10 Lessons Superstorm Sandy Taught Homebased Business Owners

After Super Storm Sandy, millions of businesses rushed to file claims for loss of income and business contents damage. The lesson that many home-based business owners learned was that their homeowner’s insurance didn't cover these items; however, home-based Tampa business insurance does.

Since over half of home-based business owners are not adequately covered for loss of business income or assets, they are still struggling to rebuild their home-based businesses four months later.
Here are ten lessons that home-based business owners learned from Super Storm Sandy that you should know.

Have your contents covered.

Surprisingly, many home based business owners did not have content insurance before Super Storm Sandy. After the storm, many home-based business owners were forced to quit their businesses because they did not have adequate coverage. The lesson here is to sign up for contents insurance as soon as possible. This type of insurance policy will cover all equipment in your home from damage caused by natural disasters or accidents.

Have a continuity plan, even for small businesses.

A business continuity plan contains instructions that will kick into action in the case of an IT glitch or natural disaster. If you’re a home-based business owner or a business owner that is working for more than one location, it is important to have a continuity plan in place so that you can quickly get back to business after an accident while your premise is being renovated.

Invest in home business coverage.

Home business coverage covers your business equipment for a higher dollar amount than contents insurance. Not only does it cover for business equipment, but it also covers for the loss of income caused by damage to the equipment.

Include commercial car insurance.

If you have more than one driver or you're using your car to haul goods, have commercial auto insurance. After Super Storm Sandy millions of auto insurance claims immediately went into effect. Some of these claims were not paid out because the cars were not insured as business vehicles, but were being used for business.

Take inventory before a disaster.

Before signing up for contents insurance or business insurance, take inventory of every belonging you have within your business including serial numbers. Then have each of these items evaluated. This way you can make sure that you're being insured for the proper dollar amount. Your insurance company may not be so forgiving on a claim if you're trying to claim a big ticket item that wasn't mentioned at the time purchasing your policy.

Make a timely claim.

Every insurance policy has a stipulated time-period in which to make a claim. If you make a claim after this point, it will not be honored.

Contents are covered outside of the premise.

Business equipment that is originally kept in the home is covered if it is damaged off-premise. This goes for hardware and appliances.

Warranties were not effective.

Some business owners didn't make claims to their insurance company after Hurricane Sandy because they thought their warranties would cover them. A general warranty for electronic good or appliances generally last for 1 to 15 years. However, these warranties do not cover damage caused by natural disasters. For this, you need contents insurance or business insurance.

Backup your data.

One lesson that many people learn the hard way is that all data should be backed up or kept off location. Some businesses had all of their data destroyed during hurricane Sandy.

Keep copies of your insurance policies electronically.

There's nothing like trying to make an insurance claim and not knowing any of your insurance information. To keep this from happening to you, make copies of your insurance policy as well as the inventory of your business and keep it in a safe, weatherproof location such as a bank lockbox or safe.

For more information about insuring your home-based business, give Adcock-Adcock Insurance Agency a call at 813-933-6691.

What you should know about Hit and Run Auto Accident Claims

No one wants to be on the receiving end of a hit and run accident. It's especially frustrating when the driver who hits your car flees the scene. In this case, defensive driving courses teach you to remain calm after an accident and to get out of the car with the intention of obtaining details from the other driver in order to expedite your claim. But, what do you do if the driver doesn't stick around?

Tip #1: Get as much information as possible.

Call the police as soon as possible after an accident.  While you are on the phone, write down as much information as you can about the other driver's vehicle. You should also note the street the accident happened on and any mile markers. If you have a portable camera or a camera phone, you can get even better evidence. Take a snapshot of the other driver's car and zoom in as much as possible to try to capture the driver's image. If the driver takes off while you're on the phone with the 911 operator, make sure to immediately let them know what direction the car is driving in and down what road. For your personal safety, don't try to pursue the driver yourself; let the police handle it so that you don't risk becoming the victim of violence.

