Author Archives: AgentInsure

Is it legal for my independent child to be covered under my auto insurance policy in Lakewood, CO?

It is legal for your independent child to be covered under your auto insurance policy in Lakewood, Colorado under certain circumstances. Often children, who are working full-time and are considered independent, still live at home. Some children also continue to drive the family vehicles once they are considered independent. Under these circumstances, your children would be covered by your auto policy.

An independent agent can help explain all of the factors you need to consider when looking at your coverage with your auto insurance. Any vehicles that are registered in your name can legally be covered by your insurance plan. Also, people who live in your residence should be covered by your auto insurance policy in Colorado. The main factors when continuing insurance coverage for your children include cost. Younger people tend to pay more for coverage. If your child is still a teenager your policy will cost more. If your children have had accidents or tickets you will also pay more.

It is best to speak with our independent agent to help you determine if you have enough coverage and if you are paying too much for your insurance. We can quickly compare quotes and rates to find Colorado auto insurance plan that will fit the needs of you and your children. When your child is finally ready for his own policy, it will be helpful if he has been continuously covered by automobile insurance.

Saving money on your auto insurance is important. No matter what your circumstances or your unique situation, we can find an auto policy that will cover you and your independent children for an affordable rate. Call us today for your automobile insurance needs

Does Motorcycle Insurance in Lakewood, Colorado, Cover Injuries to a Pillion Rider?

Buying comprehensive motorcycle insurance in Lakewood, Colorado might seem like enough to protect against personal injuries or the injuries of a pillion rider, but every insurance plan is different and many plans will not cover injuries to the rider or passengers.

Variation between Insurance Options

Coverage for a motorcycle primarily relates to liability protection and the repairs of the motorcycle. Although many basics are covered, injuries may or may not be automatically included in the plan. In many plans, pillion riders are not protected if an accident occurs because of the potentially high medical expenses that may occur.

Even though a basic plan may not offer protection against injuries, it may be possible to add the protection to a plan with the right insurer. Some insurers will offer additional protection against accidents and medical expenses, but the premium will usually increase when compared to a basic liability plan.

Comparing the Options

In general, it is best to compare coverage options and plans before selecting any motorcycle insurance. By comparing the amount of coverage, the types of accidents that are protected and the price of different plans, it is possible to find an appropriate insurer for individual needs, concerns and a strict budget.

Adding medical protection for the rider and any passengers may have a high expense when compared to plans that have limited medical coverage. Depending on the situation and the number of times a passenger is on the motorcycle, the necessity of additional protection may vary.

Finding the right coverage for a motorcycle is essential for your peace of mind. Working with an independent agent can make it easier to find the right protection plan for your needs. Call today to learn more about protecting yourself and your passengers when you ride a motorcycle.

In Lakewood, Colorado, What type of losses does an All-risk boat insurance policy cover?

If you’re living in Lakewood, Colorado and you have a boat, you know you need the proper boat insurance. Getting an all-risk policy can help protect you against a variety of losses. Of course, it’s important to make sure you’re getting the best coverage and the most value for your money, so talking to an independent agent like us is a good idea. That can help tell you whether you can cover the type of losses you’re concerned about with the policy you have, or whether you should have a different kind of policy instead.

Not everyone gets an all-risk policy. Many choose only to have state minimums when it comes to coverage. The minimum coverage is less expensive, so it’s a popular choice. If you have an expensive boat, though, you don’t want to just do the minimum you have to in order to protect it. We can help you get a policy that will cover the boat whether it’s out on the water, at your house, or sitting in a docking facility. That’s true whether it’s a standard dock where the boat is in the water, or a dry docking situation.

Damage to your boat from an accident, theft of the boat or its contents, and other issues are all covered under an all-risk policy, so you can have peace of mind no matter where your boat is or what you’re doing with it. Don’t risk a big investment like a boat by only getting the minimum coverage needed to protect it. Take the time to get the right kind of policy, and let us help you choose the policy that will best meet your needs.

Benefits for successfully completing safe boating classes in Lakewood, Colorado

When you have a boat in the Lakewood, Colorado area, it’s very important that you know how to operate it safely. Safe boating classes can help you with that. Once you’ve completed them, you can ask for a break on the price of your insurance. Often, boat insurance will be less expensive if you have paperwork showing that you’ve taken a class. Completing a safety course can also give you some peace of mind, and make you more confident in the operation of your boat.

