Tag Archives: Lakewood CO

Do You Need Workers Compensation Insurance for a Family Business?

At Colling Insurance Services Inc. serving the greater Lakewood, CO area, we are often asked questions about workers compensation insurance and family owned businesses. Many small businesses wonder if they need this type of insurance if they are a family owned and run a business. Here are a few questions you should ask yourself when determining if you need workers comp insurance. 

Do You Have Employees? 

If you have any employees who are not family, even if it is just one person, you need workers compensation insurance. Many family-owned businesses have outside help from non-family members.  If you do not have any employees, you may not need workers compensation insurance. 

Are Your Family Members Helping or Employees? 

The next question to ask yourself is whether your family members are helping you out or are employees. Do your grown kids stop by your shop and help you out for a couple hours a week in their free time, or do they have a set schedule they have to work? If they have a set schedule and you rely on them, they are likely considered employees and you should cover them under a workers compensation policy. 

Do You Pay Your Family Members as Employees? 

The last question to ask is whether you pay your family members as employees. If you slide them $20 here or there for helping you out with a project, they may not be employees. But if you pay them weekly or bi-weekly for their work, they are an employee and you need to cover them with workers compensation insurance. 

If you still are not sure if you need workers compensation insurance in the Lakewood, CO area, let Colling Insurance Services Inc. help. Call us today and one of our agents can answer your questions and determine whether you need this insurance coverage or not. 

Renting An RV? You Need Insurance!

Do you want to get away from it all while still having all the comforts of your Lakewood, CO home? If so, you’re like the millions of Americans each year who take their vacations in a recreational vehicle (RV). Before you set out on the open road, check to make sure you have proper insurance coverage for your RV.

Does My Auto Insurance Cover My Rental RV?

Some insurance companies will issue a certificate of insurance for motor home coverage. If you already have an insurance package with rental car coverage it will cover a recreational vehicle, with an increase of physical damage limits. According to Bert Alanko, chairman of the Recreational Vehicle Renters Association (RVRA), insurers treat recreational vehicles differently than SUVs or passenger cars. Because RVs are an expensive investment, and their potential for extensive physical damage in the event of a collision means that the regular coverage minimums for passenger cars are too low. In addition, often many RVs are operated by people who aren’t used to navigating with the extra size and length, insurers believe they are at more of a risk for accidents. Remember that getting into a minor fender-bender in a recreational vehicle could cost upwards of $5,000, instead of $500 or $600 for a similar accident in a passenger car, and towing is more expensive as well. .

Does My Homeowners Insurance Cover My Rental RV?

While it is true to some degree that your personal property in your motor home is covered under their home insurance policy, typically your home insurance coverage is limited if the property is being kept somewhere other than your Lakewood CO "residence premises," such as in a vehicle. Your auto and homeowners policy may not cover such items as plumbing, appliances or personal accessories. If you don’t have RV insurance, you may have to pay out of pocket for any damage to the vehicle or loss of the contents.

For more information about securing proper RV rental insurance to cover theft, fire, vandalism, natural disasters and collision, talk to Colling Insurance Services, Inc. today. At Colling Insurance Services, Inc., we offer RV-specific insurance policies that will cover your rental RV, its contents and the unique risks specific to motor homes.

Optional Insurance Coverage on Motorcyle in Lakewood, CO from Colling Insurance Services

Colorado state law requires the owners of all registered vehicles, including motorcycles, to comply with the financial responsibility law. This law ensures that if an insured individual causes an accident, they have the means to pay for any damages or injuries that occur. Maintaining motorcycle insurance is one-way people to do this.

Colorado Motorcycle Insurance Requirements

Every motorcyclist must carry the following coverage types:     

  • bodily injury
  • property damage

Call your Colling Insurance Services agent today to find out more about basic coverage in Lakewood, CO.

Optional Coverages

When shopping for motorcycle insurance coverage, you may wonder about events that aren’t included. For example, basic liability coverage covers bodily injury and damages for other people, but may not cover you or your bike. What would you do if an uninsured motorist hit you? Would you be able to afford repairs caused by a fire or act of nature?

