Homeowner’s insurance and a comprehensive auto policy should be all you need to completely protect your family in the Pismo Beach, CA area, right? Well, not exactly. While standard insurance is an important first step, what would happen if you should incur a catastrophic loss such as a personal lawsuit or an extensive automobile accident? Homeowners and auto policies will cover you for most cases, but it’s always safest to have an umbrella policy in place to cover you in case of extraordinary loss or damage. 

Here’s answers to your top questions about umbrella insurance. 

What is Umbrella Insurance?

Any policy above and beyond your traditional coverage is considered an umbrella policy–because it extends the coverage cap on specific types of claims such as personal injury, home or property damage that occurs in or around your home. While existing policies may have what feels like an extensive cap, there can be a significant impact to your family should a claim exceed those maximums. 

Can Umbrella Insurance Replace Auto or Homeowner’s Insurance?

No, it cannot. Umbrella insurance is a supplemental insurance. With the number of lawsuits growing on an annual basis and the sums that juries award to individuals and groups continuing to skyrocket, umbrella insurance can help pick up where your existing policies stop–but they do not replace your original liability insurance. Professionals from Neff & Associates Insurance Services Inc can help individuals in the Pismo Beach, CA area figure out what the right mix of insurance services are for your particular needs.

Where Can I Get Umbrella Insurance?

Umbrella Insurance can be most effective when you work with the same insurance company for both your initial auto and home insurance as your umbrella insurance. Neff & Associates Insurance Services Inc can work closely with you to ensure that you have the right amount of insurance. The amount of insurance that you need depends on your personal financial situation. 

Contact the friendly professionals at Neff & Associates Insurance Services Inc in the Pismo Beach, CA area to learn more about umbrella insurance and how you can ensure you’re covered for all of life’s emergencies.

Unless you live in a designated flooding area, you probably think that you will not ever have a flood in your home and that it is something that you do not have to worry about. However, that could not be further from the truth. Just because you do not live in an area that is prone to flooding does not mean you are not at risk. In fact, about 20 percent of all flooding occurs in areas that are not designated flooding areas. When you look at that, you may want to think about the possibility of getting flood insurance. 

Another big reason to consider it is that your homeowners insurance policy likely does not cover any flooding, as most do not. Do not live in the dark and think that you will be covered by your current homeowners insurance policy because more often than not, you will not be protected by it in the case of a flood. 

Floods can also happen anywhere, even if you live in a relatively dry place. It does not always take a lot of rain to flood a nearly river or stream. Sometimes, it happens in overdeveloped areas where water can no longer absorb into the soil. It can happen if your neighbor has an above ground pool that collapses. It can even happen if you have a water main break inside your home. There are many different scenarios that can lead to flooding in your home. Instead of living in denial, you should consider flood insurance to protect yourself and your home.

If you would like more information, please contact us at Neff & Associates Insurance Services, Inc. We will be happy to find you the perfect flood insurance policy for your needs. 

There is a great deal of responsibility that goes along with owning your own business. Also, there is a lot at stake. If you are like most business owners, your business is your livelihood. Because of this, you should purchase a business insurance policy. There are several benefits of doing so.

You Cannot Prevent Lawsuits

You may think that you have the best clients in the world, and that they would never file a lawsuit. It is this mindset that can cause your business to go bankrupt. Lawsuits have many causes and effects, therefore, you need to be protected if something should happen.

Expensive Equipment and Inventory On-Site

If you have expensive equipment in your building or if you store your inventory on the property, you would want to have a business insurance policy. A business insurance policy offers protection that a personal insurance policy won’t. It can also protect against damage, theft, and other disasters.

You Have Contracts With Your Clients

Most business owners believe that their contracts with their clients are iron clad, and there is nothing that the client can do to break the contract. Unfortunately, this is not always the case. If something were to happen with the contract and there is a lawsuit filed, you will want to have business insurance to protect you.

You Have Employees Who Depend on You

Your business is not only your livelihood, it is also your employees’ livelihood. If another business or if an individual sues your business and you don’t have insurance, your business could go under. This means that your employees would be out of a job. Business insurance protects everyone.

