Kate Betts, Author at Atlanta Insurance

The anatomy of an Atlanta homeowners insurance policy

July 15, 2020February 27, 2018 by Kate Betts

It's important to read through your home insurance policy thoroughly.

As a homeowner, you want to protect your investment, and home insurance was designed to do just that. Your coverage protects you against the risks you face every day.

There’s just one problem:

Your policy looks like it belongs on a shelf next to the dictionary. It’s long. It’s boring. It’s wordy.

Despite all of this, it’s extremely important that you understand your home insurance policy. And that means reading your policy carefully. Thing is, your policy is an important document that defines the agreement between the insurance company and you (the insured.) There are a ton of important details about your coverage, your obligations, and exclusions packed into that paperweight. And those details could mean the difference between something being covered…and something not being covered.

At any rate, to help you understand how your policy is broken down, we’ve laid it out section by section below.

1. First of all, we present your Declarations Page:

The declarations page (a.k.a. the dec page) is the first portion of your policy. Its job is to give you an overview of what the policy is and what it covers. The dec page tells you:

Who’s being insured
What the policy protects you from
The property that’s insured
The dates that the policy is effective

Pro tip: Your auto policy also has a dec page that functions in much the same way.

2. Continuing on, behold: your Insuring Agreement.

Now we get into the good stuff.

The insuring agreement explains what the insurance company will do if you have a loss and end up filing a home insurance claim. This section will also lay out what’s covered by your policy. When you paid for your insurance and finalized everything, the insurer agreed to specific things – for example, paying for covered losses or providing legal defense for liability lawsuits.

You can have one of two different types of insuring agreements: named-perils and all-risk.

Named-perils coverage will only protect you from losses that are specifically written out in the policy.

All-risk coverage will protect you from all losses except for those that are excluded by the policy. (Many life insurance policies are written out like this.)

3. Well, there had to be a catch somewhere – here comes the exclusions section.

This is a really important part of your policy. Exclusions are losses that just aren’t covered by your insurance. What that means is if you ever experience one of these losses, your insurance company will not take care of the expenses.

You can see why you need to really understand this section – you don’t want to have a loss only to find out that it’s excluded. (Flooding is a common insurance exclusion – but there are many home insurance exclusions you should know about.)

But don’t worry: we’ll explain how you can add coverages to your policy in a second.

4. So, moving onto the conditions section.

Okay. This is another section that you need to pay attention to. The conditions section lays out situations in which the insurance company may not have to pay out a claim when you file one. The conditions mostly have to do with things that you as the homeowner have to do. The insurance company may not have to pay out a claim if the conditions of the policy have not been met.

For example, you might be required to file proof of loss with the insurance company within a certain amount of time. If you fail to do that, the insurance company may not accept the claim. To make sure that you’re meeting all the requirements of your home insurance policy, take some time to read through the conditions section. Ask any questions you have about them so that you understand your responsibilities as the homeowner.

5. Definitions, definitions, definitions.

This section could be on its own, but it could also be hiding in another section. This section exists to help you understand all the fancy words in your policy – how helpful! Insurance vocabulary isn’t always the most intuitive or the clearest, which is why your policy may have this handy-dandy section.

6. And for the grand finale, we have the endorsements and riders section.

An endorsement is basically an addition to your policy. It can add coverage, take away coverage, or change coverage. This is how you can add various coverages that are otherwise excluded. For example, if sewer backup is excluded, you can add an endorsement to make sure it’s covered. You can also add coverage for jewelry or other valuables here.

Something to keep in mind:

Every year when the insurance company renews your insurance, the coverage or language might be slightly different. So, be sure to review this section carefully to make sure you have all of the coverages you need.

Okay, that was a lot of information! The above is just a general outline of the sections included in your policy. Yes, there are many, many words included in your policy, and it’s not the most riveting read. But it’s still an important thing to do.

If you have to save money on your home insurance, we would be happy to help you with that. Our agents can help you shop for your insurance so that you can make sure you’re getting the best coverage at the best possible rate. All you have to do to get home insurance quotes is fill out our online form or give us a call today.

8 ways to improve workplace safety at your Atlanta business

April 3, 2020February 22, 2018 by Kate Betts

Workplace safety can help you lower your workers compensation insurance costs.

As a business owner, you’re responsible for providing a safe workplace for your employees. It’s kind of part of the job. Sure, you have workers’ compensation insurance, but isn’t it better not to have to use it? By committing to safety at your business, you lower the chance of someone getting hurt, which means fewer workers’ comp claims – and saving money on workers’ comp insurance.

But this all begs the question:

How can you improve workplace safety?

Well, we’ve come up with a handy list of eight ways to improve workplace safety.

1. Train your employees.

Your people can’t do their job safely if no one shows them how. Make sure to spend ample time on training and emphasizing safety. Encourage questions. Explain clearly. Show everyone proper protocol and safety practices – for example, how to use a ladder properly. You can’t throw someone into a pool and expect them to do the butterfly, right? It’s also important that you have continuing education and training – even your experienced employees need a refresher.

