Motorcycle Insurance

Make It Simple- Motorcycle Insurance  

This is our fifth installment in the Make It Simple series. Have you tried to read your insurance policy and just given up? Even your motorcycle policy can be very confusing! Let me try to simplify it for you.

Every policy (regardless of type) should have a Declarations Page, commonly referred to as the “Dec Page”. This page “declares” who you are, what property you have insured, your coverage choices and how much you are paying for this policy period.

Similar to Auto insurance, there are 2 types of coverage on your Motorcycle insurance policy; Coverage that protects the other party and coverage that protects you.

COVERAGE THAT PROTECTS THE OTHER PARTY

Bodily Injury Liability: protects you from having to pay medical costs, lost income and funeral expenses of other people involved in an accident that is your fault.

Property Damage Liability: Protects you from paying for the repair or replacement of the other person’s property.

There is no deductible for liability coverage. You have many amount options for this coverage. The state minimum in Texas is $30,000/$60,000/$30,000. This means you are covered for $30,000 per person/$60,000 per accident and $30,000 for property damage. I would suggest liability in higher limits than the state minimum. If you cause an accident and the liability claim is 75,000, if you have state minimum coverage, you will pay the additional $15,000 out of pocket. It is not expensive to increase your liability limits. Ask your agent to explain your options.

COVERAGE THAT PROTECTS YOU:

Uninsured/Underinsured Bodily Injury: covers your injuries (or death) in case the responsible party has little or no insurance. It also covers anyone riding on your motorcycle.

Uninsured/Underinsured Damage: covers damage to your motorcycle or property in case the responsible party has little or no insurance.  There is a state mandated $250 deductible in Texas for Uninsured/Underinsured motorist coverage.

Medical payments: covers medical or funeral expenses if you or anyone on your motorcycle is injured in an accident.

Personal Injury payments: covers medical or funeral expenses and possible lost wages if you or anyone riding on your motorcycle are injured in an accident.

Collision Coverage: pays for damage to your motorcycle if you hit another car/motorcycle or something else (like a tree or a building).  You must pay a deductible. Deductible amounts determine the cost of this coverage. The higher the deductible, the lower the premium.

Comprehensive Coverage: (also called Other than Collision) pays for damage to your motorcycle if something other than a collision occurs. This could be fire, theft, hit by an

Animal (yes, the animal hit your motorcycle!) The same type of deductible rules apply to Comprehensive as they do to Collision. They are two different deductibles though.

Optional Coverages that protect your motorcycle:

            Towing: pays for towing and some basic roadside assistance, depending on the carrier and towing option you choose.

            Trip Interruption: pays for lodging, alternative transportation and food while the motorcycle is being repaired in the event of a breakdown or covered loss that is more than 100 miles from home.

            Rental Reimbursement: pays for the cost of renting a car while yours is being repaired after an accident.

            Loan/Lease Gap Insurance: pays the difference between what you owe and the total value of your motorcycle if it is totaled in a claim. 

            Accessory Coverage: covers customer parts and equipment. You must have Collision and/or Comprehensive coverage as well.

             

So there you go. There are many factors in Motorcycle insurance, but they don't have to overwhelm you. If you have any questions, please contact your agent. That is what they are there for. If they cannot answer your questions, please contact us. 

   If you have questions about your home, auto and commercial insurance, please call Brockman Premier Insurance at 877-987-8683 or email us.

Visit our Website for more insurance tips and information.

Auto Insurance

Make it simple-Car insurance

    Have you tried to read your insurance policy and just given up? It can be very confusing! But I am going to try to simplify it for you. Over the next several weeks I will attempt to simplify each type of insurance, begining with Car insurance:

    Every policy should have a Declarations Page. 

This page “declares” who you are, what cars you have insured, your coverage choices and how much you are paying for this policy period.

    There are 2 types of coverage on your auto policy: Coverage that protects the other party and coverage that protects you.

Coverage that protects the other party:

Bodily Injury Liability: protects you from having to pay medical costs, lost income and funeral expenses of other people involved in an accident that is your fault.

Property Damage Liability: Protects you from paying for the repair or replacement of the other person’s car.

            There is no deductible for liability coverage. You have many amount options for this coverage. The state minimum in Texas is $30,000/$60,000/$30,000. This means you are covered for $30,000 per person/$60,000 per accident and $30,000 for property damage. I would suggest liability in higher limits than the state minimum. If you cause an accident and the liability claim is 75,000, if you have state minimum coverage, you will pay the additional $15,000 out of pocket. It is not expensive to increase your liability limits. Ask your agent to explain your options.

Coverage that protects you:

Uninsured/Underinsured Bodily Injury: covers your injuries (or death) in case the responsible party has little or no insurance. It also covers those riding in your car.

