SWFL Insurance

Business insurance is used in order to protect businesses from lawsuits and other losses that could have a large financial impact otherwise. Required Business Insurance and Penalties Business insurance requirements vary by state. Most states require businesses to carry a minimum amount of: Workers Compensation: Workers compensation provides financial assistance for employees that are injured on the job. Commercial Auto Insurance: Commercial auto insurance covers vehicles used or owned by a business for work purposes. Operating a business without workers compensation can result in legal action such as fines or jail time. Even in states that don’t require workers compensation, operating without this insurance can lead to lawsuits from employees due to injuries obtained at work. Legal action can also be taken against businesses that fail to carry the proper commercial auto insurance. Most states require a minimum amount of liability insurance. In Texas, for example, businesses must carry: $30,000 in bodily injury liability per person $60,000 in bodily injury liability per accident $25,000 in property damage liability This is the minimum amount required and not the only insurance available. If a commercial vehicle is covered with personal auto insurance instead of commercial auto insurance, an accident while the vehicle is being used for work will not be covered. In fact, an insurance provider may cancel a policy if they discover a commercial vehicle is insured with personal auto insurance and vice versa. Industry Requirements Business insurance can also be required depending on the industry. In some cases, insurance can be required in order to obtain a license or purchase a location. Without the proper insurance, a business may not be able to open a physical location or receive the necessary license for their practice. Essentially every industry has some insurance requirements. Insurance requirements for industries can also vary depending on the state. Some industries are excluded from workers compensation depending on the state, for example. Business Lawsuit Risks Aside from legal repercussions, lawsuits can be a large repercussion for not carrying insurance. Lawsuits can come from a range of incidents from general liability property damage and injuries to professional negligence, directors and officers lawsuits and employee claims. The majority of businesses that fail within their first 5 years of operation is due to a lack of funds. A single uninsured lawsuit can ruin a business not only in reputation, but with the expensive costs of court fees, defense costs and payouts.

In today’s uncertain economic times, people are driving less. They also are trying to save as much as they can on expenses, including their auto insurance. You might feel tempted to let your coverage lapse if you no longer drive. However, that’s the wrong decision. You might face severe financial penalties if you ever let your vehicle go uninsured. Consider why it is so important to always keep your coverage active. Having an Uninsured Car is Illegal Most states require drivers to have certain types and amounts of car insurance. Drivers who fail to carry it will face penalties. If you get caught driving without coverage, then you might face vehicle impoundment, license suspension or revocation of your registration. It’s much easier to pay your premium than to face an unexpected reinstatement fee. You Leave Yourself Financially Exposed If you don’t have car insurance, you won’t have a source of financial help in case of a wreck or other vehicle hazard. You might think you can handle the repair costs on your own. However, there is a lot more to vehicle damage than often meets the eye. After a wreck, not only might you have to pay for your own damage, but you might also have to pay for your medical bills. If the wreck was your fault, then you might even have to pay for the damage you caused to others. You could even face a lawsuit. Active, appropriate car insurance can continue to assist you long after you leave the site of a wreck. Not having it will equal no protection at all. You Won’t Protect the Car’s Value If your car sustains damage, then that damage could harm its resale value. That’s why it is imperative to repair and restore the vehicle. Car insurance is a great asset to have because it will help you do so. Car insurance is so important to protect vehicle value that auto loan companies often require buyers to get covered. They usually mandate comprehensive and collision damage insurance. These specific types of coverage will help you repair your car and thus protect the bank’s investment in it. Damaging your car is an inconvenience. However, you don’t want to face an even bigger challenge because you have no car insurance. Your policy can help you avoid legal penalties and create an avenue to repair your vehicle. As long as you keep paying for your policy, you will have an outlet to cope with these accidents.

