Auto Insurance Coverages for Long Island

Long Island NY is the largest island in the continental U.S. and many would claim it to be the most beautiful as well. Bryan Insurance Agency serves Long Island, as well as Queens, Manhattan, New Windsor, Newburgh, Middletown, Cornwall and the rest of New York with quality and affordable insurance. Since 2004, The Bryan Agency as stood as an independent insurance agency that not only provides insurance, but cares about their client. To Bryan, the client comes first. They stand on the their promise to do whatever it takes to protect you, your family, car, business, home and more today and into the future.

Long Island Auto Insurance

If you are involved in an auto accident, auto Insurance is there to protect you from financial loss.   It is a contract, between you and the insurance company that secures your protection for as long as the contract is valid. Most contracts last 6 months. Every month that you pay the premium, they will cover your financial expenses in the case of an accident, minus your deductible. An insurance policy is set to your specific needs to cover you from all the risks you may encounter in your life. Property, liability and medical coverage for you and your passengers are all parts of auto insurance.

• Liability coverage pays for your legal responsibility to others for bodily injury or property damage.
• Property coverage pays for damage to or theft of your car.
• Medical coverage pays for the cost of treating injuries, rehabilitation and sometimes lost wages and funeral expenses.

New York requires all drivers to obtain auto insurance. In order to ensure that you not only meet the lawful amount of insurance, but have enough to protect you fully in the case of an accident, t is best to talk to an independent insurance agent. They will discuss with you such things as your driving history, as well as the specifics behind what a policy actually covers to make sure you are aware of all details in your insurance policy.

The Bryan Agency is a full service independent insurance agency that represents over 15 different carriers. An independent insurance agency has the ability to search and find you the best insurance policy that fits your needs and budget.

Bryan Insurance Agency LLC is here to help you find the best insurance possible that fits your needs and budge. Give us a call at 888-565-2212. Let us help you find Long Island Auto Insurance and more.

Answers to questions you may have before going on vacation

How can I secure my house or apartment while I'm away?

Create a lived-in look to deter burglars. Do this by stopping newspaper and mail deliveries; asking a neighbor to park a car in your driveway occasionally; and putting lights on a timer or asking a neighbor to turn lights on in the evening. Use a telephone answering machine or call forwarding to quiet ringing telephones. And, make sure all windows and doors are locked to make entry difficult for intruders.

If my home is burglarized or damaged by fire, are all of my possessions covered?

Under a standard homeowners insurance policy for a single-family home, the contents of the home normally are covered for at least 50 percent of the amount of insurance on the building ($50,000 contents coverage on a house insured for $100,000). A renters policy is written for a specified dollar amount, based on what you own, to cover the loss of personal belongings in your apartment. There are special limits of liability on certain items in certain situations, however. Typically, there is a $200 limit on money and $1,500 on securities, passports, tickets and stamps. There is generally a $1,500 limit on watercraft, trailers and outboard motors. For fine jewelry, furs and watches that are stolen, a usual limit of $1,500 is set. And, there is typically a $2,500 limit for theft of guns and a $2,500 limit on theft of silverware, goldware and pewterware.
A home inventory is important to have should you become the victim of a burglary or fire. The inventory is a list of your possessions, including makes, models and serial numbers. Photographs or a videotape of your belongings are other ways of recording what you own. These records should be kept in a safe place away from the house or apartment so they would not be lost in the event of fire.

What if the items I take with me on vacation are stolen?

Your belongings generally are covered by your homeowners or renters policy anywhere in the world, including items in storage facilities, suitcase contents and items lent to friends. Exceptions to this are items usually kept at another residence of yours, which then would be limited to the greater of $1,000 or 10 percent of the personal property limit shown on your policy (some restrictions also apply to theft). Typically, you would have another policy to cover all the eligible property at that location, including loss by theft.

We'll be traveling by car on vacation. Do you have any suggestions?

Check with our agency to make sure that your policy is up-to-date, and make sure the car is in good running condition. While traveling, be sure your passengers wear seat belts and young children ride in car seats at all times. Also, keep cameras, purses and other valuables with you while on vacation; never leave them in the car.

I plan to rent a car for this trip. Is it necessary to buy the insurance the rental agency sells?

It may not be. Prior to leaving for vacation, check with your professional insurance agent to determine if your personal auto insurance policy covers damage to a rented vehicle, as many policies do. You may want to contact your major credit-card company to ask if a rental car charged to that account is covered for damage. If you don't have one of these pre-existing coverages, it may be wise to purchase insurance from the rental agency.

Affordable Insurance for Renters

I rent my home. Am I covered for losses under my landlord's homeowners or landlord insurance?

No. Your landlord cannot insure your personal property - your personal computer, clothes, stereo, television, jewelry, furniture, bicycle, artwork and other items against destruction or loss. Renters insurance, however, will give you both property and liability insurance and it's very affordable, typically costing less per month than a cable bill.