Uninsured/Underinsured Damage: covers damage to your car or property in case the responsible party has little or no insurance.  There is a state mandated $250 deductible in Texas for Uninsured/Underinsured motorist coverage.

Medical payments: covers medical or funeral expenses if you or anyone in your vehicle are injured in an accident.

Personal Injury payments: covers medical or funeral expenses and possible lost wages if you or anyone in your vehicle are injured in an accident.

Collision Coverage: pays for damage to your car if you hit another car or something else (like a tree or a building).  You must pay a deductible. Deductible amounts determine the cost of this coverage. The higher the deductible, the lower the premium.

Comprehensive Coverage: (also called Other than Collision) pays for damage to your car if something other than a collision occurs. This could be fire, theft, hit by an

Animal (yes, the animal hit your car!) The same type of deductible rules apply to Comprehensive as they do to Collision. They are two different deductibles though.

Optional Coverages that protect your car:

            Towing: pays for towing and some basic roadside assistance, depending on the carrier and towing option you choose.

            Rental Reimbursement: pays for the cost of renting a car while yours is being repaired after an accident.

            Loan/Lease Gap Insurance: pays the difference between what you owe and the total value of your car if it is totaled in a claim. This is only valid if you have a new car (less than 3 years old).

So there you go. There are many factors in Car insurance, but they don't have to overwhelm you. If you have any questions, please contact your agent. That is what they are there for. If they cannot answer your questions, please contact us. 

   If you have questions about your home, auto and commercial insurance, please call Brockman Premier Insurance at 877-987-8683 or email us at brian@brockmanpremier.com.
Please visit our website for more insurance tips and information.

Motorcycle Insurance coverage

Make sure you are covered                         before you hit the road!

   There are some great Motorcycle trips to take. Here in Texas, I know there more roads through our state than even the most avid motorcycle enthusiast is able to conquer. Whether you are a weekender or the Ride Captain, all Motorcycle riders have two things in common. They need to be safe and they need to be covered in case something goes wrong.
   Motorcycle insurance is similar to auto insurance. The types of coverage are basically the same. You need Liability, Property damage, Uninsured motorist (Yes! you need this one!), Collision and Comprehensive coverage. You can add a few extras on a motorcycle policy such as custom parts and equipment coverage, specialized Roadside assistance and Trip interruption coverage. Trip interruption is a great coverage for you extended motorcycle trip takers. This will pay for your lodging, food and transportation if you get stranded on your trip. 
   Many carriers offer a discount if you have taken a Motorcycle Safety Course. This is a good idea whether you break on your insurance or not. Check out the Motorcycle Safety Foundation for a course. Statistics show 49% of Motorcycle crashes are the result of a bike colliding with another vehicle. Of the riders killed in a two vehicle accident, 35% were due to the excessive speeding by the biker.  Texas has historically had the highest annual number of motorcycle deaths, with as much as 37% being alcohol related.  
Please be smarter!

   Bikers claim riding is one of the most freeing ways to enjoy the countryside. Make sure you are safe and covered so that you can truly enjoy your time out there on the road. 

If you have questions or need a quote, please contact Brockman Premier Insurance.

Local 214-592-0859

Toll Free: 877-987-8683

Visit us at www.wekeepuinsured.com

RV coverage

Have RV, Will Travel

   It is that time of year- summer travel time! The kids are out of school and the weather is just right. (until the triple degrees hit!) Many people travel by RV so they can see the countryside while they travel. You want to make sure you have the coverage you need for that trip!

* Your RV policy will have the same basics as your auto policy. Liability, Collision, Comprehensive, Uninsured Motorist are all included on an RV policy.

* Make sure you have Roadside Assistance. Breakdowns happen! Many carriers include added coverage for temporary living expenses and transportation costs if needed.  

* Not all policies cover personal property so be sure to ask your agent. One of the big benefits of traveling by RV is that you have all of your belongings right there with you. Not much of a benefit if you are not covered to replace them in case of damage or theft!

* There are other optional coverages you should look at such as Electronic lock and key replacement, Pet coverage, loan or lease protection. 

* At the end of the season, you can reduce your RV coverage to Comprehensive only if you don't travel during the winter months. This will save you money!

Traveling by RV can be a fantastic way to take a trip. Just please make sure you have the coverage you need to protect your family and your belongings on that trip!

If you have any questions or need a quote, 

please call 214-592-0859 or 877-987-8683. 

You can also email us at Brockman Premier Insurance

We would love to keep you insured!

Auto Liability coverage

Yes, it is worth the cost!

   We all know it is illegal to drive without Liability insurance. (At least I hope you know) But why is it so important that the states require it? Is the other coverage important, even though it isn't required by law?
Does it really protect me? Yes. Yes it does. But there are many levels of protection and this is where you have some decisions to make.