In modern days, essentially no business is worth working for if they don’t offer a solid health insurance plan. Healthcare is expensive and insuring through your employer can often be the cheaper option. There is no mandate stating that you have to purchase health insurance through your employer if you don’t want to, however. Benefits of Individual Health Insurance There are many benefits to purchasing your own health insurance plan as opposed to purchasing through your employer. For one, you have more choice when it comes to insurance providers and coverage. Instead of being insured with the same policy as your fellow employees, you can more easily tailor your policy to fit you or your family’s needs. You also don’t have to stick with the insurance provider offered by your employer. Another large benefit is having coverage even if you’re unemployed. If you lose your job, your health insurance can be gone in the blink of an eye. If you have your own policy, however, even if it’s simply supplemental, you don’t have to worry about losing your coverage if you lose your job. Downsides of Individual Health Insurance There are certain drawbacks to insuring yourself. For one, purchasing your own health insurance policy can be more expensive than insuring with your business. It also means that you’ll have to deal directly with your agent and your policy rather than sending issues up the chain. Every person and family are different. You will have different healthcare needs than your neighbor, so it’s important to make the right decision according to you rather than what is easiest or most common. It’s also critical that you compare prices. Depending on your employer’s plan, purchasing health insurance through your employer could actually cost more than buying a policy from a different insurance provider. The average cost of health insurance for individuals is around $440 while health insurance for families costs around $1,168. These prices seem to rise every year, so make sure to keep track of the rising rates. Even if you’re insured with your employer, it doesn’t hurt to compare prices every so often to make sure you are getting the best deal. Always ask your employer or HR manager about their policy’s limits and restrictions, as no policy is created equal and many health insurance policies exclude things such as dental care.

Simple Tips to Help Fireproof Your Home House fires caused approximately $8 billion in property damage, more than 2,800 fatalities and more than 11,000 injuries in 2018. With people staying home more than ever these days, it is imperative to keep the property fire-safe. Homeowners insurance often will pay for fire damage. However, simple prevention methods are often key when keeping fire risks low. What are some of these simple tricks? Keep Batteries in Your Smoke Alarms Working fire and carbon monoxide alarms often prove lifesaving in the event of fires. A good rule of thumb is to change the batteries twice a year when you adjust your clocks for daylight savings time. If you hear your alarms beeping with no sign of a fire around, then it might mean the batteries are low. Don’t forget, many smart home systems now offer fire and carbon monoxide alarms. These systems can alert you to fires on your mobile device, and some can even automatically call 9-1-1. For extra protection, keep at least one fire extinguisher in your home. Extinguishers have a shelf life of several years, but you will need to replace yours periodically. Service Outlets, the HVAC System and Appliances From 2012 – 2016, more than 44,000 of home fires started due to problems in the home’s electrical setup. Take care of your electrical system with a few practical steps: Never overload your electrical outlets and use surge protectors for additional protection. Cover outlets that you are not using with a plastic protector. Do not stick any foreign objects into outlets. If you notice that your outlets spark or that you frequently blow fuses, then this might indicate a problem in your wiring. Do not plug in appliances if their power switch is on. If cords begin to fray, then use might become dangerous. Have your heater, air conditioner and water heater serviced regularly. Shut these items down if you notice strange odors, smoke or abnormal sounds. When replacing bulbs or other electrical parts, only use the appropriate wattage. Don’t leave appliances running when you leave home. When problems arise in electrical systems, shut down the item and call a repairman. Do not use the item again until someone takes a look at it. Separate Flammable and Non-Flammable Items Your home can house a multitude of flammable items like carpet, rugs, drapes, furniture and clothing. Never let these items meet open flames or heat sources. Keep washcloths away from the stove. Don’t place flammable items on top of or near a lit fireplace, candle or furnace. Do not drape clothing over your radiator to let it dry. Don’t place furniture near outlets or sit appliances on fabric-covered surfaces. Different fibers used in furnishings might help retard the ability of a fire to spread. However, others might cause the fire to spread faster. You can learn more about these items by inspecting their manufacturer’s label.

It only takes a small amount of water to cause a lot of damage in your home. Your homeowners insurance might provide help with cleaning up the mess and repairing damaged property. However, it will only do so for certain types of water damage. Let’s look at some of the most-common types of water damage and how your homeowners policy might help you out. Homeowners Coverage for Water Damage Your home insurance will help you pay for the recovery costs related to damage on the property. The policy will usually pay for both damage to your home’s structure and to your possessions. In cases of water damage, you might get help with cleanup, mold remediation, repairs, replacement items and more. However, policies won’t cover all types of water damage. Often, the damage will have no coverage because your policy will exclude the cause of the damage. So, you might have to pay for the damage out of pocket. Slow Leaks A slow leak that causes water damage usually does not have coverage. That is because, usually, these events are preventable and avoidable. Homeowners policies usually only apply to damage that you could not have foreseen or prevented. You generally have ample time to notice a leak and repair it before it can cause significant damage. Burst Pipes In most cases, you cannot prevent a burst pipe in the house. Therefore, your homeowners policy is likely to cover the damage. Your policy might not cover damage to specific items caught in the water flow. However, it can still apply to a variety of the losses. Storm Damage Storms might damage your home, and in certain cases water damage will have coverage. So, for example, if a tree falls through your roof and causes damage, then water might enter the home. Your homeowners policy might pay for both the tree removal and the water cleanup. Floods One type of storm damage that a homeowners policy won’t cover is a flood. Flash floods, sudden storms, storm surge and similar events could occur in almost any home. However, most standard property policies never insure floods. Therefore, property owners will need to invest in a specific flood insurance policy. They will offer the coverage you need for your structure and possessions through a specialized pool called the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). If your home ever sustains water damage, call your homeowners insurance provider. Your agent can tell you what portions of the damage that your policy will cover. They can then appraise the damage and help you settle the costs appropriately.

