when you’re covered and when you’re not. So review your policy with your local insurance agent and ask plenty of questions about when a fallen tree is covered by your insurance and when it isn’t.

Wednesday, June 10, 2015

What Are Annual Insurance Reviews, And Are They Important?

What are Annual Insurance Reviews?  Annual Insurance Reviews are simply that, reviewing your insurance policies each year.
Are AIRs important?  Absolutely!  There are different reasons why you should review your policies each year.  Here are just a few:

  • Did you get engaged/married in the past year?  The average amount of the engagement ring and wedding rings is around $5,000- $10,000.  Sure your homeowners policy probably has coverage for jewelry, but the amount is limited and is normally for theft only.  It does not cost very much to schedule your jewelry on your policy.  Also, with all the new wedding gifts, you want to make sure that your home/renter's insurance properly covers your personal contents.
  • Did you have a baby?  We understand that insurance is not the top items on your list, that is why we are here!  Do you have a life insurance policy?  If so, you may want to talk to your agent about adding on your baby as a child rider, or purchase their own policy.  If you don't have a life insurance policy, now is the time to consider it!  
  • Have you made any alterations to your home?  Believe it or not, when you enhance your home, the replacement cost may increase as well.  By reviewing your policy with your agent, you can have peace of mind that you are covered.
  • New driver in your household?  Whether your child just got their driver's license, or you have a new member in your household that drives, you want to make sure that they are listed and covered on your auto policy.  
  • Have you recently retired or work from home?  Your auto rates can decrease by updating your occupation and vehicle usage.  
  • Has your premium increased more and more each year?  This is when it is beneficial to do business with an Independent Insurance Agent.  We can shop several different companies for you, and let you know which ones have the best rates/coverage for you.
There are many changes that can happen in a year's time.  So, it is important to review your policies!  We do our best to keep in contact with our clients and stay up to date with their policies.  However, if you aren't sure, or have questions, please don't hesitate to contact us so we can make sure you are well protected!

Wednesday, June 3, 2015

4 Factors That Can Make Convertibles Expensive to Insure

Check Car Insurance Costs Before Purchasing a Drop Top

Insuring a Convertible Car
So your heart’s set on driving off the dealership lot with the top down and the sun on your face, the envy of each onlooker you pass. But, have you checked in with your local insurance agent about the cost of insuring a convertible?
You may think it’s only a myth that convertibles are expensive to insure, but, in many cases, there’s some truth to the notion.
It’s important to have realistic expectations about the cost of insuring a convertible. To help, here are four reasons why you may spend more insuring a convertible than you would a less envy-evoking ride (the best way to know what will or won’t impact your rates, of course, is checking insurance costs with your local agent):
  1. Convertibles Cost More to Purchase, More to Insure
    Car insurance rates can vary greatly from vehicle to vehicle. In general, the more your car is worth, the more it will cost to insure. Convertible cars cost more to purchase than a similar model with a fixed top and not just because they’re so fun drive. It’s because they have added safety features and additional moving parts that operate the top. Therefore, convertibles can also cost more to insure.
     
  2. Higher Horsepower, Higher Insurance Costs
    If your convertible just so happens to be a sports car with a V6 or V8 engine, too, you should expect to possibly pay more for car insurance. Cars with a higher top speed are at greater risk of a high-speed collision.
     
  3. Soft Top Convertibles Are Prone to Theft and Vandalism
    Slicing open your convertible top may be an act of vandalism, a way for thieves to steal items from inside your car or a way to make off with the car itself. Because of these soft-top risks, convertibles may cost more to insure.
     
  4. Hardtop Convertibles Have Added Weight
    The weight of your vehicle can factor into your car insurance premiums. A retractable hardtop adds considerable weight, and possibly insurance costs, to your vehicle.
Of course, many other factors influence how much you’ll pay to insure a convertible. These include your age, your driving history and the amount of driving you do. So, don’t skip the check-in with your local insurance agent on your way to purchase a convertible. Be certain you can afford both the monthly car payments and the monthly insurance costs.
It may sound like we’re trying to sway you from the car of your dreams, but we’re not. We just want you to be financially sound and protected when you’re rolling with the top down.