What Does Home Insurance Cover in a Severe Storm?

Severe storms can cause an extreme and even devastating level of damage to houses and other property, as people in regions affected by those storms know all too well. Here are some details about home insurance coverage for severe storm damage. These guidelines are brought to you by Insurance Center of Green Valley serving Green Valley, AZ.

Heavy rains can bring flooding and other problems, and oftentimes that flooding can cause some serious damage to homes. A separate flood insurance policy might be necessary, but in certain circumstances, home insurance may cover damage from rain.

Powerful winds from severe storms can do a tremendous amount of damage. They can blow trees down, which can fall into homes and other structures. They can also blow shingles off roofs and do a variety of other damage. Home insurance can cover many types of damage caused by wind, depending on the specific details of a particular policy.

Many factors can affect what home insurance coverage you need that helps with recovery from severe storm damage. Those factors include your location, such as if you are at or near an area that is prone to severe storms. Keep in mind that any area can experience severe storms at one time or the other. There are various levels of coverage with insurance policies, and each policy has certain limitations.

But if it looks like you will need home insurance coverage for severe storms, make sure you have that in place well before any storm hits. Also look into flood insurance, especially if you are in an area that is prone to flooding. If you need assistance with your home insurance questions, feel free to contact us at Insurance Center of Green Valley serving Green Valley, AZ.

Do I Need Commercial Auto Insurance?

When you run your own business there are a number of expenses you need to consider. One such expense is insurance coverage. Commercial insurance coverages come in a number of forms, each of each is designed to protect your business in varying ways. However, one form of insurance coverage you need to consider is commercial auto insurance. Whether you work in Green Valley, AZ or the surrounding area, Insurance Center of Green Valley is on hand to help you determine whether or not you need commercial auto insurance. 

Do You Use Drive For Work?

This doesn’t include driving to your job and driving home. However, if you drive while on the clock you’ll need commercial auto insurance. This means if you’re driving between clients or even making deliveries (even pizza deliveries) you need commercial auto insurance. If you are not protected and are involved in an accident the other individual in the accident can come after the company. 

Driving Professionally?

Do you drive professional? If you drive for a ride-sharing service, such as Lyft or Uber, you need commercial auto insurance. Your regular auto insurance will not cover you with this. As you are on the clock being paid for the ride you are in a commercial act. Due to this, you need to invest in commercial auto insurance to protect you and your vehicle in the event of an accident. 

Commercial auto insurance will protect you, your business, and your vehicle in the event of an auto accident. Even if the accident is not your fault you may find regular auto insurance will not cover you. To know for sure if you need commercial auto insurance now is the time to contact Insurance Center of Green Valley for all your Green Valley, AZ commercial insurance needs. 

Is Commercial Insurance Worth the Investment?

Small business owners agree starting a company takes a lot of effort and time. It also requires patience and a lot of common sense. If you’re considering starting your own company, or perhaps you already own one, and you haven’t looked into the benefits of commercial insurance, it is vital that you do. Here at the Insurance Center of Green Valley serving Green Valley, AZ, we understand how important it is to protect a small business, and we want to share three reasons commercial insurance is worth the investment. 

Protect Your Contracts

If you operate a business where you go into contracts with your clients, it is imperative these contracts be protected. What many small business owners fail to realize, though, is there are a handful of contracts that won’t hold up in the court of law. And because lawsuits are sometimes unavoidable, you need to have commercial insurance to serve as a form of protection when a contract isn’t viewed as legal in the eyes of the court.

Don’t Let Your Employees Down

If you have employees working for you, your responsibilities become much more substantial. Fortunately, commercial insurance can serve as a viable way to provide you with financial protection in the event you are unable to make payments for labor and wages. The specifics of commercial insurance will vary from one policy to the next, making it vital to discuss your exact needs with a qualified insurance agent. 

Commercial Auto Insurance

If you have workers who use a vehicle to perform work-related tasks, it is essential that you provide commercial auto coverage. If possible, you should consider investing in fleet vehicles and adding commercial insurance to them. Commercial auto insurance can be the difference between keeping your doors open and having to close up shop if one of your workers is injured in an auto accident while performing work-related duties.

To learn more about the advantages of commercial insurance and why it’s worth the investment, contact the Insurance Center of Green Valley serving Green Valley, AZ.,

Tips for Making Your Business Safe for Employees

In as much as we abhor disasters and mishaps in the workplace, they still happen. Creating a safe work environment is critical for the success of any business. Here’s is how Green Valley, AZ businesses can help create a safe working environment for their employees:-

Train your employees
Ensure that your employees are trained on the various safety precautions they should observe and the importance of each. Get expert trainers every once in a while to sensitize on the areas that need fine-tuning. Safety in the workplace should be everyone’s business.

