What You Need to Know When Shopping for Commercial Auto Insurance

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Commercial Auto Insurance

As a business owner, ensuring the safety of your employees, vehicles, and assets is of utmost importance. That’s why having commercial auto insurance is a must. Commercial auto insurance is designed to protect your business in the event of an accident involving your company vehicle(s). However, shopping for commercial auto insurance can be a daunting task, especially if you’re not familiar with the process. Here are some things you need to know before shopping for commercial auto insurance.

Know the types of coverage you need.

Before you start shopping for commercial auto insurance, it’s important to know the types of coverage your business needs. This will depend on the type of vehicles you have and how they’re used. Some of the most common types of commercial auto insurance coverage include liability coverage, collision coverage, comprehensive coverage, uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage, and medical payments coverage.

Understand the limits of coverage.

When shopping for commercial auto insurance, it’s important to understand the limits of coverage. The limit of coverage is the maximum amount that an insurance company will pay for a covered claim. Make sure that the limit of coverage is enough to cover the potential damages and liabilities your business may face in the event of an accident.

Have us shop around for quotes.

Like any other type of insurance, it’s important to shop around for quotes when looking for commercial auto insurance. Compare quotes from different insurance companies to find the best coverage at the best price. Make sure to compare apples-to-apples, so you are comparing the same level of coverage from different providers.

Check the insurance company’s reputation.

When choosing an insurance company, it’s important to check their reputation. Look for reviews from other business owners, ratings from independent agencies, and any history of complaints or legal actions against the insurance company.

Consider a package deal.

If you have multiple insurance needs, consider bundling your commercial auto insurance with other types of business insurance. This can often result in a lower premium and simplified billing.

Understand the deductibles.

When choosing commercial auto insurance, it’s important to understand the deductibles. A deductible is the amount that you’ll have to pay out of pocket before your insurance kicks in. Choose a deductible that you can afford in the event of an accident.

Read the fine print.

As with any insurance policy, it’s important to read the fine print. Make sure you understand the policy’s exclusions, limitations, and any additional fees or charges. Knowing the policy in and out will give you the peace of mind that you have the right coverage for your business.

In conclusion, commercial auto insurance is an important investment for any business with vehicles. When shopping for commercial auto insurance, be sure to consider your specific needs, compare quotes from different providers, check the insurance company’s reputation, understand the limits of coverage, and read the fine print. By doing so, you can find the right coverage to protect your business and its assets.

As a business owner, you have enough on your mind without having to worry about your insurance needs. You want to have the confidence that the business you’ve built is covered by a company that understands your business insurance needs.

Commercial business insurance provides wide-ranging protection for businesses and their subsidiaries under a single policy. There are various types of commercial business insurance that takes care of property, liability and workers’ compensation, to name a few. While property insurance covers damages to business property and products stored within the premises; liability insurance provides coverage for damages to third parties; and commercial auto insurance covers your vehicles.

 

While the massive national agencies spend millions on television ads and offer barebones policies, they do not know you. When your needs change or your situation complicates, you don’t want an automated phone tree or cold cyber-agent. You want to talk to compassionate, honest insurance experts, close to home, right here in Beavercreek, OH – that’s our team. You shouldn’t have to spend hours researching and comparing policies. Let the specialists at Reichley guide you through the complex insurance industry.

Call today to alleviate the worry and get covered – (937) 429-0655.

 

Should Insurance Technology Always Be Trusted To Predict Accurate or Fair Results?

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Insurance companies have relied on data to set their rates for years, but with the advent of advanced technology, insurers can now gather and analyze more data than ever before.  While the use of technology to set rates has its benefits, there are also several problems associated with this practice.

We will show you how an experienced agent can help you understand this technology and why it is important.  Many people are trying to push insurance into a commodity driven by technology and quick, cheap pricing.  We will continue to advocate the importance of personal relationships and how through these relationships, clients get the best combination of coverage price and service.  It is important to understand that insurance is not a product but a service.

