Archive for December 2010
What does homeowners insurance cover?
December 13, 2010 | Author admin
Every homeowner should realize the importance of homeowner’s insurance policy. Homeowners insurance policy not only protects the homeowners from man-made and natural disasters, but it also protects you from several other situations.
The basic homeowners insurance policy pays you in case of any damage due to fire, severe storms, tornado’s and hurricanes. Damage to your property, possessions and home are primary elements to be covered. Coverage provided by the policy is not the most important aspect; the most important aspect is the amount they provide in case of any disaster.
Lost of possessions like furniture, electrical appliances, jewelry, clothing are also generally covered by some of homeowners insurance policies, up to a specific percentage of the policy.
Liability coverage protects you in case you are responsible for someone else’s injury or property damage. In such cases home owners insurance will soon provide you minimum 18,000 USD as coverage. Policyholder can buy an extra premium of $1.5 million. Liability coverage also covers certain injuries that happen within the premises of your home such as your dog biting someone. A sum of $700 is paid to the insurer with basic homeowners policy; this can increase up to $5,000 after paying extra.
Dwelling coverage will pay you in case of damage to your outstanding building (garage, storage, shed, fencing, boundary) and your home.
Loss of use coverage will help you in case if your home is damaged due to fire, storm or any other man made or natural calamity. Loss of use coverage will pay your expenses when your home is not suitable to live.
You must think over all the issues before purchasing a homeowners insurance. Consider the reputation of the insurance company and do not make decisions solely based on premiums of policy. Using Internet, you can find reputed home insurance company with best homeowners insurance rate. With a bit of research work you can get the best deal.
Find all you need to know about home owners insurance on the best homeowners insurance rate . Your house insurance source – http://www.house-insurance-guide.net
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Using a Homeowners Insurance Calculator
December 13, 2010 | Author admin
You want to get your home insured for a homeowners insurance. What would you do? The first option that would come to your mind would be to contact an insurance agent and get the policy form him with out knowing anything else about it. You have the policy and the agent is happy with his commissions. Well you need to know more about your homeowners insurance than that to avoid any kind of problems when it comes to making actual claims.
The best way to go about it is to do some research yourself. When you do this research you can consult the rating agencies of your state or even the internet can be a very good source of information. Find out what companies give the best deals out there and what kind of coverage they are giving, then the most important factor is to know about the service of the insurance company.
Homeowners insurance calculator help you in getting instant quotes for your policy. This is particularly useful tool if you have to compare what is available with different companies and how can you get the best rates for the kind of coverage you want. A lot of times the cheapest deal is not the best deal when it comes to coverage.
Even while using the homeowners insurance calculator you don’t get the accurate results because there are some factors which can not be taken into consideration by the calculator but they affect your costs to a great extent. Some of these factors can be the location of your home or the construction of your home. Final and accurate figures can be found out only by an inspection or a visit by an official. A calculator however can give you estimates which you can compare to choose a policy for yourself. So it is always better to do a little bit of research before going for any kind of insurance.
How Disability Income Insurance Policies Define Disability
December 13, 2010 | Author admin
When was the last time you read the fine print of an insurance policy? The fine print tells you some important information–how the policy defines disability, what your benefits will be, what exclusions apply, and more. The disability definition used in the policy determines how you qualify for disability benefits.
To be considered disabled under most policies, you must be unable to earn income. However, many policies narrow down this definition quite a bit. They may specify that you must try working in another occupation if you can’t do your own job, or they may pay benefits if you can do some but not all of the duties of your own occupation. Other policies aren’t concerned with occupation at all; they consider you to be disabled when, because of illness or injury, you earn less than you did before.
Own occupation coverage
Although the terminology used to define disability varies from policy to policy, an own occupation policy generally defines disability as the inability to perform the material and substantial duties of one’s own occupation. This definition of disability is liberal, because even if you can work in another occupation, you still receive disability benefits. Own occupation coverage is often more expensive and may be available only to individuals who have a clean medical history and work in a relatively risk-free occupation.
Any occupation coverage
An any occupation policy defines disability as the inability to perform the duties of any occupation. This definition of disability is strict. To receive benefits according to this definition, you have to be unable to work in any occupation, not just your own. Generally, however, the wording is modified to take into consideration your earning level, education, training, and experience.
