- Auto InsuranceWe’ve all heard the saying, “April showers bring May flowers.” However, these “April showers” also bring hazards to the roadways. In Atlanta, rain means an even slower commute and more accidents. You can stay safe while driving in the rain by following these tips from Weather.com:1. Drive slowly and carefully, especially around curves. Do so by steering and braking with a light touch. Do not brake hard or else the wheels may lock and cause your car to skid.2. If you do skid, remain calm and ease your foot off the gas. Then, carefully steer in the direction you want the front of the car to go.3. Keep your tires inflated correctly to avoid hydroplaning. Remember to maintain good tire tread, and don’t put off replacing worn tires.4. Stay away from puddles. Instead, try to drive in the tire tracks left by the cars in front of you.5. If you do hydroplane, do not brake or turn suddenly. This could throw your car into a skid. Be sure to ease your foot off the gas until the car slows and you can feel the road again. Only brake gently and with a light pumping action.6. Adjust your speed to the wet road conditions, and be aware of the drivers around you. That way, you won’t have to worry about skidding, hydroplaning or causing an accident.In case of an accident, be sure to have the auto insurance coverage that you need. For more information, just call one of our helpful Sandy Springs consultants today! Dial 404-459-5975 or visit Risk & Insurance Consultants on Facebook.
- Boat InsuranceIf you weren’t getting your boat or other water toys out over the Memorial Day weekend, you likely saw the masses that were. So, uncover your yachts, and rig up your sailboats. It’s time to get back on the water and into the currents! Just remember the essentials: sunscreen, fishing lines, hydration and, of course, your insurance. Well-loved watercraft need protection from damage and liability like your skin needs protection from the sun, but the larger and more powerful your craft, the less likely it is that your homeowner’s policy will cover it. According to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, most homeowner’s policies will only cover up to $1,500 of theft or damage to your boat, and, even then, they do not cover sailboats over 26 feet or motorboats with motors more powerful than a 50 hp inboard motor or a 25 hp outboard motor. Plus, very few stretch to cover jet skis.I know they may be your home away from home, but boats and watercrafts need a different kind of insurance than what you give your house. Like home insurance, boat and watercraft insurance covers you if, heaven forbid, someone were to be injured on your boat. Most policies also protect your boat against theft, disasters like fire or flood and so much more. For more information about the necessity of boating and watercraft policies, click here.Like car insurance, boat and watercraft policies cover you for any accidents on the water, whether they involve people, other boats or docks. According to the U.S. Coast Guard’s 2013 Recreational Boating Statistics, there were over 90 boating accidents in the state of Georgia alone last year, resulting in hundreds of thousands of dollars in damages. If you do not have adequate boating insurance and you have a boating accident, you will be paying for the damages yourself.So, like your car is not covered by your homeowner’s policy, neither should your boat. Talk with an insurance agent in Sandy Springs about what boat and watercraft insurance covers and pack this summer with safe, worry-free fun in the sun as you cruise on the water.At Risk & Insurance Consultants, we want to make sure your boat and other watercraft have the protection they need against accidents and disaster. Contact us today to make sure your boat is covered. Just call 404-459-5975.
- RV Insurance
- Inland Marine Insurance
- Renters InsuranceDo you work from home or have a home-based business? Standard Homeowners or Renters Insurance will not cover some equipment, or your liability if a client is injured at your home. Do you have a lot of inventory? Are you meeting clients or business associates in your home office? Do you operate a daycare in your home? It helps to have an agent who can work with you to determine if your business inventory, equipment, and liability are correctly insured. Let’s ensure you are not putting your existing coverage at risk.
- Home InsurancePools are the perfect addition to any home for summer fun, but have the potential to put you in the financial deep end. Since pools increase your chances of being sued or responsible for someone else’s medical expenses, adding a pool to your backyard automatically increases your liability in the eyes of your insurance provider. Because of this fact, it is important to revisit your homeowner’s insurance policy to see if additional coverage is needed. In general, homeowners’ insurance alone will not be sufficient in the event someone is hurt in your pool. In fact, many policies specifically exclude pools from their coverage. Before you install your backyard pool, review local safety standards and codes to ensure you take all proper precautions. Once the pool is in place, consider boosting your liability coverage above $100,000 in the event a pool user gets injured and seeks damages via a civil claim against you.Another precaution pool owners can take is implementing a set of “pool rules” to decrease potential liability and as a reminder of good, common sense practices. Simple pool safety rules such as never leaving small children unsupervised, being sure all pool users know how to swim, and keeping children away from pool filters, can mean the difference in facing a lawsuit or helping your guests enjoy your pool safely.Owners should also fence the pool area to ensure nobody enters the pool without your knowledge or permission. This is a code requirement in most urban and suburban areas and just good risk management everywhere.By being proactive and taking the necessary precautions, you will have the peace of mind to enjoy your new backyard oasis all summer long. To request a quote or learn more about your homeowners insurance in Atlanta, call us at 404-459-5975.
