3 Things to Know About Umbrella Insurance and How It Protects You

Umbrella Insurance is extra reliability coverage in cases where standard insurance plans are depleted. It’s a form of personal protection beyond the existing coverage limits of other policies. If you are in Commerce, GA and liable for claims that aren’t covered by auto or homeowners insurance, Hyman Brown Insurance Agency Inc. can help.

Three Things To Know About Umbrella Insurance

What Does Umbrella Insurance Cover?

Umbrella insurance provides liability coverage for personal liability situations, property damage, injuries, and certain lawsuits. Depending on the policy, it covers you and your family members against lawsuits that relate to property damage like defamation and personal injuries. Umbrella insurance also covers associated legal fees over and above your liability limit.

What Is Not Covered By Umbrella Insurance Policies?

If you are under a contract and assume liability, your umbrella policy will not offer coverage. Umbrella insurance doesn’t provide coverage for injuries and damage to personal property or criminals. It also doesn’t cover contracted workers’ injuries, so they’ll need their insurance if you hire workers for a construction company.

Is It Necessary?

Umbrella insurance isn’t a legal requirement, but it’s crucial for people who have many assets and are at risk of getting sued. Umbrella insurance is a fail-safe for assets and personal savings if you are sued for damages exceeding the liability limits of basic insurance policies. It offers additional coverage like paying for legal representation and damages when sued for damages.

How It Helps Protect You

Umbrella insurance offers coverage for expensive claims and lawsuits that involve body injuries, reputation damage, property damage, and court costs. In cases where other insurance policies have exceeded their coverage, umbrella insurance helps cover the liability claims.

Umbrella insurance is excess liability insurance and helps you avoid financial ruin if you are sued and liable for personal injuries or property damage. If you want to protect your assets and savings, contact Hyman Brown Insurance Agency Inc. to get an umbrella insurance policy in Commerce, GA.

Auto Insurance Tips for New Car Owners in Commerce, GA

If you reside in Commerce, GA or the surrounding area, you know the importance of convenience and security. The history of Commerce reaches all the way back to the civil war and is the site of the famous "furnace" that served to heat the iron during the war between the states. 

Location of Commerce, GA

Commerce is located in the county of Jackson in the foothills of NE Georgia. Its original name was Harmony Grove. 

Georgia’s Insurance Statutes

In Georgia, the insurance laws are simple:

  • Drivers must have bodily injury liability ($25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident)
  • Property damage liability ($25,000 per accident)

Why Liability Insurance?

Some drivers complain about carrying so much liability insurance. They ask: "Why should I have liability insurance when it is only used if I injure someone or damage their property." But the better question to ask is: "Can you really afford not to have this insurance?" If someone is hurt or their property is damaged by your actions, you are looking at potentially thousands or even millions of out-of-pocket expense if the victim wins in court. You would literally owe the injured party for the rest of your life. 

That’s why the state requires this basic insurance in most states.

Additional Coverage

If you choose to add on to your basic required coverage,  you may do so. You can speak to an agent at Hyman Brown Insurance Agency Inc., to get started. Ask them what they recommend based on your lifestyle, amount of property, type of vehicle, and other factors that you are insuring, and let them assist you in this decision.

Other types of insurance may include:

  • Uninsured motorist insurance
  • Underinsured motorist insurance
  • Collision
  • Comprehensive

Your friends with Hyman Brown Insurance Agency Inc. are ready to assist you with whatever you need. If you are in the Commerce GA area, give them a call today. or contact them online. 

Is Commercial Insurance Really Worth it?

Commerce, GA businesses have to contend with numerous imminent risks. Ranging from vandalism, fire to theft, businesses are susceptible to threats. Operating a thriving business in Commerce GA always emanates with unique risks. A client might file a suit, an imminent calamity can ruin things, or someone could get injured while on your business premises. However, formidable commercial insurance from Hyman Brown Insurance Agency Inc. will safeguard your business against perils lurking in your industry.

Is commercial insurance a worthwhile investment?