Is a renters insurance policy inferior to a homeowners insurance policy?

No. Renters insurance provides essentially the same coverage as homeowners insurance, but without coverage on the dwelling. It covers personal property, protecting the renter against many causes of loss, such as fire and smoke, lightning, vandalism, theft, explosion, windstorm and water damage from plumbing as well as offering coverage for personal liability.


Does renters insurance cover all of my possessions?

It depends. Some possessions - jewelry, firearms, silverware are subject to a per category theft limit. Most renters policies set a $1,500 total limit on jewelry that is stolen, a $2,500 limit on firearms and a $2,500 limit on silverware or flatware. Many people feel that their pets are their prized possessions. Unfortunately when it comes to insurance, your pets are not covered. Other items money, securities, personal records, watercraft and others are subject to special limits of liability. If your valuables exceed these limits, you may want to consider purchasing a floater, which provides additional coverage for some of your items.


What if my family and I cannot live in our home because of damage caused by a fire?

Your renters insurance will pay for your living expenses that exceed those normally incurred before the loss, if an occurrence renders your home or apartment unfit to live in. This is a true benefit if you are required to live in a hotel for any length of time or pay for meals at a restaurant while your place is being renovated.


Will I be covered under my renters insurance if I am sued by someone who was seriously injured at my residence?

Yes. If a lawsuit covered by your policy is filed against you or against a relative living with you, your personal liability coverage under a renters policy will pay for legal defense costs and attorneys fees. It will protect you if you accidentally cause bodily injury to others or damage someone else's property either at your residence or away from your residence.

OK I'm convinced. What should I be on the lookout for in selecting a policy or in checking my existing coverage?

When purchasing renters insurance, choose a policy wisely to be sure that all your possessions are covered. To begin, renters should take a home inventory, noting the description and value of their belongings. A copy of this inventory should be stored in a safe place outside of the home, such as a safe-deposit box. The inventory will be of great assistance later if you need to file a claim.
Also, be sure to inquire about property not covered under renters insurance, theft limits and other special limits. We'll provide you with a list of standard coverage limits, so you know whether you'll need to buy a floater.

If your apartment or home has a security system, smoke detectors or deadbolt locks, you may be eligible for discounts on your renters insurance. Call us today we'll be happy to explain the many options available to you.

845-565-2200
Bryan Insurance Agency, LLC
3068 Route 9W Suite 500
New Windsor, NY 12553
www.bryanagency.com

Bryan Insurance Agency has been named a Best Agency Website Finalist by Property Casualty 360

For more than 10 years, Property Casualty 360-National Underwriter and American Agent & Broker have named top agencies to its Commercial Agency Awards for Excellence program. This year, the CAAFE awards include the category of Best Agency Websites. An independent panel of judges reviewed each submission and graded websites on factors including appearance, mobility, brand awareness and multimedia. Read on to learn how Bryan Insurance Agency was named a finalist.

www.bryanagency.com

For more information on our site, please visit us at www.bryanagency.com or email us at info@bryanagency.com.


For more information on how we can help you with your car insurance, home insurance, business insurance or life insurance, please contact us at 845-565-2200 or visit us at Bryan Insurance Agency, LLC | 3068 Route 9W Suite 500 | New Windsor, NY 12553

What You Need to Know Before Becoming a Volunteer

On Sept. 16, 1997, the Volunteer Protection Act of 1997 became effective. Concerned that volunteers have been deterred from offering their services to nonprofit organizations because of liability concerns, Congress went to work to enact a law that would limit volunteer liability. This federal law is good news for all those who volunteer, or have always wanted to volunteer, for nonprofit organizations.

I’d like to volunteer for a nonprofit organization. Am I protected from liability?

Yes. The Volunteer Protection Act provides liability protection for harm a volunteer may cause as long as:

1. the volunteer was acting within the scope of his or her volunteer responsibilities;
2. the volunteer was properly licensed, certified or authorized for the activity which caused the harm (if required or appropriate);
3. the harm was not caused by the willful or criminal misconduct, gross negligence or conscious, flagrant indifference to the rights or safety of the person harmed; and
4. the harm was not caused by the volunteer while operating a motor vehicle, vessel, aircraft or other vehicle for which the state mandates the operator or owner to be licensed or to maintain insurance.

Are there exceptions to volunteer immunity I should know?

The Volunteer Protection Act will not provide immunity if the volunteer has engaged in misconduct that:

1. constitutes a crime of violence or an act of international terrorism;
2. constitutes a hate crime;
3. involves a sexual offense;
4. violates a federal or state civil rights law; or
5. if the volunteer was under the influence of alcohol or drugs at the time.

Do I qualify as a volunteer under the act?