2. Identify workplace hazards.

Take a good, hard look at your workplace and take note of anything that could be done more safely and any risks that your employees face. You can’t protect your people if you don’t know what the danger is. (And make sure you’re telling them about the risks they face on the job.)

And remember:

You’re not in this alone. Ask your employees for their suggestions or concerns. They’re the ones on the front lines – take the time to have a chat with them.

3. Make a safety plan.

Once you’ve talked to your employees and taken a walk around your workplace to look for hazards, create a plan for eliminating or reducing the hazards you find.

Take steps to make your workplace is as safe as possible, and communicate your plan to your employees. Take the suggestions and concerns your employees have into consideration and make sure they feel like they’re being heard.

Hey, that actually leads us to our next point…

4. Talk about safety.

Make it a habit to talk about safety at your workplace. Even outside of training, your employees should feel comfortable voicing their thoughts about safety and looking out for each other. Communication is key, and discussing how to make your workplace safer should be an ongoing thing.

5. Evaluate your safety plan.

You also have to keep tabs on how the safety plan is going. Is it doing its job? Do you have to make any adjustments or changes? Are there ways you can improve it? Is the plan being put into action in the workplace? Look out for the little things that can make a big difference.

6. Show that safety is Priority A.

Create a workplace culture that puts safety at the forefront. Acknowledge those workers who show that they put thought and effort towards safety, not those who put efficiency over doing the job safely. Also, be careful of incentivizing zero injuries – that could lead to a culture where workers don’t report injuries at all.

And that would make it difficult for you to carry out our next tip…

7. Investigate any accidents or near-misses.

If there is ever an accident (or a near-miss) you’ve got to get out your magnifying glass and do some detective work. Launch an investigation and unleash your inner Sherlock Holmes. Talk to witnesses and try to get to the bottom of what happened and why. That way you can do everything in your power to stop it from happening again. Conduct your investigation promptly – your witnesses will have a better recollection of how things unfolded.

But don’t stop there – carry on with improving safety by using our next tip…

8. Make sure your employees are reporting claims promptly.

It’s important that you encourage your employees to report any claims promptly. You don’t want your employees to be under-reporting workplace injuries, as this can have serious consequences. Make sure your employees feel safe coming forward and speaking up about workplace incidents and that they don’t a negative outcome from reporting them.

So, those are our eight ways to improve safety in the workplace. Preventing workplace injuries can help you lower your workers’ comp costs, but it’s also about looking out for your people. Your team is a vital part of your business, and they deserve a safe workplace. So. Go forth and make your workplace safer.

And if you want to save money on business insurance, we would be happy to help. Our team can help you shop for the best coverage at the best possible rate. All you have to do to get business insurance quotes is fill out our online form or give us a call. We’re here to help with any of your insurance needs.

10 pro tips for buying homeowners insurance in Atlanta, GA

November 30, 2022February 20, 2018 by Kate Betts

We've got some tips for buying home insurance.

Home insurance may not be your favorite thing to think about. We get it – home insurance can get complicated. Maybe you had a stressful experience in the past, or maybe you’re getting coverage for your first home and you’re a little overwhelmed. Or maybe you’re shopping for rates.

But don’t worry: we’ve got eight pro tips for buying a home in Atlanta and insurance coming your way.

1. Bundle your home and auto insurance.

Bundling is when you get multiple types of coverage from the same company. Some companies offer discounts for bundling your home insurance and auto insurance, so this could be an easy way to get some savings. Of course, it’s still a good idea to get multiple quotes for home and auto insurance and shop around to make sure you’re getting the best coverage at the best price.

2. Don’t sacrifice coverage for price.

It might seem like a great idea to jump at the lowest price you can find. But before you do, you need to take a good look at the various coverages and limits offered by each policy. One policy may be more expensive, but it might include more extensive coverage and protect you from more losses than another, less expensive one. Make sure you’re comparing apples to apples. And don’t sacrifice coverage for the sake of paying less – this is your home you’re insuring, remember.

3. Be aware of any exclusions.

Knowing exactly what your policy does and does not cover is important.

Here’s the thing:

Home insurance comes with certain exclusions (or losses that simply aren’t covered.) For example, flooding is a common home insurance exclusion. It’s a good idea to familiarize yourself with any exclusions and limits in your policy so you can add coverage as needed, such as extra coverage for jewelry or valuables. It’s always best to be prepared, right?

4. Insure your home for its replacement cost.

If your home was destroyed by a fire, you would want insurance to be able to rebuild it from the ground up, right? To make sure homeowners insurance will do that, you need to insure your house for its replacement cost, which takes the costs of building materials and the labor of the contractors into account.

5. Insure your belongings for their replacement cost, not their actual cash value (ACV.)

Here’s the difference:

Replacement cost coverage allows you to replace your belongings at today’s prices.