Split definition coverage
Many disability policies incorporate both an own occupation definition of disability and an any occupation definition. You purchase a policy that provides own occupation coverage for a limited period of time. After this period ends (usually two years), you must meet the any occupation definition of disability to continue receiving benefits. This is sometimes known as short-term own occupation coverage.
Presumptive total disability coverage
No matter how your insurance company defines total disability, most companies automatically consider certain catastrophic ailments to be totally disabling. If you are disabled by one of these ailments, you don’t have to meet the conditions normally required in order to be considered totally disabled. Not only do you receive immediate benefits, but you also continue to receive benefits even if you are able to return to work. These ailments (which may be caused by injury or illness) are the loss of sight in both eyes, hearing in both ears, speech, the use of both hands, the use of both feet, and the use of one hand and one foot.
Residual disability coverage
Disability policies can pay benefits in the event that you cannot work at all (total disability), can work some time but not all the time (residual disability), or both. Residual disability or income replacement policies pay benefits according to the amount of income you have lost due to disability. These policies pay benefits even if you are not totally disabled and can work part-time. Your benefit will be based on the percentage of income you earn working part-time in relation to what you used to earn working full-time. In some policies, to qualify for residual disability coverage, you must first qualify for a period of total disability. This is the least desirable method.
You can purchase a total disability policy with residual coverage as a rider, or an income replacement policy (as residual coverage is known when that is the only way benefits are paid) as a stand-alone policy. The income replacement policy will generally cost less than the total disability policy with the residual rider.
Partial disability coverage
Partial disability coverage is usually offered as a rider to a total disability policy, although it may be included in base coverage. It is similar to, but not the same as, residual disability coverage. Both types of coverage pay benefits if you can perform some but not all of the duties of your occupation. However, unlike residual disability, a partial disability definition does not consider loss of income. Rather, you are paid an amount equal to 50 percent (occasionally less) of the benefit that you would earn if you were totally disabled. In addition, the benefit period is much shorter than that for residual disability (a few months or a year at most).
Does your policy cover illness, injuries, or both?
Most policies offer coverage for both injuries and illnesses. Some policies, however, offer accident-only protection and don’t cover illnesses. Also, because work-related disabilities are covered by workers’ compensation, most policies will reduce their benefits by any amount of benefits paid by workers’ compensation, as well as any benefits received from Social Security and other government programs.
Sickness is usually defined in disability policies as illness or disease that manifests itself while the policy is in force. This definition covers mental as well as physical illness, but most policies limit payments for mental illness and drug- or alcohol-related disabilities to two years of benefits. Some policies have exclusions for disabilities caused by pregnancy, war, and self-inflicted injuries as well as other exclusions. All of the exclusions will be detailed in the policy.
via How Disability Income Insurance Policies Define Disability.
Auto Accident? What do you Do?
December 13, 2010 | Author admin
Based totally on the latest report released by the renowned World Health Organization, about three thousand people die in vehicular accidents every day. And we aren’t even talking about one country here ; the alarming figure speaks for worldwide vehicle accident incidence. In the U. S. alone, there were about 6,000,000 vehicular accidents that happened in the year 2005. In fact, according to reports, a mean of 115 individuals die every day due to car crash figures – that is’s roughly around one accident each thirteen minutes.
it is no wonder then that auto accident claims are reasonably popular today, ranking only second hardest to prove in suits behind medical laxity claims. The severity of such vehicle accident, though, will eventually rely not on one but many factors. These may include, but not restricted to, the autos involved, The speed of the vehicles colliding, and the road or terrain in the vehicular accident.
The worst that could happen during these automobile accident injuries is death. A more common damage that’s customarily complained about is the whiplash injury. While whiplash wounds are but a common thing in vehicular accidents, the symptoms show after a very long time. Hence, it is reasonably tough to prove in court for compensation of damages. of course, you could not just pay no attention to the mental effects these traumatic vehicle accidents bring to the victim. Vehicular accidents can provide you with near-death experiences if you are personally involved in the accident or even worse, they may result to endless shock and a robust feeling of emptiness or emotional damage, which the family of the bereaved has to endure. While the physical injuries are serious enough, the mental effect will be the harder to get past through. It takes longer for people to recover from such a devastating loss of a loved one and many are limited to a long terrible state and mourning regularly accompanied by psychological suffering and stress.