 Liability Coverage

This pays for any damage you inflict, on other drivers in an accident. I never liked that word "inflict"? It insinuates you found the guy, sped up to 100 mph and rammed his car. Let me put it in a more fair sounding way. If you are found to be at fault, Liability will pay for the damage done to the other drivers car and body, or bodies if he has passengers. There is a state minimum, but other than that, you will get to pick the amount. The choices usually fall to $30/60, $50/100, $100/300, $250/$500 and so forth. These are in the thousands (so $30/60 is actually $30,000/60,000)

Bodily Injury Liability 

This pays for the cost of any injuries, including death, of a person as a result of an accident you cause. It would cover medical bills, loss of income, pain and suffering. If you end up in a lawsuit, it is important you have enough liability coverage to handle any monetary judgement that is handed down. If you do not have enough insurance coverage, you are still responsible for the remaining damages amount. Bodily Injury is only for the "victims" of the accident. It will not cover your own medical bills. Again you can choose the amount of coverage you wish to have. So think of the worst case scenario and pick the amount of coverage you want.

Property Damage Liability

This pays for the damage you and your vehicle do to another person's property. It usually used for the other car in the accident, but it also covers fencing, plants, trees and houses. It is not required in most states, but it is worth the cost. If you hit a Mercedes or someone's home, can you cover the cost of repairing or replacing?
Again you can choose the amount of coverage you wish to have. So think of the worst case scenario (like hitting that Mercedes) and pick the amount of coverage you want.

Coverages Other than Liability

Liability is a very important coverage, but it is not the only one.
Uninsured/Under-insured Coverage: This will cover the costs associated if you are hit by someone with no insurance or not enough insurance. This is not required by law, but it is a coverage I will always talk to my customers about. I have a friend who was hit by a drunk driver one night. The other driver had no insurance, nor was he a US citizen so there was no way they could go after him for damages. My friend had $50,000 in hospital bills (2 surgeries) and missed 10 weeks of work. If he didn't have Uninsured Motorist coverage, he would have had to cover those costs himself. That's a scary thought!
Collision Coverage: This covers your car if you hit anything. This is one that many people opt to reject, especially if they have older cars. It can be expensive and you will have a deductible. You need to decide if it will save you enough money in premium to cover the cost of repairs if you are in an at fault accident. Also keep in mind, if you are paying off your car, or if you have a lease, the company you are financing through will most likely require this coverage.
Comprehensive Coverage: This is also known as "other than collision" coverage. It covers your car if something hits it. This could be a tree falling on it, flooding, theft, a deer hit you. Yes, you did not hit the deer, it jumped in front of your car.
None of these coverages are mandatory, but the expense of the coverage can be far outweighed by the expense of the repairs. We call it "self insuring" and most people cannot afford to self insure. But other than the Liability, you get to decide if you want a coverage or not.
There are other bells and whistles coverage like rental, towing, stereos and rims. These coverages are meant to make your life a little easier, not as much protect you. It is always good to have coverage, but it may not be necessary to have every piece of coverage. Insurance is in place to protect you, but you have to make the decision as to how much is worth the cost.

Any questions? Please give us a call at Brockman Premier Insurance
local: 214-592-0859
toll free: 1-877-987-8683

Insurance Review

An Updated Life Needs Updated Insurance Coverage!

Have you made any changes to your life? They can affect your insurance premium and coverage needs.
You should review you policies once a year. Make sure you have given your agent all of your updated information. You would be surprised how many clients I have had over the years who changed phone numbers and didn't let me know. The ones that always get me are the ones who move and don't think to tell me. A big part of your insurance rates are based on where you live. So if you move, your rates will most likely change. You must tell your agent!
Aside from your contact information, make sure your agent knows if you have had any additions to the family. Have you been married? had a baby? gone back to school? Changed jobs and now have a different commute? These can affect the type of coverage that is best suited for you.
During a review, your agent should go over your coverage to make sure it is still sufficient.

* Home Insurance

     * Dwelling coverage: This covers your actual home in the case of a loss. It is the cost of rebuilding your home -Have you made any additions or updates to the home? This can change the value of the dwelling.
     * Other Structures: This refers to fencing, sheds, pools. Any changes to these need to be disclosed.
     * Contents: This is your personal property. If you could pick up your house, turn it upside down and     shake it, what would fall out? This is your personal property. Have you bought computers or jewelry that may need extra coverage? Always keep receipts. This Home Inventory Log can be useful also.
      * Loss of use: This covers your expenses if you have damage to your home and you have to move out while it is being repaired or rebuilt.
     * Personal Liability: This covers you if something happens to a third party on your property - ie: your dog bites the neighbor's child. If you have  added dogs, a pool or a trampoline, your risk could warrant a higher amount of Liability coverage.
     * Medical Payments: This will cover you if someone has a minor scrape on your property - ie: the UPS person trips on your stairs.

