Tag: KY

Homeowners Insurance and Halloween Mishaps

Halloween is one of the most exciting times of the year, especially for children. With more people walking around your property, the chances of accidents—like someone tripping on a decoration or falling on your porch—can increase. Does your homeowners insurance cover a Halloween mishap?

Fortunately, if you’re a homeowner, your insurance policy may provide important protection during this spooky season. Here’s what you need to know:

Personal Liability Coverage
  • The personal liability coverage in your homeowners’ insurance policy is designed to protect you financially if someone gets injured on your property and holds you responsible. If a trick-or-treater trips over a pumpkin on your porch or slips on your walkway, they could suffer injuries that require medical attention. In this case, personal liability coverage would help pay for their medical expenses, and even legal fees if the family decides to sue you for negligence.
Medical Payments Coverage
  • In addition to liability coverage, homeowners insurance policies typically include medical payments coverage, which can help cover minor injuries for guests on your property. Unlike liability coverage, medical payments coverage is a no-fault benefit, meaning it can help pay for medical costs (such as a quick visit to the doctor or emergency room) regardless of who was at fault for the injury.
Preventing Accidents
  • While homeowners insurance can help protect you financially, it’s still best to avoid accidents altogether. Here are some safety tips to keep trick-or-treaters safe while they visit your home:
    • Clear Walkways – Make sure your sidewalks, stairs, and driveways are free from obstructions like garden hoses, fallen branches, or debris. 
    • Secure Decorations – Ensure that any Halloween decorations you set up are securely fastened and not creating tripping hazards. Watch out for low-hanging or dangling items that could obstruct vision or cause falls.
    • Light It Up – Keep your property well-lit so trick-or-treaters can see where they’re going.
    • Keep Pets Indoors –  Even the friendliest pets can become anxious with a constant stream of visitors. To prevent accidents or scares, keep pets away from the front door.

By ensuring your property is safe and knowing your policy’s details, you can enjoy the holiday knowing that both you and your Halloween visitors are protected.

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At Raymond Nelson Insurance, we go the extra mile to find the coverage that best protects what matters most: the business you’ve built and the people you love. We always take the time to get to know each client and serve their best interests. Call us today at (270) 885-1800 or contact us online for more information.

How Often Should You Review Your Insurance?

A good rule of thumb is to review your insurance at least once a year. Now is a great time to review insurance before the hustle and bustle of the holiday season.
Benefits of Regularly Reviewing Your Insurance:
  • Avoid Gaps in Coverage: Life is unpredictable, and failing to review your insurance regularly could leave you underinsured. For example, if you fail to update your life insurance after having children, your family might not be adequately protected.
  • Potential Savings: If your risk factors have decreased—such as quitting smoking or installing security systems—you might qualify for lower premiums.
  • Update Beneficiaries: Life changes such as marriage, divorce, or the birth of a child should always lead to an update of beneficiaries in your policies.
When is the Best Time to Review Your Insurance?

While annual reviews can occur at any point in the year, certain times might be more convenient or advantageous:

    • Before the Holiday Season
      • You’re more likely to forget during the hustle and bustle of the holidays.
    • Tax Season
      • As you gather your financial information for tax preparation, it’s a natural time to take stock of your overall financial health, including your insurance policies.
    • During Major Life Changes
      •  As mentioned earlier, any major life event, such as marriage, buying a home, or having a child, should prompt an immediate review of your policies.
Here’s a List of Life Events or Milestones that should Prompt Immediate Review:
  • Change in Employment
      • If you’ve changed jobs, lost your job, or started your own business, your insurance needs might shift. Employer-provided health or life insurance may no longer apply, so it’s essential to ensure you have the coverage you need.
  • Marriage or Divorce
      • These significant life changes affect all aspects of your finances, including your insurance. After getting married, you may want to combine policies or increase your coverage. After a divorce, updating beneficiaries and removing your ex-spouse from policies is essential.
  • Home Purchase or Rental
      • Whether you buy a new home or move into a rental, you’ll need to ensure your homeowners or renters insurance aligns with your new living situation.
  • Having a Child
      • Expanding your family means more responsibility. Reviewing your life and health insurance policies can ensure that your loved ones are protected should anything happen to you.
  • Major Purchases
    • Acquiring high-value assets like a new car, jewelry, or electronics should prompt a review of your auto or home insurance to ensure they’re adequately covered.