Once you’ve successfully completed the class, talk with an independent agent about the opportunity for a discount. Some companies might offer more savings than others, which is why it’s better to work with someone like us. We can check with multiple companies, so you can get the best rate and the highest discount. Just make sure before you take any boating safety course that it’s legitimate and approved by insurance companies. If it isn’t, you aren’t going to see any savings on your insurance bill and that won’t help you reduce your premiums.

Talking with us can help you find the best insurance for your boating needs. In some cases it might be less expensive to choose a company that doesn’t provide a discount for safe boating classes, just because that company has lower overall premiums. However, it’s often cheaper to choose a company that gives good discounts. Plus, it’s always a good idea to have a safety course when you’re going to operate a boat. There’s much more than money on the line, and you don’t want to take any chances with the safety and security of your friends and family members.

Are Dwelling and attached structures included in home insurance policy in Lakewood, Colorado?

When you purchase a home in Lakewood, Colorado, you want to make sure you also purchase a home insurance policy that covers your dwelling and attached structures as well as the contents of your home and liability against any claims that may be filed against you.

Included in any standard home insurance policy in Lakewood, Colorado, is dwelling and attached structures coverage. The dwelling is your main home and attached structures are any additions such as a porch or screened in patio that are built on the same foundation as your dwelling.

If your home or the attached structures to your dwelling are damaged by a covered peril in your homeowners policy, you can file a claim and receive compensation for repairs or replacement.

As a homeowner, you should be aware of the limitations of your insurance coverage. You may have a deductible to first meet before you can receive any money for a claim. You may also be improperly insured if you do not have replacement cost coverage because, like almost everything else, your home depreciates in value and it costs more to repair and replace everything.

Another concern that you should address when reviewing your dwelling coverage is for other structures that are not attached to your house. Generally speaking, any structure that is not built on the same foundation as your main dwelling is considered to be a detached structure.

Most Lakewood Colorado home insurance policies will provide coverage for structures that are not attached in the amount of 10 percent of the coverage on the dwelling. For instance, if you have $100,000 of coverage on your dwelling, other structures like a detached garage, storage shed, or retaining wall, will have a combined coverage of $10,000.

As your independent agent, we would advise you to come in for a review of your home policy to see if you have the right amount of protection for your dwelling and all other structures on your property. If need be, you can pay a little extra to increase the amount of coverage for your separate structures.

In Lakewood, Colorado, what is a guaranteed replacement cost clause?

We all remember the destructive fires that swept through Colorado and swallowed up everything in their path, including some very nice homes. While you may not have been personally affected in your Lakewood Colorado, there is always the threat of a fire or some other major destructive force, leveling your house to the ground.

While it is highly improbable that you will ever suffer a complete loss of your home and have to rebuild from the ground up, it is always good to be prepared for the worst and hope for the best. As your independent agent, we suggest that you thoroughly review your home insurance policy, or if you feel more comfortable, you can call our office and have an independent agent review your policy for you.

One of the most important things to look for is whether or not you have a guaranteed replacement cost clause included in your home insurance policy. A guaranteed replacement cost clause is important because it will pay as much as necessary to rebuild your home, even if the amount is greater than what the market value was before the home was destroyed.

There are a few things to look out for, even if you have guaranteed replacement cost insurance. First, if your home was destroyed in a fire and you decide it is safer to build on another lot away from the forest, you may not get as much as you need to rebuild the home in another location. Some insurance companies will claim that they do not insure for the cost of the land and a similar house built in another neighborhood may wind up costing you a lot of money out-of-pocket.

The second thing to be aware of is that there may be new building codes that require better materials and more permits before construction can be started. This is another area where your insurance company might insist that you bear those additional costs.

Losing your home to a disaster is hard enough without having to fight with your insurance company. Remember, as your independent agent, we are always here to help you get through a tough time dealing with your insurance company.

Insurance for Farm house

If you own a farm house in or around Lakewood, Colorado, you know you need to have insurance on it to protect yourself. If you’re using the house for a small business, having the right coverage is even more important. Commercial insurance may be required, depending on the type of business you’re operating. As an independent agent, we can help you sort out exactly what coverage you need and which company would be best for you. It’s important not to overpay, but you also want to focus on getting a good value for your money.

Consider the kind of business you’re planning to operate. If you work online only, doing things like graphic design or writing, you most likely don’t need to have a commercial policy. However, if you have customers and clients coming to your home and you’re operating any type of store or service facility from that home, you’ll want to make sure you have a commercial policy in place. This will protect you from issues like lawsuits if a customer slips, falls, or otherwise gets hurt on your property. While it won’t stop a person from suing you, it will stop you from being financially ruined by a lawsuit or other request for compensation from an injured patron.

