Does Home Insurance Cover Storm Damages?

Having a home can be challenging, especially when it comes to protecting it from unforeseen dangers. Of course, there are many things a homeowner can do to minimize risks to the home, but ultimately dangers associated with many threats, such as the weather, make having adequate home insurance in place necessary to protect that investment.

Storm Damages

Most home insurance policies cover all types of storm damages including damage from debris and other potential side effects directly related to the storm. However, flood damage isn’t covered by home insurance and the homeowner will need to purchase a separate home insurance policy to have that protection in place. The best way to ensure the home is completely protected by home insurance is to work with an insurance agent. They can help educate the homeowner about what the policy covers and make any recommendations to help ensure the coverage fits the current needs.

Get Help Finding Home Insurance

Anyone in Ft. Worth, TX who is interested in purchasing home insurance they can rely on should consult with Main Street Independent Insurance Agencies Inc. to find out more about the different types of home insurance available in their area. The agents can work closely with potential clients to assess their needs and then offer common sense insurance products to give them the protection they need year-round. They can also help their clients submit documentation to insurance providers and assist with paperwork related to insurance claims.

Anyone in the Ft. Worth, TX area who is in the market for reliable home insurance should call or stop by Main Street Independent Insurance Agencies Inc. today to find out more or to schedule a consultation with an agent. 

Does Auto Insurance Cover Bodily Injury in Ft. Worth?

Bodily injury after an accident can be an especially difficult matter to handle. All accidents are unnerving even under the best of circumstances, but a physical injury can be particularly devastating. If you’re wondering if auto insurance covers it in Ft. Worth, TX, Main Street Independent Insurance Agencies Inc. is here to help you understand more about how your policy works under these circumstances. 

Bodily Injury Is Covered (for Others)

As a driver in Texas, you’re required to have some degree of liability coverage for bodily injury. However, this only covers the medical injuries of other people as opposed to yourself. If you want to be covered, you’ll need additional personal injury protection. 

There Are Limits 

Bodily injury can be a tricky matter for some people. If you hit someone in a standard fender-bender and they experience whiplash, this may not be a major injury in and of itself. However, if the person had a preexisting condition, such as a neck injury or back problem, the impact could have much greater consequences. 

Learning More 

If you’re interested in learning more about the limits of your current policy (or setting up a new policy that will carry enough protection), it helps to talk with someone who understands how it all works. There are a number of solutions available to you should you want additional coverage, including changing your auto insurance policy or purchasing an additional safety net policy like umbrella insurance. 

Main Street Independent Insurance Agencies Inc. is here to help the people of Ft. Worth, TX understand more about their options. Contact us today to learn more about how you can have the best possible policy to ensure that everyone can heal and recover should an accident occur. 

Why Home Insurance Is A Wise Investment

At Main Street Independent Insurance Agencies Inc in Ft. Worth, TX, people still ask us whether home insurance is worth it. Are you one of those who think that home insurance is not necessary? While we can give you a direct answer, we will rather discuss some of the benefits of home insurance and allow you to decide whether it is a wise investment or not.

It is required for loans

A lot of banks and private money lenders now ask for proof of your home insurance. That means if you apply for a loan and decide to use your home as collateral, most lenders will request proof of home insurance. That’s one way of protecting their money.

Some home insurance coverage protects you against a lawsuit

If your guest slips and falls in your yard, you’ll be held liable. He could file a lawsuit against you. Your tenant could also sue you in the same situation. That means, if she falls in your house which she rented, she could also file a lawsuit against you for negligence.

Also, if the dog of your tenant bites someone, you may be held liable as well. You can imagine how much it will cost you to hire an attorney for legal defense. And if the plaintiff wins, you could see yourself paying several hundreds of thousands of dollars.

In fact, a couple of lawsuits could cost you more than your home. The good news is, your home insurance will take care of this if you are lucky enough to have insured your home.

Home insurance protects your home against natural disasters

Hurricanes, wildfires, and tornadoes have become a regular occurrence in the United States. So, it is a wise decision to protect your home against natural disasters. If your home gets damaged by a hurricane, there’s a home insurance coverage that will compensate you and also refund you for additional expense incurred if you have to live elsewhere until your apartment is fixed.

For other reasons why you should purchase home insurance, contact us at Main Street Independent Insurance Agencies Inc in Ft. Worth, TX. You may also visit our website to check out our home insurance products.

Does Each Major Asset Need Its Own Commercial Policy?

When you operate a business in Ft. Worth, TX, you have to learn how to juggle. It’s a vibrant city, but that comes with competition and a fast-paced business environment. In order to keep up, you need to get fast answers to important insurance questions. Main Street Independent Insurance Agencies Inc. loves providing fast answers. Let’s answer a common question right now. Does each major asset need its own commercial policy?