Lack of Transparency

One of the biggest problems with insurers using technology to set rates is the need for more transparency in the process.  Insurance companies use complex algorithms to analyze vast amounts of data, and these algorithms are often proprietary and not subject to public scrutiny.  This lack of transparency can make it difficult for consumers to understand why they are being charged a certain rate or to challenge the accuracy of the data being used to set their rates.  Agents find it difficult to get answers to questions involving how this complex system process the data to get the final rate, therefor are not capable of explaining or encouraging modifications to behavior that are negatively affecting their insurance outcomes (cost or coverage).

Benefits Of Having An Agent

Agents can help you design an insurance program that includes deductibles, limits, and coverage that represents the risks you have.  If you understand what you are buying, then you have a better basis for determining the best pricing options.  Factor in now how their data is being used to align with cost & coverage models, carrier appetite for their specific risk issues, finding the soft dollars that benefit the client amidst the complete underwriting and rating systems used by carriers, and still being able to speak to a live person at the end of all this to influence the final decision regarding a particular risk and you have a very important advantage on your side.

Lack of Personalization

While technology can help insurers gather more data, it can also result in a lack of personalization in the insurance process.  Insurers may rely too heavily on data to set rates and overlook important factors that can affect an individual’s risk profile.  For example, a person with a safe driving record may be charged the same rate as someone with a poor driving record simply because they fall into the same demographic group.

 

Benefits Of Having An Agent

Your agent can ask you questions about your circumstances and work with you to determine what company and coverage is best for you.  With an agent, you have a friendly face to connect with when you have a question or need help with a claim.

Data Privacy Concerns And Unintended Consequences

The use of technology to gather data for insurance purposes raises serious privacy concerns.  Insurers are able to collect a vast amount of data on individuals, including information about their driving habits, health status, and online activity.  This data can be used to set rates, but it can also be used for other purposes, such as marketing or even denying coverage.  Additionally, insurers can gather more data on individuals.  In that case, it may lead to a situation where people considered high-risk cannot obtain insurance at all.

Benefits Of Having An Agent

An experienced agent will know what information is needed to get the best results and what is not necessary.  This will protect your privacy and give you the confidence to obtain the best coverage for your circumstances.

While technology can help insurers gather more data and set rates more accurately, there are several concerns associated with this practice.  Remember, an agent is on your side, your partner.  He or she will educate you and how to design insurance and risk solutions that fit your needs and limit the influence of certain technologies in your insurance program.

The modern independent agent serves two masters – the carriers they represent via a formal agency agreement and their clients, whom they owe a considerable duty of care in handling the information they are given and the benefit of the services we render.  We can’t just say we work for the clients; however, having this dual role gives us a unique difference between an independent agent and the direct writers who have no capacity to insert themselves into the claim conversations on behalf of their customers or use alternative markets that better match their needs.

Six Essential Insurance Coverage’s For Your Business

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As a business owner, it’s important to have the right insurance coverage to protect your company from potential risks and liabilities. Here are six important insurance coverages that you may want to consider:

General Liability Insurance: This coverage provides protection for your business in case of accidents, injuries, or property damage that occurs on your premises or as a result of your operations. It covers legal costs and damages that your business may be liable for.

Property Insurance: This coverage protects your business property and assets in case of theft, fire, or other types of damage. It may cover the cost of repairing or replacing damaged or destroyed property, as well as lost income during the recovery period.

Workers’ Compensation Insurance: If you have employees, this coverage is typically required by law in most states. It provides medical and wage benefits to employees who are injured or become ill while working.

Professional Liability Insurance: Also known as errors and omissions (E&O) insurance, this coverage protects your business from claims of negligence, errors, or mistakes that result in financial losses for your clients.

Cyber Liability Insurance: This coverage protects your business from losses related to cyberattacks, such as data breaches or cyber theft. It may cover costs associated with investigating the incident, notifying affected individuals, and providing credit monitoring services.

