Mark Roman | April 30, 2015 | Insurance Companies
Most people realize it’s important to have insurance for their home, their car, and other essentials. They will often buy a homeowners policy, auto policy, or other policy and assume it will cover them for anything.
Standard policies do indeed cover many unfortunate events or liabilities. Unfortunately, they may not provide complete protection in the event of a serious claim.
Some claims can create liabilities greater than the limits of a normal insurance policy. No one should be under the illusion that they are immune from those liabilities. Even the most decent, law abiding person in the world can make a costly mistake. A generally safe driver who is momentarily negligent can cause a terrible accident which kills or cripples other people. One lapse in supervision by an otherwise responsible homeowner can end with a child drowning in a backyard swimming pool.
For these reasons, people should consider the possibility of getting an additional layer of coverage when they buy insurance. This additional coverage, often referred to as umbrella insurance, can pay extra amounts if your regular insurance policy isn’t enough. The umbrella insurance provides additional peace of mind, especially for people who are relatively affluent and may have assets which could be seized by creditors.
How else can I benefit from umbrella coverage?
Umbrella coverage is also worth considering for business owners. Many medium and large businesses have umbrella coverage to protect corporate assets. Large companies such as those in the Fortune 500 don’t take chances, and typically have layers of coverage well into the six and seven figures.
The good news is that umbrella insurance is relatively cheap. Because few claims are so large that they tap into umbrella coverage, insurance companies charge lower premiums for it than they do for regular (primary) coverage. Adding umbrella coverage to your insurance portfolio is less financially painful than one might think.
The bad news is that umbrella coverage is largely unregulated. While state and federal law may restrict the way primary policies can be written to protect consumers, they are almost entirely hands off for umbrellas. This may be because umbrellas are typically bought by business owners or affluent people who tend to be more sophisticated than average buyers.
Need more advice? Contact us!
There are many different varieties of umbrella policies, and the things they cover varies greatly. Some provide the same coverage as the primary policies beneath them, while others are more restrictive. Some umbrellas cover not only liabilities, but claims you might make for your own losses as well. Understanding the options can be daunting for people who don’t work in the insurance industry. Thus, an in depth conversation with a qualified insurance professional is well worth the time for anyone considering this purchase.
Contact the Clearwater Car Accident Law Firm of Roman Austin Personal Injury Lawyers for Help Today
For more information, please contact the legal team of Roman Austin Personal Injury Lawyers for a free initial consultation with a car accident lawyer in Clearwater. We have five convenient locations in Florida: Clearwater, New Port Richey, and Tampa.
We serve throughout Pinellas County, Hillsborough County, Pasco County, and its surrounding areas:
Roman Austin Personal Injury Lawyers – Clearwater Office
1811 N. Belcher Road, Suite I-1
Clearwater, FL 33765
(727) 787-2500
Roman Austin Personal Injury Lawyers – Congress Ave Office
2360 Congress Avenue
Clearwater, FL 33763
(727) 591-5610
Roman Austin Personal Injury Lawyers – Tampa Office
6601 Memorial Hwy Suite 202
Tampa, FL 33615
(813) 686-7588
Roman Austin Personal Injury Lawyers – New Port Richey Office
2515 Seven Springs Blvd.
New Port Richey, FL, 34655
(727) 815-8442