Month: June 2018

Fireworks Accidents – Part 2

Posted on by Brad Smith

Fireworks are dandy, but at what point will your homeowners insurance pay

In part one we discussed that a homeowners policy may be available to handle losses involving fireworks. However, this is not

always the case as there are instances where your homeowner policy does not offer coverage.

Legal Issue

If it’s illegal for you to set off fireworks, this legal hurdle could result in any loss being excluded by the policy.

Be prepared to be uninsured if you don't know your do's and don'ts about fireworks

 

Business Issue

A homeowners policy is meant to handle losses related to owning and living in a home, there’s no coverage for a person who uses their home for making, selling, storing or distributing fireworks. Any business activity involving fireworks is going to cause a big problem if a loss occurs.

 

Who Is Injured Issue

Injuries to yourself or others in your household are not covered because Medical Payments and Liability coverage is designed to handle loss suffered by persons outside of your household.

 

Intentional Loss IssueFireworks enter at your own risk

If an injury or damage to property is not an accident, there’s no coverage. Tossing a firecracker or aiming a bottle rocket at another person could be considered deliberate, even when no injury was intended. Deliberate acts and their consequences are commonly excluded by homeowners policies.

So when dealing with fireworks, make sure they’re legal, that they’re used carefully and only for entertainment. Then your chances are good that any loss may also be covered.

 

Return to Section 1

COPYRIGHT: Insurance Publishing Plus, Inc. 2016

All rights reserved. Production or distribution, whether in whole or in part, in any form of media or language; and no matter what country, state or territory, is expressly forbidden without written consent of Insurance Publishing Plus, Inc.

Summer Savings

Posted on by Brad Smith

Hey, just wanted to share with everyone a link we received from one of our carriers today.  It provides several tips aimed at reducing home and office cooling cost.  Some of their insights are the standards that are repeated every winter and summer, like make sure to change your filter every three months.  However, this list also contains some unique pointers such as:

  • The importance of keeping the fan set to auto

    Learn how to significantly reduce your cooling bill
    Click Here to Learn More
  • Zone thermostats
  • Heat Efficient light
  • Programmable Thermostats (savings around 10%)
  • Ceiling Fans (potential savings roughly 15%)
  • Clean Condenser (another 10% savings)
  • Stopping there because I’m worried this is going to add up to more than 100.  Just joking,  I hope you find the time take a look.  Just click the link to the right which will take you to a brief article with two relatively short videos.

Note: this is geared towards businesses, however, most of the money savings suggestions will also apply to individuals.

Fireworks Accidents – Part 1

Posted on by Brad Smith

                                                                                                                                             

 

 Fireworks Accidents – Part 1 of 2   

on target to reducing the cost of insurance. TruePoint Insurance, we are insuringky.comA longtime, extremely popular summer rite is to enjoy setting off fireworks. However, it’s important to think, truly think, before striking a match or using a lighter on your first firecracker, sparkler, smoke-bomb, bottle rocket or other forms of incendiary entertainment. For all their fun, fireworks are capable of causing serious injuries to persons and substantial damagefourth of july fireworks to property. Such losses can have substantial financial consequences, so it’s important to know whether you are insured in the event you cause a fireworks accident.

Examples:

Imagine you are setting off some fireworks in your driveway for your children and their friends. Suddenly, a sparkler you gave to a neighbor’s child violently flares up, burning her hand and face.

kids running with sparklersWhile setting off some bottle rockets, one smashes through a window of a house across the street. The rocket sets the home’s living room curtains on fire. It then spreads to the carpeting and the room’s furnishings. The local fire department responds, putting out the fire. There are thousands of dollars in damage caused by fire and water.

In the first example, your Homeowners Policy could cover her injuries a couple of ways. If the injuries are minor, her medical kids and fireworks go together like peanut butter and gasolinetreatment could be handled under the Medical Payments portion. However, if the child’s injuries are more serious and her parents sue, your policy’s liability portion should handle your legal defense as well as a legal judgment.

In the latter example, one could be found negligent for causing the fire and subsequent damage. A homeowners policy usually handles claims such as these. However, you should also be aware of the limitations which will be covered in part two of this topic.

 

                                                                                                                                                                 Continue to section 2 Return to TruePoint Home Page

 

 

 

 

COPYRIGHT: Insurance Publishing Plus, Inc. 2016 All rights reserved. Production or distribution, whether in whole or in part, in any form of media or language; and no matter what country, state or territory, is expressly forbidden without written consent of Insurance Publishing Plus, Inc.