A “volunteer” is defined under the act as an individual performing services for a nonprofit organization or a governmental entity who does not receive compensation (other than reasonable reimbursement or allowance for incurred expenses) or any other thing of value in lieu of compensation, in excess of $500 per year. The term includes a director, officer, trustee or other direct service volunteer.

I volunteer as a director of a nonprofit organization. Can I expect my homeowners insurance policy or umbrella policy to extend coverage for harm I may cause as a volunteer?

No. A homeowners policy shows little promise of providing a director or officer any protection in the event that a lawsuit arises.

The reason? The typical directors and officers lawsuit involves a wrongful act that inflicts financial injury to someone, whereas a homeowners policy covers an insured whose negligence causes an accident that produces bodily injury or property damage to a plaintiff. The homeowners policy, if so endorsed, also may provide coverage for personal injury offenses, such as libel or slander.

The Volunteer Protection Act of 1997 is a big step in the right direction to providing volunteers with immunity; however, because there are still some limitations and qualifications on immunity, check with our agency to be sure you have the appropriate insurance coverage.

Are you a volunteer and want to see if you are covered or do you run a non-profit and want to make sure your volunteers are protected? Contact Us Today! You can call or email us at 888-565-2212 or info@bryanagency.com Ask us for our free report that you need to have as  volunteer - "Top 5 Questions You Need To Ask Your Volunteer Organization Before Lending a Hand"

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'Tis the season for back to school: A parent's guide to the hidden dangers of carpooling

What is it about back to school that makes you think of getting organized, new school clothes, and a brand new set of colored pencils? While kids are full of excitement and jitters of the new school season, seeing their friends and making new ones, as parents, you are probably just as excited to get them back to the normal routine. And if you are like most busy parents that means you are driving your kids to the thousands of afterschool activities like soccer, dance, football, band, concerts, etc. In some cases, this means you are also carpooling everyone else’s kids around as well. And why wouldn’t you? If I am taking Tommy to football, of course I am going take his best friend Frankie who is playing on the same team as him. But did you know that as a parent, your good deed could come with consequences? And those consequences could come with law suits if say you ended up in an accident with other people’s kids in the car.

Yes, in the event of an accident, especially in today’s litigious society, if little Frankie got hurt, Frankie’s mom and dad are most likely going to sue you. So, what can you do to prevent this? I mean after all, you don’t want to be rude and leave Frankie on the side of the road because you are afraid of all of the “what-ifs” that could or would happen. And I am sure he would look at you like a crazy person if you told him, “I’m sorry I don’t want your parents to sue me for my house and Tommy’s college fund if I accidentally crash my car with you in it.”  I’m way over 10 years old and even I would look at you like a crazy person if you told me that.

But you can do what I suggest all of my clients to do, prepare for the worst but hope for the best. I know that may sounds a bit dramatic, but there is a method to my madness. There is…a plan. You can do this by starting to take a closer look at your auto liability insurance and even look into an umbrella policy.

Umbrella policy? I know, many people, even my brother did not know what an umbrella policy was. No, it’s not protection for your umbrellas, which is the first image that comes to mind. An umbrella policy is additional liability insurance which covers you over your auto insurance and your home insurance. In other words, this would pick up where your auto policy drops off, in the event that you didn’t have enough insurance. Usually this coverage starts at $1,000,000 in additional coverage over your auto insurance and can go up to $25,000,000 or higher depending on your needs. I know your next thought is probably, “$1,000,000? That sounds expensive!” But surprisingly for an extra $15-$20 per month, you can purchase this coverage and the best part is…it covers over the home insurance as well.

Now for the auto, my suggestion to many people is to take as much coverage as you can afford. I know things are tight today, so if you cannot afford to take the umbrella policy in addition to the car insurance, I would increase that liability to the highest your company will allow you to go. Usually this increase is not as much as you think it would be. It could be as little as an additional $5 a month for twice the amount of coverage. It’s a lot cheaper than having Frankie’s parents sue you and finding out you don’t have enough coverage.

And what happens then if you don’t have enough you ask? Well they can garnish up to 25% of your wages and go after any assets you own – i.e. your home. Does the $5 extra a month sound like a good deal? Heck, to me $20 a month sounds like a good deal at that point.

I know that this might sound a little overly prudent, but I wanted to make you aware of the risks of carpooling. And although I know your intentions are good, nobody plans to have an accident. That is why they are called accidents. And while Frankie’s parents might come over for game night at your house, if you got into an accident with their child, they most likely will sue you if it was bad enough.

Better to know you have the proper coverage now, than to find out later when you really need it. Not sure how much you have or what is enough? Or do you not know what everything means? We speak insurance here and can help you figure out how much is enough insurance.

Call me, Amy Bryan at 845.565.2200 or 888.565.2212 or email me at abryan@bryanagency.com today to find out more information about how to protect your family the right way. You can also visit us online at www.bryanagency.com