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Spring time is in full bloom. This also means so are thunderstorms. Now is the ideal time to review your homeowners insurance, and even your car insurance to understand what may or may not be covered from fallen tree damage caused by storms.
Here are five important things to keep in mind:
1. Your homeowners insurance likely covers tree removal (for fallen trees) and damage repairs for your home and other insured structures, such as fences. 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 fall due to neglect, you may not receive any coverage.
2. If there's no damage, there's likely no insurance coverage. For example, 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 you 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 pay 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 in the first place.
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.
Tips for Filing an Insurance Claim for a Fallen Tree
- Take Photos
- Provide as many details as possible
- Be prepared to pay your deductible
Spring is here, the lake levels are up, and you're ready to get out on the water. But, is your boat ready?
Even if you've kept it properly stored for the winter and protected from the elements, there are still a number of things you need to do before hitting your local lakes and rivers.
While much of your focus will be on the boat itself, don't forget other important things, such as your trailor, your vessel registration, and of course, your watercraft insurance coverage.
As for the boat and trailer, click here to check out these tips from Discover Boating.
People drive distracted every day in every community across the country. Distracting driving involves any activity that could divert a person's attention away from the primary task of driving. These types of distractions include: texting, using a cell phone, eating and drinking, grooming, reading - including a map, using a navigation system, watching a video, adjusting a radio. But, because text messaging requires visual, manual and cognitive attention from the driver, it is by far the most alarming distration. In 2013, 3,154 peopler were killed in motor vehicle crashes involving distracted drivers and another 434,000 people were injured. To learn more and to take action against distracted driving visit www.distraction.gov. Be a safety advocate for your friends, family, and neighbors.
Professionals that operate their own businesses need professional liability insurance in addition to an in-home business or business owners policy. This protects them against financial losses from lawsuits filed against them by their clients.
Professionals are expected to have extensive technical knowledge or training in their particular area of expertise. They are also expected to perform the services for which they were hired, according to the standards of conduct in their profession. If they fail to use the degree of skill expected of them, they can be held responsible in a court of law for any harm they cause to another person or business. When liability is limited to acts of negligence, professional liability insurance may be called "errors and omissions" liability.
Professional liability insurance is a specialty coverage. Professional liability coverage is not provided under home-owners endorsements, in-home business policies or business-owners policies (BOPs).
What does Professional Liability Insurance cover?
Professional liability insurance protects you in cases of faulty service (errors) or failure to provide a service altogether (omission). This type of insurance coverage pays the cost of your defense and any damages awarded (up to policy limits). Insurance companies have developed many specialized policy forms that respond to the individual risks of particular professions and services.
LET US CHOOSE THE COVERAGE THAT’S RIGHT FOR YOU
There are no “standard” policy wordings for Professional Liability Insurance. Each policy must be tailored to fit your specific exposure needs. An engineer, a doctor and a computer programmer all have different exposures; thus, the same policy would not be adequate for all.
Paschall Insurance Group has experienced specialty agents that will consult and guide you through the process of ensuring you have the best coverage that best fits your specific needs.
For the third year in a row, Paschall Insurance Group has been selected for membership into the Safeco Premier Partner Program. This program recognizes the outstanding achievement and partnership of only the best insurance agencies.
Fewer than 10% of independent insurance agencies that sell Safeco personal lines products receive this distinguished honor.
At Paschall Insurance Group, we are pleased to be among the top agencies in the country!
As a member in the Safeco Premier Partner Program, Paschall Insurance Group will continue to receive access to special resources and programs that will support us in serving our customers even better.
We strive to provide our customers with trusted guidance, so this continued Safeco honor makes us proud!
