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.

Uninsured Motorist coverage

What is Uninsured Motorist and Why Do You Need It?

   Have you ever come out of a store to find your parked car has been hit while you were inside? Did they leave a note with all of their information so you can file a claim on their insurance? Doubtful, right? That is why you need Uninsured Motorist coverage.
   If you are ever in an accident (or your car is) and it is the other party's fault, Uninsured motorist coverage will cover you and your car if they don't have insurance (or you don't know who "they" are) or if they don't have enough insurance to coverage your damages (Underinsured motorist coverage)
   Uninsured Motorist coverage limits looks like your Liability coverage limits. There is an amount for each person, an amount total for the accident and an amount for property damage. It generally looks something like; $50,000/$100,000/$50,000. So that would be $50,000 for each person, $100,000 for the total accident and $50,000 in property damage.
   Uninsured and Underinsured are categorized together on a policy. You have the same limits for both. The $250 deductible is mandatory in the state of Texas. Uninsured motorist claims do not generally count against you in your insurance history.
   Uninsured Motorist coverage will add to your auto policy premium. It is not mandatory in Texas, but it is a good coverage to have. Reports show 1 in 6 drivers in Texas are uninsured. That makes it risky to drive without Uninsured coverage.

   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

Commercial Auto Insurance

Do you own a small business? Do you use a car for your business?

Did you know most Personal auto insurance policies exclude the coverage if the car is used for business?  Most policies exclude the coverage if the auto is used primarily for business, but where is the line? When does occasional use become primary use? Most carriers don't have a set answer for that question.

If you use you car at all for business, you should research and consider purchasing Commercial Insurance. A serious accident can financially ruin a small business. Is that risk greater than the premium? That is what you have to decide.

If you are considering commercial insurance, answer these questions:

* Is the car in your personal name or the business? (if business, personal policies rarely cover the claim)

* Do employees drive the car in the course of business?

* Do you pick up goods or people for a fee?

* Do you visit job sites often?

If you answered "business" to the first one and/or "yes" to any of the other 3, you definitely want to consider commercial insurance.

A commercial auto policy covers you in much the same way a personal auto policy does. There is Liability coverage, Uninsured Motorist, Collision and Comprehensive. You can get towing and rental. There are different types of coverage you can add on as well, such as "non-owned"autos. This covers your employees if they use their personal car to run business errands such as make deposits, get lunch for the office...). Or "hired autos" which cover you if you lease, rent, hire or borrow a car from someone other than an employee.

Your limits can be higher with a commercial auto policy than on a personal auto. Liability can go into the millions, thus protecting your small business. Again, it can save your business from going under after a claim. The premium is no fun, but when are they? Better to pay the premium than lose the business!

If you are considering Commercial Auto, be sure to call an Insurance professional.Ask questions. Know the coverage you need and make sure you get it. 

Don't have an agent you trust? Give us try! Call The Brockman Agency toll free 877-987-8683