The freak snow storm that hit Elizabethtown, Mount Joy and Marietta the last week of October generated many phone calls to our office. Most of the calls were about fallen limbs from trees. Snow in October is hard on trees because they still have leaves. There were 4 general questions relating to damaged trees: Is the tree itself covered if damaged…
The post of Oct 11 discussed the importance of Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist coverage. Another choice you have to make with these coverages is whether you want “Stacked” or “Unstacked” limits. By default your coverage is stacked. Waivers must be signed to reject stacking. Stacked coverage allows you to collect the sum of the Uninsured or Underinsured Motorist…
I received notification today from Elizabethtown Insurance Company of their plan to non-renew all insurance policies. The company will be mailing letters to policyholders informing them of this decision. Pennsylvania law requires that homeowners and personal lines policies be given 30 days notice of intent to non-renew insurance coverage and 60 days notice for commercial policies. I want to…
For many living here in Central Pennsylvania the flooding from Tropical Storm Lee is a distant memory. But for others, particularly in Marietta, Manheim and Hershey, recovering from the flood is an ongoing struggle. One of the conditions of the Flood Insurance Policy is that a signed proof of loss statement must be submitted within…
Pennsylvania law requires auto owners to buy auto insurance. The compulsory limit of coverage for Bodily Injury Liability is $15,000 per person / $30,000 per accident and Property Damage Liability $5,000. These compulsory minimum limits are among the lowest in the nation. However, not everyone obeys the law. A recent study suggests the recession has caused an increase in uninsured motorists,…
This oft asked question by clients when reviewing insurance coverage does not have a right or wrong answer. In most cases the deductible applies to property coverage. On a rare occasion there can be deductibles that apply to liability coverage. One of the reasons for the deductible discussion when buying auto insurance, home insurance or commercial property insurance,…
My post of July 29, 2011 discussed Erie Insurance’s new auto insurance policy feature now available in Pennsylvania. Erie Insurance’s actual name for this policy feature is Rate Protection Endorsement. “Rate Lock” is easier to say and has a nice mental image. Rate Lock has been added to both new auto insurance policies written by Thome Insurance Agency and current auto insurance…
Last week was a harsh reminder that floods are the most common natural disaster . I wish to dispell 2 myths after speaking with many people who suffered water damage to their property caused by the remains of Tropical Storm Lee. 1. Too many people who had water damage said: “But I am not in a flood…
This week alot of people were rudely reminded of 3 things about water damage. After several days of rain here in the Elizabethtown, Mount Joy and Marietta areas, including torrential rain on September 7, many homeowners found they had a new “wading or swimming pool” in their basement. Reports made to my office ranged from minor…
The post of 8/30 mentioned that Hurricane Irene damaged my front porch awning. When you look to your insurance policy to cover damage to property, two important issues are: Is the loss covered? How much will I be paid for my claim? The answer to this question is found in the policy under the section Loss Settlement. The common Loss…