Personal Insurance
Would you like an inexpensive way to protect your assets and financial future from unforeseen events?
If you’re faced with a lawsuit or need to pay expenses to another party as a result of an injury or accident– the costs may quickly exceed the coverage limits of your auto or homeowners policy. A personal umbrella insurance policy provides broad coverage designed to protect your personal assets from unexpected catastrophic lawsuits.
What is umbrella insurance?
Umbrella insurance is an additional type of liability insurance that provides extra coverage beyond the limits of your primary policies, such as auto or homeowners/renters insurance. It acts as a "safety net" to protect you from significant financial losses in case you are held liable for damages or injuries that exceed the limits of your underlying policies.
What does umbrella insurance cover?
Umbrella insurance covers a wide range of liability risks. It provides protection in situations where you may be sued for causing harm to others, such as in a serious car accident, a guest getting injured at your home, or a defamation lawsuit. It also extends coverage to certain liability claims that may not be covered by your primary policies, like libel, slander, or false arrest.
Who needs umbrella insurance?
Umbrella insurance is typically recommended for individuals who have significant assets or are at a higher risk of liability claims due to their profession or other factors. It provides an extra layer of protection beyond the limits of their underlying insurance policies.
What is not covered under umbrella insurance?
While umbrella insurance covers a wide range of liability risks, it does not cover everything. It typically does not cover intentional acts, criminal activities, or damages caused by business-related activities. It also does not cover your own personal injuries or property damage but focuses on liability claims against you. It's important to review the specific terms and exclusions of your umbrella insurance policy to understand the coverage limitations.
If you answer yes to any of these you should consider purchasing an umbrella policy:
- Do you entertain at home including play dates and sleepovers?
- Do you have children at home or in college?
- Do you own animals or take care of someone else’s animals?
- Are you on social media?
- Do you travel outside of the US?
- Do you volunteer or serve on any boards?
- Do you own recreational vehicles or watercraft?
- Do you have a swimming pool or trampoline?
Example 1
Insured driver rear ended a vehicle stopped to make a left turn, forcing it into an oncoming lane as 16 motorcyclists were going past. Three motorcyclists were caught up into the accident, injuring four motorcyclists and two occupants of the claimants auto.
Example 2
Insured was walking his dog on a leash. Stopped to talk to a neighbor and both insured’s dog and neighbor’s dog were barking. Both neighbor and insured pulled on the insured’s dog leash and the neighbor lost his balance, fell and sustained bodily injury. Claim filed against insured.
Example 3
A babysitter left a 5 month old infant unattended in a walker. The infant toppled the walker, struck her head on the floor and suffered brain damage. The parents of the infant sued the teenage babysitter and her parents.
Example 4
An insured’s daughter hated math class as well as the teacher. The daughter made several “disparaging” and false remarks about her teacher online. The teacher sued the parents for personal injury.