We've Moved!!!

Find all of the answers you need at http://www.personalinsuranceanswers.com/.

All the same great content, but on our own site.  Ask questions and get answers to your personal insurance questions without wasting a lot of time.

If you don't see the answer to your question submit it to us and we'll respond. Chances are someone else has the same questions.

See you there.

Why am I paying more for car insurance after being hit?

It's not fair.  You didn't do anything wrong except being in the wrong place at the wrong time.  So why are your insurance rates going up?  It wasn't you that just rear-ended the car in front of you, or merged into a lane with other cars in it.  You're the victim.....in more ways than one.

Auto insurance carriers have developed intricate and sophisticated computer programs that analyze everything.  Credit, driving record, location and gender are just a few of the factors that go into a rate. The predictive modeling done by insurance carriers tells them exactly how much they have to charge a particular driver in order to make enough money to cover all expenses, claims, marketing and profit they have in their budgets.

One factor is Not-At-Fault accidents.  The computer says drivers that have been in a not-at-fault accident are statistically more likely to get into an At-Fault accident.  It's apparently just math.  And it's not fair to a lot of drivers.  But it is understandable on some level.  For instance, it's probably more likely that an aggressive driver will get hit by another car because of how they drive...changing lanes, speeding up and slowing down, etc...  A defensive driver, on the other hand, is probably more reliable and predictable.  They don't follow too close, they don't stop short that often and they change lanes only when necessary.

All of this means you have to be very careful about what gets reported to your insurance company when you're not at fault in an accident.  If you can be reasonably assured you'll get a proper settlement with the other driver's insurance than that may be the best choice.

Your agent should have a quick conversation with you about what to do in the case of an accident or claim so you can make an educated decision.  If not, you're probably not getting the service you deserve.

How do you prove what you lost?

Can you remember everything you owned, where you got it and what it cost?  Those are some of the questions you'll need to answer if you want to take advantage of your insurance policy's Replacement Cost for your personal property.

After a loss, most insurance companies will give you a check that covers the Actual Cash Value (aka: depreciated value) of your personal property (couches, TV, clothes, etc...)  In order to get the full replacement cost you have to re-buy the stuff.  However, many companies want to have some idea of what was in your home before you replace an Ikea couch with something from Ethan Allen.

It's a good idea to take pictures of your home.  Get a snapshot or two of each room and then put the images somewhere safe OUTSIDE OF YOUR HOME.  It's a whole lot easier to prove what you had (and what you didn't, i.e. original Picasso) and it should only take you a matter of minutes.

Contact us for more good ideas that aren't that exciting, but really do make sense.

Insurance a must in the dorms

If you're counting on your parents insuranc to cover you in your dorm, or in your apartment at school, it may not cover everything you think.  Small property claims (i.e. stolen/misplaced laptop) aren't really covered because most of the time they won't be more than the deductible your parents carry on their house.

Read this article for more information.

Insurance a must in the dorms

There are also niche programs that offer what you need.  Like this one:
https://www.gallagherkoster.com/students/student-personal-property/

How Personal Injury Claims are Evaluated

So you were hit by another vehicle and were injured in the accident. Now what? Hopefully none of us will ever be in this position! Just in case, here's a great article that explains how personal injury claims are evaluated to help you be well informed if you ever find yourself in this position.

http://www.accidentattorneys.com/resources/accidents/accident-claims/how-personal-injury-insurance-claims-evaluated

When my car gets hit, when does it get fixed?

One of the stickiest situations for an insurance agent is when their client gets into an accident and it's the other person's fault.  Why, you ask?  Because any report, of any kind, to your own insurance company becomes part of your driving history.  So you're at the mercy of the other party's insurance carrier, and that's where things can get ugly, or usually just slow.

I'll explain more after the jump.

A Few Tricks to Keep Your Treats

Halloween is quickly approaching! Here is an article to help keep everyone safe this Halloween.

http://www.suite101.com/content/halloween-safety-tips-for-homeowners-a147959