Claims – Avant-Garde Insurance Advisors

Aside from car insurance, how else can you protect your car?

February was car insurance month at AG. The question I asked at the beginning of the month was, In addition to car insurance, what else can you do to protect your car from damage? The answer I was looking for was…

Be a good driver.

Car insurance is only one way to protect your car from damage. You should view your car as an investment and should look for ways to protect it from loss.

This includes not speeding, signaling correctly, following signs/signals correctly, etc. Per NHSTA, car accidents are on the rise since the pandemic due to more reckless driving behaviors, such as speeding, following too closely, etc..

What about distracted driving? Distracted driving is one of the top contributing factors for car accidents. Find out more here.

In addition, you should make sure you are doing what you can to make sure your car is not damaged when not being driven. This includes not parking it in a questionable neighborhood where care thefts or vandalism is an issue. Making sure the vehicle is locked at all times and personal items are not in sight for vandals, can go along way in protecting your vehicle.

Also consider, weather related concerns, such as trees falling on your car and flooding. These types of weather related events could result in your car being deemed a total loss. If there is a storm coming in make sure to secure your car on higher ground to prevent flooding and away from trees that fall on the car.

Car insurance was originally designed to cover major losses to your car that you were not financially able to handle on your own. It is not considered maintenance insurance or to handle small dings and scrapes.

With the large number of car accidents occurring each year, insurance companies may need to adjust their insurance ratings to accommodate for the increase in losses, which is ultimately passed on to its policyholders. By being a good driver and car owner you can help maintain your own insurance policy rating better and protect your own future insurability.

While your car is one of your first major investments, it also holds great responsibility. With ownership of a car comes the legal responsibilities. You could be liable for damages to others whether intended or not.

Do I need Other Structure coverage on my home insurance?

This is a common question which I often hear from my clients. This question often comes up when we are reviewing a policy to save money. This question may also occur when someone is buying their first home. While you may feel you don’t need the coverage it can be invaluable at the time of a claim.

In order to understand to important of this coverage it is worth looking at how we define what is the Dwelling and what is Other Structures.

A typical definition for dwelling is, “The dwelling on the “residence premises shown in the Declarations, including structures attached to the dwelling.”

The typical definition for Other Structures is, “We cover other structures on the “residence premises” set apart from the dwelling by clear space. This includes structures connected to the dwelling by only a fence, utility line, or similar connection.”

Based on the above definitions, Other Structures could be a fence, garage, shed, pool, cabana, patio, etc.

You may feel you don’t have any structures on your property that meets the definition of Other Structures but here is the catch – Other Structures is automatic coverage on the policy and is already built into the price. It does not cost you additional money or added to the policy to bump up the cost.

The amount for Other Structures is based on a percentage of the Dwelling amount listed or primary structure value which may be 10%, 20% or 30% of the Dwelling amount listed based on the insurance company.

That being said you may want more coverage than is automatically provided. This is important to discuss if you have several Other Structures or Custom Structures on your property. This often is the case with farm properties which are no longer an active farm. Also, water front properties that have boat lifts, docks, boat houses, etc.

While you may feel you do not have anything that qualifies as Other Structures, you may in the future. You could build a pool, a garage, a fence that meets the definition of Other Structures. It is always best to have more coverage than you think you need than to not have enough coverage at the time of a claim. Other Structures is a valuable coverage which you should give careful consideration and be discussed with your insurance agent when reviewing your home insurance for adequate coverage.

9 home insurance coverages you should have and 2 you should discuss with your insurance agent

Homeowners insurance is kind of like cars. You have the base year, make, model and then you have add-ons. A car can come with a package or a group of features or you can add features a la carte. Homeowners insurance is similar, but more complex. A home insurance policy comes with the basics which I cover in this video. You should never purchase the basic policy without looking into the add-ons. If you are not sure what home insurance coverage you should have, here is a list of the top 9 coverages or endorsements you should have in your home insurance policy and 2 you should ask your insurance agent about.

Special Coverage for Dwelling –Insurance professionals may call this allrisks or open perils but it refers to the same coverage. A basic home insurance policy is typically written to include only 16 types of claims. However, if you add this coverage or endorsement it will open the policy to cover home claims, excluding 11 types of claims. Essentially you can have a policy that only covers claims that are listed or have a policy with 11 exclusions.

Special Coverage for Personal Property – Like the coverage for dwelling you can have either specific claims covered or specific claims excluded.