Actual cash value only gives you the cost of your belongings at the time of the loss. Since depreciation is the fact of life, chances are that amount you get from insurance will be less than what you paid for your belongings…and probably not enough to replace them at today’s prices.

6. Don’t skip your home inventory.

A home inventory is basically a list of all your belongings and their value. Taking a home inventory helps you get an idea of how much coverage you need to for your personal property. It can also help you if you ever have to file a claim – you’d know exactly what you need to claim, and having an inventory (preferably with pictures) adds credibility.

7. Do some research on the company you’re considering.

This is the company you’re trusting to have your back if you have a claim. Be sure to check out their financial stability, customer service record, and claims-handling process and reputation. You want a company that’s going to be there for you, so do some research about Georgia home insurance companies.

8. Don’t forget to ask about discounts.

Discounts are a great way to save money. Basically, you get a reduced price for meeting certain qualifications. For instance, you could get a discount for having a monitored burglar alarm or for bundling your home and auto insurance. Now, different companies offer different discounts, so be sure to ask about potential savings when you’re shopping for insurance.

9. Ask family and friends.

Why not ask your family and friends for home insurance recommendations? It can be hard to know where to start with insuring your home, but you might get some leads by asking around. It never hurts to ask.

10. Shop around.

Shopping around for home insurance can help you save money on your rates and find out what options are out there. Every insurance carrier evaluates risk differently, so it can pay off to get multiple quotes. You don’t have to feel obligated to take the first option you find.

Our team would be happy to help you shop for your home insurance. Our goal is to make insurance easy and help homeowners save money. To get home insurance quotes, fill out our online form or give us a call today.

Sources:

https://www.thebalance.com/homeowner-insurance-shopping-tips-1798649

Does my Atlanta restaurant or bar need liquor liability insurance?

September 18, 2020February 15, 2018 by Kate Betts

Liquor liability insurance can protect your restaurant from the risks associated with serving alcohol.

If your Atlanta dining establishment serves alcohol, you’re open to a number of risks. What if a fight breaks out because one of your patrons is intoxicated? What if one of your patrons leaves and gets into a car accident that injures the other driver – and what if your patron is found to be legally drunk? Your business could be found responsible on the basis of being the place that served the alcohol. But that’s where liquor liability insurance comes in. We’ll explain how liquor insurance can protect your business and what to look for in a policy.

First of all: What is liquor liability?

Okay, before we go any further, let’s define what liquor liability insurance is protecting you from. Liquor liability is the legal responsibility of a business that serves or sells alcohol for the actions of patrons who drank said alcohol at their establishment. That means that you could be found responsible if one of your patrons causes someone bodily harm or causes property damage. So, restaurant safety should include training for employees about serving alcohol.

Why do I need liquor liability coverage?

General liability insurance may provide host liquor liability for occasional instances where alcohol is served (like at a company holiday party.) However, this host liquor liability is not enough for a business that sells and serve alcohol. As we mentioned above, alcohol comes with many risks, and you need to make sure that you’re covered for any mishaps that happen because of serving it.

What does liquor liability insurance cover?

The short answer to what liquor liability insurance covers is that it can protect you if you get sued because of the actions of an intoxicated patron. For example, some things that may be covered by liquor liability insurance are…

1. Unruly customers. Alcohol can make people unpredictable, and it can even make them violent. You can include assault and battery with your policy (we’ll explain more about this in a moment.)

2. Legal fees and court defense costs. If you’re on the receiving end of an alcohol-related claim or lawsuit, the legal fees and damages that you’re obligated to pay can become astronomical. But liquor liability may help you cover these expenses.

3. Your employees. You want to trust your employees to serve alcohol responsibly and follow any protocols you have set up – and not to drink on the job – but your policy can provide an added protection for your employees.

How to choose the liquor liability policy that’s right for you:

It’s extremely important to note that not all liquor liability policies are the same. Some may exclude certain scenarios, meaning you would need to add coverage to be sure that your business is fully protected. Be sure to check for the following in the policy you’re considering:

Assault and battery coverage: Many policies actually exclude assault and battery, so make sure that you add this coverage to close the gap. You can usually extend assault and battery coverage to include specific situations, such as shootings, stabbings, or sexual assault.
Defense costs: You need to make sure that your policy will cover defense costs outside of the policy’s limit. Legal fees can add up and they can eat up your policy’s limit quickly, leaving no money to cover damages you have to pay. Basically, you need to check if the cost of defending yourself against a claim is covered in addition to the limit on your policy.
Coverage for employees: Earlier we mentioned that your employees can be a risk to your business if they don’t serve alcohol responsibly or if they drink on the job. It’s a good idea to make sure that your policy accounts for your employees and covers them just like it does your patrons.
Coverage for claims of mental damages: If a third-party is involved in an alcohol-related incident caused by one of your patrons, they could sue for stress, anguish, or psychological injury even if they were not physically injured. Check and see if the policy you’re considering covers these sorts of claims.