Commercial Auto Insurance: If your business owns or operates vehicles, this coverage provides protection in case of accidents or damage to the vehicles. It may also cover liability for injuries or damage caused by your vehicles to others.

These are just a few of the many types of insurance coverage that businesses may need. The specific types of coverage that your business requires will depend on your industry, operations, and risks. It’s important to work with an experienced insurance agent or broker who can help you assess your needs and find the right coverage for your business.

Consider This When Hiring A Contractor

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Summer is the time when many homeowners start to think about and plan for, various home remodeling projects. If you are thinking about updating your kitchen, putting on that new roof, or even landscape projects, it pays to do some pre-planning. Whatever the project, you need to protect yourself from the financial risks and hazards associated with a home remodel project.

  • What’s your project? Are you looking to remodel one room or make minor updates to a small space? The type of project determines whether you’ll need a general contractor or someone more specialized.
  • Check-in with your local homebuilders’ association. You’ll be able to search contractors within your area and put together a list of potentials.
  • Get referrals. Ask your friends, family, and coworkers who they’ve worked within the past. They may have a great contractor you haven’t heard of — or know of a few you should stay away from.
  • Prepare ahead. Compile a list of reputable contractors before you need one. The stress of an emergency repair might impair your judgment.
  • Get multiple estimates. If the price is a big concern, checking with only one contractor won’t guarantee you the best price. But the cheapest estimate also doesn’t ensure the best work. If you have the time, try and get a second or third quote.

If you plan on hiring a contractor, you should consider these tips to help make sure your project is completed the way you want.

  • Plan on permit costs from your local government.
  • Ask contractors about their experience with your specific project.
  • Make sure the contractor is licensed. You can usually go to the State Contractors Board for this information.
  • Provide the contractor with guidelines for working in and around your home.
  • Check local directories for recommendations. Yelp can be a good resource.
  • Be specific in your project; this would include type of products used and even brands you desire.
  • It is ok to get more than one bid.
  • The lowest price may not be the best quality.
  • Always have a written agreement with your contractor. It should include a timeline and competition date.
  • Never pay 100% upfront. It is customary to pay one third down, one third as you go and one third upon completion.
  • Go visit other homes on which the contractor has worked.
  • Make sure the contractor has liability and worker’s compensation insurance. Your homeowner’s insurance will not cover the contractor or his work. If the contractor causes damage to your home, you will want their insurance to provide restoration. Ask for a certificate of insurance.

When you buy insurance, whether it’s for your home, your car or your business, you want an advocate who will properly assess the risks you face and give you an objective analysis of the marketplace, it’s up to you to make the final choice.

Our team of agents continually pursues additional professional education and certifications. It is our goal to ‘wow’ you with the best service every time you call.

While the massive national agencies spend millions on television ads and offer barebones policies, they do not know you. When your needs change or your situation complicates, you don’t want an automated phone tree or cold cyber-agent. You want to talk to compassionate, honest insurance experts, close to home, right here in Beavercreek, OH – that’s our team. You shouldn’t have to spend hours researching and comparing policies. Let the specialists at Reichley guide you through the complex insurance industry.

Call today to alleviate the worry and get covered – (937) 429-0655.

risk

Prepare Your Business For The Future

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If your business survived 2020 and 2021, there is hope for the future. Having survived the past is a good indication that your business is strong and prepared for the future. But it is essential to understand that the risks of the past change and the risk your business faces will be different. It will be important to understand your future risk to have a strategic plan on how to analyze, manage and insure these new risks.

Trends That Are Not So Good

It is becoming more frequent for non-insurers to establish insurance firms. Some automakers now provide or even design their auto insurance packages to sell alongside the vehicles they produce.

Insurers rely on data to determine their coverage and price. This takes the relationship and uniqueness out of the process.

We believe it is vital to understand the uniqueness of each business, not lump them together.

More insurers are offering online insurance. So now, business owners will have to determine what coverage they need without any professional help. This will also allow insurers to limit coverage and even deny claims without the business having proper representation.