* Auto Insurance

     * Have you changed your commute (possibly because of a new job)? Many carriers will give you better rates for lower annual mileage.

     * Liability: This covers the other party if you are found at fault for an accident. The minimum coverage is mandated by State law. In Texas, that would be $30/60/25. But you can add higher limits without breaking the bank. If you have state minimum, you will have $30k per person/ $60k per accident/$25k property damage that will pay out. If the accident is more costly, it comes out of your pocket.
     * Uninsured Motorist: This covers you if the other party was at fault and they don't have any or enough insurance to coverage the cost.
     * Personal Injury Protection vs. Medical Payments: PIP will cover medical costs plus some lost wages. Medical Payments will only cover medical costs. If you have retired recently, you should have Medical, not PIP. It is less expensive and PIP won't do you much if you have no wages to replace.
     * Comprehensive Coverage: This will cover you if something hits your car. IE: Hail, a fallen tree, flooding, an animal (we see this usually when a dear jumps in front of a car outside of cities). This will cover the cost of repairing your car. You decision here is what kind of deductible do you want? Higher deductible means lower insurance premium, but more out of pocket when there is an accident.
      * Collision Coverage: This will cover you if you hit something. ID: You run into a tree, a house, another car. Again, the decision here is how high a deductible do you want? You may also want to evaluate whether it is worth having the coverage at all. Many people with older cars that are not worth much find it isn't worth the cost of the coverage.
      * You can add Towing and Rental. Is this necessary? If your car is disabled in an accident, could you get around without it? Do you have another car? or can you borrow one? This can save you money on the premium.

* Commercial insurance

    * Have you started a new business? Even if it is just working out of your home, you need commercial coverage to protects your family and your business.
    * Have you bought a new car under the business name? Your personal auto policy won't cover it.
    * Have you hired employees? This needs a whole new level of coverage.

* Toys

    * Have you bought a new boat or motorcycle? Some Home policies will include boat coverage, but not if your agent doesn't know you have it. A motorcycle may be covered on your auto policy, but again, not if your agent doesn't know to add it. In most cases, both boats and motorcycles need to be on their own policy.

* Life Insurance

     * Will your life insurance policy ensure your spouse and kids can continue to live in the same lifestyle until the youngest child is out of college? This is a good basic rule to follow to get started.

Know your coverage. Know your needs. Make sure they match.
That is the best advice I can give you.
Call The Brockman Agency - we would love to walk you through your policies.  We will make sure you understand your coverage - and we may be able to save you some money while doing it!
Toll Free- 1-877-987-8683

Thanks for reading!
Nancy

Boating Insurance

We are not all in the same boat!

Boating season is upon us. Whether you are an experienced boat owner, or a potential buyer, you need to evaluate your Insurance. Boats are unique. Their insurance needs to be unique also. Some Homeowners policies will  cover small boats (usually without motors). But if you have a motor boat of any kind, you need a policy with specialized coverage tailored for boat owners. 
What makes a Boat policy different from a Home or Auto policy?
Boat policies are a mixture of Home and Auto policies. 
Similar to Home insurance, a boat policy will cover liability if someone is injured on your boat and it gives you the choice of Replacement cost coverage (you want this!) or Actual Cash Value coverage (this is less coverage). 
Like auto insurance, boat coverage typically includes coverage for bodily injury that your boat inflicts on others, property damage your boat inflicts on docks and other boats, and physical damage to your boat should you hit something or run aground. You can also add comprehensive coverage for theft, vandalism, fire and flood, personal property coverage for your fishing gear, uninsured boater insurance and even roadside assistance in case you need a tow (on land or water!). 
Some policies will allow you to "suspend" coverage during non-boating seasons, thus saving you a little money. 
Many carriers, like Progressive, Safeco and Travelers offer additional coverage that is specifically designed for boats. 
* Fuel spill liability coverage the cost of damage caused by an unintentional spill for which you are liable.
*Wreckage removal will pay the cost of any attempted or actual removal of the wreckage of a covered boat if you are liable.
* Personal effects replacement cost pays for our personal items while they are on board the boat.
*Fishing equipment replacement cost pays for your tackle, rods and reels. (There is usually a set limit)
*Total Loss Replacement replaces your boat with a brand new one of similar make and model. 
*Pet Injury covers the cost of Vet bills (usually up to $1,000) if your dog or cat is injured in an accident while on your boat.

Being out on the lake with family and friends is one of the best ways to spend a summer day. Make sure your boat and those you have on board are properly covered!


Questions? Call the Brockman Agency and let us take care of you! toll free 877-987-8683