A note about serving alcohol to minors:

The drinking age in the United States is 21. There’s no arguing with it. If you have a liquor liability claim that arises from serving alcohol to a minor, that claim will not be covered. It’s crucial that all of your employees know to ID people and how to identify fake IDs. Everyone needs to understand that serving alcohol to minors will not be tolerated at your establishment.

So that’s why liquor liability insurance is so important for restaurants and other establishments that serve alcohol. Serving alcohol opens your business to a number of risks, which is why having the right insurance is key to your business. To find out what kind of insurance you need for your business, you can fill out our online form or give us a call today. We would be happy to discuss your business and your insurance with you. We can also help you shop for the best rate for your insurance and get business insurance quotes for you.

What you need to know about homeowners insurance if a tree falls

September 19, 2020February 13, 2018 by Kate Betts

If a tree falls on your house, your home insurance will most likely cover you.

Atlanta is known for being a city with a lot of trees. The local flora is picturesque and pretty, but it does raise some questions about home insurance. First and foremost: does homeowners insurance cover fallen trees? Second: does homeowners insurance cover a tree falling on my neighbor’s house? Then that raises the question of what if a tree falls on my car, on my fence…You get the point. There are a lot of possibilities involving trees. Anyways, we’ll answer all of those tree-related questions. It’ll be tree-rific.

Does homeowners insurance cover fallen trees?

Most likely, yes. Indeed it does. If that oak tree in your yard blows over and crashes into your house, your home insurance would most likely cover the costs of repairs to your roof and house. As long as the cause of the falling tree is covered by the policy, you’re in good shape. Of course, it’s always a good idea to read over your policy so you understand exactly what circumstances are covered. But ideally, all it would take is submitting a home insurance claim and you can get the damage patched up.

Does homeowners insurance cover damage to my neighbor’s house?

You go to answer the door. It’s your neighbor and they do not look happy. It only takes a quick glance down the street to find out why. Your beautiful oak tree has smashed into their roof. Uh oh.

So, what happens in this scenario? Would your home insurance cover it? The answer is no. It would actually be the neighbor’s home insurance that would cover the claim, so they would have to go through their home insurance company to get the tree situation taken care of. They probably won’t be too happy about having to pay their deductible, but that’s the way it works.

On the flip side, if your neighbor’s tree falls on your home, it’s your home insurance company that will cover the claim … and you would be the one on the hook for your deductible. Basically, where trees are concerned, if it’s your house, it’s your insurance.

Now. There’s something else you need to know about trees. Let’s say that your neighbor informed you about a diseased tree that they fear will fall. They nag you about it multiple times because they want you to take it down. But you put it off and never got around to it. The diseased tree falls onto the neighbor’s house, damaging their roof. If they can prove that you were aware that the tree was dangerous and did nothing about it, their insurance company can come after you to reimburse the neighbor for their deductible. Just a tidbit to be aware of, the moral of which is to have any diseased or hollow trees removed safely. And to have your yard and property checked for problem trees about once a year so you can get them taken care of.

What if a tree falls on my car?

If a tree squashes your car, your home insurance would not cover it. However, your auto insurance could – if you purchased comprehensive coverage (if you didn’t, you’re out of luck.) Comprehensive coverage protects your vehicle against damage not caused by a car accident; it usually covers fire, theft, animal strikes, and yes – falling trees. You’d only have to pay for your deductible.

What if a tree falls through my fence?

A fence, while it might ward off trespassers and keep your dog in the yard, will not deter a falling tree. The good news is that you probably have “other structures” coverage in your home insurance, which covers things like detached garages, sheds, driveways, and, yes – fences. You’ll have to check your policy to make sure that it does indeed offer these coverages and to check what the limit is for other structures.

So, there you have it: homeowners insurance should indeed cover your home if a tree falls on it so long as it’s a covered cause of loss. Aren’t you re-leafed? (Sorry, we were on a roll with the puns.) Potential disputes with neighbors notwithstanding, you’re good to go where trees are concerned. However, it’s always a good idea to review your policy thoroughly so that you know exactly what is and isn’t covered.

Do you want to save money on your home insurance? We can help with that. If you’re looking for quotes for insurance, our team of home insurance professionals would be happy to shop your rates for you. All you have to do to get home insurance quotes is to fill out our quick form or give us a call today.

Protect your business from four different types of theft

January 4, 2024February 8, 2018 by Kate Betts

You business faces several different types of theft.

Sometimes people really want things that don’t belong to them, and your business faces numerous types of theft. There are various threats out there, but by being aware of them and taking steps to lower your risk you can protect your business from theft. We’ll go over four types of crime that businesses face and offer tips to help you prevent them.

Protect your business from burglary:

Burglars are extremely crafty, which means that you need to be craftier to foil their efforts. Protecting your business from burglary takes some planning, but it’s important to do – burglary can be disastrous for business. To keep unwanted thieves out of your building, check out the following tips.

