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Does My Commercial Policy Cover Hurricane Damage?

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Business owners in Florida need commercial insurance to protect their business from different types of financial loss, including liability and theft. While commercial insurance covers many things, one thing it won’t cover is hurricane damage. Hurricane and flood damage are separate policies that must be added. The agents at Karla Salmon Insurance work with business owners in Oviedo, FL when it comes to making sure their business is fully protected.

Commercial Policies

Commercial insurance policies are written to protect businesses from various types of loss. This can include liability that results from injuries sustained in slip and fall accidents, product defects/malfunctions, theft, and vandalism, just to name a few. These types of policies normally do not cover weather-related damages or damages sustained by sewer malfunctions. Those damages are normally covered through a protection plan from the local utility company.

Hurricane Coverage

Florida is a state known for hurricanes and strong storms. Insurance companies offer hurricane and flood insurance to businesses in addition to the regular commercial policies that can be purchased. In most cases, hurricane and flood insurance policies are sold separately from one another. Hurricanes are known for high winds, excessive precipitation, floods, and storm surges. The types of damages caused by this type of event can be extensive, requiring massive renovations and, in some cases, complete re-builds.

At Karla Salmon Insurance, the agents can explain the different types of policies and which ones will offer the most benefits to your business. If you live in the vicinity of Oviedo, FL, call and schedule an appointment today to find out about the different policies that are available to protect your business.

Does Home Insurance Cover Guests?

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Home insurance covers a great deal and helps to keep your home safe in the event that you have to do major repairs, or your home is destroyed. That being said, it also covers things that you may not think are all that common and that you may not be aware. For those that live in the Oviedo, FL area and want to know more about home insurance, the agents with Karla Salmon Insurance can help.

What does it cover?

Home insurance covers a great deal. Many people, however, are not aware that home insurance also covers guests. This means that people you have invited to your home, either for an extended time or just for a few hours, are included on your home policy. The coverage for guests does have some regulation, however. You cannot merely state that your guest got injured at your home because they were jumping off the roof and expected your home insurance to cover it.

For home insurance to cover guests, if there is an injury, it must be no fault of the guest or the homeowners. If it is proven that the injury was due to negligence, it falls on the homeowner to help pay the bills that are not on the insurance. You can always speak with an agent to find out just what your insurance covers so that you can determine what is and is not going to be covered on your policy should something happen. It is always best to speak with an agent if you have any doubts or concerns.

For those that live in the Oviedo, FL area, the agents with Karla Salmon Insurance can help you determine what policy you need and what is covered on your policy for you and guests.

Car Insurance Terms You Should Know

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When shopping for car insurance in Oviedo, FL with an agent at Karla Salmon Insurance, there can be a lot of terms to learn. Knowing these terms can help you better understand your policy and your coverage so that you can stay protected.

  • Deductible: This is the money that you pay out of pocket before the insurance covers the remainder of the claim. Car insurance deductibles can range between $0 and $1,500.
  • Premium: This is the money you pay to the insurance company, so it will pay out claims and provide coverage. This can be paid monthly, every six months, or yearly. Sometimes the premium can also be called the rate. Deductible and premium are connected. A lower deductible usually means a higher premium.
  • Bodily Injury Liability: This coverage will protect you if you cause an accident that results in injuries or death to someone. This helps fund legal defenses and covers the judgments against you.
  • Collision Coverage: This is a type of insurance that will pay if your car is damaged due to an accident. You aren’t required by law to have this insurance, and it’s optional coverage.
  • Comprehensive Coverage: This protects you if something other than an accident damages your car. These events can include theft, animals striking the vehicle, broken windows, natural disasters, storms, or vandalism.
  • At Fault: This is a pretty straightforward term that will describe the party responsible for the accident. For most cases, the driver that is at fault will have to pay for the majority of damages.
  • Liability Limits: Each policy will set a limit on the amount of money that it will pay for injuries and damages. You can raise limits, but this usually means a rise in premiums.
  • Rider: This can also be called an endorsement, and it’s an agreement that is attached to the policy that either decreases or increases the benefits that are typically covered under that policy.

Contact Karla Salmon Insurance, serving Oviedo, FL, to get a quote on auto insurance. 

 

What Will a Commercial Liability Policy Not Cover?

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A commercial liability policy is a great general policy to have for your business in Oviedo, FL, but there are some things it won’t cover. An agent at Karla Salmon Insurance can help you put together a commercial liability policy that will cover many of your business risks, so you have well rounded coverage.

