Business owners have a lot on their plate, from managing employees and inventory to making sure they comply with the commercial laws applicable in each state and making sure they have the right type of insurance coverage to protect their investment (and hard work).

As local Pennsylvania independent insurance agents, we work with business owners all over the state to make sure they have the right commercial insurance policies that fit into their budget and don’t leave dangerous gaps in coverage. We can also compare quotes from a wide variety of insurance companies to find the best coverage to fit your budget. If you’re trying to decide what type of business coverage to purchase, you’ll want to have a good idea of the types of coverage available to you.

1. Liability

Liability coverage for businesses protects business owners against litigation and claims of negligence, personal injury, property damage, or other damages associated with your products or services.

2. Product Liability

If you manufacture or market products to the public, product liability insurance will protect you against claims of defective products that cause injury, property damage, or other harm.

3. Professional Liability

This type of coverage protects you against claims of errors and omissions in services you provide to your customers. Depending on your industry, your state might require you to maintain minimum levels of professional liability insurance.

4. Commercial Property

This is the commercial version of home insurance; it protects your store, warehouse, or other business property against theft, vandalism, weather, and other damages up to agreed-upon limits.

5. Commercial Auto

You’ll be required to maintain at least the same minimum liability coverage on company vehicles (which includes any vehicle used for your business’s purposes) as on your personal vehicles.

Depending on your situation, other types of commercial insurance may also be applicable. One of our independent agents can talk to you about your options, including bundling coverages into a Business Owner’s Package (BOP) which will help you save by bundling any of the relevant above policies into an all-in-one package.

You know about the typical personal insurance types: life, auto, home, and health. But have you ever considered adding additional insurance that could save you headaches that your typical personal insurance policy doesn't consider? A personal umbrella insurance policy provides you with additional protection on the liability portion of certain types of insurance, as well as extending lawsuit coverage to situations that aren't covered by any other type of personal insurance.

The expansion of liability coverage extends the amount that is covered by the insurance company whenever you have a claim filed against your insurance. It generally expands the coverage given by your car insurance and home insurance. This is particularly useful if you live in an area that is known for higher priced cars or more property related incidents in general. Instead of hitting the limits of your insurance and paying out of pocket for the rest, the personal umbrella policy keeps you protected.

The second part of this type of umbrella policy is protection that isn't given by other types of insurance. It helps you out against landlord liability, false arrest, slander, emotional distress, and libel. This is an all-inclusive policy that takes a wide range of potential situations under consideration. While you hope that none of these issues ever affect you, it's always better to be safe than sorry.

If you aren't sure where to start when it comes to personal umbrella insurance, talk to our experienced insurance agents about the options available for you. They'll let you know exactly what is covered, how the claim process proceeds, and other important information dealing with the umbrella coverage.

When you are involved in an accident in Northampton, PA, it can change the details of your insurance coverage. Although you may be able to maintain some of the basic coverage on your policy, you should expect some alterations to your premium and certain details of your policy.

What is Negligence?

Negligence refers to actions or behaviors that lead to an accident because you were not paying attention to the road. It may mean that you were distracted because you were eating, putting on makeup, shaving, using a cell phone or otherwise engaged in activities that take your attention away from driving.

Even though Northampton, PA requires no-fault coverage and liability protection, it is your responsibility to pay for any damages when you caused the accident. Your liability coverage will often pay for the situation, but you should expect some alterations to your policy.

Changes to Coverage

If you have coverage for collisions, then your policy will usually pay for the damages to your car after an accident. You should expect your premium to increase after you cause an accident and you may see some changes to your coverage. In some cases, your insurance provider may put exceptions into your policy or you may lose some coverage that was provided due to a good driving history. You may also lose some of the discounts that were previously applied to your policy.

There are several ways that your policy and coverage may be impacted by an accident that you caused. Depending on the insurance coverage that you have purchased, the changes that you can expect will vary. To learn more about your options, contact us to speak to an agent today.