​Liability Insurance Exclusion
Drivers involved in car pools and other group arrangements may wonder if the situation is covered under their auto policy. This concern is valid as many auto policies have restrictions.

• Typically, liability coverage under personal automobile policies does not apply to "…liability arising out of the ownership or operation of a vehicle while it is being used as a public or livery conveyance." (A public conveyance is a vehicle used indiscriminately in transporting the public without being limited to certain persons or occasions. A livery vehicle is one that is offered for rental). There is slight variation in language among policies issued by various insurers, but the intent is the same: to exclude the use of a personal auto for transporting people or property for income.
• However, this exclusion does not affect coverage for car pool, driver group, and share-the-ride arrangements.

​Feel free to call our office today. Most transactions such as quotes, binding and payments can be handled from the comfort of your home.

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• Auto insurers price their policies based on a number of factors. Sometimes these cost factors go up, and sometimes they go down. In most states, costs are currently rising. Your actions, as a policyholder, can affect what you pay, too. For instance, if you add another car, or a teenaged driver to your policy, your costs will increase. Alternatively, your costs will decrease if you drop either a car or a driver from your policy.
• But there are also other factors outside of your control that could cause rates to increase, such as the crashes other people are involved in. The number of crashes, and the cost of these crashes, are a component of auto insurance pricing in every state. For example, drivers living in large metropolitan areas are likely to pay more. This is simply because more cars, therefore more crowded roadways, increase the number of car crashes in those cities. On top of all that, speed limits are also being raised. Speed is the single-biggest contributor to crashes in which driver error is cited as the cause. Distracted driving is an issue everywhere. In big cities and small, people texting, talking or otherwise occupied with another activity while driving is being blamed in part for more crashes.
• Auto insurance covers more than vehicle repair. It also covers the cost of injured crash victims’ medical care and lost wages as well as the repairs and/or replacement of vehicles and any property damaged in a crash. In recent years, medical and auto body repair costs have increased at a rate much faster than inflation. Legal costs have gone up, too.
• Another trend affecting the cost of auto insurance is that with the unemployment rate falling, more people are driving both to and from work. And with more disposable income, they are presumably driving more for leisure. They also have the means to purchase more expensive cars. And while many of these cars have all types of safety features that might help in accident avoidance, these cars’ often high-tech components are also more expensive to fix and replace once damaged.
• Auto insurers are committed to reducing U.S. crash rates. They fund the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), support efforts to combat distracted driving as well as drunk or drugged driving. In addition, auto insurers offer discounts to policyholders who take defensive driving courses or drive fewer miles.

Consumers can take proactive and positive steps to reduce auto insurance costs. Talk to one of our insurance agents to make sure you’re getting all the discounts to which you’re entitled. We always shop around to see if another auto insurer offers you a policy which meets your needs at a lower cost.

​Since a BOP is prepackaged, there is only one policy to review and it can be more cost effective than purchasing separate policies. Additional coverage can be added in the form of endorsements or riders.
Since a BOP insurance policy is specifically designed for small and medium-sized businesses, the type of business can influence eligibility. Normally, companies with 100 employees or fewer and revenues of up to about $5 million or less are candidates for a BOP. Some types of businesses, such as restaurants, may be ineligible for a BOP because of the specific risks inherent in the business and may need to consider buying the individual coverages separately.
Combining three insurance policies into one package
In a single, convenient package, a BOP provides the core insurance that most small businesses need, including:
Property insurance—Protection for your building or office space, as well as property owned by your business, such as equipment and inventory.
Liability insurance—Coverage for costs that arise if someone is injured at your business or by using your products or services.
Business interruption insurance—Also known as Business Income insurance, this coverage replaces lost revenues in the event that your business has to shut down due to fire, wind damage or other covered losses.
You can tailor a BOP to meet your needs
It’s important to understand that a BOP doesn’t cover all risks associated with running a small business and the coverage limits are usually lower. If you have employees, you may be required to carry workers compensation insurance, depending on your state. If you have a business-owned vehicle, you’ll need coverage beyond your personal car insurance. You might also consider insurance for relatively new risks such as computer system break-in or business identity theft.
There are unique risks associated with your small business; an insurance professional can help you find the coverages that are right for you. Here are some other types of insurance to explore and ask about:

• Professional liability insurance
• Employee practices liability insurance
• Business vehicle insurance
• Workers compensation
• Health and disability
• Flood and sewer back-up
• Cyber Risk insurance
• Terrorism insurance