Protecting your investment is a vital constituent in ensuring that you have a thriving business. Commercial insurance is a risk management tool responsible for transferring the risks of a given loss to an insurance company. Commercial insurance can help a small business be successful by mitigating the uncertainties under which it operates. Considering getting commercial insurance is beneficial in the following ways.

It’s a legal requirement.

Georgia law requires any business that employs more than three people, either part-time or regularly, to carry workers’ comp insurance. This coverage caters to work-related injuries and sickness of the employees. Additionally, all business-owned vehicles in Georgia should possess commercial auto insurance covering bodily injury and property damage.

Protection of employees

The most valuable assets your business venture has are the employees, not the products you offer. This coverage can help reimburse costs for your worker’s medical attention if they experience a work-related injury or ailment. It also covers their lost wages and extends the deceased worker’s family with financial benefits.

Protection of assets 

Damage to the business property can culminate into disastrous effects on your business’s proper functioning and can result in a shutdown. It’s vital to safeguard your business against incertitudes such as vandalism, storm, and fire. Property insurance protects your inventory and office content no matter what happens.

Liability protection

 General liability coverage covers various incidences, including a client’s injuries while on your business premises. It encompasses slander and copyright infringement lawsuits, and other potentially hazardous issues.

Feel free to contact us at Hyman Brown Insurance Agency Inc. in Commerce, GA; we can assist you in landing formidable commercial insurance for your business venture with the flexibility and reliable adjustment of your policy as your business evolves.

Is home insurance in Commerce a good investment?

Those that are in the Commerce, GA area should consider purchasing a home as ownership provides many long-term benefits. As you are looking to buy a home in this area, getting the right coverage is important. A home insurance plan in this area of Georgia can be a great investment for a few reasons.

Protection for your Assets

A reason that many in this area of the state will need to have insurance is that it can provide protection for their assets. Your home is a very important asset that you will want to enjoy for a long time. With the right insurance, you will know you are covered if there is a fire or other situation that causes serious damage. The same insurance plan can also offer you coverage for your personal assets, up to the limits set in the policy. 

Liability Support

Property owners are also going to have some liability risk that they should try to mitigate. If you have a guest over that is hurt, you could be held responsible and liable for any damages that they incur. While this can be a concern, you can offset it by getting the right insurance. With a home insurance plan, you are going to receive some liability insurance that will prove to be quite helpful in some situations. 

Owning a property in or around Commerce, GA can be a great housing option. Those that do purchase a home should ensure they have the right insurance. To do this, speaking with Hyman Brown Insurance Agency Inc. can be a great idea. The insurance professionals with Hyman Brown Insurance Agency Inc. understand the value that comes with this insurance, and they can help you build a plan that will offer the right coverage for both you and your property. 

Benefits of Renters Insurance for College Students

Most college students do not give renters insurance much thought till disaster strikes. However, renters insurance is more of a benefit to you than an expense. Since life is unpredictable, it would benefit college students in Commerce, GA, to have renters insurance. Hyman Brown Insurance Agency Inc. is here to help you understand the different types of renter coverage and their benefits.

Property Coverage

It helps cover all your items from computers, clothes, jewelry, books, furniture, and anything else you own. Losing any of these items can be devastating and set you back. However, with renters insurance, you are covered in case of a loss caused by a fire or water damage, or theft. Check your policy and see what is covered just to be prepared.

Liability Protection

If someone visits you and gets hurt, liability protection helps cover their medical bills. Also, if you accidentally damage the building, it will cover the repairs. In such circumstances, if you are forced to pay out-of-pocket, you may find it challenging, but with renters insurance covering such costs, you can relax a little.

Living Expense Coverage

You may be forced to move out because the apartment is undergoing repairs from a fire or water damage. This coverage helps pay for the expenses incurred on where you will have to stay temporarily. The expenses include the cost of a hotel and meals.

What is Not Covered

Renters insurance does not cover everything. For instance, if you are staying with roommates, they will need their own policies. Also, if you have a car, it is not covered under renters insurance. You will need separate auto insurance to cover damage to the vehicle.

