Below are some of the more frequent questions we receive as an agency. If you have a specific question please do not hesitate to give us a call or email.
Many large enterprises have the same requirements for independent contractors as they do for full scale businesses. Education can go a long way in helping them lower them to better match industry standards. Show them benchmarks and statistics, and if you need help, call Highland Park Insurance!
We’re happy to be your resident insurance experts and sit in on any meetings where our knowledge can be of service to you and your contractors.
While certificate holders are allowed to access policy information, and (in most cases) are informed of any changes, only an Additional Insured endorsement makes it so that the insurance actually applies to you. This becomes important when your business is sued for a contractor’s mistakes.
When a contractor has a claim, their insurance carrier may decide to later try to recoup the loss from other responsible parties – that means you. A waiver of subrogation takes away this option.
An umbrella policy extends the limits of the coverages a contractor already has. If a contractor has $1M General Liability and $3M Umbrella Liability, they can only use the Umbrella policy on General Liability claims that surpass the initial $1M limit.
Many don’t realize that what Cyber really covers is data. If a contractor’s computer is hacked, it would cover the data lost in the cyber attack – but it would also cover them if a file with client information was stolen from their car. What it doesn’t cover, are things like damaged electronics or lost revenue from a bug in a freelance developer’s code.
This is not an easy answer. Different insurance companies will have different formulas on determining your insurance premium; one of which can be claim frequency and severity. It is our recommendation to discuss your specific claim with our claims manager to see if turning in a claim makes sense. However, all possible liability claims need to be turned in; as the insurance company needs to be put on notice.
An adjuster is a representative of the insurance company that helps settle a claim. They are not employed by us. We do not settle claims as this is done by the adjuster. However, we will assist in making sure a covered claim is paid fairly and promptly.
Scheduling involves placing specific items with a specific value on your homeowners insurance. It can also be called an “Inland Marine” policy. This allows coverage for items that may be leaving your premises and would then be lost or stolen. They can also be set at specific deductibles. The most common items to schedule are jewelry, bikes, cameras and fine arts.
Replacement cost is the amount it costs to rebuild a home or structure. This amount can also include demolition. This value can be significantly different than an appraisal. Reason being, the cost of materials to rebuild can outweigh a home or structure’s market value. When insuring a home or structure the insurance company needs to know the replacement cost. There are tools that our agents use to help approximate this value.
Yes, it is the State law for all owners of a vehicle to have auto insurance. It is your choice if you wish to insure for physical damage if there is not a lender involved.
Broad form collision allows you to not have to pay your deductible if you are not deemed at fault in an accident. There are also options to choose “regular” and “limited”. These options should be discussed with your agent.
All payments should be directed to the insurance company unless specifically stated by your representative. Please see our “billing” section if you wish to pay by phone or have a question on your billing account.