Something no driver ever wants to do is to hit an animal that strays into the roadway. This accident could cause a huge mess and damage your vehicle (and others if a chain wreck occurs). Not only that, there’s bound to be a fair amount of heartache if you are an animal lover. No one likes the experience of harming one of our four-legged friends, after all. The good news is that your car insurance can help you out with the damage costs if it comes to that. Understanding Collisions With Animals If you hit an animal, there was often very little you could have done beforehand to avoid it. Animals have a tendency to run out into traffic with no warning to approaching drivers. Even if you can avoid hitting the animal, the measures you must take might be equally risky. You could lose control of the vehicle, so sometimes, you have no way to miss the creature. When you hit an animal, some of the damage that might result might cost you a pretty penny. It might include: Damage to your hood, fender and headlight systems. Glass breakage if the animal hits your windshield. Undercarriage damage by your vehicle passing over the animal. Damage to your tires and wheels from both the impact and from punctures from bones. In worst-case scenarios, an animal might even crash through the windshield and injure someone. These are very scary incidents, but there are resources available. Car Insurance After Animal Collisions When you hit an animal, your priority is to see to your safety first. Pull the car over, and then check for damage. Do not flee the scene and call the police to report the collision. Then, call your car insurer. They can tell your about your policy’s benefits. If your policy has comprehensive insurance, then your policy will pay for vehicle repairs. Comprehensive coverage is different from collision insurance. It pays for damage related to non-accident hazards like fire, theft or vandalism.In most cases, animal hits fall under comprehensive coverage. Many auto policies include rental car protection and/or roadside assistance. If you try to avoid the animal, but hit another vehicle, then your liability insurance might pay for the damage to other drivers’ vehicles. Policies with medical payments or personal injury protection can help you pay your medical costs if you get hurt. Do not try to drag an injured or dead animal out of the roadway. It is often best not to touch a living animal. When you call 9-1-1, tell them that you hit the animal, and that it is still in the road. They can dispatch animal control to tend to the creature.

Health insurance has an unfortunate reputation for being expensive, but everyone needs it. It’s important for everyone to find the right health insurance policy for you and your family without paying too much for coverage. Individual Health Insurance vs Family Health Insurance On average, family health insurance policies are more expensive than individual health insurance policies. This is because family health insurance is designed to cover more people, thus adds risk and the requirement for higher coverage limits. The average cost of health insurance for an individual is around $440 a month while health insurance for a family is around $1,168 a month on average. Factors that Affect Health Insurance Premiums Different factors can affect the cost of your health insurance. Even expensive health insurance policies are worth the cost when it comes to receiving help with expensive medical bills, but it’s important to know what is influencing your rates. Common factors include: Age of the insured. Rates generally rise as the policy holder ages. Children 14 years of age and younger cost a flat rate until they turn 15 years old. Location. Different states and even zip codes charge differently for health insurance. This is in part due to the health expense cost in your area. For example, the average cost of health insurance in Texas is around $374.49 a month while Vermont residents pay an average of $529.71 a month for the same health insurance. Keep in mind that rates may also change between providers, and not all providers are available in every state. Smoking or tobacco use. Smoking and using tobacco can have severe affects on your health, meaning you’re more likely to need health services. Policyholders who smoke or use tobacco often face higher premiums. If you quit smoking and notify your insurance provider, you may see a drop in your health insurance premiums after a certain amount of time. Coverage limits. Every person is different and has different health insurance needs. It’s important to consider your and your family’s specific health insurance needs to guarantee you end up with the right policy. Also be aware of common exclusions on health insurance policies. Many do not include dental insurance or cover cosmetic surgery. Overall, you should compare quotes in your area and consider your and your family’s health risks before purchasing a health insurance policy. Be sure to speak with an insurance agent about ways to save money on health insurance.