Tip #2: Call your insurance company immediately.

You can still file a claim even if the other driver fled the scene. Share whatever information you managed to get in order to maximize your chances of a successful claim. Since leaving the scene of an accident is against the law, you may want to consult an attorney about filing a lawsuit. Provide your attorney with as much information as possible.

When a driver flees the scene of an accident, your insurance company presumes he or she does not have insurance. Thus, you have to depend on your insurance company to handle the claim. If you have to pay out of pocket for any damages, you can recover your payments via a personal injury lawsuit.

Tip #3: Make sure you have adequate insurance before you get behind the wheel.
If you don't carry full coverage and don't have any details about the other driver or his or her insurance, you may be out of luck as far as filing a claim. If no witnesses were present or you didn't get any statements from witnesses, there's really nothing you can do to recover any money.

Hit and run accidents are complicated situations that not all insurance companies are equipped to handle. If you'd like more information on hit and run Tampa Auto Insurance claims, please call an Adcock-Adcock Insurance Agency at 866-933-6691.

5 Common Auto Insurance Exclusions

One thing that must be purchased at the time of buying, leasing or renting a car is auto insurance.  Oftentimes, the excitement of driving takes over and you may not read your auto insurance policy handbook as closely as you should. This may not cause immediate problems, but it usually does when  there's an accident or you need to claim on your policy and discover that what you're claiming for is excluded from cover.

What is an Auto Insurance Exclusion?
An auto insurance exclusion is something that isn't covered on your policy either without an endorsement (being added on for an extra fee) or it isn't covered at all.  Auto insurance exclusions are not just items, they can also be other drivers or actions.

Auto insurance companies may have several exclusions, and although many companies will recite these exclusions to you at the time of purchase, there are just too many for some companies to make you aware of, so they almost always refer you to the manual for these exclusions.

Common Car Insurance Exclusions
Below is a list of five auto insurance exclusions, which most insurance companies can write into the policy:

• Overlapping insurance policies - Although it isn't a common practice for the average driver to have dual coverage, some drivers do choose to have their car ensured through more than one company. This is usually due one company offering better liability coverage, while the other offers more in the ways of endorsements. Either way, both auto insurance companies will write exclusions into your policy. This will cover how much they will insure you for and what type of insurance they will provide.
• Bodily injury - Although medical is almost always covered in an auto insurance policy, bodily injury caused to yourself while carrying passengers or hauling materials for compensation (such as a limo driver, deliveryman or cabdriver) is normally excluded. This usually falls under the term livery.
• Intentional damage - Part of this exclusion is rather new to most auto insurance policies. This involves acts of rage such as using your car as a weapon. This also includes setting your own car on fire or kicking your car to blow off steam.
• Acts of nature - Hail damage, damage caused by flying degrees or a tree falling on your car are all considered acts of nature.  You may think that all insurance policies cover these acts, but they don't. Unless you have comprehensive cover, your car will not be insured from damage caused by acts of nature.
• Drag racing - Injury caused to yourself or your vehicle while drag racing will be excluded from collision coverage.

Before getting behind the wheel of your car, read your insurance policy closely to look for any specific exclusions from cover. Some things may not written in your policy, so if you don't see it there, don't assume that it's covered.  For additional information on insuring your car and Tampa auto insurance exclusions, call an Adcock-Adcock Insurance agent at 866-933-6691 today.

5 Reasons to Change Your Auto Insurance Policy and How to Do It

The necessity of owning auto insurance is a fact of life. Perhaps because it’s such a constant in life, people often make the mistake of doing some initial research before they get their auto insurance but then not thinking about it again for years. However, there are plenty of reasons you should reassess your Tampa Auto Insurance policy on a regular basis. Here are just a few:

1. A couple years has passed since you last shopped around
If it’s been 2 or 3 years since you got your auto insurance policy, you should at least spend some time shopping around and comparing the price of your policy with others on the market. Over 2-3 years, the market can change drastically. However, if you’re locked into a current plan you may not even notice there are better offers out there. There are also constantly new insurance companies entering into the market, and they are frequently willing to offer tantalizing deals to lure you away from your current company. To not at least explore these options regularly is unsound financial logic.