Replacement Cost for Dwelling – Without Replacement Cost coverage the policy would settle claims based on actual cash value. Most home owners want to be put back to their original home condition versus less. Furthermore when you have Replacement Cost coverage on your dwelling you should have an additional limit or cushion available should you need more than the dwelling amount for a total rebuild of your home. I recommend at least 150% to start.

Replacement Cost for Personal Property – Without this coverage claims would be settled on a depreciated value basis. Most people do not want to buy used personal items or shop at Good Will. If you want new for old then you will need this coverage.

Water Back-Up coverage – a homeowners policy does not include coverage for the back-up and overflow of drains inside your home without adding this coverage to the policy. Any drainage systems inside your home can back-up and overflow causing damage to not only the interior of your home but also to personal items. According to iPropertyManagement the average amount for a home water claim is $10,000.

Personal Injury – While many of us would not purposely attack another person you could be potentially accused or sued for it. This coverage may include slander, libel, defamation of character, invasion of privacy, mental anguish, assault, etc. Without this coverage you would be out of pocket for an attorney to defend you whether the accusations were true or not.

Identity Fraud – This type of event is so common place today that we are almost immune when it is announced that there was data breach. That being said such an event can be damaging to any one, with long term financial consequences. This coverage is minimal cost and worth having.

Service Line Coverage – Our homes are connected to an infrastructure of water lines. There are some areas of Baltimore and Maryland that are older and more susceptible to failure. A water line on your property that collapses causing water to back flow into your home can damage not only the inside of your home but personal items as well. The local community, city, and county will not fit the bill. Ultimately the home owner will if this coverage is not added to your home policy.

Equipment Breakdown – Homeowners insurance is not a warranty program. If an internal appliance, such as the HVAC system fails, the homeowners insurance will not pay to repair or replace the system. Insurance companies have gotten wise to the issues that come with home ownership and the cost of new appliances today. Without this valuable coverage you will be out of pocket to repair or replace your appliances should they fail.

Bonus Coverages:

Loss Assessment – It is very common for communities to have homeowners associations. If a severe weather event were to occur and damage portions of the community the by laws of the homeowners associations may allow them to charge back to home owners in the community an amount to cover damages. Without the appropriate amount of coverage you could be out of pocket thousands of dollars.

Ordinance & Law – Following on Loss Assessments homeowners associations may also require that your home have a certain esthetic look; roof type, siding, etc. This is common in golf communities. Also for homes located in coastal areas, mountainous terrain, etc. you may need to build to a certain code dictated by the city, county or state.

While this is not an all-inclusive list these are the coverages or endorsements that are added and/or discussed with my clients when reviewing their home insurance policy or quoting alternative options. Some of these coverages are new and were created as a result of the changing times. Some of these coverages have always been available but not used by agents. Regardless, as a home owner you should be aware of the various options available and discuss with your insurance agent on the best ways to protect your home.

If you haven’t reviewed your home insurance policy recently its time to call your insurance agent. A good agent will not only review your current policy for coverage gaps but discuss ways to fill those gaps.

What are the steps to an insurance claim? Fight!

When it comes to insurance claims there a few simple steps to follow…

Get to safety. Move your vehicle out of the flow of traffic.
Confirm everyone is okay and call 9-1-1 if medical attention is needed.
Call police if anyone is hurt, a party flees the scene, or you are uncomfortable with the situation.
Determine drivability of vehicles. Call for a tow truck if necessary.
Exchange insurance, vehicle, and driver info. For the claim.
Do not admit fault for the incident.
Report the claim once you arrive home safely.

There is one part of the claim that is not covered but I feel is absolutely necessary… Fight for your claim!

Lately I have had a bad run of insurance claims and bad claims experiences. For that reason I feel the last step for a new claim should be to fight. If you are not 200% satisfied with your claim, then fight. If you do not feel you are being treated fairly. Fight! If you do not feel you are being put back to where you were before the claim. Then fight! Do not let your claim just run its course without questioning each aspect of the claim.

Here are a few of my own personal claim experiences…

A claim adjustor attempted to electronically transfer funds to my personal bank account to have a new roof put on by a contractor selected by the claim adjustor. A contractor I did not know or had even heard of before. I had to get three estimates from three other contractors due to a discrepancy in cost. The other estimates were all higher than the claim adjustor’s contractor and the claim adjustor still insisted on their own estimate.

***You do not need to accept the estimate or the contractor recommended by the claim adjustor. You also are not required to get more than one estimate for the necessary repairs, and estimates should be free.