Increasing your coverage with excess and umbrella insurance
You can increase the protection provided by your BOP and other business insurance policies by adding an excess liability or umbrella insurance policy. This type of supplemental policy boosts your coverage beyond the limits of your primary insurance policies. Depending on the policy, your umbrella coverage is designed to broaden and increase coverage, “filling in the gaps” left by other types of liability insurance by covering additional areas of risk and even reimbursing you for deductibles. Your insurance professional can advise you about combining an umbrella policy with a BOP or other business insurance.
It may sound like a dance craze from the 1950s, but a BOP—a Business Owners Policy—can protect your small business against today’s most common risks. Fire, burglary, liability and business interruption losses are all covered under a BOP. We invite you to “Bop” on over to our agency for a no-obligation review of your business insurance needs.

​Since candles and lighting equipment are very common for Halloween decorations, be sure to follow the below safety tips if you decide to use them this year:
Decorations:

• Use a battery-operated candle or glow stick in jack-o-lanterns.
• Dried flowers, cornstalks, and crepe paper often will catch fire very easily. Keep all of your decorations away from open flames and other sources of heat (light bulbs and heaters).
• Keep the exits of your home clear of decorations for an easy escape in case of emergency. It is a good idea to check your smoke alarms if you will be using electrical equipment.
• When buying decoration lights, make sure they have been lab-tested and have no frays or damages in the cords.
• Electrical outlets can be overloaded, especially when powering a lot of decorations. Make sure you unplug any decorations before going to bed or leaving the home.
• Never use indoor lights outside or outdoor lights inside.

Costumes:

• Avoid costumes with long trailing fabric.
• If possible, purchase costumes or fabrics that are not flammable.
• Use makeup instead of a mask. If using a mask, make sure that the eye holes are large enough for the child to easily see out of them.
• Teach your kids to “Stop! Drop! & Roll!”
• Avoid over-sized costumes and shoes.

It is not a hard task to determine whether you require comprehensive coverage for your car. However, before you make the decision to buy comprehensive coverage, you need to have a good understanding of how it works. Comprehensive coverage is intended to cover a variety of physical damage claims, such as windshield and body damage, vandalism, and contact with an animal. Here is some information about why you need comprehensive car insurance.
Do You Have a Loan on the Car?
Lenders usually require physical damage coverage on the cars they have financed to drivers. Comprehensive is usually a portion of such mandatory coverage.
When you sign the contract for a loan, you agree to protect the car against physical damage by buying both collision and comprehensive coverage. You can end up having to deal with expensive penalties if you fail to notify your lender about your insurance coverage. You should ask your auto insurance agent to add your lender as a loss payee for the car. Doing this will ensure your lender is immediately notified of the coverage in case an accident occurs.
What Is Your Level of Risk for Having a Comprehensive Claim?
If you have a high level of risk for having a comprehensive claim, you should get comprehensive auto insurance. Some factors that will put you at high risk of having a comprehensive claim include living in a tornado alley or packing your car under a half-dead tall tree every night. Indeed, any driver can benefit from this coverage. However, for some people it’s worth more than others.
You should take the time to evaluate your risks before deciding whether to get comprehensive car insurance. In general, one would file a comprehensive auto insurance claim for damage to your car caused by the following:

• Falling objects like a tree limb
• Explosions or fire
• Lightning, floods, or hail from tornadoes, thunderstorms, or hurricanes
• Theft
• Vandalism and certain civil disobedience
• Hitting an animal

The higher the risk is for a comprehensive claim, the more you should consider getting the coverage.
What Is the Value of the Vehicle?
 If the value of your vehicle is high, this will help you decide whether it is worthwhile to pay for comprehensive auto insurance. If the vehicle isn’t worth much anymore, then coverage might not be worth the investment.
How Much Does Comprehensive Coverage Cost?
You will be happy to know that comprehensive coverage tends to be reasonably priced. As long as you are not considered a high-risk driver, comprehensive coverage is typically worth the price. Even an older car with minimal value is likely worth the replacement of a windshield from damage.
For more information about comprehensive coverage, don't hesitate to contact us.

​Autumn is a great time of year to enjoy a ride on your motorcycle.
It’s also a great time to check out your insurance needs
Choosing the right insurance policy is much like choosing the right motorcycle. You want it to fit your needs and lifestyle, but at the same time be within your budget. Although most states require you to carry a minimum amount of liability coverage, other types of coverage are usually optional. Our insurance agents can tell you which laws apply in your state.
In order to find out what coverage is best for you; it is important to understand all the options available.
Call or stop by our office today for a no-obligation review of your motorcycle insurance needs.