Make sure you have plenty of interior and exterior lighting, especially around any entrances.
Keep your trees and bushes trimmed. By doing so, you eliminate hiding places for any would-be burglars.
Have a monitored alarm system installed, along with security cameras. A commercial security system can be a deterrent to thieves.
Secure your windows with shatter-proof glass and strong window locks.
Have strong doors installed, preferably ones made of steel.
Get a fence around the perimeter of your business.
Have a safe for valuables. The safe should be hidden and secured to the ground.

Protect your business from robbery:

The concept of robbery is terrifying. It’s something that every business owner hopes fervently won’t happen to their business and their employees. To try to keep everyone – employees and customers both – safe in the event of a robbery, try the following tips:

Spend time training your employees about robbery and what to do if the business is ever robbed. Stress that their lives are the important thing, not the money.
Get in touch with your local police department for help with creating a training plan. They will most likely have some good advice for you and can give suggestions for training and robbery prevention.
Don’t keep large amounts of cash in the register. You can post signs that state clearly that the register is emptied regularly to discourage robbers.
Have a safe that’s hidden.

Protect your business from employee theft:

Unfortunately, employee theft is more common than we might like to think. Even small businesses are at-risk for employee theft – it’s not just large corporations. That’s why it’s important to be aware of the possibility and protect your business from employee theft. Try the following tips:

Have video cameras installed.
Keep an eye on your finances and bookkeeping.
Do inventory frequently.
Create a return and void procedure.
Foster positive relationships with your employees and encourage a happy, pleasant workplace atmosphere.

Protect your business from cybercrime and identity theft:

Data breaches and cyber risks are becoming more and more serious for businesses. If a hacker steals the personal identifying information of your clients, your business could be in big trouble. Check out the following tips to prevent a data breach and reduce your business’s cyber risks:

Have a firewall on your computers to repel unwanted visitors.
Get anti-virus and anti-spyware software.
Educate your employees about cybersecurity.
Make sure your Wi-Fi network is secure.
Protect computers with strong passwords.
Consider getting cyber liability insurance.

Here we assess how should you respond to the theft of your identity and a recovery plan.

Burglary, robbery, employee theft, and identity theft are very real possibilities for businesses. We hope that you never have to deal with any of these devastating losses, but nonetheless, it’s important for you to be prepared and to take steps to protect your business from these various forms of theft.

Another way to protect your business is with business insurance. It’s important to have enough insurance to fully protect your business from all of your risks, and our team of commercial insurance agents can help you identify your risks and get the coverage you need to protect your company from them. All you have to do to get business insurance quotes is fill out our quick online form or give us a call today.

Tips for driving in the rain during one of Atlanta’s rainiest months

August 27, 2020February 6, 2018 by Kate Betts

When we think of the rainy season, we usually think about the summer. Or April. But one of Georgia’s rainiest months is actually February. So, it seems like a good time to go over some tips for driving in the rain. Driving in the rain puts many people’s nerves on edge, but with these tips, you can take care and stay safe in the rain.

1. Check your car before you depart.

Make sure that your car is ready to take a trip in the rain. Check that your brake lights, turn signals, and headlights are all functional – it’s really important that you’re as visible as possible in the rain. Replace any windshield wiper blades that aren’t doing their job very well. Lastly, check your tires. They should have a good tread depth; bald tires do not get as much traction on the road as newer tires with proper tread depth, which makes them dangerous. It’s also a good idea to check your tire pressure, especially when it’s cold.

2. Slow down.

When it rains, you need to slow down and take it easy. You don’t want to hydroplane. Hydroplaning is when the tires of a car actually rise off the asphalt and coast on top of the water.

Anyway, all of this is to say that it’s important to take it slow when it’s raining. It’s also a good idea to slow down early and gently if you’re coming to an intersection, a turn, or another traffic stop. Give yourself time to come to a stop safely.

3. Increase your following distance.

Leave plenty of room between your car and the car in front of you. When the roads are slippery, it takes more time for your car to come to a stop, so you need to give yourself some personal space. Rain can lead to more traffic, too, which makes it especially important to leave lots of room in front of your car. Handling Atlanta traffic is not easy sometimes.

4. Avoid braking hard and turning sharply.

If you jam on your brakes, your car could skid. When you come to a turn, slow down and take it easy.

5. Turn on your headlights and windshield wipers.

Headlights help other drivers see you when you’re driving in the rain, and windshield wipers help you see other drivers. It’s hard enough to see clearly in the rain – help yourself out by activating your headlights and wipers.

6. Try to avoid pools of standing water.

It’s easy to hydroplane if you go through a puddle too fast. If you can, try to safely avoid driving through standing water on the roadways by changing lanes. At the very least, slow down before reaching the water. But remember – don’t slam on the brakes.

7. Know how to handle hydroplaning.

If you get into a situation where your tires lift off the road, it’s important to do a few things:

Don’t slam on the brakes. It’s a knee-jerk reaction, but try to resist it.
Take your foot off the gas.
Hold the wheel steady and gently steer in the direction you’re skidding if that’s what the car needs to do.