What Is Covered by Motorcycle Insurance?

Posted on by admin

Proper Motorcycle InsuranceIn order to drive a motorcycle in Kentucky, you must have at least the minimum of $10,000 damage per accident, $25,000 bodily injury liability per accident, and $50,000 for all bodily injuries per accident. This is only the minimum coverage and will only cover damages and injuries to other people. It also means you aren’t getting any financial protection for yourself in the event of an accident.

However, there is optional coverage you can consider purchasing. In Fisherville, KY, and the rest of the state, personal injury protection must be added to auto insurance. However, it is not required for motorcycle insurance, but could be an option for those who want additional coverage. This insurance will help cover your medical costs should you become injured in an accident. This insurance will provide coverage, no matter who caused the accident.

An agent at TruePoint Insurance can explain optional coverage. Other options can include collision coverage, which covers your motorcycle if it is damaged in an accident. Comprehensive coverage will pay for damages to your bike from damage that isn’t related to an accident. A motorcycle can be a huge investment, and some collision and comprehensive coverage will help pay for repairs so that you can take full advantage of your investment.

Other optional coverage includes medical payments to help pay for hospital costs if you’re injured in an accident. This is a useful type of insurance to have if your health insurance is lacking, or has a high deductible where you have to pay a lot of out-of-pocket costs. Even though insurance is mandatory, having uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage will help protect you if there is an accident with someone who doesn’t have insurance.

Contact TruePoint Insurance to get a quote for motorcycle insurance. Our agents can answer your questions and help you get started on a motorcycle insurance policy.

Golf Carts: Cute, Handy…..Dangerous

Posted on by Brad Smith

Golf cart on courseAt one time golf carts were seen exclusively on golf courses. Then, since golfing is part of the sports world, other sports saw their usefulness, so carts popped up along the sidelines of football fields and near baseball dugouts, shuttling players about. Today, many more people are aware of the non-sports usefulness of golf carts…..and that is becoming a problem.

Increasingly, more exceptions are being made regarding golf cart use. At first they could be used on areas close to golf courses, then retirement communities made exceptions, then gated and other, larger property-owner communities allowed their use. Now, exceptions are being made for their limited, public street use in small towns, college communities and in other situations.

The increased use of golf carts means the increased number of golf cart accidents. Such incidents are a particular concern since they may involve elderly drivers who may have impairments or slower reaction times. Further, golf carts are popular with very young, frequently unlicensed drivers who may lack care and experience in operating golf carts safely.

 

Pairing up golf carts with higher risk operators creates a high-risk situation. Consider several features of golf carts:

  • Lightweight
  • Open vehicles without roll bars
  • Low clearance
  • Rigid frame construction
  • Capable of deceptive speed (some models can reach 25 mph)
  • Do not include seat belts

While carts are ideal for traveling along fairly level, soft-surface areas; their features and design make them quite hazardous on other surfaces. Some golf carts can move at higher speeds, but their low clearance and rigid structure make them prone to rollovers. While carts are relatively light, they still are easily heavy enough to cause serious, even fatal injury to persons trapped beneath them. It also makes a Golf Cart used in competitive driving tremendous difference being in an accident on a grass surface as opposed to an asphalt, gravel, packed-dirt or cement road. Some accident statistics reveal that golf cart accidents often involve children who are hurt when flung from carts during turns.

Another issue with golf carts is that there is no consistent regulation regarding their use and safe operation. The real issue is awareness! Persons who own and use golf carts away from courses should be careful about how they operate such vehicles, who are allowed to drive and ride in them and what safety procedures must be used to minimize accidents. No matter how cute, easy-to-operate and economical they are, golf carts are motorized vehicles that can cause serious loss and injury. Use them with care!

COPYRIGHT: Insurance Publishing Plus, Inc. 2016

All rights reserved. Production or distribution, whether in whole or in part, in any form of media or language; and no matter what country, state or territory, is expressly forbidden without written consent of Insurance Publishing Plus, Inc.

Meet Your TruePoint Customer Service Team

Posted on by Brad Smith

http://www.insuringky.com

 Welcome to Truepoint insurance. We are insuringky.com

Thank you for choosing us for your insurance needs! It is our commitment to provide our clients with quality insurance products at a great price, and we are so pleased to have you as a new customer! As you may have already discovered, we offer real-time quotes on our website, payments over the phone, and E-signature options for most documents. Did you know you can also print ID Cards directly from our website? Of course, we always enjoy meeting and seeing our customers face to face! However, we understand your time is valuable, so we offer electronic options, as well as two office locations in order to accommodate your schedule. We have expanded our service team, as well, and look forward to helping you protect what is valuable to you!

