In West Hartford, CT, Do I have coverage under my business insurance policy if I suffer a huge loss caused by Tornado/Fire/?

A standard home policy in West Hartford, Connecticut will protect your home from damage to the structure from perils such as fire, golf-ball sized hail and even a tornado. Home liability covers you in case someone is injured or has their personal property destroyed while on your premises. The same is true when you buy business insurance. If you have a business, there are many different types of business insurance you might want or need to have.

For instance, you could buy a general business liability policy that protects you against liability claims from customers or others who may be injured while walking in your store or falling outside in your parking lot. You can buy commercial insurance that will compensate you for the loss of a key employee and one called errors and omissions if you run a service business like a law or accounting office. Other commercial insurance policies include general liability and product liability.

If you want protection against loss from a fire, hurricane or tornado, you need to have commercial property insurance. Property insurance is a broad category that covers everything from loss due to fire, smoke and hail storms to lost income computers and even money.

There are two distinct types of property insurance policies you can buy for your business. The first is an all-risk policy which covers all perils except those specifically excluded. The second is peril-specific, which only covers named perils. While the first type of coverage is broader and covers many different types of losses, a peril-specific property insurance policy covers a particular event like a fire, flood or tornado. Both types of policies are good, but if you are only concerned about fire and smoke damage, the specific policy is less expensive than the all-risk policy.

If you are trying to figure out what kind of business insurance you need, give us a shout and talk to an independent agent who can access your business and set you up with a policy that protects at a price you can afford.

Can someone, other than me in West Hartford, CT, make payments on my home insurance policy?

You may wonder what you should do if the premium on your home insurance policy is due tomorrow and you are away from your West Hartford, Connecticut home and can not make the payment yourself. If it is inconvenient or impossible to access your funds to make payments on your home policy, you can have someone else make those payments. As long as the insurance company receives a payment for your account, they do not care who signed the check.

If you happen to get ill and wind up having to stay in the hospital for three or four months, worrying about paying your mortgage, home insurance or other bills, is probably the furthest thing on your mind. You may be too sick to handle such tasks or you may not have access to your money. It is perfectly okay to have someone else make payments on your home policy so you do not risk having the policy canceled. Of course, you should make sure to either give them access to your funds or pay them back when you recover and are out of the hospital.

When a judge slams down the gavel and sentences you to three years in a Connecticut prison that does not mean that you will lose your home. You can arrange to have your spouse, a family member or a trusted friend to handle your financial affairs while you are incarcerated. They can make the payments on your home insurance and mortgage so when you get out of jail, you still have a place to call home.

Whether you are away on a long European vacation, stationed overseas for military service or lying in a hospital bed, you can have someone else make your home insurance payments. Give us a call and an independent agent can suggest the best way to set up an arrangement for paying your premiums when you are not able to do on your own.

Are there any policy limits on my home insurance policy in West Hartford, CT?

You as a homeowner have two values on your home. One is the value of the house, and the other is what is will cost for them to replace the house should it be totally destroyed by any number of means. According to many insurance companies across the United States and financial institutions holding home mortgages, the homeowner should consider the following and speak with an independent agent today in West Hartford, Connecticut regarding your expectations for your homeowner’s policy.

• The dwelling coverage

• Amount should be enough to rebuild your house

• Replacement cost could prove to be higher than the value of the house

• Standard coverage amount

• Increase amounts as needed

• Adding limits above the standard limits normally set

• Consider the deductible out of pocket amount

It is important that you read and review your homeowner’s policy and know what is in that policy. You do not way any surprises when you need to file a claim. Standard limits do not vary from one insurance company to another. The rates on various policies can vary. Policy limits are considered the maximum limits that your company will pay you for loss, injuries, damages, to your property.

If you want to go over the limits set by your insurance carrier, you will have to purchase an umbrella type of coverage that allows for a high limit dollar payout for damages and losses. To determine exactly how much your umbrella should cover, you will need to speak with your independent agent today in West Hartford, Connecticut. We can help you. It is important that you call us today so we can give you specific details for your circumstances.

Your independent agent in Connecticut can set you up with coverage that will help secure your house when the need arises.

In West Hartford, CT, Can I pay for my home insurance policy using someone else’s credit card?

People who live in West Hartford, Connecticut rely on credit cards to pay for almost everything. They are no different than people in Miami, Denver or Dallas. Almost every Connecticut insurance provider will give you the option of using your credit card to make a payment or payments on your home insurance policy.

One of the reasons why you might want to use your credit card to pay your premium in full when you take out home insurance is that you may qualify for a discounted rate compared to spreading out your payments over the year through the finance company. Insurance companies may give as much as a 10 percent discount if you pay all at once.