8. Postpone any trips that aren’t strictly necessary.

If it’s bucketing down rain and you don’t have to be out on the road, try to reschedule your trip or postpone it. Of course, there are times when it can’t be helped and you have to drive in the rain, or maybe you’re already on the road and it starts pouring. But if it’s at all possible, you may want to take a literal rain check.

Driving in rain is not something most people like to do. Slick roads and poor visibility are definitely not ideal driving conditions. It’s important to remember to slow down, increase your following distance, and turn on your headlights and windshield wipers. Stay calm and keep your attention on the road – definitely no texting and driving in the rain. Remember, there are many benefits of being a safe driver, and that means knowing how to handle the rain.

If you want to save money on your car insurance, we can help. Our team of insurance professionals are pros at helping people shop for the best rate on their auto insurance. All you have to do to get car insurance quotes is fill out our online form or give us a call.

Sources:

https://driving-tests.org/beginner-drivers/how-to-drive-in-rain/

6 ways to lower your workers’ compensation premiums in Atlanta

February 1, 2018 by Kate Betts

Improving safety can help you save money on your workers' comp insurance.

As an employer, you might absolutely dread one of your employees getting hurt. You care about your employees, of course, and you don’t want to see them in pain because of a workplace accident (and, well, there’s an awful lot of paperwork involved with workplace accidents.) Ensuring that the employee gets the medical attention and care they need is the most important thing, so as a business owner it’s important for you to have enough workers’ compensation insurance to provide for your employees if they get hurt – workers’ comp is probably one of the most important types of business insurance. But there are things you can do to control and manage the cost of the workers’ compensation insurance you need. Below are six tips that explain how you can lower your workers’ comp premium.

1. Place an emphasis on safety.

The best way to avoid workers’ comp claims (and the potential rise in your insurance rates that follows) is to prevent the accident in the first place. And that means taking the time to properly train your employees in safety protocol – for example, how to stay safe while working with ladders. Every member of your team should get the training they need to stay safe on the job. It’s kind of hard to avoid accidents and danger if you don’t know where to look for it, which is where training comes in. Anyways, it’s important to talk about safety, too, to keep it fresh in everyone’s mind. Safety is a team effort.

Here are some basic safety tips you can consider for your business.

Identify hazards around your workplace and take steps to minimize them.
Choose a flooring material that won’t make everyone slip and fall – you need a floor surface that has good traction.
Reduce distractions on the job.
Implement ergonomics at your workplace. Ergonomics means tailoring a workspace to the jobs that are performed there to reduce the chances of strain and injury. There are even benefits of implementing ergonomics at an office.
Teach and emphasize proper lifting to help employees avoid back problems – lift with your legs, not with your back, everyone.

2. Create a return to work program.

A return to work or modified duty program allows employees who have been hurt to come back to work. They will be assigned tasks that have been customized for their physical capabilities while they’re recovering from their injury. Keep in mind that it’s essential to make sure that the employee is getting the medical attention and support they need.

Now, having a return to work program might make it seem like you’re just trying to exploit an injured person. That’s not the case. The goal of a return to work program is to support the employee as they come back into the workplace and resume their job duties. So, when you’re creating the new tasks that are tweaked for your employee, make sure that the work is meaningful and genuinely contributes to your business so that the employee doesn’t feel punished or unnecessary. It’s important that they know how much you value them.

3. Understand your workers’ comp mod.

Your company’s mod, or modification factor, is a method of figuring out how “risky” your company is by comparing it to other businesses in your industry. It gives insurance carriers a way of seeing whether your workers’ comp losses are better, on par, or worse than what they’d expect. (The size of your company, unexpected big losses, the frequency of losses, and the severity of your losses are all ways in which your business is compared to others.) The data used by most states for calculating mods is collected by the National Council on Compensation Insurance.

Okay. The significance of your mod is that it can either make your workers’ comp premium higher or lower. If your mod is above 1.0, you have a debit, which means that your losses are worse than what they should be. If your mod is below 1.0, you have a credit, which means your losses are better than what is expected. A debit means that you could have higher workers’ comp premiums while a credit means that you could get lower workers’ comp premiums.

4. Investigate accidents and near-misses.

It’s really important that you put on your detective hat and conduct an investigation of any accident or near-miss that happens at your workplace. Talk to witnesses and get their accounts of what happened. Check out the area where the accident occurred and observe what could have caused it. Try to get to the bottom of what happened and keep a detailed and organized record of your discoveries. The idea is to find out why the accident happened so that you can prevent another accident from happening in the future. Knowing why it happened will help you take steps to avoid another injury or accident.

Pro tip: Try to conduct your investigation within 48 hours of the incident. The witnesses will have a clearer memory of what happened, and besides, it’s best to take action immediately to prevent future accidents.