Just like car insurance, motorcycle insurance provides you with financial protection. When considering motorcycle coverage, it may be tempting to just get the minimum liability policy required by the state. This, however, doesn’t provide you with the many benefits you’ll have with a more adequate policy. Our team of agents at SWFL Insurance Agency Inc. works with motorcycle owners throughout the Fort Myers, FL area to understand their options. This helps clients make more informed decisions. Comprehensive and collision coverage offers many benefits that aren’t available when you choose minimum liability coverage. For instance, if you are found to be at fault for a wreck and have minimum liability coverage, the injured party’s medical and repair costs will be covered. It won’t cover any of your expenses. With a more comprehensive policy, your repairs and medical expenses will also be covered. This includes protection even if you are hit by an uninsured/underinsured motorist. Some provide roadside assistance if there is an accident. Any accessories or customization can also be covered so that you don’t lose your investment in the bike. Without an adequate policy, repairs or replacement costs will come out of your pocket. Unfortunately, accidents happen every day so it’s important to have adequate insurance coverage. Our team at SWFL Insurance Agency Inc. can help you decide on the right policy for you and your motorcycle. We proudly serve motorcyclists throughout the Fort Myers, FL area. Knowing that motorcycle insurance is a powerful financial tool, we can discuss your options with you so that you can make the best decision for you and your lifestyle. You’ll find general information on our website. We’re your ready, come in and talk with an agent. It’s an investment that you won’t regret! Call today!

When buying condo insurance, you are probably looking for the right mix of quality coverage at an affordable price. Condo insurance is also called HO6 insurance. With this type of insurance, you have coverage for the inside of the condo as well as liability risks. One way to reduce the overall cost is by raising the deductible. The agents at SWFL Insurance Agency Inc. can help. Another way you can save on condo insurance is by installing fire and smoke alarm systems if your condo unit does not already have them. Before going ahead with any insurance policy, be sure to contact your condo’s home owner’s association first. Condo Master Insurance This covers the interior of a condo. It will only provide coverage to the bare structure. Private property, as well as fixtures such as sinks, countertops will need to be separately insured. Special entity This type of coverage insures nearly the whole condo, including fixtures. However, this will not cover additions to the unit, or structural improvements. Personal property coverage is also separate. All in all and inclusive All of the physical interiors of the condo is covered with this type of insurance, including additions and fixtures. All personal property would need to be covered with another kind of insurance. Personal Property Insurance Personal property insurance covers the cost of the valuables in case of damage such as from a fire or from flooding. It also protects the personal items in case they are stolen. Cash value coverage: The insurance company determines what it is worth, with the value potentially depreciating over time. Replacement value coverage: you get the amount that you paid for Liability: Protects you and your assets from what happens to individuals Reach out to our office today and let us know how we can help with condo insurance in Fort Myers, Florida. SWFL Insurance Agency Inc. is ready to help you find the right amount of condo insurance coverage to fit your needs today.

A big factor in determining the premium of a personal auto policy has nothing to do with a person’s driving record—it’s his or her credit record. According to Conning and Company, more than 90 percent of insurers use an applicant’s credit history—his or her insurance risk score—to slot him or her into a certain program. When a person applies for auto insurance, the insurance company asks for permission to pull his or her credit information. The insurer then secures a credit report from one or more of the credit bureaus—TransUnion; Experian; or Equifax. For more information on credit reports or to secure a copy of your own report, go to http://www.credit.com. Credit scores range from 300 to 850. If your score is below 650, you may have trouble getting insurance or you may have to pay a higher premium. In order to improve your credit score, keep in mind the following factors that influence the score. Payment history—The largest factor is credit and loan account payment history. A steady record of on-time payments going back several years shows responsibility. Debts owed—The number of accounts you currently have, including type and balance. Try to have just a few active accounts with low balances. Length of credit history—The longer your credit history, the better. New accounts—Every time you apply for a new account, a record of that application appears on your credit report and drops your score. Limit the number of applications you submit. Balance of accounts—It is best to have between two and six open credit cards and one or two loans. Negative records—Collections, judgments, and bankruptcy filings will drop your score. Copyright 2008, 2016, International Risk Management Institute, Inc