Develop a plan
Have a plan in place should a disaster or crisis happen. Have it written out and included in the business’ policies and procedures. Every member of staff should also have a copy. Perform a drill every six months so that each person knows what is expected of them in case of a crisis.

Acquire the necessary safety gear
Each employee should put on their safety gear and protective clothing whenever they are in the workplace. Such gear could include safety shoes, reflective gear, a helmet, gloves, and so on. The type of gear depends on the kind of business.

Streamline your safety policies
Safety policies and regulations should be clearly outlined. As well, each employee should be aware of the consequences of violating each.

Take up commercial insurance for your business

Having an insurance policy for your employees ensure that they will be compensated should an accident happen in the workplace. It also protects your business from employees should they sue you due to the accident.

Observing the above tips will not only help your business achieve a healthy and safe environment but also boost your employees’ productivity. The Insurance Center of Green Valley offers customized commercial insurance plans for Green Valley businesses. Get in touch with us today for more information.

Who Needs Conprehensive Coverage?

For those located in the Green Valley, AZ area, driving a car is a practical necessity. When driving a car in the area, having the minimum amount of liability insurance coverage in place at all times is a requirement by law. While the state minimums in Arizona require you to have liability coverage, they do not provide coverage for your vehicle. One additional type of coverage that people should consider getting is comprehensive insurance. This type of insurance will provide coverage in the event your car is stolen, vandalized, or if you are involved in an accident with an animal. There are several situations in which you should have comprehensive coverage.

Valuable Car

One of the most important situations in which you will need to have comprehensive coverage in place is you have a valuable car.  Buying a car is a very big investment and purchase. Because of this, you will need to make sure it is properly covered. If your car is too expensive to replace out of pocket, having the additional coverage in place is a necessity. In a situation of theft or damage, you will receive full reimbursement minus your deductible.  

Loan Requirements

If you took out a loan to buy your car, your lender will likely require you to carry comprehensive insurance. To ensure you are in compliance with the loan, you will need to have comprehensive insurance coverage equal to at least the amount of your outstanding loan balance.  

When you are looking to build an auto insurance policy, contacting the Insurance Center of Green Valley is a great option. The Insurance Center of Green Valley is able to help Green Valley, AZ area residents better understand their auto insurance needs. They can then help anyone get into a policy that provides the right types of coverage.  

Which kinds of insurance do I need most for my business?

Even before the first day you open the door for business, you need to start preparing to protect yourself from risk. A single accident or natural disaster could destroy your company if you don’t have the right level of protection. If you live in or around Green Valley, AZ, you can talk to the Insurance Center of Green Valley about these important kinds of business insurance.

  • Property Insurance — This coverage will protect the building and its contents including signage, equipment, furniture, and supplies. 
  • Business Interruption — If there is a disaster or other major unforeseen event, your business may not be able to operate for a period of time. Business interruption insurance will help replace the loss of income you suffer during that time.
  • General Liability — If someone is injured on your property or because of your products, a general liability policy will compensate the victim for any medical bills or property damage and pay for the cost of any litigation you incur as a result.
  • Product Liability Insurance — If your business creates products for sale on the open market, you will need to protect yourself from any claims that people were harmed by them.
  • Automobile Insurance — If your company owns, hires or leases vehicles that are used to conduct business, you need to at least have commercial automobile liability insurance to protect them and any third parties who may become involved in crashes.
  • Workers’ Compensation Insurance — To protect employees, you can purchase a policy that will pay their medical bills and lost wages if they are hurt on the job.

Your business in Green Valley, AZ will have its own needs, so call the Insurance Center of Green Valley today to make a plan that best protects your business.

How Does Commercial Insurance Work in Arizona?

Businesses looking to mitigate risks and exposures from ongoing operations utilize commercial insurance to limit their financial liability. These policies are a necessity for protecting entire organizations from ruin, in case of litigation and other exterior threats. Coverage options are contingent on the inherent risks a business faces in their operating environment.

What’s Covered?

Commercial insurance is designed to help businesses mitigate the risk of loss due to potential disruptions and lawsuits stemming from certain events. These events include business interruptions from made-made or natural disasters. Theft, property damage and worker injury may also be covered depending on the circumstances. Commercial policies are intended to shield businesses from general liability issues that could damage or inhibit ongoing operations.

A qualified insurance professional can tailor coverage to meet the needs of business owners, helping to ensure that companies can continue operations in case of litigation and unfavorable judgments’. The financial strain of not having coverage can be too much to withstand.