If you do not have the money sitting in the bank, it might save you some money if you put the cost of your home insurance on your credit card and then pay the card off in a couple of month. Even though credit cards have high interest rates, you will come out ahead as long as you pay off the balance in a reasonable amount of time.

Naturally, it is nice to be able to save 10 percent on your premium, but what can you do if you do not have money in the bank or a credit card with enough available credit to cover the one-time payment. You can ask your spouse to use her credit card, or if you have a really close friend, ask them to pay the premium on their charge card. As long as you get permission from the person whose card you want to use, you can pay your insurance company with another person’s credit card.

Just be sure to pay that person back as soon as you can. Any interest or other charges that are billed to the person who lent you their card are also your responsibility to pay. While it may be okay to use someone else’s card, be very careful if you do. If you do not pay them back, you may get sued and will probably lose a good friend.

If money is tight and you are thinking about using someone else’s credit card, give us a call first. An independent agent may be able to get the terms of your financing agreement changed so you can afford the premium and not impose on a friend or family member.

Can I produce bills at the end of the year and claim on my home insurance policy for small repairs carried out in West Hartford, CT?

Forget about that idea of yours that you thought of while you were sitting on your couch and eating some warmed up pizza in your West Hartford, Connecticut home. You can not go through all of your receipts for repairs you made over the year and use them to file a claim with your home insurance carrier.

You may have a lot of bills to pay and could use some extra money from your insurance company, but you can never collect for small repairs that are not due to a covered peril on your policy. If you read the terms of your home insurance policy, you will see, among other things that you have only a certain amount of time to report damage and file a claim. If, for instance, a windstorm blew off some tiles on your roof, and you ignored it for 10 months, you will be questioned as to why you did not report it back in January when it happened. Your home insurance policy requires you to report each individual incident as a separate claim.

Even if you have a bunch of legitimate small losses that are not just normal wear and tear or lack of maintenance, you can not combine incidents to make a bigger claim so it will be well above your deductible. Your kid may throw a baseball through your window and it may cost $300 to replace. Two months later, a limb may fall from a tree and put a big crack in your concrete patio. To get it patched up might cost you another $300.

We understand that money can be tight and that you do not want to pay for accidents or incidents that are covered by insurance. Give us a call and an independent agent might be able to get you a lower deductible so you can collect on smaller, individual claims that can occur throughout the year.

In West Harford, Connecticut, Can I Pay for My Car Insurance Policy by Installments Online?

For many people, convenience is a big factor when it comes to auto insurance. You likely want the easiest way to make your payments and that is often doing so online. If you are in West Hartford, Connecticut, you may be in luck. Many companies provide this service, but before you sign up consider a few things.

Should you pay for your car insurance in installments? This means you would be able to take your annual or six-month plan and divide it into smaller payments, usually monthly. This is almost always something that the insurance company offers. However, many will charge a small fee for processing your payment so frequently. If this fee is minimal and it makes it easier for you to make on time payments to your insurance company, then it is worthwhile.

In addition to this, you may want to compare the features some companies provide. Not all will provide online access to making installment payments. Some will require you to set up installments that automatically withdraw from your bank account each month. This may be something you can manage on the company’s website. If you are able to access your account online, be sure to consider other features that may be available, such as access to claims, vehicle policy features, and even to add to your policy.

In today’s world, having the ability to make payments online is critical. If this matters to you, turn to our independent agent for help in finding a provider that will work with you. West Hartford, Connecticut companies do offer this type of auto policy to many consumers, but you may want to ensure it is available if you are purchasing a policy from a new company.

If I have an older car whose current market value is very low in West Hartford, Connecticut, Do I really need to purchase automobile insurance?

You can not drive any automobile in the state of Connecticut without having auto insurance. Even if you have an old clunker that you use to get back and forth to work in West Hartford, you need to have automobile insurance.

Now, the type of coverage you must have to comply with the financial responsibility laws in Connecticut, is limited to liability coverage. The state requires you to carry bodily injury and property damage liability insurance in case you have an accident and are found to be responsible for causing injury or damage to another person or another person’s property.

Your old car, with a market value that is probably less than the monthly take-home pay of the average worker in West Hartford, Connecticut, is not required to have comprehensive and collision coverage. Comprehensive and collision auto insurance provides coverage for your vehicle, not for liability claims by other parties.

Many times it does not make sense to pay the extra premium to have full coverage on your 15 year old car that has a market value of maybe $1,000. Your car may be in perfect condition and very valuable to you, but it still is only worth a $1,000. If it costs you $200 extra to add collision and comprehensive to your auto insurance policy and you have a $500 deductible, you would be paying $200 to get up to a maximum of $500 of insurance. That is not too smart.