2. You’re getting married
If you’re getting married and will have two cars with two individual insurance plans, you should strongly consider canceling one of the plans. You can get a joint insurance plan to cover both cars and save yourself some money.

3. You’re getting a new car
Frequently car dealers will offer some sort of insurance deal to entice you to buy a new car. This might be something like free insurance for a year (or longer). This alone could be a reason to change policies. But even if there isn't an appealing offer that comes along with your car, insurance companies differ in the rates they offer for different brands and types of cars. You should shop around to see if you can find a better deal than what you’re currently getting.

4. You are retired and over 55
There are many insurance companies that offer discounts to those who are over 55. This is especially true if you have a good driving record. Thus, if you’re over 55 and your current company doesn't offer a discount, seek out someone who does.

5. You are going on a new budget
Don’t feel forced to accept your current insurance rate if you’re trying to cut costs. Shopping around may very well find you a new plan that fits in your budget, instead of one that forces you to form your budget around it.

Changing your insurance policy these days is pretty easy, and you can do most of the work over the internet or phone. To get started, contact an Adcock-Adcock Insurance agent today at 866-933-6691 and get a free quote on your new car insurance policy. You’ll wonder why you waited so long to shop around!

Who Needs Temporary Auto Insurance

Everybody understands the value of vehicle insurance, but few people understand how temporary auto insurance works. If you are like most motorists, then you have a standard auto insurance policy that covers you for an extended period of (e.g., six months or a year). What about if you are not a frequent driver, and you only want to drive your cousin’s car for a day or two?

Temporary auto insurance covers those who just need to drive for short periods. In most cases, it is available for 1 to 28 days, though there may be variations. Applicants usually get the coverage in a few minutes, so it is not something you have to plan for long in advance.

If you are borrowing a friend’s car, for example, you should not assume that his policy offers you coverage too, as that is not always the case. You should also look for temporary auto insurance when test driving a car or in any other situation where you need temporary use of a vehicle. Do not assume that the rental car is covered because it might not be.

This form of insurance is necessary because an accident can occur at any time, even in the driveway, and the consequences for the uninsured can be devastating. The temporary cover protects the driver, the car and any third parties who may incur losses in an accident involving your car.

However, temporary insurance is not all about protection in case of accidents. You should insure any car under your custody, even when it is not being driven. A car packed in the driveway or garage can be damaged by vandalism, fire or even stolen. If such a vehicle is not insured, then the owner will be left to bear the liabilities. Therefore, when you are in temporary custody of a vehicle, you should cover it even if it is just going to sit in your garage for a few days.

Short-term auto insurance policies can be expensive when you view them in an annualized basis. Since they are only required for short periods, they are not really expensive. In addition, you can use choose between liability coverage and full coverage. In most cases, it will just cost you a few dollars per day.

Tampa auto insurance regulations may not always be clear to you, so you should always check with your regular insurer first. If you have valid coverage in place, it may extend to any vehicle you drive. You should confirm, however, especially if you plan to drive out of state or in a foreign country. We are happy to answer all your temporary auto insurance queries. Contact us at Adcock-Adcock Insurance Agency for all temporary vehicle insurance coverage you may need. Since it is always best to err on the side of caution, you should contact us if you are in doubt.

Your Home Insurance Covers More Than Your Home

Depending on your home insurance schedule, your homeowner’s policy may cover things like personal property that is damaged while not in the home and medical expenses of third parties injured on your property due to your negligence. When you go in to talk to your agent about homeowner's insurance, be sure to ask about the different policy schedules and which one is right for you.

Schedule A  (HO-1)

While schedule A insurance used to be the industry standard, it has fallen out of favor and isn’t nearly as widely available as it used to be. This insurance covers the structure of the home as well as its contents against the 10 major disasters that can befall a home, including vandalism and fire.