5. Report injuries that need to be reported promptly.

If the accident is a reportable one, you need to file that report as quickly as you can. It’s best to do this ASAP to help the investigation and claim move forward as smoothly as possible. The Department of Labor requires you to file several reports – for instance, the First Report of Injury or Occupational Disease must be completed according to your state’s workers’ comp laws. Find out what paperwork and reports you have to fill out and go to town.

Pro tip: Make sure your employees know that they need to inform their supervisor (or you) about any workplace accident or injury as soon as they can.

6. Check your payroll.

Make sure that all of your job classifications and your payroll are correct. All of this needs to be accurate so that you’ve got the right amount of workers’ comp insurance.

Your employee is the priority when it comes to your workers’ comp insurance. Taking steps to improve safety at your workplace is vital so that you can prevent accidents and injuries. A bonus of emphasizing safety is that you can lower your workers’ comp premiums. So, the simple truth is that preventing workers’ comp claims is really in everyone’s best interest.

Another way to save money on business insurance is to shop around and compare rates. Our team of insurance professionals can help you with that. We can get multiple quotes for workers’ comp insurance so that you can compare coverages and prices. All you have to do to get workers’ comp quotes is fill out our form or give us a call today.

How to save money on Atlanta car insurance

July 16, 2020January 30, 2018 by Kate Betts

There are a few things you can do to save money on your auto insurance.

Auto insurance is not cheap. It’s a fact of life. If you feel like your auto insurance payments have gotten a bit out of control, you’re probably trying to scheme ways to save money on your car insurance. And maybe it seems like you’re not making much headway with that plot. Before you lose hope with saving money on your Atlanta car insurance, take a look at the following tips for lowering your auto insurance premiums.

1. Raise your deductible.

Quick definition: a deductible is the amount you agree to pay if you have a loss or claim. Basically, you’re responsible for a portion of the loss and the insurance company is responsible for the rest.

Anyways, this is significant because there’s a connection between your deductible and your premium. Think of it as a teeter-totter. The higher your deductible, the lower your premium and vice versa. This is because if you have a higher deductible, you’re accepting more risk and you’re less likely to make a claim (since you would have to pay that higher deductible, it might not be worthwhile to file a small claim.)

Here’s the thing: you need to balance your teeter-totter. Okay, what we mean by that is you don’t want to set your deductible so high that it would be burdensome or ruinous if you did have a claim. However, if you take a look at your finances, evaluate how much you could comfortably afford in the event of a claim, and decide that you could stand to raise your deductible a little, you could save money on your premiums.

2. Keep up a clean driving record.

Accidents and speeding tickets cause your insurance rates to go up. That’s because these things are seen as indicators of risk, and insurance companies don’t exactly love risk. The “riskier” a driver you are to insure, the more you will end up paying for your insurance. So, to get lower car insurance rates, respect the benefits of being a safe driver. Focus on the road – don’t text and drive or engage in any other activity that could distract you. Don’t speed. Drive safe. Your insurance will likely be cheaper.

3. Go on a discount mission.

Who doesn’t love a good discount? For your car insurance, there’s the possibility that you could save substantial sums just by meeting certain qualifications. There are scads of discounts for auto insurance, although they do differ depending on what company you’re insured with. Maybe your company has a multi-vehicle discount if your family has insured more than one car with them. Or they might have a Good Student Discount if you’re a high-schooler, college student, or young adult with good grades. You could also get a low-mileage discount if you don’t do too much driving.

Anyways, if you’re looking to score some savings on your car insurance, go on a quest for discounts. Google your insurance company and check out their website. Give your agent a call. You never know what might come of it.

4. Bundle your home and auto insurance.

And while we’re on the topic of discounts, you could also get a discount if you purchase your car insurance and home insurance from the same company. This is usually called bundling. Do some research or call your agent to find out if you could get a discount for getting multiple policies from them. If it makes sense to do so, you might consider switching your home insurance to your car insurance company, or your car insurance to your home insurance company.

5. Boost your credit score.

Some insurance companies see your credit score as an indicator of risk. If you have a better credit score, you’re seen as being a lower risk. That means that those with better credit scores may get better insurance rates.

6. Choose a safe car.

Lower insurance rates may be granted to drivers of cars with safety features like anti-lock brakes and good airbags. You may also get lower auto insurance rates if you have an anti-theft device installed. If you’re thinking about buying a car, try to do some research on its safety ratings and how much it will cost to insure. While you may really, really want an expensive, sleek car, you will have to prepare yourself for the probability that the insurance will likely be very expensive.

7. Shop around for car insurance.

When you’re on a mission to get car insurance, you may not want to just settle for the first policy and price you find. It’s important to look at the different coverage options and policies available from different companies. Since insurance companies all evaluate risk differently, you could get quotes that are quite different from each other. So, it may take some elbow grease and some patience, but if you stick with it and put on your “shopping” hat you could find a great rate for great coverage.

