Everything You Need To Know About Massachusetts Motorcycle Insurance Coverage
When you insure an automobile, you generally insure yourself and your passengers in addition to any drivers and passengers that you could be involved in an accident with. Motorcycle insurance doesn’t work this way. With Massachusetts motorcycle insurance, your own personal protection, the protection of your passengers, and the protection of others may all be separate types of coverage with different coverage limits. Motorcycles are often driven solo and the people most often injured by a motorcycle collision is the driver itself; this is why coverage is different with a motorcycle compared to an automobile. The standard motorcycle policy is not going to include injury coverage to the driver or the passenger.
There are four types of additional insurance that can usually be added onto a standard package:
- Personal insurance. This covers you, the motorcycle operator, if you are injured. This is understandably often the most expensive addition to a motorcycle insurance policy.
- Guest passenger insurance. This covers any passengers that you may have on the motorcycle during an accident. If you never have passengers, it may be unnecessary.
- Comprehensive insurance. This covers things that may happen to your motorcycle outside of an accident, such as theft or vandalism.
- Layup insurance. This is actually an add-on to a policy that can reduce your insurance when your motorcycle is not in use.
What Controls Your Motorcycle Premium?
Like auto insurance, your motorcycle premium is controlled by a lot of factors. Your driving history is an important one, as is your past claims history. Your motorcycle insurance company will look at how long you’ve driven a motorcycle, whether you’ve completed a training course, and the cost of your motorcycle to replace. They will also look at the type of motorcycle you’re driving and the amount of power it has; a sport bike is going to be insured at a different rate from a touring bike. Finally, your location also becomes very important — in particular, the general crime rate in your area may be applicable. Motorcycle insurance can be bundled with other types of insurance to save money, and there can also be some other discounts available such as student and military benefits.
It’s very easy to end up under-insured when it comes to Massachusetts motorcycle insurance. If you want to make sure that you have the coverage you really need, talking to an agent directly can help. Contact us today for a free consultation!
Boat Insurance (what you need to know)
Summer and the sea go together like salt and pepper, and boating is by far one of the best ways to enjoy this winning combination. To get the most out of your summer boating experiences you’ll want to make sure your vessel is clean, properly equipped and in good mechanical condition, waxed and sealed and, last but not least, insured. Boat insurance protects not just your boat, but also you and everyone else you take out onto the water. Yes– you’re not just making sure all the time and money you spent on your boat doesn’t go to waste. You’re also protecting your friends and family, and with the average boat costing a dollar or less a day to insure, this is more than worth the price.
Of course, like all forms of insurance there are different coverage amounts to choose from. We are more than happy to talk with you in detail about your boat insurance options, but in the meantime you should consider the following to get a better idea of what you’re looking for:
Liability and Medical Coverage
Never underestimate the importance of liability coverage in a policy. This will cover you in the event of an accident that is your fault or in other situations where you may cause damage. You will also want to make sure your policy had medical coverage, in case you or any passengers are injured (regardless of who is at fault). You should also consider the fact that many other boaters may not have insurance, in which case it is wise to also get Uninsured / Under-insured Watercraft Bodily Injury coverage to protect yourself in case one of them is at fault.
Agreed Boat Value and Personal Effects
Just like cars, the value of a boat generally goes down with time (though of course various other elements factor in, like equipment updates, maintenance, etc.) If you get a cash value policy, it can therefore be difficult to replace the entire boat. If your boat is lost, stolen or destroyed, you’ll get the amount you insured it for, minus any deductible of course. Likewise, if you are storing any valuable personal effects on board you’ll also want to make sure these are covered as this will not be included in the agreed boat value. Getting additional Unattached Equipment Coverage will also cover any related boating items (safety equipment, water skis, oars etc.) that are not necessarily attached to your boat.
Emergency Assistance
Just as it suggests, this covers any necessary emergency assistance services (towing, gas delivery, etc.).
Wreckage Removal / Fuel Spill Cleanup
In the event that your boat is wrecked, you are responsible for its cleanup. And yes, this includes any fuel spills that may have occurred. Such cleanup can be very costly in addition to time consuming, so it is wise to make sure your boat insurance covers this as well.