- Life InsuranceDo you know what would happen if you were no longer able to provide for your family? Perhaps you own a business. Is there a mechanism in place to help fund a succession plan? Too often we become busy with life and procrastinate on putting the necessary safeguards in place. There are a wide variety of life insurance policy structures available. We can help you decide what best suits your needs and budget. Don’t delay as you could be one doctor visit away from being uninsurable. Now is the time to consult with one of our life insurance specialists.
- Health InsuranceOpen enrollment on the Health Insurance Marketplace is over for 2014. Did you miss the deadline? If you don’t want to face a tax penalty, you may be able to qualify for an exemption. According to U.S. News & World Report, here is a list of a few possible reasons for exemption:• Canceled Coverage. Was your health insurance plan cancelled in the fall of 2013? You may qualify for a hardship exemption and could be able to obtain a catastrophic-coverage plan. This type of plan is for those under the age of 30 who cannot find coverage for less than eight percent of their income.• Affordability. As mentioned above, you won’t be penalized for remaining uninsured if you couldn’t find a plan that was less than eight percent of your income. Just be sure to claim this on your 2014 tax return in 2015.• Hardship. Some hardships include homelessness, eviction within the last six months, foreclosure, bankruptcy, unpaid medical expenses within the last two years and more.• Religious Beliefs. This exemption only applies to denominations that run their own ‘mutual aid’ system of spreading the cost of health care across the community, such as the Amish. Find out more here.• Medicaid. If you qualify for Medicaid, you can enroll any time, all year. Be sure to do so sooner than later, though. Additionally, same goes with your children that qualify for the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP).If you need help deciding if you qualify for an exemption before being fined, contact one of our great health insurance consultants at Risk & Insurance in Atlanta today at 404-459-5975.
- Business InsuranceIf you are a National Football League fan, you may be following the ongoing debate about head injuries and workers’ compensation between NFL players and team owners. The players say they are owed better benefits to compensate for head injuries received during their practices and games. Owners say their current coverage is fully adequate. The debate rages on.But whether you own a famous football team or a local business, you know a good employer takes care of their employees by following appropriate safety protocols and looking out for any potential dangers. But, despite best-laid plans, accidents can still occur at the workplace. Employees can be injured, disabled or even killed because of occupational hazards. Nobody means for it to happen, but you, as the employer, are responsible for paying benefits to your injured employees to help them back on their feet.Under Georgia law, any business with three or more workers, including regular part-time workers, is required to carry workers’ compensation insurance, which provides an employee or their dependents with medical, rehabilitation and income benefits should the employee be injured or killed on the job or as a result of a job related injury. The amount of benefits paid can vary depending on the severity of the injury, the impact it has on the employee’s ability to work, the length of time needed for recovery and the employee’s weekly income. For more information on Georgia’s workers’ compensation laws, visit Georgia’s State Board of Workers’ Compensation.So, to protect your employees and your business in the face of injury, disability or death, business owners must have workers’ compensation insurance.To get a quote today for business insurance in Atlanta, call us at 404-459-5975.
- Commercial Property InsuranceFrom floods to hurricanes, summertime is host to a variety of natural disasters. With the season drawing near, it is the perfect time to look into business income insurance if your business is not already covered. Considering the rising number of natural disasters, businesses should consider adding this coverage to your property policy to ensure their wellbeing in the event of a disaster or significant loss of any kind. Typical commercial property insurance covers physical damage to a business caused by a covered peril. Business income insurance endorses the commercial property policy to cover the loss of income a business suffers as result of those same covered perils. After a disaster occurs, your business can be indemnified, in full or at a specified percentage, for the profits that would have been earned during the time your business was closed and being rebuilt. This time frame is also known as the business interruption period.Carriers may differ on how they calculate the estimated loss of income, but you will generally need to provide historical income data, and an estimate of what the current period could have earned. For example, if you owned a hotel, you could use the prior 3 years bookings, percentage of growth/reduction, and the bookings that were made for the interruption period to come up with a close estimate of loss.Since business income coverage cannot include all potential costs resulting from a disaster, it is important to be thorough in discussing terms of additional coverage with your agent in Sandy Springs. For example, if your business’s successful operations are dependent upon another’s success, you could add “contingent business” coverage to your policy to ensure your business is not negatively affected by another. One of our agents will gladly provide greater detail.At Risk & Insurance Consultants, we want to make sure your business has the protection it needs against disaster. Contact us today to make sure your business will be safe when disaster strikes. Just click here.