  • Workplace Injuries: General liability will not cover employees who are injured in the workplace. Instead, these injuries will need to be claimed under workers compensation coverage.
  • Damage to Your Own Property: Your liability policy will cover costs if you damage someone else’s property, but it won’t cover any damage to your own property. Instead, you would need a commercial property policy.
  • Intentional Damage: If any damage were done on purpose, or with malicious intent, it would not be covered under this policy.
  • Damage to Client Property in Your Care: If you have customer property that is in your care, your liability policy will not cover any damages. You may need other property coverage or policies to have this type of protection.
  • Professional Mistakes: Any mistakes that are the fault of your business are not covered under this policy. For example, if your company misprints 1,000 books, your general liability won’t include a reimbursement. However, there could be some other policies that will cover these types of claims. In addition to mistakes, this policy won’t cover any errors in services. If a marketing company is consulting with a small business and the small business loses customers after launching a campaign, then this type of claim against the marketing company won’t be covered.
  • Damages to Company Vehicles: If your business has company vehicles, you will need a commercial auto policy. Any damages that occur won’t be covered under a commercial liability policy.

Contact Karla Salmon Insurance, serving Oviedo, FL, to get a quote on commercial insurance.

Why should I get home insurance on my property?

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Your home is a vital asset and the place where you and your family will live. Due to the importance of a home, those that are in the Oviedo, FL area need to make sure that their home is properly covered by insurance. There are several reasons why you should get a home insurance policy on your property. 

Protects Valuable Investment

Your home is likely the most significant and most valuable investment that you will ever own. Because of this, it is extremely important that you make sure you and your home are adequately covered by insurance. With a home insurance policy in place, it will make sure that you have the coverage necessary to replace property if it is damaged.

Gives Liability Coverage

Another benefit of having a home insurance policy is that it will provide you with liability protection. If you happen to have a guest over to your home that is injured while on your property, you will likely be found liable to some extent. When you have a good home insurance policy in place, you will receive the necessary coverage against these types of accidents. 

Ensures Compliance

Finally, whenever you take out a mortgage to purchase a home, you will likely be required to carry home insurance on the property. Further, if you live in a home association community, the bylaws could require that you carry home insurance. When you get a quality home insurance policy on your home, this will help to ensure that you comply with all similar requirements.

If you own a property in the Oviedo, FL area, you should reach out to the Karla Salmon Insurance agency to learn more about your home insurance options. The team at Karla Salmon Insurance will help you to find a policy that provides you with the right level of protection.

How to Protect Your Vehicle

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With the help of auto insurance, you will protect your vehicle in the event of an accident. But how do you protect your vehicle in other instances? At Karla Salmon Insurance, we desire to help you protect your Oviedo, FL vehicle at all times of the year, regardless of the situation.

Regular Car Washes

It may sound simple, but a regular car wash helps remove the invisible pollution your car collects. Additionally, the humid air often contains salt because of the ocean, which may start to corrode the underside of your vehicle. 

Watch Where You Park

Whenever possible, try to park under a solid structure. This includes your garage or an overhang when at work. During heavy rain and wind storms, falling objects are a significant problem, so parking under protection will help you prevent damage from weather-related issues. 

Window Sun Blocks

Putting up window shades when you’re parked does more than just reduce the temperature inside of your vehicle. It also protects the interior fabric of your vehicle. Over time the areas of your car exposed to intense sunlight will begin to fade in color. So whether you have cloth or leather, it is vital to protect the interior of your vehicle with window sun blocks and shades. 

Wheel Locks

One of the better ways to protect your wheels is to install a wheel lock. The wheel lock makes it more difficult for someone to remove the wheel from your vehicle. It’s an easy upgrade that instantly offers added protection. 

By taking advantage of these tips and tricks, you’ll extend the life of your vehicle. If you’re on the market for new auto insurance, our team at Karla Salmon Insurance will help you find the right insurance options for your Oviedo, FL vehicle. 

Weathering the Storm with the Right Commercial Insurance

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When you live and work in the Oviedo, FL area, you can expect to live through a hurricane every few years. While it might seem like the upheaval that comes with preparing and cleaning up after an extreme weather system only causes havoc for your business, there is a way that Karla Salmon Insurance can minimize the impact on your company with commercial business interruption coverage.

Ask About Business Interruption Coverage

This is part of your standard commercial insurance policy, but you may wish to expand the circumstances listed for when you can file a claim on it. If your store has to close due to a covered peril, this form of coverage kicks in to keep your company afloat.

Pay Your Bills Even when the Store is Closed

Just because you can’t open your doors, that doesn’t mean your vendors don’t expect to get paid. Your business interruption coverage will allow you to stay up to date on all your bills and maintain your reputation within the business community. This coverage can also help if the city needs to conduct emergency repairs right outside your door, preventing you from conducting business.