Schedule B (HO-2)

Certain homeowners need to take out protection against particular events like heavy snowfall causing roof damage or power outages. This is usually an add-on to a standard home policy and is used in areas where extreme conditions warrant it. It is sometimes used as an individual home policy on mobile homes as the premiums are low and the coverage can be written to cover the major causes of mobile home damage.

Schedule C (HO-3)

Schedule C home insurance covers the entire home and its contents, including any injuries that occur while in the home. In addition, it covers flood damage, damage from war and earthquakes. These inclusions make schedule C one of the most comprehensive and expensive choices.

Schedule D (HO-4)

Schedule D is renter's insurance that covers the same items that are covered for owners in Schedule B and C.

Schedule E (HO-5)

While all the policies up to this point only cover the physical home and its contents, Schedule E covers the entire property. So if a person is hurt while in your driveway or yard, this policy will cover it. It also covers damage to fences and outbuildings and their contents.

Schedule F (HO-6)

This is specific household insurance comparable to Schedule C for Condominium owners.

Schedule G (HO-7)

If you own a mobile home and choose not to take out Schedule B insurance, the more comprehensive Schedule G is your best choice. This policy covers the structure and all belongings, and if you include a float policy, it can also include outbuildings such as sheds and carports.

Schedule H (HO-8)

Schedule H is the same policy as the Schedule A policy with the only difference being that the home will be paid out as a current cash market value instead of a replacement cost value. This policy is usually used on hard to replace older homes. Taking out this policy instead of a Schedule A could be the difference between having all of your losses covered and just a portion of them.

Schedule I (HO-9)

Schedule I insurance is used for older homes. It is often a Schedule C policy with special provisions for leaky plumbing coverage, electrical systems coverage and insect damage, although it can be tweaked to account for any area-specific  peril.  

As you can see, there are several types of home insurance that you can purchase. Which one is right for you depends on the amount of coverage you are looking for, and the type of home that you own. By far, the most common insurance is the Schedule C or E option, although many homeowners would do well to consider additional riders or floater policies  to secure complete coverage.

For more information about Tampa home insurance, give Adcock-Adcock Insurance Agency a call at 813-933-6691.

Is Your Learner’s Permitted Teen Covered?

Teenagers can't be expected to get behind the wheel of a car on the day of their driver’s test and ace the exam without having had any practice beforehand. A learner's permit allows an unlicensed teen to practice driving in real-world conditions as long as they have an adult present. This gives them valuable, firsthand experience in driving, helping them pass their test and become better drivers in general.

Generally, notifying your Tampa auto insurance company that your teenage son or daughter has received his or her learner's permit is sufficient to ensure that they’re covered under your policy. Because the teen is not yet a licensed driver and cannot drive alone, many insurance companies will not officially add them to the policy while they have a learner's permit--but some may. Either way, contact your insurer or agent to find out how your insurance company handles this situation.

If your teen drives another adult’s car with their permission, he or she is likely covered under that individual’s insurance policy. Before any other adult allows your teen to drive their vehicle, have a discussion with them about how you and/ or your teen will handle expenses for any claims that occur while the teen is driving. Also, find out the deductible on their policy so that you know what to expect should there be an accident. If their deductible is too high, you may not want your teen to drive their vehicle after all.

Lastly, it's always a good idea to raise your limits and consider lowering your deductible before your learner’s permitted teen gets behind the wheel. As an inexperienced driver, your teen is a big risk and adjusting your policy so that you have minimal financial exposure is a good idea. If other family members plan to take your teen driving in their vehicles, you may want to discuss this with them as well.

If you have a teenager getting ready to venture out into the world of vehicle operation, stop by or give us a call at 813-933-6691. We can discuss with you the many changes you might consider making in your insurance policy and help limit your risk exposure so that you can focus on training your teen to be the best driver possible.