Who Needs Coverage?

The size and the location of businesses dictate coverage amounts and options, but all companies stand to benefit from commercial insurance. This is true of home-based businesses and large corporations alike. For small business owners, commercial coverage can mean the difference between continuing operations and shutting down the company, if there is extensive litigation and liability. All business owners should consider coverage and the protection it can provide their companies.

To learn more about getting commercial insurance in Green Valley, AZ, please contact the Insurance Center of Green Valley. There are a myriad of risks facing modern businesses that can only be mitigated with the right insurance coverage. Commercial insurance can shield businesses from loss and disruptions.

Does my commercial insurance policy cover me when my employees are off the property doing my business?

You may have a commercial insurance policy from Insurance Center of Green Valley to cover any normal damages to your business in Green Valley, AZ. But it can be confusing to understand exactly what your policy covers, and if you will need additional coverage to meet the particular demands of your business.

Many businesses do work entirely at one location, with supplies being delivered to the building. Many other businesses, however, have the need to operate at locations away from the main location. They may have other locations where they store supplies, or employees may need to go from place to place to perform essential tasks relative to the business operations.

What happens if, during the course of that activity, there is an accident? For example, an employee may need to drive to another location for a delivery. If he runs a red light, he will normally be liable for the damages. However, if he was there only because he was working for your business, it is the business that will probably be held liable.

If the employee is driving his own vehicle, his insurance is unlikely to claim responsibility. You should have a commercial auto insurance policy if your employees drive while on the job. You can also obtain a more comprehensive insurance policy to make sure that outside structures and supplies are covered under your insurance policy.

In order to make sure that you have all the coverage you need, it is always best to read your policy carefully and discuss it with your insurance agent. Know the exceptions and limitations. For the commercial insurance policy that best protects your business in Green Valley, AZ, call Insurance Center of Green Valley today.

Why Do Contractors Need to Buy Commercial Bonds?

Contractors working in the Green Valley, AZ area are required to purchase commercial bonds in order to legally do business in their chosen field, as it is a requisite for being issued a license. This provision provides homeowners and business owners with protection when hiring workers, as it provides surety for unfinished work, unpaid permits, damage done to property, and unpaid subcontracted work up to two years after the last services were performed. Contractor bonds can be purchased through your commercial insurance agency. 

Bond Basics

In Arizona, a professional must apply for a commercial bond amount that corresponds with his or her labor classification. In addition, the laborer will need to project their estimated gross volume for the year and must obtain commercial bonds for approximately that sum total.  Bonds exist in several different types: payment bonds that ensure that subcontractors will be paid, performance bonds that provide surety for nonperformance, and bid bonds that protect project owners from successful bidders who choose not to come under contract. 

Bonds are continuous, are without a termination date, and a contractor may be required to pay a premium periodically to the issuing insurance company. A company can cancel a bond, but they must provide 30 days notification, during which a contractor is required to find a substitute to keep from having their license suspended.  

Insurance Center of Green Valley Can Assist You

If you need to purchase commercial bonds, the Insurance Center of Green Valley is here to answer all your questions. We are experienced in helping the residents of Green Valley, AZ with all their commercial insurance needs, and we consider it a privilege to work for you. Contact us to speak to one of our friendly representatives, and we will find the right commercial insurance package to meet all your needs. 

What You Need to Know About Workers Compensation and Commercial Insurance

It’s easy to forget that commercial insurance and workers’ compensation are all part of the same package, but it helps to understand how they work together to keep your business safe. Most businesses need to have workers’ compensation included in their commercial insurance policies if they have any official employees. This is so neither employees nor employers are saddled with expensive medical bills should they be injured on the job. Insurance Center of Green Valley wants you to know more about how it works 

Hazards on the Job 

Every job comes with its own set of hazards, though they may be difficult to find sometimes. An office worker is unlikely to hit their head when they’re on the job, but they may develop chronic back pain because they’re sitting in the wrong chair. While an employee does share some responsibility when it comes to their injuries, judges tend to side with the employees (in general.) This is just one reason why it’s so important to choose employees who will be responsible for themselves and for a business’ property at all times. 

Commercial Insurance in Green Valley, AZ

If you have a business in Green Valley, AZ, it’s time to give Insurance Center of Green Valley a call. Our staff can help you understand more about the particular hazards that you need to safeguard yourself against. Far from just walking away with the right policy, you may end up getting the tips you need to make your workplace safer for you, your customers, and your workers. Find out more about what you should have coverage for in order to keep your business thriving — even in the face of a serious injury claim — by calling today to speak with our staff.