Month: May 2013

My friend who was driving my car met with an accident, whose insurance company should pay?

Posted on by AgentInsure

Letting someone else drive your car is always a risk. There is the chance that they can wreck the car or some other type of damage can happen to it as a result of being in an accident. You may then be left with the question of who should pay for the damages. After all they were the one driving, so it seems logical that they should pay for the damage. Here are some things to think through if you live in the El Paso, Texas area regarding who should pay for the damages.

Who Pays for Damages to a Borrowed Car

  • In most cases the borrower of the car’s insurance will pay for the damages to the auto. If the other person is a close friend, they may be willing to pay for the damages without filing a claim at all.
  • If the other person refuses to pay for the damages, you may have to talk with your company about getting them to pay for damages.
  • Depending of the state that you live in, the damages may have to paid for by the owner of the car. In some cases the police officers may say that each person file with their own insurance company, leaving you to figure out the process.
  • If the damage to your car are the drivers fault, then you may have to have them file it with their own company.

If you live in Texas and are wondering who should pay for the damages, then you need to call an independent agent. We can help you decide which insurance company you need to use. We can also help answer any other questions that you may have and even help find you a policy that is right for your car.

I have a pit bull for a pet, will that increase my home insurance cost in Albuquerque, New Mexico?

Posted on by AgentInsure

If you have ever shopped for homeowners insurance, then you may have faced the question, “what kind pets do you have?” Based on your answer the quote might continue or it may come to an end. Insurance companies do not want to face the possibility that a dog may bite someone and then they have to pay liability claims in a settlement. Depending on what type of dog you have may or may not make you insurable.

Insurance Costs and Pit Bulls

You pets may make your insurance costs higher than normal depending on what kind of pet you have. Insurance companies are concerned with dogs that are aggressive by nature. In fact, an insurance company will have a list of dogs that make a person not insurable and then a list of dogs that will only raise the premium. What determines what list the dog is on depends on the nature of the animal. Some companies consider pit bulls, Dobermans and other large dogs too much of a risk to insure at all.

If you have a dog that is a high insurance risk, then make sure to look around for a company that will insure your home regardless of what kind of pet you own. In you live in Albuquerque, Rio Rancho or Las Cruces, New Mexico, you then need to contact your independent agent today. We can answer all of your questions and help you find the best policy for your needs. If you have a dog that appears on the list of insurable pets, then we can help determine what kind of coverage levels you should have in order to protect yourself and your family from a financial loss.

Should I Buy Home Insurance in Texas All Along The Year or Only When a Catastrophe Alert is Sent Out?

Posted on by AgentInsure

Whether you reside in El Paso or elsewhere in Texas, you know that Texas is located in the heart of tornado alley. In addition, despite its location, parts of the city of El Paso are located in designated flood zones. Since weather conditions in Texas frequently change in a split second, the best way to protect your property and your financial assets is by purchasing home insurance and maintaining your coverage all year instead of waiting until meteorologists and other weather experts issue a warning that a catastrophe is imminent.

Home Insurance and Your Mortgage

Your independent agent should explain to you that if you borrow money to finance the purchase of your home, your lender requires you to show proof that you have purchased home insurance for the property. Until you do that, no bank or other lender will finalize the sale of the house and give you the papers of ownership. Your home insurance offers liability protection in case someone is injured on your property.

Without home insurance, if there was a fire that damaged or destroyed your home, you probably wouldn’t have the financial resources to pay for repairs or rebuilding, let alone, the cost of temporary housing. Your independent agent can help you figure out how much insurance you need and what type of home insurance best fits your needs.

Things Not Covered on Your Home Insurance

Home insurance doesn’t cover flood or earthquake damage. When hurricanes form in the Gulf of Mexico, the potential path is so wide that even a place as far west as El Paso might suffer the effects of outer bands or tropical storm-like weather. Not having flood insurance when you live in Texas, regardless of how high or low your risk is, is a real gamble.

Consider, too, that when you purchase flood insurance through the National Flood Insurance Program, there is a 30 day waiting period before the coverage kicks in. What’s more, you cannot purchase flood insurance at any time between June 1 and November 30, because that is the designated time-frame for hurricane season.

Because of the unpredictable nature of Texas weather and all of the conceivable other ways by which your house might incur damage, your independent agent, whether in El Paso or anywhere else in the state of Texas, we want to help you understand how important it is to have home insurance all year, and not just when there is a catastrophe warning or alert.

Car insurance scams in New Mexico? How can I protect myself from insurance fraud?

Posted on by AgentInsure

Fraud is a problem for a lot of companies throughout the country. It is the reason why there are so many laws that regulate how companies handle finances and merchandise. When it comes to car insurance there are plenty of opportunities for a person to fall victim to an insurance scam. In order to protect yourself from becoming a victim there are some things that you should know.

How to Protect Yourself from Insurance Fraud

  • Use a well-known insurance company to insure your cars with. If the insurance company offering you a product is one that you have never heard of, you may want to think twice about buying from them. Take the time to research the claim history and the company’s insurance rating.
  • Use the repair shops that are approved by the company.
  • Double check your policy to make sure you are getting what you are paying for.
  • Shred old policies so there is no chance of your policy falling into the hands of a thief.
  • Know what your policy covers and what it does not cover. It is easy to assume that something is covered.
  • Get free quotes to make sure you are not paying too much for auto insurance.
  • Double check with your independent agent if you have any questions.

If you live in Rio Rancho, Albuquerque, or Las Cruces New Mexico, have an agent look over your policy. We are available to help each person understand their auto policy and help them protect their families with the right kind of coverage. If you have any questions about your coverage limits or about your policy in general, then feel free to give us a call. We want to help you make the most of your insurance policy.