Boating Area / Navigational Range
Where do you plan on taking your boat? How far out into the ocean will you go? Most insurance policies do not automatically guarantee you’ll be covered everywhere on the water, so make sure yours covers wherever you plan on going (you can always add additional coverage later).
Contact us today to learn more.
Have You Reviewed Your Insurance Policies Recently?
In a world of “save 15% or more” advertisements, people often buy into the idea that they really are saving X percent. The assumption is that the quote is comparing apples to apples, when in reality these ads can be misleading, because these insurance policies are often different than your existing plan.
Whether it be auto, homeowners, or any other insurance plan, it is important to know what coverages you need and what insurance policies you have. At Barrows, we believe in a very customer-centric approach. We believe that it is our responsibility to educate our customers on what coverages are best for their unique situations and help them to make informed decisions on protecting themselves.
In the event that you need to make a claim, you want to know that you are going to be covered and be compensated on the claim. Choosing the right coverages is key to making this happen.
At Barrows, our approach is rather straight forward. We look at your life situations, what coverages you need, how much coverage you need, and how much you feel is appropriate, based on how risk averse you are individually (because everyone is different). Then we make a recommendation and explain to you the coverages included with that recommendation.
In addition to having the right coverage when you purchase a policy, it is also important to update your policy as life changes. Perhaps you find out you are pregnant and you need additional health insurance or that your child is getting married and no longer needs to be on your auto policy. As our lives change, so does the context of our insurance policies. You may be paying for insurance that you no longer need.
If it has been 6 months to a year since you have discussed your coverages with your insurance agent or you aren’t sure in what areas you are covered, perhaps it is time to make the call. After all, having the right coverages can save you a lot of money.
Finally, we enjoy being a resource for our customers. At Barrows Insurance Agency, we take pride in providing value and making sure our customers are happy. If you have any questions about your policy and what coverages you have, don’t hesitate to call in and ask or send us a message.
The 10 Most Common Small Business Insurance Claims
Being the proprietor of a small business can be very rewarding, but it’s no secret that this position also comes with a wide variety of challenges. Along with working hard to maintain the business’ attraction to the public, customer service standards and general value, various unforeseen circumstances like fires, burglaries, water damage and more can heap a lot of extra stress on owners. Getting properly insured can help alleviate this, but to better understand what you’re up against keep reading below to become familiar with what kind of insurance hazards business owners can find themselves up against. According to InsuranceJournal.com, these are the 10 most common small business insurance claims filed:
1. Theft and Burglary
Burglary and theft claims account for about 20 percent of those filed annually by small businesses. These claims may include not only lost products and merchandise but also damage caused by a break in.
2. Water Damage
Nobody wants a flood, pipe breakage or rain intrusion to interrupt their business, but unfortunately it does happen and the damage can be long lasting. Interestingly enough, water damage claims may also include damage caused by ice and freezing temperatures. About 15 percent of annual small business claims are for water damage.
3. Wind and Hail Damage
Mother nature does not discriminate when it comes to who the elements affect, and small businesses are no exception. Like water damage, wind and hail damage claims account for about 15 percent of small business claims each year.
4. Fire Damage
A fire is one of the most feared situations by business proprietors, and perhaps with good reason. Not only can fires completely devastate a building and therefore a business, but they account for about 10 percent of annual small business claims.
5. Customer Slips / Falls
Nobody wants someone to become injured on their property, but it does happen, and that’s why insurance is so important. A surprising 10 percent of annual insurance claims filed by small businesses involve a customer slipping and falling on their premises.
6. Customer Injury
Going along with the above, customers can become injured in a variety of other ways as well, many times unforeseen. About 5 percent of annual claims are for a customer becoming injured or experiencing damage on a business owner’s property.
7. Struck By An Object
This is exactly what it sounds like. Whether it’s an employee or a customer who is unwittingly struck by a stray object, having insurance will help greatly with the less than 5 percent of these claims filed each year.
8. Product Liability
Sometimes products don’t function as they should, and people do file suit as a result. Less than 5 percent of annual claims are for product liability.
9. Reputational Injury / Harm
When running a small business, reputation is everything. Even if it’s someone else saying that you damaged theirs, protect yourself from feeling the blow with insurance. These claims are less than 5 percent of those filed annually.
10. Vehicle Accident
Transportation is vital for many businesses, and less than 5 percent of small business claims each year involve a vehicular accident. Get insurance to prevent a traffic accident from ruining your business.