Yes

Every single asset needs coverage. You need property and liability insurance for everything of value. The property coverage is obvious. If something happens to an asset, you don’t have to replace it with cash on hand. As for liability, it seems weird that stock, buildings and other static assets might need this coverage, but it’s a harsh reality of business. People can find a way to get hurt anywhere, and you don’t want to lose valuable assets as a result.

But Also No

Every asset needs coverage, but that doesn’t mean you need an individual policy for each asset. Virtually every major insurer will help you bundle your assets to simplify your policy. Every asset will contribute to the bulk policy, but things can be simple. If you can bundle home and auto insurance, of course you can bundle business assets too. With that said, specialty assets do exist, and some of them might require an individual policy. That usually has to do with regulations more than the insurer’s policy, but exceptions exist to every rule.

If you want a deeper look at your commercial insurance options, the easiest way is to talk to your Main Street Independent Insurance Agencies Inc. representative. We’ve been helping businesses in Ft. Worth, TX, for a while, and we’ll be happy to help you too.

Does Adding A Teen Driver Impact Insurance Premiums?

Having a teen driver on the road can be a stressful time. One of the major concerns of most parents and guardians is providing the right type and amount of insurance protection for both the teen driver and themselves. One of the top concerns with auto insurance for teens is whether it will increase premiums for an established driver.

Does Having a Teen Driver Increase Auto Insurance Premiums?

In most instances, having a new teen driver added to an existing policy can increase the premium significantly. This is because teen drivers have a much higher risk of accidents and other insurance claims as opposed to established, mature drivers. Before adding a teen driver, it is essential to discuss the implications with an insurance agent. Be sure to understand the impact of premiums as well as coverage options before adding them or purchasing a different policy. 

Consult an Agent First

The first step towards getting the right amount of protection for a teen driver is to find a reputable insurance agency with agents who can work directly with the policyholder to discuss impacts on either new or existing coverage. They can explain what the terms and conditions in the policy are in detail and help decide if there should be an alternate option depending on the individual situation. Don’t guess when it comes to protecting a teen driver. Get coverage that is going to provide peace of mind and convenience that Main Street Independent Insurance can provide for the residents of Ft. Worth, TX.  

Whether you are in Colorado or Texas, our agents can help. Call or stop by Main Street Independent Insurance in Ft. Worth, TX. Agents are ready to assist those who have questions or need assistance with a policy purchase or amendment. 

Commercial Insurance Protects Your Business with Liability Coverage

Commercial insurance is designed to protect businesses in many ways. One of the most important is the liability protection it provides. It can help a business recover quickly following a disaster rather than struggling to survive. With the combined policies that commercial insurance offers, businesses can tailor their coverage to meet their needs. At Main Street Independent Insurance in Ft. Worth, TX, our agents help businesses understand their options and make decisions that financially protect their growing clientele. 

As a combination of policies, commercial insurance can include property insurance if the company owns buildings. This also covers any items such as computers, supplies, inventory, and data. Employees are covered by workers’ compensation. Business continuity insurance helps a company if they are unable to operate or have a limited output following a disaster. Commercial auto insurance covers the company’s vehicles. 

Perhaps the most important aspect to many companies is the liability coverage. This comes into effect if a customer is injured at a company site. It also protects the company if any customer is injured by the products or services that the business offers. Liability coverage can also be added if staff attend trade shows or give demonstrations. For professional entities, such as doctors or dentists, there is also professional liability coverage. An umbrella policy can provide additional coverage when the base policies reach their policy caps.

Every aspect of a commercial policy is designed to protect the company and its operations. Our agents at Main Street Independent Insurance in Ft. Worth, TX work with area businesses every day. Browse our website for information on insurance policies and then come in to talk with our agents about your business’ needs. Don’t leave your business vulnerable! Take time to protect that company that you have worked so hard to build. 

Recent Updates about Home Insurance in Ft. Worth, TX

Sometimes, there are important updates concerning home insurance that policyholders should know. If they don’t find out about these updates, they can end up going through detrimentally financial losses.

In fact, there are some recent insurance-related updates that are critical. One of these updates is how the price of the home is growing substantially in Ft. Worth, TX, and surrounding areas. The other one is the growing concern as severe damage has mounted from wind/weather-related incidents in Texas.

Fort Worth Leading the Pack in the Rising Homes’ Prices

The Dallas Morning News recently received and reported from CoreLogic that the prices for homes in FT. Worth, TX rose to 5.7% in February. However, home prices throughout the nation rose to 4%. CoreLogic also predicts that housing will continue to grow by 4.7% next year. And as a result, consumers who rent or buy have a significant strain, and homeowners must ensure that their homes are not underinsured. Some people have found out the hard way that their homes were underinsured and thus went through financial turmoil.

