Winter Is Coming… Call Your Insurance Agent
Winter is coming… and we have all been a witness to what snow, ice, and freezing can do to your properties.
Harsh winters, and the number of traffic accidents, slips and falls, frozen pipes and other winter related losses are contributing to an escalating numbers of insurance claims.
In personal insurace, many claims involved auto accidents, roof damage, and homes inundated with water due to pipes bursting. High winds have caused broken windows and loss of shingles while the weight of ice and snow has caused extensive roof damage.
In the commercial arena, claims have come from frozen sprinkler pipes bursting, fires emanating from the use of space heaters, and business interruption claims resulting from covered losses making business offices uninhabitable.
We suggest that now is a great time to meet with your insurance agent to review your current policies and ask these questions:
• What coverages are afforded by your current policies?
• What coverages are excluded by your current policies and what is the cost to include these coverages by adding them?
• What steps can I take once a loss has occurred to keep my possessions from further damage?
Here are some ways that may help you minimize your exposure to a loss:
• Timely and proper car maintenance;
• Keeping up with Repairs and maintenance to your home or business;
• Routinely surveying what in your office or home needs to be replaced;
• Winterizing your second home
• Have a caretaker available to check your primary and/or vacation homes or offices while you are away
• Evaluate your business income exposure on an annual basis
• And should a loss occur, be sure to call your insurance agent immediately and ask for help to keep damage at a minimum and protect your property from further loss.
This year some of the claim scenarios are more serious than usual. So take advantage of your agent’s expertise and resources —-after all they are here to help you navigate through the good times as well as the more challenging ones.