With most college students trying to balance between school, jobs, and social lives, the last thing they should worry about is losing valuable belongings. If you are a college student residing in Commerce, GA, contact Hyman Brown Insurance Agency Inc. and enjoy the benefits that come with renters insurance.

What is Excluded from an Umbrella Insurance Policy?

Umbrella insurance, which is often called excess liability insurance, is an optional, prudent financial & insurance decision for those living and/or working in and around Commerce, GA. And while its name – umbrella insurance, may seem to imply it covers an insured individual from every storm, the reality is that there are specific exclusions to this type of insurance, according to Hyman Brown Insurance Agency Inc.

An umbrella policy typically begins at $1,000,000 in liability protection and often has lower premiums when compared to other types of liability insurance.

Umbrella insurance performs as a supplemental liability insurance policy (as it extends standard policy limits) to other primary insurance liability policies and cannot be purchased as a standalone policy. It extends coverage for these types of policies for those living and working in the Commerce, GA area –

  • An automobile policy.
  • A home policy as a homeowner.
  • A home policy as a renter, among others.

An umbrella policy relates to liability. For example, if a visitor becomes injured on your property, the injured party may sue you if they believe you were at fault. If found to be at fault, the insurance would pay costs associated with medical bills or other expenses resulting from the event.

But what is excluded from the coverage offered by an umbrella policy?

An umbrella insurance policy does not cover the perils typically included in a standard policy as it only applies to liability issues. An umbrella insurance policy will not include coverage for –

  • One’s injuries.
  • Criminal & intentional actions.
  • Damage to the insured personal belongings.
  • Property damage/injuries under certain circumstances – uncovered RVs or dog breeds not covered.
  • Business-related damage or issues.
  • Exclusions listed in an affiliated policy.

Umbrella insurance is a bit of a unique insurance product that is often found to be quite beneficial to business owners, renters, and homeowners. For additional information, please contact the insurance professionals at Hyman Brown Insurance Agency Inc.

Commercial Insurance Requirements

Every state requires that businesses have a specific level of insurance to ensure that their workers and the business are protected during operation. Georgia is no different, with companies in Commerce, GA expected to abide by state-issued insurance requirements.  Hyman Brown Insurance Agency Inc. outlines what they entail and other covers that commercial businesses should consider getting.

Compulsory Commercial Insurance Requirements

Workers Compensation Insurance

Workers compensation insurance is one of the mandatory policies for anyone looking to start a business in Commerce, GA. However, it only applies to commercial companies that regularly employ three or more people, whether on a part-time or full-time basis. If any employee gets injured performing work, this insurance takes care of medical bills arising from such an incident. Lost wages and legal fees are also covered.

Commercial Auto Insurance

If your business owns any vehicles, commercial auto insurance will be compulsory. This includes automobiles used for business purposes such as making deliveries and transporting clients or employees. Claims covered under this policy include damage to the vehicle, liability costs, and uninsured or underinsured motorists.

Optional Insurance Policies

Business Owner’s Policy

A business owner’s policy, BOP, combines general liability insurance and property insurance into one. It provides a cost-effective option for businesses, allowing you to get insurance when employees get injured, property damage occurs, or disasters strike.

Cyber Liability Insurance

Increased cyber interactions in today’s world can be attributed to rampant cyber attacks, requiring businesses to safeguard themselves against data breaches. Cyber liability insurance covers costs such as legal fees, data recovery, and ransomware payments. Included is also the repair of damaged computer systems and lost revenue incurred during business interruptions.

Professional Liability Insurance

Also referred to as errors and omissions insurance, this policy covers damages resulting from negligence and violation of good faith. This insurance is mainly used by businesses that deal with consultation and professional services due to their likely encounters with erroneous advice or practices. Areas covered by this insurance include negligence lawsuits, business disputes, and defense fees.

Getting coverage for your business will go a long way in saving your company from any losses that could potentially risk its operation. At Hyman brown insurance agency Inc. we work round the clock to provide a structured policy that is right for your business. Get in touch with us today for your commercial insurance needs.