You should know what optional motorcycle insurance is available.

  •     Collision insurance pays for motorcycle repairs following an accident.
  •     Comprehensive coverage covers motorcycle damages as a result of theft, fire, vandalism or natural disasters.
  •     Medical coverage helps to pay for injuries caused by an accident.
  •     Towing and labor coverage provides emergency road side assistance and towing.
  •     Uninsured/Underinsured motorist insurance covers you when the person who caused the accident doesn’t have insurance.

At a minimum, you should make sure that your insurance covers you in case of an injury. Due to the vulnerable nature of motorcycle riding, you are much more likely to be critically hurt. Consider medical and uninsured motorist insurance to make sure you can pay for the care you need.

In you use your bike as your main source of transportation, an accident can impact your livelihood. In this case, or if you have a very valuable bike, you should consider comprehensive and collision coverage. Consult your Colling Insurance Agency, Inc. represents to determine the coverage best suited to your needs.

Contact Colling Insurance Services

Call us today at 303-987-3331 for more information on how optional insurance in Lakewood, CO can help you protect yourself and your family against potential losses. You can also visit us online at Collinginsurance.com.

 

Common Mistakes People Make When Buying Boat Insurance

Colling Insurance Services Inc. helps citizens of Lakewood, CO get the insurance coverage they need to protect all their investments. However, people in this great city often make coverage mistakes when insuring their boats. These mistakes can end up costing you thousands of dollars if your boat gets damaged.

Canceling Coverage During Off-Season

When people aren’t using their boats, they operate under the assumption that they don’t need insurance. That isn’t always the case! What happens if your boat storage shed gets hit by lightning and your uninsured boat burns up? Then you are really up the creek with no paddle. Always get year-round coverage or else you run the risk of this serious problem.

Dropping Or Limiting Insurance After Paying Off The Boat

Another common mistake is dropping coverage or limiting it after paying off the boat. Many people only get boat insurance to help protect themselves from angry lenders if the boat gets damaged. However, your boat may still be the center of various problems, such as personal injury lawsuits. Keep your insurance to avoid serious lawsuits.

Being Cheap

Trying to save money by buying limited liability insurance or the lowest possible policy will only cause your heartache if your boat gets damaged. These policies will do very little to replace a boat if it is totaled, meaning that you will end up losing all your money. While you don’t have to buy the most expensive insurance package available, don’t be cheap.

Contact Us Today

If your Lakewood, CO boats need high-quality insurance and you are afraid of making coverage mistakes, please contact us at Colling Insurance Services Inc. We will work with you to find a policy that covers your boat, doesn’t cost you too much, and helps repair or restore your boat in case of damage.

4 Things nobody told you About Umbrella Insurance

In general terms, umbrella insurance will offer an extra layer of protection against liabilities. With umbrella insurance, you will have a peace of mind even if you are responsible for an accident. Unfortunately, umbrella insurance is more beneficial to certain individuals as compared to others due to certain exclusions. These exclusions are discussed below. 

1. There are some risk factors which could impact your coverage.
The most attractive aspect of the umbrella policy is liability coverage. However, there are some risk  factors which could influence your coverage, these includes: 

  • Traveling for long hours
  • Commuting during rush hours
  • Having dogs
  • Owning swimming pools

2. The Insurance will not cover all Lawsuits
When you commit an intentional crime such as property damage, bodily harm, discrimination, and sexual harassment, your Umbrella policy will not cater for the liabilities. The role of an umbrella policy is to help you in the case of unintentional accidents, but not malicious acts.

3. Your Coverage can be influenced by "Attractive Nuisance." 
Attractive Nuisances can be described as the equipment or features on your property that could cause harm. They include sports equipment, jungle gyms, swing sets, hot tubs, and swimming pool. Your Umbrella insurance will cater for property and personal liabilities caused by these attractive nuisances.