5 Must-Know Tips For Purchasing Homeowners Insurance
Purchasing homeowners insurance can be a real challenge, especially for new home buyers. So, here are our 5 tips for understanding what type of homeowners insurance fits your needs.
1. Get Smart About Insurance Payments
Talk to your policy provider about a payment plan that works best for your budget. Also, attaching insurance payments onto your regular mortgage payments is a good way to make things more manageable. In fact, many mortgage lenders actually prefer this.
2. Take Extra Measures to Protect Yourself
You can actually get policy discounts and therefore save on insurance costs by taking additional steps like installing fire detectors, making sure your heating system is current and fully functional, updating your electrical wiring, using dead bolts, installing a home security system and just generally making sure your home is well maintained. If you happen to live in close proximity to a fire station or police department, you may be eligible for further savings.
3. Determine the Coverage Type You Need
You can save yourself a lot of time purchasing homeowners insurance by first figuring out the type of coverage that best suits your needs. There are several different types of homeowners insurance coverage, the most common of which are:
HO-2 — This is a general-yet-detailed policy that covers a list of 16 named perils (usually including but not limited to the house itself, personal possessions and liability insurance).
HO-3 — This very common policy will cover any perils save for those that are specifically on the excluded list.
HO-5 — Essentially the premium version of the HO-3. This policy covers most perils except for those listed as excluded, but it is meant for newer, often more expensive homes (owners of older homes should see HO-8).
HO-6 — This policy is specifically meant for those living in condominiums and/or co-op residential buildings. While actual insurance will be through the homeowners association (HOA), this policy will include damage repair and personal possession coverage, as well as liability coverage.
HO-7 — Intended for mobile homes, this policy will cover any perils except for those named as being excluded.
HO-8 — This policy is designed for older homes, but it only covers the cost (monetary value) of the home. The reason behind this is that it is often harder to do repairs and replacements in older buildings.
For the most part, your insurance agent will make a determination on what type of insurance you need, but it still helps to know what is going into you insurance quote.
4. Know Your Policy Value
Know what kind of coverage amount (the monetary value) you’re looking at. This can be determined by estimating the value of your home in addition to how much various repairs will cost. Enlisting the help of a professional home builder, appraiser or insurance assessment company will greatly help in this area.
Keep in mind that the replacement cost on the home is almost always less than the pricetag of your house, because the replacement cost doesn’t include the land, which is a large part of the cost of buying a home.
5. Inventory Your Belongings
Going along with the above, it’s a good idea to make a list of your possessions (valuables) and their cost. If you’re like most people, you have some thousands of dollars worth of belongings that you would want to replace or receive compensation for should they be lost. After all, purchasing homeowners insurance is usually about more than just the building. If you can’t remember the cost and lack the receipts or other records, a professional appraiser can also help with this task.
Accident Forgiveness
Everyone has heard the commercials — Accident Forgiveness is a hot topic. Here is a great explanation of how it works: http://ow.ly/DYj0M
Read Your Insurance Definitions Regarding Snow Damage
Read Your Insurance Definitions to Know When Snow Damage is Covered http://ow.ly/FJnvK
Steering Clear of Car Insurance Scams
Steering Clear of Car Insurance Scams http://ow.ly/EMWCt
Holiday Hazards: How to Avoid Insurance
Holiday Hazards: How to Avoid Insurance Claims http://ow.ly/2Rw843
Buyer Beware - Purchasing Insurance Online... Trick or Treat?
Happy Halloween everyone, I love this time of year! Don’t listen to anyone that says “you are too old for Halloween”. If you think dressing up for Halloween at the age of 31 is wrong, then I don’t want to be right, I think Luther Ingram said that. [tap on the shoulder, he said if loving you is wrong] well whatever you know what I mean! My wife and I are going to be a hot couple (per usual) but this time we get to be…wait for it
Hot Right!?! That is Ragnar and Lagitha from Vikings on History, great show…Where are you going with this Colby? Don’t rush me I am staring at Ragnar..>Wait What?