 

Reviewing your insurance policies isn’t something you should only do once. Whether it’s an annual review or triggered by a major life change, regularly assessing your coverage ensures you’re protected and potentially saves you money. By aligning your insurance with your current life stage and needs, you guarantee peace of mind, knowing you’re prepared for whatever comes your way.

At Raymond Nelson Insurance, we go the extra mile to find the coverage that best protects what matters most: the business you’ve built and the people you love. We always take the time to get to know each client and serve their best interests. Call us today at (270) 885-1800 or contact us online for more information.

Back To School Safety Tips

We want to remind you to be extra cautious when driving near schools. Here are a few school safety tips to ensure the safety of our kids:  

1. Slow down and remain alert
  • There’s going to be a lot more kids on the sidewalks and streets when school starts, so take it slow and always be aware of your surroundings.
  • Leave yourself extra time to make it to your destination.
  • Be especially careful in school parking lots and loading zones.
2. Obey posted speed limits
3. Remember to follow school-bus rules
  • Do not pass the bus on either side of the road when red lights are flashing.
  • Even after lights stop, make sure the coast is clear before moving on.
  • Kids move quickly and erratically.
  • 2 or 3 Lane Road: Remember, when you encounter a school bus with its stop arm out and red lights flashing, it is crucial to come to a complete stop, regardless of your lane or direction on a two to three-lane road, including the turning lane.
  • 4+ Lane Road: If you find yourself on a highway or road with a median or more than four lanes, you are not required to stop for a bus traveling in the opposite direction.
4. Avoid using your cell phone while driving
  • It’s not only illegal to drive while using your cell phone, it can distract you.
  • When stopping at a crosswalk, give kids a visual signal you’ve seen them: smile, wave, or give a thumbs-up!
Parents – Teach kids to be safe while walking:
  • Always use marked crosswalks and look both ways.
  • Try to make contact with drivers to make sure they see you.
  • Never move into the street from behind a car or other obstacle.
  • If there is not sidewalk or path, walk facing traffic and as far to the left as possible.
  • Never let young children cross the street alone.

Safety is our top priority, so let’s all stay informed and ensure the safety of our students and community during this school season.

At Raymond Nelson Insurance, we go the extra mile to find the coverage that best protects what matters most, the business you’ve built and the people you love. We always take the time to get to know each client and serve their best interests. Call us today at (270) 885-1800 or contact us online for more information.

Are You Covered for Water Backup Damage?

Spring storms can cause unexpected water damage to your home. Here’s why you should consider adding water backup coverage to your homeowners policy.

Most homeowners don’t think about water backup coverage when getting home insurance, but water backup can cause extensive damage to your home. 

Why you need it:
  • It’s not included in a standard homeowners insurance policy.
    • If you don’t have water backup coverage for your home, condo, or even your renters insurance policy, then you could be stuck paying for cleanup or damages caused by a sump pump or similar equipment that is not considered a plumbing system.

 

  • Everyone has the potential to need this type of coverage.
    • Even if you have flood insurance, it’s a different policy.

 

  • It can cover you for loss of use if your home is uninhabitable.
    • In most cases of a sump pump failure, you may have to leave the residence while clean happens.
    • Or if your furnace is damaged due to water backup and it’s 30º outside and you can’t heat your home.
    • Loss of use coverage covers living expenses above and beyond a person’s normal living expenses.
    • It can cover your hotel room while your claim adjuster approves your claim.
How to prevent water backup:
    • Don’t pour oil or grease down your drains.

 

    • Watch what you flush down your toilets (no paper towels or feminine products).

 

    • Consider using plastic pipes to prevent tree roots from entering them.

 

    • Check your sump pump regularly.

 

    • Install a backwater prevention valve to prevent sewer backups.

 

    • Buy a battery backup to keep your sump pump running when the power goes out.

At Raymond Nelson Insurance, we go the extra mile to find the coverage that best protects what matters most, the business you’ve built and the people you love. We always take the time to get to know each client and serve their best interests. Call us today at (270) 885-1800 or contact us online for more information.