Growing Concern of Great Financial Losses Resulting from Weather-related Incidents 

There have been more reports lately about severely damaged, wind, and weather incidents, particularly in Texas. In fact, The National Centers for Environmental Information reported that eight of the previous 11 years has at least ten billion-dollars worth of weather disasters in the nation. Also, a representative of the Insurance Council of Texas stated that the Dallas-Fort Worth area has an estimated $2 billion in losses from a tornado outbreak for this past October. 

Due to these and other home insurance concerns, it is vital to get a top-notch agency that will take care of your home insurance needs. Main Street Independent Insurance is the way to go. Contact Main Street Independent Insurance today.

Why You Need Auto Insurance in Texas

The state of Texas is well known for being an enormous place with a variety of quickly growing cities. For those that are in the Dallas or Ft. Worth, TX area, the size of the Metroplex makes it a practical necessity to own a car. If you are thinking about buying a new or used car, you also need to consider your auto insurance needs carefully. There are several reasons why you may need to get an auto insurance policy in Texas.

Ensures Legal Compliance

One reason why you should always have auto insurance when you are driving a car in Texas is that it will ensure that you comply with state auto insurance requirements. All drivers in Texas are mandated to have a minimum level of auto liability coverage. This will ensure that they can pay restitution if they are at fault in an accident. Those that are caught driving without it could face stiff penalties.

Lender Requirements

While it is not required by law, anyone that has an auto loan will also need to have collision and comprehensive insurance at all times. This type of insurance can protect you against many different situations that could cause a loss. This could include protection against theft, vandalism, and even accident damage. Since the lender wants to make sure that their collateral is protected, the loan agreement will require that you carry this insurance. 

Getting auto insurance is a necessity for drivers in the Ft. Worth, TX area. To make sure that you get an excellent policy, you should work with Main Street Independent Insurance for your insurance needs. Main Street Independent Insurance will work with you to make sure that you know all of your options and are able to get a quote easily.

The Top Three Commercial Insurance Products Every Startup Needs

You’ve put a lot of time, hard work, and money into starting your own Colorado or Texas business, and like most entrepreneurs, you’ll likely face a lot of risks. When you take the leap with a startup, you need to protect your business assets, your employees, and your board members with crucial business insurance products. The following business insurance products are recommended by Main Street Independent Insurance of Ft. Worth, TX for every new startup.  

Comprehensive General Liability 

Most service contracts your new business enters will require a minimum comprehensive general liability coverage limit. Also known as CGL insurance, in the event of a claim against your company, this policy will cover your legal defense costs when facing claims such as: 

  • Property damage 
  • Third-party bodily injury 
  • Advertising injury 

Directors and Officers Coverage 

Also known as D&O coverage, this policy covers events related to your board. There are three sides to this coverage; Side-A, which protects your startup’s officers and directors from decisions they make that impact the company, also called “wrongful acts.” Side-B indemnifies a director or officer, compensating for defense costs, and Side-C protects your business from class-action or shareholder suits related to securities issues. 

Errors And Omissions 

Professional Liability insurance, also known as E&O, covers the services your Colorado or Texas company provides. An E&O policy protects your company and employees from claims made by clients or customers related to work that is unsatisfactory or careless actions. If your startup has clients, you need E&O insurance coverage.  

If you are interested in learning about other types of business insurance products your startup might need, we have you covered. Give Main Street Independent Insurance in Ft. Worth, TX a call today to learn more. 

Home Insurance: 4 Things You Need to Know

It’s crucial to have home insurance. If your home is financed, your lender will require it. But even if you own your home outright, you still want to protect the investment you have in your property. At Main Street Independent Insurance in Ft. Worth, TX, you can work with agents who will help you take good care of your house. We know the value of proper insurance, and we want to make sure you understand that value, as well. By answering your questions and giving you options, we can help you choose the right home insurance policy. Here are four things you should know to make the right decision.

  1. Uninsured homes are at risk of severe loss if a problem should occur.
  2. Home insurance will be required if you have a mortgage on your house.
  3. There are a lot of different coverage options and levels for you to choose from.
  4. A quality, trusted agent would get you the right policy for your needs.

At Main Street Independent Insurance, we’ll help protect your Ft. Worth, TX area home. Reach out to us today, and let us help you choose the policy that’s going to be right for your property and needs. Our agents are ready to help you, and they’re focused on making sure you’re covered. By letting us provide you with quotes and other information, you’ll be taking a step toward gaining broader home insurance knowledge. With proper knowledge comes good choices, and those choices mean your home will be adequately protected. You won’t have to worry about your house, which means you can enjoy your time, spend it with your family and friends, and do all the things you’d like to do in and around your home.