4. Some Dog Breeds will not be covered by Umbrella Insurance
Your primary insurance may cover dog bites, but some injuries might require reconstructive surgery and compensation due to the wages lost. Umbrella insurance will help you out in the case of such situations. However, there are dangerous dog breeds which are at times excluded from the coverage, which is why you should check whether your dog breed is covered.
Umbrella insurance will help you out in the case of liabilities regardless of whether you are at fault or not. You should, however, stay informed about the type liabilities that your policy covers and those that it doesn’t. For more information contact Lakewood, CO, Colling Insurance Services, Inc.

Understanding the Benefits of Life Insurance

If you’ve never considered taking out a life insurance policy before, now would be a good time to evaluate your options. Life insurance can contribute to your family’s financial security once you pass on. By discussing life insurance options with a representative from Colling Insurance Services Inc. in Lakewood, CO you can get a better understanding of all that life insurance has to offer.

Debt and Final Expenses

The benefits from a life insurance policy can help pay off outstanding debts you may leave behind upon your demise. This could include unpaid medical bills, credit card debts, estate fees, and funeral costs. Life insurance benefits can even go towards paying off the mortgage on your Lakewood, CO home. Your family will not have to assume the financial burden of paying for these expenses after you’re gone.

Replacement Income

Life insurance benefits can serve as replacement income to sustain your family once you are gone. If you’re the main source of income in your family, you understand the importance of securing your family’s financial future. By obtaining life insurance, you can have greater peace of mind that your family will be taken care of after you’re gone. The funds from your policy will reduce financial pressure, giving your family the time they need to plan their future and move on.

Inheritance

A life insurance policy can serve as an inheritance to your spouse or children after you die. Depending on your policy, your loved ones could receive a substantial sum of money to improve the quality of their lives.

Life insurance offers a number of financial perks and possibilities that are worth exploring for the benefit of your family. For greater insight into all that life insurance has to offer, give us a call at Colling Insurance Services Inc. in Lakewood, CO. 

Reasons Why You Might Need Commercial Insurance and Not Know It

The experts at Colling Insurance Services Inc. in Lakewood, CO can answer any of your questions about commercial insurance.

If you have a home office, your home insurance is adequate coverage, right? Not necessarily. If you regularly sell at public events, like art fairs, farmer’s markets, or at flea market do you need commercial insurance? Probably. Here are the reasons why having commercial insurance is important.

Innovative Business Models

Entrepreneurial efforts, especially by the age group of millennials are creating a massive expansion in business efforts that are not tied to a specific location. They may work from home-based offices or from shared workspaces.

Just because the work is done in a virtual way, does not necessarily mean that there is no need for commercial insurance.

Let’s take the example of a small manufacturer that sells products on the Internet and display items at the local flea market or farmer’s market to sell them directly to consumers. The order fulfillment for Internet orders is done in the garage of the home of the business owner and one part-time worker is hired to help out. Having a single worker who is not an owner of the company and is paid wages, triggers the need to have worker’s compensation insurance.

The home-based business could also benefit from having product liability insurance and commercial property insurance to cover the equipment and supplies used in the garage for packing and shipping, plus any inventory stored on the property.

Most home insurance policies have exclusions for business uses of the property, so without commercial insurance, if the house burns down and the entire valuable inventory is lost, the insurance would probably cover the home and the personal property, but not cover the cost of the inventory used for commercial purposes. Every policy is different, so check with your insurance agent to understand the specifics.

Any type of commercial operation, even a very small home-based business can benefit from having commercial insurance. Contact the helpful agents at Colling Insurance Services Inc. in Lakewood, CO, to learn more about commercial insurance for your small business.

How Much Will Getting A Tow Affect Your Insurance?,

If your car has ever broken down in Lakewood, CO and you’ve gotten a tow, you may be wondering if it affects your insurance. This is an understandable concern and one that we at Colling Insurance Services, Inc. take very seriously. In this article, we’ll take a look at how towing affects your premiums.