A claim adjustor telling me I did not request OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) glass in my vehicle. I had to remind the claim adjustor that their calls were recorded for “quality training purposes” and they should listen to the call when I reported the claim and repeatedly requested OEM glass for my vehicle.

***If you are paying additional money for OEM parts or other added coverages for your vehicle then you are entitled to use those coverages during the claim. You should not accept less than what you paid for. Knowing what is included in your policy and understanding how the policy should perform is important during the claim process. An insurance agent is a huge resource for this.

A claim adjustor telling me it only costs $300 for a plain piece of glass for the back window of my vehicle that is manufacturer tinted, on a hinge system, with a heating element, and an open sensor.

***Find a body shop that you know, like, and trust to do excellent work, can complete the work timely, and can help you manage the claim process. You are not required to use the preferred or recommended body shop from your insurance company. They may not know the intricacies of your vehicle. Also have an excellent mechanic that you know, like, and trust if there are issues with your vehicle during and after the claim, you may want your mechanic to be involved.

A claim adjustor declining to accept a claim for their policyholder that was drinking and driving and struck my parked, unoccupied vehicle in the middle of night, which was confirmed by a police report.

*** You can report it to your own insurance company and they will subrogate against the responsible party on your behalf. They may even waive your deductibles if they are able to get the other insurance company to accept fault for the claim.

I have been involved with hundreds of claims and appreciate the knowledge I gain from each any every claim. However, I believe everyone should be treated fairly, that the claim process should be stress free, and you should be put back the way you were before the claim. This is what I want for everyone. I don’t think you are asking too much of your insurance company.

My role is not to just to sell an insurance policy, my job is to advocate on your behalf to make sure you are treated right and are happy at the end of the day. This goes for the policy and claims.

This is not a bash on insurance companies or the insurance industry. Insurance companies due wonderful things for their policyholders (they are giving premium refunds to their policyholders right now), and there are absolutely wonderful claim adjusters out there. I have spoken to many of them. I am just an insurance professional providing insurance policies for 20+ years that is frustrated by the claims process. If I am frustrated then I know I am not alone with that complaint.

I can not guarantee you that you will get everything you want or will be 200% satisfied every time but you should not take a claim process laying down. You should not go with the flow. Your home, your vehicle, your business is an asset. It is an investment. It is an investment in you. Take control of your claim and fight!

Googling homeowners insurance could spell disaster for you.

Have your ever Googled your symptoms even though you know you should’nt only to find out you are dying in the next five minutes?!?

I have done it. I was recently diagnosed with a difficult form of eczema but had convinced myself after Googling my symptoms that I had skin cancer. After hemming and hawing I decided to put on my big girl pants and talk to a professional – my dermatologist. She quickly settled my nerves and told me that greasy lotion was my new best friend and that feeling like a greased pig was a new way of life now.

That’s like Googling home insurance and going with the first website that promises you cheap home insurance. It may seem easier and less stressful to do it yourself but you don’t really know what you need or what’s available. Only an professional can do that.

According to a study completed by JD Power in 2016 74% of new insurance purchasers will begin the buying process online. Of those consumers 25% will purchase insurance online. The rest use other methods, such as insurance agents or insurance company call centers. Now consider that 60% of homes in the US are under insured as stated by Marshall & Swift/Boeckh, and per Insurance Information Institute 1 in 20 homes will have a home claim each year. Those are some scary statistics from my perspective.

I know asking for help is difficult sometimes. My husband easily comes to mind when it comes to asking for help, asking for directions, or visiting a doctor. Hearing, “Honey, you were right.” always feels good. There is a reason there are doctors and there is a reason why there are Insurance Agents. It’s because we need them.

You may think by Googling and searching through a couple options that you have the right insurance. You can’t tell from seeing a few websites what you are getting until you are knee deep in a claim and you are hearing the word “denial” from your claim adjustor when you realize you may need a professional.

You are not paying extra money by using an Insurance Agent. You are asking for some one to build a relationship and trust with you. You are asking for an Insurance Agent to help you insure your home and auto adequately and to educate you about what is available to you. So ask for help and don’t go it alone. You will be glad you have some one to call if and when something happens.

Halloween Fun & Safety!

Tomorrow is officially Halloween 2019. Many kids are eagerly awaiting this big day. In preparation below are some tips for keeping the holiday fun and safe.