OK on to the real reason I started this blog, thanks for putting up with my…I mean look at him just evokes power…[ok, youre creeping me out] I received an email from the MAIA, (Massachusetts Associations of Insurance Agents) they send weekly updates of what is going on in the state, a newsletter of sorts. This particular email had to deal with a lawsuit that is currenly pending in Massachusetts
Last week, the U.S. District Court, District Court of Massachusetts handed down a
Memorandum and Order on Motions for Summary Judgment made by Progressive
Direct Insurance Company in lawsuits brought by Wanda Estrada, Walter Estrada,
J.E., Natalie Estrada, Carmen Badillo, and Jose Burgos, individually and on behalf of
all other persons similarly situated, alleging unfair and deceptive practices in the
online sale of automobile insurance policies. The plaintiffs purchased automobile
insurance from Progressive Direct Insurance Company and claim they were denied
personal injury protection (PIP) benefits after they were involved in automobile
accidents because they purchased insurance policies with an $8,000 PIP
deductible. The plaintiffs brought suit against Progressive, contending that they
only purchased policies with a deductible because of Progressive‘s unfair and
deceptive practices. The complaint alleges violations of M.G.L. c. 93A, 176D, and
175. If you want to read the whole Lawsuit here is the link www.massagent.com/info/maoctober302014.pdf#1
This post is not about bashing Progressive (we sell Progressive they are a great company), this is about buying something online when you haven’t done your research or asked a professional. Why would you buy something online if you don’t know everything about it? Especially something as important as Insurance (of any kind). In this particular case they purchased the insurance online, the PIP coverage had a limit of $8000 with a deductible of $8000. That coverage probably cost $13, (trick or treat?) Its a trick because they didn’t have any coverage for the $13 they spent! Here is the full definition of PIP coverage (starts on page five) http://www.prac.com/public/Plymouthrock/staticfiles/PDF/8thEdition-sm.pdf
If you are buying online to save money, you will lose service. Never sacrifice one for the other. Call me or call another local agent, we are trained to make sure you are getting the right coverage at the right price. Now if you will excuse me I have to go make my costume. Sing it Luther!
Author: Colby Barrows
Welcome to My Blog - First and Last Propaganda Piece
Thanks for stopping by my blog. My name is Colby Barrows, I work for Barrows Insurance Agency in Mansfield MA. The business was started by my Grandmother Janice Barrows over 30 years ago. She started the business out of her home with the simple concept of – Providing customers the insurance coverage they needed while giving them the service they wanted. We provide insurance coverage for anything from daily commuter cars to exotic collectables, starter homes to mansions, lemonade stands to corporations. We have a rate for anything you wish to insure, well almost anything. With that being said, I need to say, I didn’t create this blog to sell you anything. I created this blog to teach you about the insurance industry from the perspective of an agent. I have been an agent for over 10 years, I try to learn something new everyday with the goal of providing my clients with the best advice I can give them. My hope is to educate the public about the in’s and outs of insurance and how it impacts your daily life. In my 10 years I have probably heard most questions twice but insurance is all encompassing so I know with out a doubt I haven’t heard it all, I doubt anyone has. So ends my propaganda piece…
Someone once said a story without conflict is just propaganda. So every commercial you see on TV hear on the Radio or read on the Internet is just propaganda. Of course it is, why would anyone advertise their product that way? Marketers want to portray their product as being the end all be all greatest out there, that’s marketing 101, first day stuff…So I ask where does that leave you?
I’ll tell you where, right where you are. Sitting in your underwear scouring the internet reading reviews to make sure the BS they are pedaling is the actual truth; will that Rogaine really grow your hair back to the way it was at junior prom? probably not, but why not check out what people who have used it are saying? The internet is full of crash test dummies that buy everything huge companies are feeding them. We the public then get to go online and read what these people have to say. Its like going to the zoo and watching the zoo keeper feed the monkeys. If companies told you the good and bad about their product you wouldn’t have to research it. That’s what I am here to do, tell you about the good and bad. I deal with insurance everyday and unless you sell it too then I think it is safe to say I hate it more than you do. Lets face it, insurance sucks no one likes it. Flo is lying to you when she says she loves it. She just loves that you need it and they have (Progressive) a large enough marketing budget to cram it down your throat.
That’s all I have for now, but check back later. Maybe my next post will be about the insurance lawyer who made my life a living hell for a week or maybe I will explain what accident forgiveness really is. You never know, what you should know is I tell it how it is and wont pull any punches. Thanks for reading!
Colby Barrows