Auto Accident Checklist: Tips On What To Do Following A Car Accident
December 13, 2010 | Author admin
It is not expected of somebody who has just experienced a car accident to be fully composed and calm after such auto accident transpires. However, a substantial degree of such composure and calmness is needed in order to minimize the adverse events resulting from auto accidents. Here are some important things you have to do following a car accident:
• Ascertain the degree of resulting damages
Having an assessment of the gravity of your, your companions’ and/or the vehicle’s injuries or damage gives you an idea of what to do next. Remember that it is not advisable to mobilize somebody with fractured bones unless the situation leaves no other option but to do so (for instance, if the vehicle is on fire or about to be on fire).
• Take note of the factual details of the accident
For the authorities to have a clear picture of the accident, it is important not to miss or err on important details like at what speed where you or the other party was driving, what exactly were you doing inside your vehicle immediately before the car accident, etc.
• Go to the police and file a Car Accident Report
The importance of accomplishing this cannot be stressed enough. After a car accident, the issue as to who is to be held responsible for resulting damages can only be resolved if enough data about the accident is at hand.
via Auto Accident Checklist: Tips On What To Do Following A Car Accident.
10 Ways to Prevent an Auto Accident
December 13, 2010 | Author admin
Sure, I am a personal injury attorney, but that doesn’t mean that I enjoy hearing about, or representing the victims of, preventable car accidents. Part of my role is to help all the drivers out there to be safer on the road.Texting, eating and applying makeup while driving, changing the radio station, reprogramming the navigation system, talking on the phone or driving intoxicated all contribute to the 6+ million car accidents witnessed in the United States every year. Though you may not engage in these distractions while driving- there are many others on the road who do and here are some simple tips to help prevent causing or being involved in an accident. Here are a few simple reminders that may just make you safer!
1. Focus on the Road and Remove Distractions: Cell phones, changing out the CD, switching the music on your music player all distract you from the road. About 80% of the 6+ million accidents each year are caused by distracted drivers.
2. Stay out of the “fast lane”:
According to research most freeway accidents take place in the left lane. The right and middle lanes offer more escape routes in case of emergency- helping you avoid collision.
3. Keep an Eye Out:
Don’t simply watch what the person in front of you is doing- pay attention to the cars 3 or 4 lengths ahead of you. You will know what is happening further up the road which will enable you to avoid a collision in the event that the person in front of you is not paying adequate attention.
4. Hands on the wheel: Holding the steering wheel properly in the 9 o’clock and 3 o’clock position provides more control over your car- enabling you to more easily react and maneuver.
5. Monitor your blind spots:
Quite a few accidents occur as the result of blind spots. The drivers of large trucks are often scrutinized for this, but all drivers should be monitoring their blind spots- particularly when changing lanes.
6. Be Cautious at Intersections:
Intersections can be extremely dangerous- never gun-it when the light turns green- instead make sure there are no vehicles running red lights. Also pay close attention to pedestrians who may have the right of way.
7. You Can Judge a Driver by their Vehicle: If a car has a considerable amount of bodily damage that may indicate a poor driver.
8. Be Familiar with Your Car and its Abilities: Know your vehicle’s limits so you may be able to handle adverse conditions. If you have weak tires don’t speed or slam on your breaks while raining and leave ample space between you and the vehicle in front of you.
9. Perform Routine Maintenance Visit your mechanic on time with factory recommended services, oil changes etc. Monitor your particular cars recall list and make sure you get any recalls taken care of as soon as possible.
10. Avoid nighttime driving. Lower visibility and a higher drunk-driving rate make the roads particularly dangerous after hours.
Legal :: Getting Compensation for a Work Related Injury | ArticleBiz.com
December 7, 2010 | Author admin
In order for you to get compensation for a work related injury, you need to prove first that it was caused by the negligence of another party or particularly your employer. It can also be caused by your co-worker. Employers are liable for all the people within the vicinity of their work area whether they work for them or not. If you have been injured at work and it’s the fault of the company then you are entitle to make a claim for a work related injury against your employer.
Usually, work related injuries are caused by defective machinery in the work place that are not maintained properly and are a hazard to the worker’s health.