Tips for home owners:

Keep walk ways clear of debris and leaves to reduce the chance of slip and falls.
Have the walk way to your home clearly marked and if possible lit.
Keep pets crated or in another room to reduce the chance of your pet escaping or a child being injured if your pet nips or jumps.
When giving out candy to small children you may wish to confirm with the parent if the child can have hard candy that may cause choking and/or candy with peanuts or milk that could cause an allergic reaction
When traveling go extra slow in communities and where you see trick or treaters.

Tips for trick or treaters:

Keep costumes at ankle length or shorter to prevent trips and falls.
Wear a light or other device to make others aware of your presence when walking sidewalks, walkways, driveways, roads, etc.
Remove face masks and covers when walking from home to home to reduce injury.
Make sure you monitor your small children with their candy to make sure they do not consume it before you have had the chance to inventory it.

The photos above are my minions over the years. I am excited to capture an image of them for my collection tomorrow. Stay tuned!

Why Do I Need Renters Insurance?

For many their first home is a rental unit or an apartment. I also did this for a few years. When you go to sign the leasing agreement the leasing office will require proof that you have renters insurance. This is the main reason you purchase renters insurance.

The second reason to purchase reason is to protect you, the renter. There are a few coverages that are important for a renter of a unit or an apartment to have.

Contents or Personal Property – This is all the stuff you put into the unit/apartment; furniture, clothing, pots/pans/dishes, electronics, etc. If you lose everything in a fire will you have the money to replace all of your personal belongings?
Loss of Use – If you have a covered claim and you are unable to live in your unit/apartment. This coverage will cover the cost of a hotel, apartment, etc. temporarily. You will still be responsible for the rent on your unit/apartment unless the leasing company decides to let you break lease.
Personal Liability – If someone slips in your unit/apartment and decides to sue you for medical costs and/or inability to work, etc. this is coverage to pay for the damages or to settle the suit. If found liable for a traumatic event your wages can be garnished by the courts if necessary.
Medical Payments – If the same person that slips in your unit/apartment needs medical attention this is good will dollars to get them necessary emergency care.

In addition to these standard coverages you should consider the following additional coverages.

Replacement Cost Coverage for Contents/Personal Property – After a covered claim you will want new furniture, clothing, etc. not used.
Personal Injury – If you are accused of libel, slander, defamation of character whether true or not you will want coverage which can be provided through this endorsement.
Identity Fraud – Now that you are taking on more responsibilities you have a higher exposure to an identity fraud event, which can have long term consequences if you are unable to undo the damage.
Water Back-Up – If a drainage system in your unit/apartment backs up into your home you will need coverage for the repairs and personal property damaged. You must add this endorsement to yours renters policy in order to have coverage for this type of loss. This is the #1 cause of home claims across the country.

Many renters assume the leasing company or property manager will cover the cost of a loss to your unit/apartment. The leasing office/property manage can still hold you responsible for the damages and they will not cover you for the loss of your personal belongings or your liability as the occupant of the unit/apartment.

Overall the cost of renters insurance is minimal at around $200 a year or $15 monthly. While renters insurance may feel unnecessary it is important in order to maintain your financial independence.

Why you need an insurance agent

At the end of July I had what I would call a traumatic insurance event. I was woken up one night by my husband saying the police were knocking on our door. It turns out an impaired driver had struck my SUV while parked outside our home. As I glanced out my window I could not see damage to my SUV but what I found shortly there after was my vehicle was a total loss.

My SUV immediately following the collision at 4am on July 24th.

I don’t know about other people but I loved my SUV. It took me a month to commit to buying her and I was diligent in maintaining her. I invested my time and money in maintaining the condition of my vehicle. I also enjoy the independence of having my own vehicle at my disposal at all times.

As an insurance professional I thought it would be smooth sailing but it was not. Between negotiating vehicle values to the rental car shuffle, nothing went as I thought it would. I was in four different rental vehicles while trying to get back to where I was before this claim began.

I am finally at the tail end of the claim and this is what I have learned.

Get towing coverage, whether through your auto insurance policy or a AAA membership. Get it! To drag my SUV onto a flat bed tow truck off of the curb the cost was over $400. Also, have the number of a tow company you trust for those 4am tow emergencies.
Get rental reimbursement coverage and buy it up to a minimum of $50 per day. For someone like me that drives a full size SUV with two small children in carseats and a 6’2″ tall husband you need more than the $30 per day limit. A full size SUV today is $90 per day if you are not the insurance company.
Know the value of your vehicle when you are reporting the claim and research similar vehicles as comparables so you are not surprised by the value the insurance company estimates.
In my case my gut told me my vehicle was totaled. If you have any inkling that your vehicle is totaled start finding a replacement vehicle as soon as possible. I did not want another vehicle. I delayed the process and had a hard time committing in the end.