Resume Business as Usual After the Clean Up

Even if a hurricane significantly damages your community, that doesn’t mean you have to go into the red to recover. Once the evacuation order is lifted, your parking lot is cleaned up, the power restored, and the worst of the damage repaired, all you have to do it start the operation back up again. Give Karla Salmon Insurance a call today and ask how a commercial insurance policy with business interruption coverage can help your Oviedo, FL business survive a catastrophic weather event. We look forward to hearing from you.

Should Antiques and Collectibles Be Insured Separately?

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The agents at Karla Salmon Insurance offer a variety of insurance policies to cover your every need. If you live in the Oviedo, FL area and own antiques or collectibles, it’s important that you know how to insure them against theft or damage. While some types of property may be included in a traditional homeowner’s policy, items that are irreplaceable or that hold significant value should be insured accordingly.

Make Sure You Have Adequate Coverage for Your Property

To make sure you have adequate coverage for your personal possessions, you need to have a full inventory of what you own. In some cases, a video inventory that shows an item’s serial number is beneficial in helping your insurance agent set a value to your property. A complete insurance audit will ensure that you are fully protected against financial loss in the event of theft or damage to your personal property.

Insure Antiques and Collectibles Separately

Antiques and collectibles can sometimes hold great value over and above a person’s sentimental connection. A separate policy can be written for specific antiques or collectibles if their value is exceptionally high. To insure an item separately, an appraiser will be needed to set an exact value so you can be compensated if it is ever stolen or damaged.

Residents of Oviedo, FL are encouraged to call the office of Karla Salmon Insurance if they have questions or concerns about an existing homeowner’s policy and whether or not it covers their antiques and other collectibles. Call today to schedule an appointment! This will allow you to protect your family heirlooms and collectibles to the fullest extent possible.

Does Auto Insurance Cover Everything?

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In Oviedo, FL you must have minimum coverage for personal injury protection (PIP) and property damage liability (PDL) with your auto insurance. Since the state is a "no-fault" insurance state, your insurer will pay medical costs up to the policy limit, even if you caused the accident.

PIP insurance will also cover your child and members of the household, your child riding on a school bus, you as a pedestrian or cyclist, and passengers in your car who don’ have a car or their own PIP insurance. Your PIP insurance will also cover you if you are in someone else’s car during an accident. PDL only covers accidents if you cause the damage to someone else’s property.

With just the minimum coverage, only your medical bills will be covered, and insurance will pay for damage to other people’s property. If you only have the minimum coverage, your auto insurance will not cover any damages to your car, whether or not they are the result of an accident. It’s also important to note your policy limits. The minimum limit for PIP is $10,000 and for PDL is $10,000. If damages or expenses go beyond that, you are responsible.

Since auto insurance does not cover everything, you can get additional coverage through your agent at Karla Salmon Insurance. This coverage can include collision and comprehensive insurance, which can protect your car in the event of an accident or if it’s damaged by something else, such as vandalism. You may be required to purchase these protections if you are financing your car. Bodily injury liability will help protect you if you are being sued after an accident. Even with Florida being a no-fault state, it can still happen.

Contact Karla Salmon Insurance, serving Oviedo, FL, to get a quote on auto insurance to suit your coverage needs.

 

In What Cases is Commercial Insurance Required?

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Commercial insurance is something that all business owners can benefit from having but is it required by law?

For those in the Oviedo, FL area, the agents with Karla Salmon Insurance can help you determine if you have to have a commercial policy or if you can get by covering your business with another type of insurance.

For starters, it is a good idea to learn what commercial insurance is. Commercial policies are taken out to protect business owners from theft, destruction of property, disasters, employee injury, lawsuits, and more. This type of policy can only be taken out on businesses and cannot be used to cover other things. If you have a business, it is always a good idea to make sure it is covered in some way or other by an insurance policy. In some cases, your company may be covered by your property insurance, your homeowner’s insurance if it is a home-based business and more.

Generally, the only time you would be required to have an insurance policy on a business is if you owe money on the property. If you owe on the building that the business is housed in or if you have taken out a loan to pay for the goods to stock the store, you are likely going to be required by your lender to have some insurance in place to protect the investors. Also, this is to help make back the initial loan amount should something happen to your business. If you own a business outright, you are not required to have insurance, but it is always smarter to have a policy and not need to use it than it is to go without a policy and need one.

For those in the Oviedo, FL area, the agents with Karla Salmon Insurance can help you find the right policy.