If you feel that you’re paying too much for your car insurance, there are steps you can take to lower your auto insurance rates. You can go on a mission to find discounts, bundle your home and auto insurance, or improve your credit score. And of course, you can shop around for the best coverage at the best rate. Our team of agents can help you with that – we’re professionals at helping people save money on auto insurance. All you have to do to get car insurance quotes is fill out our online form or call us today.

Source:

https://www.forbes.com/sites/robertberger/2017/12/10/11-quick-ways-to-save-money-on-car-insurance/#144a65af4a88

What is inland marine insurance and does my Atlanta business need it?

January 25, 2018 by Kate Betts

Inland marine insurance can be helpful for businesses to cover gaps in their insurance.

Words can be a lot of fun, especially when they say something that seems to be contradictory but really isn’t (a.k.a. an oxymoron.) Business insurance has its fair share of funny words, and one of those phrases is “inland marine insurance.” How can marine insurance be inland? You may think that the name doesn’t make a terrible lot of sense, and you would be correct. However, we can explain what inland marine insurance is and even why it has such a funny name.

What is inland marine insurance?

Contrary to what the name suggests, inland marine insurance does not have anything to do with boats. Basically, inland marine is a way for businesses to fill gaps in their insurance coverage. Certain parts of your business might not be covered anywhere within your other insurance policies, which is why you may want to think about inland marine when you’re buying business insurance. We’ll explain what inland marine insurance covers in a moment.

Where does the funny name come from?

Okay, here’s the deal with the name. Once upon a time, shipping used to use boats – hence why it’s caused shipping. Marine insurance was a way to protect ocean shipping businesses from loss. But then “shipping” became less dependent on the ocean because the cargo was loaded onto barges to be transported inland. And, since the cargo still needed coverage, a new form of insurance evolved – complete with an oxymoronic name.

But that’s not where the word fun ends. Within inland marine insurance, there’s something called a floater that protects cargo while it’s being moved from place to place. Guess where the name came from? In the days where shipping meant ships, the cargo that “floater” policies protected was actually, literally floating. Nowadays, the property that’s protected by a floater policy doesn’t have to be floating or levitating. Though that would be pretty neat.

What kind of business uses inland marine insurance?

Many types of business have inland marine insurance so that they can cover the gaps in their business insurance. There are different forms of inland marine insurance, such as bailee insurance (which is not just for people named Bailey) and contractor’s equipment.

We’ll give a few examples. If your business ever has your clients’ property in your care, you may need bailee insurance – for example, a computer repair shop where clients drop off their devices. If you ever transport property or equipment, you might need a floater policy. If you install products in your clients’ homes, you might consider installation coverage.

What we’re trying to say is that a variety of businesses, like construction business, technology or communications businesses, and transportation businesses, can benefit from inland marine insurance. Here’s a breakdown of different forms of inland marine by industry:

Construction
- Builder’s risk: Protects buildings that are being constructed or repaired.
- Contractor’s equipment: Protects tools and equipment used in construction that aren’t covered under builder’s risk.
- Installation: Covers machinery and equipment while it’s being moved and during installation.
- Rigger’s liability: Coverage for when you’re acting as a rigger for someone else’s property.
Technology and communication
- Cable television: Covers property that is needed for cable television service.
- Electronic equipment: Insures certain pieces of electronic equipment.
- Medical imaging equipment: Covers medical equipment that is mobile and used by hospitals, clinics, etc.
- Physicians and surgeons: Covers medical, surgical, and dental equipment used by those professions.
- Telecommunications equipment: Protects phones, fax machines, audio and visual equipment for video conferencing, and computers.
Transportation
- Commercial transport: Coverage for truckers and warehouses that protects goods while they’re being transported.
- Legal liability: Covers the expenses you’re legally obligated to pay for a covered loss if you damage someone else’s property.
- Motor truck cargo: Protects trucking businesses against losses to their cargo and their property while it’s in transit.
- Railroad rolling stock: Protects rolling stock that’s owned/leased by railroad or other companies.
- Tank storage: Protects tanks and pipes while they are in the policyholder’s care, custody, and control.
Miscellaneous
- Bailee insurance: Covers your clients’ belongings while they’re in your care, custody, and control.
- Armored cars: Protects against losses related to armored trucks.
- Furrier’s block: Protects items that include fur while they’re in the care of department stores, furriers, retailers, etc.
- Jewelers block: Covers jewels and gems used in the policyholder’s business.
- Floaters: Covers movable property.

So, to conclude, inland marine insurance doesn’t relate to boats at all. Yes, the name is confusing. Anyways, inland marine insurance is meant to help businesses close the gaps in their insurance by providing coverage for areas that don’t have any. There are many kinds of inland marine insurance out there, so you might want to think about inland marine when considering what type of insurance your business needs.

If you want to save money on your business insurance, we can help. We can shop for the best rates for your commercial insurance so that you can be assured that you’re getting the coverage you need at the best possible price. All you have to do to get business insurance quotes is fill out our online form or give us a call today.