Future Risk Trends

Environmental, social and governmental activism

Businesses are becoming a target for many new areas of social and governmental influences. Make sure your insurance can address these issues.

Cyber liability

Did you know that the average business has a greater chance of having a cyber breach than it does of having a fire? It is true, and your business insurance policy most likely will not cover cyber liability losses. This new world of connected devices promises insights on which companies can base strategic decisions.

Economic uncertainty

The next few years will be a special time for most businesses. It will be important to understand how to design an insurance and risk plan that can respond to losses that allow your business to continue.

Supply Chain

Today’s complex business environment does not occur in a vacuum. Companies are interconnected networks with several internal and external stakeholders. As the business world grows more interconnected and dynamic, it’s critical that you have a thorough grasp of the risks to your day-to-day operations and are prepared to handle them. Business interruption losses can range from decreased sales to increased operating costs because of the loss of a crucial supplier to the loss of future revenue streams as a result of a disruptive incident.

New Work Environment

Agents and insurers may increase their relevance by providing specialized protections for remote workers and small home-based enterprises that reflect how people live and work today.

Final Thoughts

Businesses’ needs are not the same, and the insurance and risk solutions they are provided should match their individual risks. In order to ensure that the program that is tailored to each and every customer, agents should develop relationships and insurer analytics to better understand their customers’ risk exposures. Understanding the business’s needs and risks leads to a framework for providing better solutions to their customers.

 

insurance

Why Are My Insurance Premiums Going Up, I Did Not Have A Claim?

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It can be unpleasant to open your insurance bill to pay your premium, only to discover that your premium payments have increased upon renewal.  We know that most people who carry insurance policies on their homes, cars, and businesses may be unfamiliar with how insurance policies are developed and changed.  So, we thought we might help you understand the why.

Insurers base their policy prices on several variables.  These cost components fluctuate up and down.  Premiums are currently rising in many states.  Remember, insurance companies are competing for your business, so they try to keep their rates competitive.

To help us through the process, we wanted to break it down between home and auto insurance.

Home Insurance

  • The increased cost of construction materials and labor to repair or replace the damage to your home. Even though you did not have a claim, this impacts all insurance rates.
  • Storms and other natural disasters. Hurricanes, floods, droughts, wildfires, and other severe weather events have become more frequent, destructive, and costly. In 2021 alone, the United States sustained 20 weather events with losses exceeding $1 billion.
  • The older your home, the higher the insurance cost will be.
  • Lawsuit frequency has increased, and settlements are at an all-time high.
  • Supply chain in the production and delivery of appliances, materials, tools, and other key construction elements added to delays and cost hikes.

Auto Insurance 

  • Inflation hits the cost of buying and repairing vehicles.
  • Lawsuit frequency has increased, and settlements are at an all-time high.
  • After COVID, accident rates increased, causing insurers to pay more for claims.
  • Increased healthcare costs. Medical costs have increased for accident-related injuries.
  • Crime has caused more auto thefts and break-ins, affecting all drivers’ rates. There is a 20% increase nationally in stolen vehicles between 2020 and 2021.
  • Your driving record may be accident-free, but if you have tickets or other violations, these will impact your premiums.

Proven Ways To Help Keep Insurance Costs Down

  • Keep your home well maintained
  • Be a safe driver
  • Pay premiums annually
  • Ask about discounts offered by insurers
  • Bundle your home and auto together
  • Increase your deductibles
  • Have your agent review your insurance program and market your coverage the right insurer.

While the massive national agencies spend millions on television ads and offer barebones policies, they do not know you. When your needs change or your situation complicates, you don’t want an automated phone tree or cold cyber-agent. You want to talk to compassionate, honest insurance experts, close to home, right here in Beavercreek, OH – that’s our team. You shouldn’t have to spend hours researching and comparing policies. Let the specialists at Reichley guide you through the complex insurance industry.

Call today to alleviate the worry and get covered – (937) 429-0655.