OUR SERVICE TEAM:

 

 

Fisherville, KY Insurance           Insurance Lawrenceburg, KY TruePoint Insurance

6287 Taylorsville Rd.             1085 Eagle Lake Drive

Fisherville, KY  40023           Lawrenceburg, KY  40342

CSR TruePoint Insurance, Fisherville                         PHONE: (502)410-5089                                                          Insurance Lawrenceburg KY, Home Auto Business

 

Jordan Milburn, ext. 105                                                                                                                                     Jessica Coleman, ext. 120

Licensed Service Specialist                                                                                                                                   Director of Client Services

CLIENT LIAISON                                                                                                                                              ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE

jordan.milburn@truepointgroup.com                                                                                                               jessica.coleman@truepointgroup.com

Jordan will likely be your first point of contact when you call. She is a licensed P&C Agent, and her primary responsibility is to ensure your satisfaction. From providing proof of insurance, taking payments, and processing policy changes to quoting/issuing new policies, she can often handle your requests quickly and efficiently (or direct you to the most effective resource available).

Jessica will be in the Lawrenceburg office from 8:30-4:30, M-F. She will coordinate with Jordan to ensure our agency is meeting the needs of our clients. As the Director of Client Services, she will be happy to review your policy at each renewal, and make sure you are receiving all of the discounts and coverage options available to you. You can call or email her to schedule your personal policy review. Also, if things change in your life (and they usually do), don’t forget to call and tell us! We want to keep you covered correctly! And if the worst should happen, and you need to file a claim, Jessica will gladly help you through the filing process for the quickest resolution possible.

They are both committed to giving you amazing service, and looking forward to working with you.

Please let us know if you have any questions about your new policy, or if you would like for us to quote another type of insurance for you. We appreciate your business!

Sincerely,

 

Brad and Kristen Smith

P.S. If you are happy with your service, Like, Share, or Leave a Review!  We’d love to hear your thoughts!

Homesharing – Part 2

Posted on by Brad Smith

Homesharing has been a “thing” for years and its use is growing along with internet applications that facilitate transactions involving making a residence available for short-term rentals. Standard homeowner policies have long been issued under the assumption that a covered residence is usually occupied by the named insured and that person’s family on a full-time basis.

While insurance policies issued for homes, condos, and apartments do contemplate some situations involving other persons staying in a residence, those situations are allowable when they don’t involve financial transactions. Renting for income alters a residential situation into a business. Business activity creates a coverage problem which could result in policies being canceled or claims being denied. Renting all our part of a residence also results in types of losses that are uncovered because they haven’t been contemplated as insurable, residential activities.

Policy wording may exclude coverage for losses when they are directly related to a business. So, protection may be lost for the residence, residential property as well as for liability for damage or injury to others and their property.

Basic HO policies, if they don’t outright exclude losses involve compensated rentals, severely restrict other coverage. However, due to the rising popularity of homesharing, the insurance market is responding with options to provide more protection. A basic policy may be amended to extend protection which does the following:

  • Extend eligibility of a rented residence to continue to qualify for all policy protection
  • Add protection for household contents that might be damaged or destroyed during rentals
  • Extend medical payments coverage to insureds who may be injured by renters
  • Loss of income specific to homesharing activity
  • Add liability coverage for injury to third parties that occur during rentals

However, this additional protection may still fall short of what is needed. The insurance market is now making broader coverage available that handles less common exposures such as ID theft resulting from homesharing, pest infestation caused by renters, liquor liability coverage arising from alcohol served during rentals, extra cost caused by excessive use of utilities, or personal and advertising liability.

Even with special coverage for homesharing, property owners should also be aware of consequences and cost of resolving issues such as breaking local zoning laws, violating residential association bylaws or legal costs of dealing with squatting situations. Homesharing is a popular component of the sharing economy, but participants need to be careful to get proper protection.

 

           Return to Part 1

 

COPYRIGHT: Insurance Publishing Plus, Inc. 2018

All rights reserved. Production or distribution, whether in whole or in part, in any form of media or language; and no matter what country, state or territory, is expressly forbidden without written consent of Insurance Publishing Plus, Inc.