Things that home insurance won’t cover

If you have a mortgage on your home, home insurance will be a requirement. It offers a lot of protection. It covers the physical building itself from many types of peril. It protects your contents and your assets. You might think home insurance protects you from every possible thing that can go wrong but that isn’t the reality. Every home insurance policy has exclusions. Forewarned is forearmed. If you know what isn’t covered, you can make other arrangements to protect yourself. At Hyman Brown Insurance Agency Inc. in Commerce, GA, we have been in business for almost 60 years. Our goal is to build a lasting relationship with all of our customers. 

Owner negligence

Insurance companies expect homeowners to maintain their homes. That seems like a pretty simple thing but it encompasses things you may not think of. If your roof needs to be replaced and you put off doing it, your insurance company isn’t going to pay for damage to your interior. If you have termites, you will have to pay for the damage since treatments to avoid infestations are available. 

Flood

Floods are one of the most prevalent natural disasters. They cause an immense amount of damage every year. They are also not covered by home insurance. If the flood origin is inside your home, that is another story but groundwater, no. If you live in an area prone to flooding, you can purchase flood insurance through NFIP, the National Flood Insurance Program. 

Earth movement

The term earth movement encompasses several types of earth movement, earthquake, mudslides, and sinkholes. All of these can cause unthinkable damage to your home. You can purchase insurance separately from your home policy to cover these disasters. 

If you live in or near Commerce, GA, contact Hyman Brown Insurance Agency Inc. for any insurance needs you may have. 

What is the reason to get renters insurance in Georgia?

When you are looking for a new place to call home, Commerce, GA is a great option. Those that are in this area will enjoy the strong local economy and plenty of amenities. When you are looking to move into a new home, renting could be a great option as it offers a lot of benefits. If you are going to rent, it is important to get the right insurance. There are a few reasons that you will need to have renters insurance at all times.

Insurance Gives Important Coverage

A key reason that you should get renters insurance when you are in Georgia is that it will give you some very important coverage. Anyone that would like to rent a home will have a lot of personal assets that are stored in their home. Further, they will take on some liability risk at all times. When you get a proper renters insurance policy, it will give the coverage that you need to offset these risks.

Insurance is a Lease Requirement

You will also need to get a renters insurance policy because it will be a lease requirement. Anyone that would like to rent a property will need to comply with the provisions that are set in their property lease. As you are reading through a lease, you will find that most landlords are going to require that you have a full renters insurance policy in place during the term of your agreement. 

Getting a renters insurance policy in the Commerce, GA area is a good option for anyone that wants to move into a new rental property. If you would like to move into one here, you should call Hyman Brown Insurance Agency Inc. The team with Hyman Brown Insurance Agency Inc. will help you evaluate your needs and options and pick a new insurance plan. 

When is commercial insurance needed?

Anyone that would like to be a small business owner in the state of Georgia should consider coming to Commerce, GA. If you do come to this area of the state, you will enjoy the great amenities and strong local population base. There are a lot of opportunities for success in this area, but some risks as well. One way that you can offset these risks is by getting insurance. There are several situations when getting commercial insurance is needed.

When Raising Capital

One situation when you will need to have commercial insurance is when you are raising capital. Using a loan or investor equity is a good way to get a business running and off the ground. If you are going to take out money, you will have some insurance obligations. Most of the time, these stakeholders will want you to get a full commercial insurance policy as it will protect your company and their investment.

When Trying to Protect Business

You should also get commercial insurance if you simply want to protect your business. A quality commercial insurance policy is the best way to protect your company. With commercial insurance, you can get liability insurance and coverage for your assets. This will help to protect your business in many different challenging situations. 

You always need to make sure that you get a proper commercial insurance policy for your Commerce, GA area business. When you are looking for your next insurance policy, it would be a good idea for you to call Hyman Brown Insurance Agency Inc. If you do call Hyman Brown Insurance Agency Inc. you can get the support needed to understand the insurance needs that your business has. With their guidance, you can also choose an ideal policy for your business.