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Five Misconceptions about Flood Insurance in Texas

Flood insurance is not something restricted to those living in high-risk zones. This post takes you through some misconceptions about flood insurance .

Texas plays host several cities and in recent past, devastating floods and flash floods have been witnessed in various parts of the state. Cities like Oklahoma, Rio Vista, Lubbock, Nebraska, Louisiana and Arkansas are just but a few of those which have experienced wet seasons and flooding. Despite warnings by weathermen often issued about impending bad weather and calls for evacuations by government officials, there are still people who always end up being caught up by floods. While calls for massive evacuation is always the first precautionary measure people in flooding zones are support to take, one thing that many homeowners and businesses persons have never taken seriously is what happens once the floods are over.

How important is insurance against flooding?

Extremely adverse weather conditions like Hurricanes have always left behind total devastation, taking everything in sight with them; life and property. While people can be evacuated in good time in a bid to save lives like it happened in the year 2008 when Hurricane Ike caused massive loss of life and damage to property in Texas, it shouldn’t be forgotten that once the effects of the hurricane such as massive flooding was over, those whose businesses and homes were washed away had to seek help. It is at this point in time that more often than not, many begin to realize just how insurance against flooding is important.  Businesses were also cut off from power supply and damage to property was witnessed even in high-rise buildings whose glass windows were smashed. Trees and locomotives were also washed away leaving the surface bear and people started counting huge losses. It is those who had insurance cover that quickly managed to pick up their lives from ruins.

Insuring your business or home against flooding is therefore something many people across the state of Texas should seriously be concerned about. The question however is; what is the right insurance cover against floods? Also, can your general home insurance cover be a basis upon which you get compensated in the event that your home gets damaged or even washed away by floods as a result of heavy downpour or hurricanes?

In cases where people take cover policies against flooding, it is those living in areas considered as low-lying or flood zones who think they are the only legible group. These are areas near coastlands or rather flood plains which occasionally witness heavy flooding across the mainland whenever there is either light or heavy downpour. Agreeably, natural disasters are very uncertain and you can never tell who becomes the next victim should there be extreme weather conditions like presently Hurricane Mathew which has swept through parts of the Caribbean and the Bahamas causing loss of property and life and is now furiously surging towards the U.S where it is expected to hit hard the east coast of Florida.

What’s the right cover for you against floods?

There are a range of insurance cover policies to choose from and when it comes to one that will insure your home and other property against floods, it is important be aware of to what extent does home insurance cover you. It is also important to find out under which circumstances it is important to insure your home against effects of flood. Further, it is important to know types of cover policies that are included in flood insurance. This is because many homeowners in Texas and the U.S at large are still at pains to understand what the right type of flood insurance is. Well, is the standard homeowners’ insurance policy all you need? In this blog, we take a look at some misconceptions homework owners always have towards flood insurance cover.

Misconceptions about Flood insurance in Texas

When it comes to insuring one’s home against flood, certain myths need to be demystified and below are some of them;

•        Flood cover is restricted to high risk areas

Well, the notion that anyone who takes cover against flood must always be within the zoned areas is a big lie.  In fact, flood zones change from time to time depending on disaster response unit mappings. Preparedness against floods is therefore something which needs to be taken into account even by those living outside zoned areas by ensuring to take flood insurance cover.

•        Homeowners insurance takes care of  flooding

While lots of things are usually covered by basic home owners cover, it is imperative to note that flood cover is never part of it. Floods are treated as a separate entity which requires insurance of its own and therefore does not fall under homeowners’ insurance cover.  On this premise, it is important to know the difference between water damage and damage caused by leaking roofs or damage that takes place in the event that a water pipe bursts.

•        The misconception that any kind of water damage is the same

There is a big difference between damage to property caused by floods and that caused by heavy storms and in which case a roof gets blown off letting water into a house. Therefore, in the event that your house gets damaged by heavy rains due to a roof that is seriously leaking , the cover for it doesn’t not fall under flood cover but under homeowners insurance cover.

•        Flood zones are static

From time to time, flood maps are re-examined and new areas which are potentially at high risk identified. This is to say that even those who are living far away from flood plains can always take flood insurance cover. You never know when your area becomes a high risk zone.

•        An insurance against flood is enough to take care of everything

This is a myth.  Well, you need to always factor in insurance caps applied by companies in the event that damage to home or property is caused by floods. You might just need a private carrier to take care of other damages cause by floods because limits applied by insurance companies are usually capped at $250, 000 for the structure and $100, 000 for specified contingencies. 

How to Get the Best Homeowner Insurance Policies in Sugar Land, TX

As a general rule, having insurance for each and every one of your properties is very important. It enables you to carry out your normal day to day activities at home, your workplace or anywhere else with full rest of mind, knowing that you will be compensated in the event of any mishap. When it comes to your home, the importance of having comprehensive insurance is escalated by several orders of magnitude. The reason for this is twofold: First, homes are very big investments for families, usually taking the lion’s share of savings and continuous earnings to pay off the mortgage. Also, the importance of the home as where you live and keep your belongings. Both of these factors combine to mean that quality home insurance quotes in Sugar Land, TX insurance is not something that should be taken lightly.

                                                Determining Coverage Needs

Since lower premium rates will make it possible for you to save money for use in other important things, getting a policy that provides complete coverage for your home is key. However, it is also important to make sure that you are getting the best value for money and not paying too much in premiums if you could be getting the same home insurance in Sugar Land, TX coverage for a lower price. 