You can also get compensation from a work related injury that arises due to other causes like: slipping and tripping. This may be due to the untidy conditions of the workplace and the poorly maintained floor. Compensation claims are filed as an outcome for workplace conditions.
One more main cause of accident at work is falling, for instance serious injuries are sustained due to falling in high places, or falling down on uncovered holes, or when hit by falling objects.
Another factor that can cause work related injuries are the lack of protective equipment, such as safety footwear, gloves, hard hats, face masks and safety goggles. This can result in making a successful work related injury claim against the employer.
Claiming for compensation is not a new concept. These days with laws and regulations that guards protecting workers from any harmful issues, we find that work injury compensation levels have increased. This is generally a good thing for all employed. But it’s not a good one for the bosses. Because of this, the employers’ insurance costs are much higher than compared before. There is also the additional strain to ensure a safe and healthy working environment for their employees.
A work related injury claim is not a personal attack to the employer. You’re not into getting their own money but you are claiming from the insurance company that covers the company. You are making a claim to ensure that you are being well taken care of when you are injured and that’s the least you can get especially if you lose your job due to the accident.
If you are planning to claim compensation for the injury you sustained at work then you need to employ a competent and reliable personal injury claim solicitor. They will be responsible for completing all the legal documents needed for the continuance of the claim and will be the one who will process it all for you. Your solicitor will carry the burden created by the legal issues in making a claim.
There are also personal injury claim solicitors that offer a no win no fee claim. They will carry all the costs of your settlement even if you don’t win the case. In case, that you are successful in claiming compensation, these type of solicitors will give the compensation given by the court to you in full and will charge their legal fees against the insurance company of the defendant. So either way, you got nothing to lose
via Legal :: Getting Compensation for a Work Related Injury | ArticleBiz.com.
Insurance :: Pennsylvania Car Insurance | ArticleBiz.com
December 7, 2010 | Author admin
Pennsylvania Car Insurance
What does it take to get Pennsylvania car insurance that is right for you? I think we can agree that price is important but Trust is a factor that cannot be overlooked.
Buck (the dog in our featured video) is happy because his owners trust the Williams agency for their Pennsylvania Car insurance, house insurance and life insurance. Pennsylvania Car Insurance – Who Do You Trust?They can spend more time playing with Buck and going on long walks when they know the agency is handling all their insurance. They can rest easy knowing that Williams Agency has their best interest at heart and is always watching the rates and looking for opportunities to save them additional money. They rarely have to lift a finger to do any paperwork, the agency always takes care of that end.
Pennsylvania Car Insurance Quote – Hundreds of TestimonialsBuck’s owners know they can trust the Williams Agency after seeing testimonials from hundreds of their neighbors. The folks who rave about the great service, great prices and the benefits of dealing with an honest, trusted agent are great advertisements for the agency. Many of these same folks were the ones who recommended them to the Williams agency to start with.
Pennsylvania Car Insurance – We Offer Peace of MindBuck and his owners have the peace of mind that comes with knowing an agent who really cares is looking out for them. The trust that comes from knowing your agent will be the first to call you when prices go up or an important coverage becomes available is hard to put a price tag on. The fact that the Williams Agency is the fastest growing agency in the county comes as no surprise to the clients who’ve trusted their security to them.
Pennsylvania Car Insurance – Save MoneySaving money has become priority number one in these economic times. Having an agent who is constantly searching the market for new, innovative products and discounts is a valuable bonus. An agent who will automatically check around for prices on your insurance when it renews is almost unheard of. Rest easy and feel secure when you deal with an agent who has your best interest at heart.
These types of benefits are some of the things that make the Williams Agency a leading provider of Pennsylvania Car Insurance.
via Insurance :: Pennsylvania Car Insurance | ArticleBiz.com.
Insurance :: Car Insurance Savings Tips | ArticleBiz.com
December 7, 2010 | Author admin
Car insurance premiums are partly based on factors under your control and partly on factors outside your control. It is pointless getting stressed about the latter, but knowing which factors under your influence affect premiums can help you change your behaviour and secure cheaper insurance. There are four tips for reducing your car insurance premiums:
Tip 1 – Drive Better
Many people think that having car insurance gives them the liberty to drive recklessly because they will be covered for damages if there is an accident. This kind of attitude to driving is not only dangerous it is also very costly. Auto insurance companies give good drivers better premiums and some even refund clients who go without claiming for a couple of years. Traffic offences also factor into how much insurers charge you. If you are caught for driving under the influence of alcohol and are convicted, you are guaranteed to pay more for your car insurance than other drivers for the rest of your life. It is highly recommended that young drivers take a defensive driving course after getting their license. Young male drivers are seen as very high risk drivers by insurance companies and are either given very high premiums or a turned down altogether. Some insurance companies will give drivers discounted premiums for having completed advanced driving courses.