We often advise our clients to either avoid this coverage on vehicles with low market value or take out a policy with a very low deductible like $100 or $250. If you have an old car and are not sure what coverage you should have, give us a call. An independent agent will be happy to lay out the facts and recommend a good and affordable automobile policy for you.

I have towing and labor coverage on my auto insurance policy in West Hartford, Connecticut, Does it only come into effect after an accident?

Your auto policy gives you a level of protection and a peace of mind as you operate your car on a daily basis. When you are involved in an accident you will end up having to get your car fixed at a repair shop. In order for you to have your current car taken to a repair shop and have another car you must have towing and rental car coverage. Here are some things that these benefits that can help you through a tough time.

The Benefits of Having Towing and Rental Car Coverage

  • The benefit of towing is a coverage that can be used anytime your car breaks down and you have to have assistance to get back on the road. The insurance company will send a tow truck to the car and if they cannot fix it on location, they will then take the vehicle to the nearest approved repair shop.
  • Rental car coverage is directly linked to your car being disabled. If you are without your car because of an accident, the insurance company will cover the cost to get you a car until your own vehicle is up and running. In some cases if you get a rental that is not related to an accident, the liability may extend to a rental for pleasure purposes.

If you live in the West Hartford, Connecticut area and have questions about your car insurance coverage, then please call your independent agent today. We can help you with your insurance needs that is why it’s important that you give us a call so that we can give you specific details for your circumstances. We can also answer all of your current questions and get you the policy that will cover your driving situation.

Will my auto insurance cover me if I am hit by an uninsured motorist in West Hartford, Connecticut?

No one should drive on the road without car insurance as it is against the law in West Hartford, Connecticut and any other state. If you are insured and your auto is hit by an uninsured motorist, you need to call the police to make a report. Hopefully the driver does not leave the scene. If they do leave, get their license plate number off the auto, make and model, and color of the auto. Call your independent agent as soon as possible.

If the driver does stay until the police arrive, get their name and address off their drivers license. Take photos if possible and try to get a quick photo of the driver in case they leave the area, which is common. Take care of any injuries first and then call your independent agent.

You should carry uninsured motorist coverage on your policy. Your coverage will pay for all of your damages. If you are seriously injured and you have reached the limits of your coverage, you may have to seek an accident attorney on your behalf to file a lawsuit.

Keep in mind that a lack of money is one big reason why a lot of people do not have car coverage. If you file a lawsuit, you may not be able to get anything from the suit. Your company may also try to file a law suit against the other driver.

If the driver offers to pay for the damages, you still must call your insurance company. The driver just does not want to get caught without coverage on their car. It is likely that this person has no money anyway.

If you are hit by an uninsured motorist, it is important that you give your independent agent in West Hartford, Connecticut, a call right away as we can give you specific details of your circumstances.

Distracted driving, it’s effects & statistics

When you are driving, it is important to give the road your full attention. Eating while steering, changing the channel on the radio, and or using your car GPS system are seemingly harmless activities that can have deadly consequences. Marlborough drivers can benefit from recognizing the behaviors that contribute to distracted driving and why these behaviors are so dangerous.

What is Distracted Driving?

Distracted driving can refer to any activity that causes a driver to lose their focus on the road. However, common distracting activities that drivers engage in include:

  • Texting or talking on a cell phone.
  • Talking to passengers in the car.
  • Eating or drinking foods and beverages while driving.
  • Reading maps or using a GPS system in the car.

To keep safe, it is recommended that drivers refrain from these activities while they are operating a vehicle. As a rule of thumb, an activity is a distraction if it reduces your ability to see or hear fully while you are driving.

Just How Serious in Distracted Driving?

The dangers of distracted driving are well documented. The U.S. government website for distracted driving highlights the severity of the problem through the following statistics:

  • In 2011, over 3,000 drivers were killed in crashes that involved distracted drivers.
  • In 2010, distracted driving contributed to 18 percent of all crashes that resulted in an injury.
  • Text messaging while driving makes it 23 times more likely that a driver will be involved in a crash.
  • A driver’s reaction time decreases by 18 percent when using a cell phone.

As these statistics show, habits that reduce a driver’s focus greatly increase a driver’s likelihood of getting in an accident.

What if I Receive a Citation for Distracted Driving?

Connecticut takes distracted driving very seriously and specifically restricts cell phone use by drivers. Connecticut prohibits all drivers from talking or sending text messages while operating a motor vehicle. However, Marlborough drivers should note that the police in Connecticut may pull you over for other behaviors that they interpret to be distracting.

An independent agent can assist you if you are cited for distracted driving. While insurance providers take distracted driving seriously, one citation typically will not lead to increased premiums. However, multiple tickets may place you in a higher risk category. An independent agent can help you determine how a citation for distracted driving may impact your rates and help you keep your rates low if you are shopping for a new policy.