More more information on the benefits of having a business insurance policy and to get a business insurance quote in the Pismo Beach, CA area, contact Neff & Associates Insurance Services, Inc.

 

Neff & Associates Insurance Services Inc wants to make sure that you and your family have a fabulous summer and stay safe during these warm weather months. In order to do that, it is important that you remember basic safety tips when you travel from home to the beach or to camp. Here are some safety tips to keep in mind as you are driving with children.

1. Make sure children are wearing their seat belts.

Children may not like wearing seat belts during the hottest part of the year, but it is not only the law, but crucial to their safety that they do. Children are the most vulnerable to injury in the case of an accident because they are smaller than most adults. To keep seat belts cooler in the sun, cover them with a sleeve made from an old blanket or towel. The sleeve will keep the seat belt from getting burning hot in direct sun.

2. Carry water with you.

It is easy to carry a small cooler of water when you and your children are in the car. With this simple tip, you will never run out of water if you get stuck somewhere due to a flat tire or issue with traffic. Just fill your cooler in the morning when you leave your home, and bring it inside at the end of the day to refill.

3. Carry a first aid kit in your car.

Children pick up cuts and bruises easily when playing outdoors on the beach or at a park. If you keep a small first aid kit stocked and in your vehicle, you will have supplies on hand to take care of a small injury.

Maybe it’s the excitement of heading somewhere new or just the knowledge that you’ll be spending some time riding with the wind, but a long distance motorcycle trip is always exciting. However, if you want your road trip to go smoothly, you’ll need to do some planning. Follow these tips before you head on a long distance trip on your motorcycle.

Tip #1 – Get the Right Riding Suit

You never know what kind of weather you will encounter, and being cold and wet isn’t any fun. Make sure you get a waterproof, comfortable riding suit before you head out on your trip to ensure you’re protected from the elements.

Tip #2 – Do a Motorcycle Checkup

Since you are going on a long trip, you need to do a thorough checkup before you leave. Have a routine tune-up done before the trip and check the lights, fluids, oil, and tires so you don’t end up breaking down and ruining your trip.

Tip #3 – Think About Luggage

A backpack is not going to be a good choice for a long trip on your motorcycle. A good luggage rack is a great idea and it doesn’t cost much. It will make it easier for you to take along everything you need for the trip.

Tip #4 – Pack Layers

On a long trip, you’re going to spend a lot of time exposed to the elements. Temperatures can change quickly on your trip, so pack layers so you can dress for any weather.

Before heading off on a long distance motorcycle trip, make sure you’re properly insured. Find out more about your options by contacting Neff & Associates Insurance Services Inc today.

 

There are a number of reasons to get umbrella insurance if you live in Pismo Beach, California though it all depends on your particular situation. Of course, many people don’t know what umbrella insurance is or how it is helpful so this helpful guide has been created below to explain the umbrella insurance policies to you. If after reading this you do elect to get this type of insurance coverage, consider using a local broker like Neff & Associates Insurance Services, Inc, who serves the local Pismo Beach area and offers competitive rates.

WHY GET UMBRELLA INSURANCE?

There are a few main reasons to get umbrella insurance. First, it covers any gaps in your existing home and auto insurance policies that they may not cover. Next, it will protect you against lawsuits that people who you are in a car accident with or if someone gets injured on your property turns around and tries to sue you. Umbrella insurance also protects you from slander or libel, as these are an example of those things that aren’t covered by your home or auto insurance policy.

HOW MUCH DO THESE POLICIES COST?

Most of these policies range between $100 and $200 per month depending on how much coverage you need. Remember this is extra coverage so it will give you about one million dollars of additional coverage for this amount per month.

DO I REALLY NEED IT?

That’s a question you will have to ask yourself because every situation is different when it comes to umbrella insurance policies. Do you think you will be vulnerable to lawsuits in the future that would otherwise be covered by an umbrella insurance policy? Obviously it is hard to predict the future but if you regularly do things that could yield a lawsuit or have a lot of interaction with strangers on your property (like if you’re a business in Pismo Beach) then an umbrella policy is probably a good idea.