Here are a few tips to reduce your premium rates, thus saving you significant amounts of money on a regular basis.

Extent of Coverage – The extent of the coverage you are being provided in your policy is a major determinant of the amount of money you’re going to have to pay as premiums. One mistake that is often made by people looking to get insurance is to mistake the lowest priced policies as being the best ones. In reality, the policy might simply not contain as much coverage as others that are priced higher.

For instance, personal accident cover is an element that is not present in all policies, but which you should try to get in your affordable homeowners insurance Houston. It provides coverage for damage that is caused to your house as a result of personal accidents, as the name implies. The number of people that are covered also differs, so you should look for one that covers all the members of your household, at the least. Some other miscellaneous covers could also be very valuable, including ones such as plate glass insurance and purchase protection on appliances.

                                                            

Avoiding Claim Rejection

When you know the features to look out for in a good home insurance in Sugar Land, TX policy, you will then need to proceed with finding out the best insurance firm to purchase the policy from. You can do this with the help of an insurance agent, or by yourself, using rate comparison sites. When you finally get your policy settled, there are some things you should keep in mind in order to avoid any claim you make being refused.

1. Misrepresentation – It is expected that you will be truthful when you are applying for your home insurance in Sugar Land, TX policy. If it is discovered that you lied on some material facts, then the insurance company will not be obliged to okay you as agreed. One very effective way to avoid this situation is to work with an experienced insurance agent or lawyer to go through your application and ensure that everything is in order.

     2. Negligence – In spite of the fact that your insurance coverage might be comprehensive and protect you against a wide variety of incidents, the insurance company would be absolved of their responsibility to pay if in the course of investigating the incident, it is found out that it was caused by your own negligence. Apart from normal safety rules, you should also focus on the maintenance of your home to avoid anything breaking down and causing damage.

  

     3. Unpaid premiums – The duty of the insurance company to compensate you for damage to your home is contingent upon your fulfilment of your own responsibility to pay the premiums you agreed with them in the home insurance contract. Unlike other forms of responsibilities involving money, premiums are not a debt and it will not affect your credit ratings if you do not pay, and neither will you have collection agents come after you. The danger is much bigger than those; in that you will not be eligible for any compensation in the event of a mishap to your home.

    4. Deductibles – The deductible is the amount of damage that you agree to cover before calling on the insurance company to intervene. If your claim falls below that amount, then you will have to cover it yourself.

     5. Commercial usage – Insurance for home in Sugarland, Tx policies are specifically intended to be used for personal dwellings. If you use your home for a professional purpose instead, the company will be able to deny the responsibility of paying out to you. It is a much better idea to discuss your real intent with the agent and get a proper contract that provides coverage for commercial buildings.

Stay Tuned For Next Post..!

Who Needs Commercial Auto Insurance Coverage?

In Houston, TX, Commercial Auto Insurance is needed for a plethora of different drivers. Many people who are just starting this process may not know who needs it. Other people who may not know are ones who are looking into a bigger rig or type of vehicle than their normal one. At Mercury Insurance Houston TX, we’re able to prove the best commercial auto insurance for those who need it. To find out if you need commercial auto insurance, read further.

Difference between Commercial auto insurance and Personal Insurance

People who drive cars do not have nearly the same type of insurance versus their commercial driving counterparts. When it comes to using a vehicle for a business, there’s more to insure and protect. Because of this, commercial auto insurance is needed and personal car insurance is not valid. If a business you’re associated with involves:

• Work gear
• Passengers
• Employees
• Equipment

Commercial car insurance typically covers the above costs when something happens. Normal car insurance will not cover the above.

Who needs commercial auto insurance?

There are three ways you may need to determine if you need commercial auto insurance and not just normal auto insurance. Do you own your own business? Does your job require you to drive? What purposes do you use your vehicle for? Depending on the answers to these questions, you may need higher liability insurance to help fully cover if something happens.

It’s not just about the size of the vehicle; it’s what’s inside. If the vehicle you own is for business purposes, then you’ll need commercial auto insurance. If you deploy vehicles for your personal business, you’ll also need car insurance, despite not having a large truck. Instead of a big rig or a box truck, commercial auto insurance can cover regular vehicles like:

• Cars
• Mini-vans
• Pick-up trucks
• Sports vehicles

This isn’t the only thing it covers, as the following are also included on commercial auto insurance:

1. Dump trucks, box trucks, refrigerator trucks, bucket trucks, catering trucks
2. Vehicles that use work equipment on them
3. Utility vans
4. Limos, taxi’s and other transport vehicles
5. Flatbeds
6. Anything rented or leased
7. Any other type of vehicle owned or leased by a business, affiliation or partnership

In more simple terms, if the vehicle is used for anything business related, small or large, you should obtain commercial auto insurance for the purpose of insuring your work items and preventing loss of money out of your pocket.

Commercial truck insurance typical covers equipment, employees, and business assets in the vehicle in case of a lawsuit.

Add-Ons for commercial auto Insurance

There are other types of insurance to consider when purchasing commercial auto insurance including:

• Uninsured motorist insurance – this is for those who are uninsured normally but will be driving the vehicle you’re providing them. If you own a business that deploys vehicles, this is a great add-on for you

• PIP and medical payments coverage – Any expenses for the person injured will be covered and even wage loss

While these aren’t the only types of add-ons, emergency roadside insurance can also help bridge the gap. These are not mandatory when purchasing commercial auto insurance from your local Mercury Insurance provider but should be highly considered for full coverage.