- Workers Compensation InsuranceProvides coverage to pay benefits to your employees or their families for injuries, disability or death resulting from occupational hazards. Are you in compliance with the laws of your state for workers compensation and employers’ liability insurance? Did you know that in many states, you are required to have workers compensation when you have 3 or more employees, and the owner(s) are included in that count
- Professional Liability InsuranceInsurance for the exposure that exists for an individual or organization that arises from the practice of their profession. In many classes of businesses, this is your greatest risk.
- Builders Risk Insurance
- Liability InsuranceAn umbrella policy (excess liability) is the additional protection you need in case a judgment against you exceeds the liability limits of your existing auto or homeowners policy. The premium for this coverage is minimal in comparison with the protection it provides in these litigious times. You do not have to BE a millionaire to be sued like one!
- Travel InsuranceWarmer weather and no school mean it’s officially summer vacation season! Whether you’re traveling to another state or another country, it’s important to consider what you would do in the event you needed medical attention. Taking the extra time to plan and research your coverage could save your health and wallet in the event of an emergency. UnitedHealthcare published a great article on traveling and health insurance, so our health insurance consultants in Atlanta decided to take a further look at the subject.Before you depart on your trip, make sure you understand the terms of your medical coverage while you are traveling. Find out which hospitals, pharmacies and urgent care centers are located in your destination’s area, and make note of which are a part of your provider’s network. Also determine how much you would have to pay out of pocket for an emergency room or doctor’s appointment and budget that into your trip total.Once you’re at your vacation spot, be sure to have your health insurance identification card on you at all times. This will ensure you have a way to contact your provider in the event of an emergency. Also compile a list of drugs you are prescribed and over the counter drugs you frequently use. This will help your doctor during a medical exam to determine what type of drugs to prescribe you.If you will be traveling abroad, it is important to call your health insurance provider to discuss your coverage in another country. Some providers only cover healthcare during medical emergencies, so get specifics on what constitutes as an emergency. If your provider does not cover you at all for international travel, consider investing in travel or international healthcare insurance before you depart.Taking the time to get answers before you leave for your trip could save you time and money in the event of an emergency. If you have questions about health and travel insurance, contact us today!
- Wedding Event ProtectionWe are in the midst of wedding and summer event season, but have you ever thought of the risk that comes along with these gatherings? From weddings and anniversary parties, to sweet sixteen birthdays and galas, people spend thousands of dollars on planning the perfect event. The financial risk you run by planning an event can be protected by special event insurance. Though it is commonly referred to as “ wedding insurance,” this type of policy can cover any sort of special event. This coverage exists to protect you financially in the case that your event has to be cancelled or postponed due to inclement weather, natural disasters or the death or serious illness of a main participant. These policies often times cover the non-appearance of an officiate or vendor as well.Additional coverage can be added to these policies including protection of gowns and tuxedos, theft or damage of gifts, financial protection of the honeymoon and even liquor liability coverage. As the host of the party, you are responsible if an accident were to occur as a result of alcohol served at the event. Also, certain policies may offer liability insurance in the case that an attendee is injured at the event. Many venues offer this coverage, however you might want to look into purchasing it from your provider if you are holding an event at home.When shopping for special event insurance, be sure to find out what is specifically covered by the policy, how much the policy will cost and how much compensation to expect if the event is cancelled or postponed.To learn more about our offered policies, contact one of our insurance agents in Sandy Springs today! Just call 404-459-5975.
- Flood InsuranceIt’s just one of homeowners’ worst nightmares: flooding. Over the last week, we’ve all viewed the damage resulting from heavy rainfall in Pensacola. In past posts, we’ve addressed flood maps and ways to protect your home from flood water damage. Now, it’s time to go over how to file a claim. According to the National Flood Insurance Program, you can file a claim in three steps:1. Contact your insurance agent in Sandy Springs to file a claim. After you speak with your agent, an adjuster will contact you to help survey the damage.2. Separate damaged from undamaged property. Your adjuster will need evidence of the damage to your home and possessions to create a repair estimate. Proof of damage can be shown by taking photos of damaged property and standing floodwater levels and even making a list of damaged or lost items along with their date of purchase, value and receipts. Then, your adjuster will give you a Proof of Loss form.3. File your Proof of Loss for damages within 60 days of the flood. This document verifies the insurance claim and is required before your insurance company can make payment.Now that you know more about how to utilize your flood insurance, here are additional resources:• It’s Raining, It’s Pouring: Flood Insurance in Georgia • Protect Your Property with Flood Insurance in Georgia Don’t let flooding leave you under water. Instead, file a claim to receive payment for covered losses. For more information, contact Risk & Insurance Consultants today by calling 404-459-5975. Also, remember to keep the victims of the Pensacola flooding in your thoughts and prayers.