The shock and suspension falling off the undercarriage of my vehicle.

If you have a good insurance agent they will help guide you through the claim process and give you tips and tricks to help make it as smooth as possible. Some claims will go smoothly and others will not. When the big claim comes along you will want someone on your side to help you along the way, if not just to vent to. I don’t wish claims on any one but if a claim happens I want to be there for them.

What you need to know about selecting a home deductible.

When looking at insurance quotes our eyes automatically drift to the bottom line premium quoted. But what about all the stuff above it? Not all home quotes and/or policies are created equal. One of the key parts of a home quote and/or policy is the deductible. Below is a list of things to keep in mind as you consider a home quote and/or policy.

Some deductibles are flat and some deductibles are percentages. Percentages are typically used in coastal areas where there is a higher probability of wind, hurricane, etc. A percentage deductible is based on the dwelling value listed in the policy. If the dwelling value increases the deductible increases as well.
Some deductibles are specific to a type of coverage; Water Back-Up, Water Damage, Hurricane, Tropical Cyclone, Named Storm, Wind/Hail, etc. You may also see the term All Other Peril which means where a specific deductible is not identified the All Other Peril deductible applies.
A home policy can have multiple deductibles which can be a problem if a claim triggers more than one deductible. Understanding how each deductible applies at the time of a claim is important.
Some deductibles are dictated or required by the insurance company. This decision can be based on where the home is located, such as coastal. One insurance company may require a higher deductible than another insurance company.
Some home policies waive the deductible for large claims or a total loss claim. Knowing when a deductible waiver applies is important. This can be beneficial in deciding on a high deductible.
Some companies offer a reducing deductible if you remain claim free.

It is important when you are reviewing a home quote that you be aware of the deductibles. While a high deductible will reduce the policy premium, a high deductible can be detrimental if you can not afford the deductible at the time of a claim or the losses that occur are below the deductible. An insurance agent can help you review all the deductibles applicable to a quote and/or policy. An agent can also help you select a deductible that fits your financial situation while providing you the most advantageous premium.

National Insurance Awareness Day, June 28th

This Friday, June 28^th is National Insurance Awareness. The day was created to encourage everyone across the nation to review their insurance policies.

Below are some tips to help you observe the day:

Home:

Review the home value. The value of the home should be based on current construction costs, not market value. You should review the home value every 3 to 5 years.
- Review the home credits. If you have installed an alarm or have turned your alarm service off you should update the home policy accordingly.
- Review the deductible. The higher the deductible the lower the premium. Also a higher deductible will discourage you from filing small claims which can impact your ability to obtain coverage in the future.
- Review the endorsements included in the policy. If you have switched insurance companies recently a coverage may have been dropped during the process.

Auto:

Review drivers listed on the policy. All licensed drivers residing in your home should be listed on the auto policy. Failure to do so could result in a denied claim for unlisted drivers.
- Review ownership of the vehicle. If the loan or lease agreement has been satisfied update the policy. This will prevent delays in payment at claim time. Any change in titled ownership should also be reflected on the policy or a new policy purchased for the vehicle.
- Review deductibles. Insurance companies continually increase the price breaks for higher deductibles. As with the home insurance a higher deductible will save you premium and discourage you from filing small claims.
- Review usage of each vehicle. Vehicles used for Uber or Lyft services do not have coverage while being used for this purpose. Vehicles used for business purposes may also not have coverage if used for business at the time of a claim.

Schedule:

Update items to be listed along with values. Appraisals should be completed every 3 to 5 years to keep up with market values. Use an inventory such as Collectify to manage your collection easily.

Umbrella:

Update properties, vehicles, drivers, recreational vehicles, boats, etc. at each renewal. Failure to update could result in no coverage under the umbrella.
Make sure the underlying insurance policies for each of the above meets the minimum liability requirements to avoid a coverage gap.
If you do not have coverage for the underlying insurance policy for each of the above obtain it at your earliest convenience.

With the help of a Trusted Insurance Advisors they can help you review your policies at any time, not just this Friday or at renewal. A Trusted Insurance Advisor is there to help you every step of the way. Call your agent today!