Category: Home Insurance

Well, that is exactly it – with umbrella insurance there are no exact absolutes. Of course, while the amount of covering protection is clearly outlined when the policy is being drawn, umbrella insurance only comes in to play when the underlying insurance policies payout on a claim has been exhausted.

Umbrella insurance is an added liability insurance that is an extension of your current personal, automobile, another vehicle, homeowners or commercial insurance policy. Today many people who find themselves in the position of the claimant are interested in suing the individual who may have harmed them in some way. Many times these lawsuits exceed the financial boundaries outlined in a common insurance policy. Where common insurance policies end is where the umbrella insurance begins. Many insurance claimants are seeking not only to sue the offending party but are seeking other culpable parties to pay damages for the incident that befell them.

Do I Need Umbrella Insurance?

When umbrella insurance was first introduced in the middle of the last century, it appeared that this type of insurance only seemed suitable for the wealthy. Who would want to sue someone who doesn’t have a lot of money? Unfortunately with a number of lawsuits ever-climbing, anyone can find a subpoena in the mail from a car accident to a trip and fall in front of your small business. Umbrella insurance acts as a buffer and could potentially avoid a claim against your real estate or personal bank accounts if monies were awarded in a liability suit.

Let the professionals at Oliver Insurance discuss with you how to best protect your family and business with umbrella insurance. Though it may be raining umbrella insurance can protect your assets from getting caught in the storm. 

The sun is out, there’s not a cloud in the sky and your bike is calling to you.  It is a perfect day for a ride down long roads.  However, even in the summer heat, you can take a spill.  Protect your body against serious injury, especially when it is tempting to shed some layers in an attempt to beat the heat.

Helmet

It is a no-brainer.  Your helmet is going to protect your brain in the case of the simplest motorcycle incident.  Kids on bicycles can receive serious injury when they are pedaling a couple miles an hour.  Your skull provides no protection against concussion or worse at 35 mph. Wear the helmet.

Leather Jacket with Armor

Your spine is the next most vulnerable part of your body.  A tank top or t-shirt is simply nothing more than a breath of air between your vertebra and the pavement.  A leather jacket with a spinal armor insert is going to take the brunt of the impact when you take a spill. Weigh the options: concrete invading your backbone or sweating it out under a good leather jacket.

Jeans

It would be wonderful to ditch the denim for a pair of cargo shorts on the ride to the beach.  While blue jeans are not the best option, they do a much better job at defending against road rash in the case of an accident. 

Boots

Your feet hit the pavement at every stop sign.  Give the toes the protection they need against flying pebbles when you hit the gas with your buds and invest in some decent boots.

Check with Oliver Insurance to make sure your bike is protected, too, when riding out on a hot, summer day.

There are lots of things you can do to prepare for emergencies in your life. Building an emergency fund for unexpected expenses, having a plan and support in case of a house fire or other disaster, and updating emergency contact information when a change happens in your life. By putting these types of measures in place, you and your family can be prepared for emergencies or unexpected events that may arise. Preparation will help keep these emergencies from being too much to handle.

Another way your family can help prepare for the unexpected is with a long-term plan. Setting long-term goals helps set a structure for your family, and gives milestones you can check your progress against along the way. Having a long-term plan can also help you plan for the unexpected. When you develop a long-term plan, your family will think of complications or problems that could come up so that the long-term plan can be adaptable in case something happens. This can help your family be more prepared for whatever may arise.

Even when you plan for emergencies and develop a long-term plan for your family, the unexpected can still happen. When the unexpected occurs, there must be measures in place to help your family keep moving forward and transition afterward. One way to do this is to ensure that you have a plan for your end-of-life wishes and make sure you have life insurance that will meet your family’s needs.

Life insurance can’t solve problems, but it can help. When you pair your life insurance with other preparation, your family will be ready to face whatever challenges may arise. Contact a local agent at Oliver Insurance today for more information.

Understanding umbrella insurance isn’t easy, but at the very least the name helps conjure the idea that it’s a policy that covers anything and everything. It’s not necessarily a common policy, but it certainly provides some comfort to those who have it. Here are 3 tips to consider if you’re trying to decide if it’s for you. 

1. Consider What You Have

The more stuff you have, the more stuff you have to lose. This is the core idea behind umbrella insurance is that it’s meant to save what you own from scenarios that could have never even been imagined at the time the policy was drawn out. Humans can be pretty inventive, but you can only list so many events that are technically covered under a policy (otherwise, there wouldn’t be enough time to write them all out.)

2. Understand the Importance of Caution 

Throwing caution to the wind can sometimes be fun, but when it comes to your property, is that really what you want to do? You’ve likely worked extremely hard to build everything you have, and umbrella insurance could be the key to guarding it from whatever it is that could happen to it. Getting a policy like this shows your commitment to what’s important to you. 

3. Find Someone Who Knows 

Oliver Insurance helps the people of Canby, OR draft umbrella policies to save themselves from financial ruin and emotionally devastating events. Talk to us about what’s most important to you, and we’ll talk to you about how to best protect it. Whether you have several rental properties or just a very special single-family house, give us a call and let us help you work it all out so you can rest easy at night. 

The majority of people do not even consider flood insurance for their home, especially if the home is in an area that is not considered to be prone to flooding. However, it is not something that should be overlooked so easily. There are a few reasons that you may want to consider getting flood insurance for your home. Continue reading to see some of them.

• Areas of new construction are more prone to flooding. The reason behind this is because there is less soil that can absorb the rain. There are roads and sidewalks where there used to be soil. Because of this, flooding can occur in these areas. If you have a home in a new construction area, flood insurance is something that you should consider getting. 
• Twenty percent of flooding happens in low to moderate flooding areas. You may think that flooding cannot happen to you but that is a large percentage of flooding in areas that are outside of high flood prone areas.
• Flooding does not just happen because of rain. It can happen with a pipe burst or even if a neighbors above ground pool gives way. There are many things that can cause a flood in your home that do not involve rain so it is best to be covered.
• Your homeowners insurance policy likely does not include flood insurance. You would be surprised by how many people think that flood insurance is included in their current policy but more often than not, it has to be purchased separately. 

For more information about flood insurance, please contact us at Oliver Insurance today. We can take a look at your current policy or explore options for a new flood insurance policy that will meet your needs. 

Maintenance

Assuming that your boat gets a maintenance check every six months, double check the parts of your boat like the sails and the motor for any tears or debris that may have been carried by the wind before heading out. Check the gas tank and ensure that it’s full and that all other parts of the fuel system are clean from rust and debris even if they seem to be working. Concentrate on preventative measures.

Current Documents 

The state of Oregon requires sail boats measuring more than 12 feet to have visible identifying numbers on both sides of the boat, a valid certificate to verify these numbers, and current registration if the sailboat will be moored in water within the state. Make sure you have these documents on hand before you head out. Personal identification papers and proof of insurance are also must-have documents in case of an accident. Also, be familiar with the process of filling out an accident report, the proper reporting agency and the deadlines to do so. All boat operators need to be familiar with this process.  

Safety

You are legally required to have a certain number and type of fire extinguishers on your boat. You can request safety information specific to your boat at the DMV. You need to have a complete first-aid kit and enough life jackets for all passengers onboard. If children will be traveling on the boat with you, familiarize yourself with the life jacket requirements for kids -these vary by state.

Most importantly, stop by Oliver Insurance to inquire about a new policy or to review an existing one. Agents will work with you to give you the appropriate insurance coverage for Oregon state -insurance laws and coverage requirements vary by state.