Getting A Few Tows Is Not A Problem

If you get one or two tows in a year, you’re not likely looking at increased insurance premiums. Most insurance companies are forgiving here and understand that things can happen from time to time. So don’t be afraid to claim an occasional tow on your insurance when necessary. That said, you need to make sure you don’t over do it.

Too Many Tows Can Affect Your Insurance

If you’ve ever heard of somebody’s insurance increasing because of tows, it is probably because they made too many claims. As mentioned above, one or two tows isn’t going to be a problem. An excessive number of tows (think five or six) will alert the insurance company that there is something wrong with your car. As a result, they will raise your premiums.

Illegal Actions Are The Biggest Problem Here

While getting your car towed too many times due to mechanical problems will eventually affect your insurance, tows because of illegal activity will increase it right away. What kind of illegal activities lead to tows?

Parking in a tow zone, failure to pay parking tickets, parking next to a fire hydrant, driving with expired paperwork, or driving while intoxicated all count as illegal activities. Claiming these tows on your insurance will immediately affect your insurance heavily.

As you can see, towing doesn’t automatically or immediately affect your insurance. However, those in Lakewood, CO need to understand that the situations that lead to a tow can be Howevr, those in Lakewood CO need to understand that the situations that lead to a tow can be problematic for their insurance. Please contact us at Colling Insurance Services Inc. to get a better understanding of how to avoid this problem.

Is Now the Right Time to Buy a Home?

Deciding to purchase a home can be very exciting but can also be stressful. Before you start searching for the perfect home, you need to make sure that now is the right time to make a purchase in Lakewood, CO. Use this checklist from Colling Insurance Services, Inc. to ensure that you are ready to buy a home right now. 

  • Take a look at your debts. You should list out all of your debts as well as how much you have to pay for them every month. Factor this into your budget to ensure that you have enough to cover everything. 
  • Make sure you have enough saved. You already know that you will need to save for a down payment on a home but you also need to account for closing costs. On average, this can cost up to 3% of the mortgage amount so you need to make sure you can cover that as well. 
  • Get preapproved. Before you start looking at homes, you should get preapproved to see exactly how much you can afford to buy. You do not want to start looking outside of your price range only to find you cannot afford that dream home you found. This can also help because many real estate agents will not even show you a home without showing your preapproval. Take this step so that when you do find the perfect house, you are ready to make the purchase.

Buying a home is a big decision so before you jump in, it is important to ensure you are ready. Once you do buy your home, you will need a great home insurance policy to protect your investment. Reach out to Colling Insurance Services, Inc. serving Lakewood, CO to get some quotes that will work with your new budget. 

Top Driving Tips to Avoid Accidents

Driving in the Lakewood, CO area can be tricky at times, and it does not matter if you’re driving with passengers or alone, safe driving should always be on your mind.  In today’s world, there are more distractions when driving than ever before, so it’s critical to be aware of the top driving tips to avoid accidents. 

  • Keep your focus on driving at all times and do not be tempted into multi-tasking.  If you need to use your cell phone or other electronic devise, take a minute to pull over. 
  • Resist the temptation to speed because the faster you’re diving, the less reaction time you have and the increased chance of having a more severe accident.
  • Drive defensively by keeping your eye on what other drivers are doing and assume other drivers will do something unpredictable.  It helps you be prepared to avoid the situation.
  • Keep some space between you and the care in front of you.  A 2-second cushion if the weather is nice and at least 4-seconds if you’re in bad weather.
  • Plan ahead for heavy traffic and stops for gas, food, and calls, texts, or emails so you’re not rushing to your destination.  Take a few minutes to eat or manage business before getting back on the road.
  • Move items you need within easy reach and don’t attempt to retrieve items on the floor.
  • Avoid taking medication that may make you drowsy and pull over if you are extra tired.
  • Make sure everyone stays buckled up in a safety belt.
  • Be on the lookout for animals on the road.

Colling Insurance Services, Inc.

Colling Insurance Services, Inc. provides auto insurance to those in the Lakewood, CO area.  Our mission is to provide the auto insurance you need with honesty and integrity.