Your standard homeowners policy isn’t set up to protect you and your property and finances from that kind of problem. By working with us, you can find out for sure if you need a commercial insurance policy for your farm house, so you’ll have proper protection and also peace of mind. Then you can relax and enjoy the beautiful area around Lakewood without fears over financial risk.

Is comprehensive and third party coverage an add-on to an auto insurance policy in Lakewood, Colorado?

When your friend asks to borrow your car, you better think twice before lending him or her keys. If your friend gets into an accident as a third party driver, he or she may be covered under your auto insurance, but, you may suffer some serious and expensive consequences.

In Lakewood, Colorado, comprehensive and third party coverage is not considered an add-on to an auto insurance policy. Well, in one sense, you might consider it an add-on if you are not required to carry anything more than the Colorado mandated liability coverage for your car.

When you purchase full coverage, you normally get collision and comprehensive coverage. You can enhance that basic coverage with add-on coverage like road hazard insurance or car rental reimbursement, but third party and comprehensive do not fit neatly under the category of being an add-on.

If you look at your Colorado car insurance policy, you will see a page listing exactly what is covered and in one amount. Everything is broken down so you know how much you are paying for bodily injury and property damage liability. You can see how much it costs you for protection against theft, vandalism and damage to your vehicle by finding the listing for comprehensive coverage. Everything, from the $12 or so you might pay for rental coverage, to the $400 you might pay for collision coverage is itemized separately.

Most policies cover third party drivers like your friend. However, you are ultimately responsible for any claims that exceed the limits of your policy. Furthermore, if your friend gets into an accident, that will reflect negatively on your driver’s record and could lead to higher premiums when you need to renew your auto insurance.

As your independent agent, we advise you to be very careful about lending your car to a third party. While it is great to be a friend and a nice guy, when something happens, you will probably wind up standing alone and bearing the brunt of the financial responsibility.

Will my auto insurance cover damages to a third party in Lakewood, Colorado?

When you are talking about auto insurance in Lakewood, Colorado, you could think of the term "third party" in two different ways. Most commonly when you ask if your auto insurance will cover damages to a third party, you are referring to a situation where the third party is someone that you agreed to loan your car to and that person was driving and got into an accident.

In the case where you mean that you were driving and got into an accident with another car, causing damages to someone or some other property that was not in either vehicle, your auto insurance liability coverage will cover damages to that third party, provided the accident was found to be your fault.

That all sounds very confusing and it is a little confusing because of the ambiguity of the term "third party." An example might help to clear up the confusion. Suppose you are driving down the street in Lakewood and you slam into another car. The accident was obviously your fault and you would have liability for damages and any injuries to the car and individual driving the car that you hit.

Well what happens if the skis on top of your car fly off and go sailing through the window of a small shop that just happened to be next to the spot where the accident occurred? The shop owner is an innocent third party and your auto insurance would pay to have the shopkeeper’s window replaced and for any other damage directly related to the accident you were responsible for causing.

As your independent agent, here in Lakewood Colorado, we see this type of thing happen on occasion. It is not unexpected, but it is unusual. If you would like to know more about third party drivers or innocent third party bystanders and how your auto insurance carrier deals with claims involving them, give us a call and an independent agent will give you a complete explanation.

Does Homeowner’s Policy in Lakewood, Colorado, Pay for Mold Damages?

Mold can be devastating. It often grows undetected by homeowners for long periods of time. Once it is found, it is hard to contain and clean up can be very expensive. Yet, for people in the Lakewood, Colorado area, there could be help available.

Is Your Homeowner’s Policy Going to Cover It?

There isn’t a clear answer as to whether or not your insurance policy will pay for mold in your home. Generally, this depends on what caused the mold in the first place. Generally, some policies provide coverage but only for those instances in which the mold is caused by a covered type of water damage.

Most policies do not cover any type of maintenance problem that could bring on the mold. For example, water leaking from a faucet is not likely covered. Most policies also exclude any mold that is the result of a flood, especially if you do not have flood insurance specifically.

On the other hand, mold that occurs as the result of a fire (and the water used to put it out by firefighters) this type of coverage may apply. The key here is to talk directly to your insurance carrier to determine if it is included in your policy. Even in some non-maintenance instances, mold damage may be specifically written as a non-covered event in your policy.

Not Sure If Your Policy Is Effective for Damages?

Let our independent agent help you to find out what is covered and what you may need additional protection from right now. You can use our comparative analysis tool to help find available policies for your needs. In many cases, you can get quotes from multiple providers, compare them to each other, and find the one that offers the best level of protection for your home.