Tip 2 – Increase your deductible
Your deductible, also referred to as your excess, is the amount of money you need to pay for losses before your insurance policy starts paying out. By choosing a high deductible you are taking more risk onto yourself. Insurance companies will reduce your premium if you increase your deductible and likewise increase your premium if you opt for a lower deductible. If you are a good driver and you have some money saved that could cover a higher deductible then increasing the deductible is a good option. The amount of money that you save on your premiums could equal your deductible after a year or two.
Tip 3 – Buy a less powerful car
Cars with big engines that can reach higher speeds than an average mass produced vehicle are deemed high risk by insurance companies. There are two main reasons for this. The first is that cars that can go very fast tend to be driven very fast. Fast cars have a higher risk of being in and causing accidents so insurers make you pay more for insuring these types of vehicles. The second reason is that most cars with powerful engines are more expensive and have a higher risk of being targeted by car thieves. In this case your premiums are higher not because of your behaviour but because of the behaviour of criminals.
Tip 4 – Group your policies together
Insurance companies have a lot of costs that exclude the payment of claims made by their clients. A large chunk of their expenses is due to administrative and marketing costs. These costs are included in the premiums policy holders pay. By taking out a car insurance policy with one insurance company, a home insurance policy with another and a life insurance policy with yet another means that you will be paying for the administration and marketing costs of three separate companies. By grouping your policies together and using only one insurance company you will be saving money for the insurance company and they will reward this by giving you lower premiums.
via Insurance :: Car Insurance Savings Tips | ArticleBiz.com.
Insurance :: High Risk Car Insurance – Try to Buy the Best Policy & Not the Cheapest One | ArticleBiz.com
December 7, 2010 | Author admin
The insurance companies categorize some drivers under the head of ‘High risk drivers’. Now who make it to the list of the high risk drivers? The high risk car insurance companies calculate the risk factor on the basis of some crucial determinants. The age and the driving record of an individual play a key role to decide if the person can be considered a high risk driver. Generally, the teens are enlisted in the high risk category as they lack in experience and are easily prone to distraction. The car drivers are well aware that this sort of insurance is very expensive. What they are unaware of is they still have a scope of having access to an inexpensive high risk car insurance by following only four steps.
Safe driving is what can keep one’s driving record impeccable. A crystal-clear driving history compresses the volume of premium to a considerable extent. If your driving record is not soiled with any sort of accidents, you will be regarded as a responsible driver. In such a case, the cost of a high risk car insurance policy is likely to go down.
If you are a senior citizen and are over the age of 65, you can effectively save money by availing the discounts on offer by some companies. But you need to have a long time association with the insurance companies to get this offer. The insurance companies regard the long-term clients as the loyal customers and some of these companies proffer up to 15% discount for them. The discount will definitely help you save a lot on the high risk car insurance premium in spite of your high risk status. The teens who are doing well in their exams can get discount on the auto insurance high risk. So, earning the tag of a high risk driver does not nip your hope of getting a suitable and inexpensive car insurance policy.
The high risk car insurance premium will likely to go down if you include a person with an unblemished driving record in your policy. For the teens, it is better to add their parents or young adults in the insurance policy to offset the exorbitant fees that apply to the auto insurance high risk policies.
As you are looking for an affordable policy, so you must do some sorts of market research to know the rates of different high risk car insurance offers. Keep in mind, a policy that comes easy on your pocket but does not provide the sufficient coverages can not be the perfect fit for you. In other words, a cheap policy can not always be regarded as the best policy. Moreover, all the insurance companies do not offer the high risk car insurance policies. So, fist make a list of the reputed companies that provide the auto insurance high risk. Then compare the facilities and rates of these policies to grab the best offer that saturates your needs but does not require you to go beyond your budget.
