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Blasdell, NY 14219

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Featured Insurance Blog

How Umbrella Insurance Works

Having liability insurance is an important way to keep yourself and your finances protected. When you have both home and auto policies, there is another type of insurance that you may need for better protection. Umbrella insurance is a unique type of coverage that adds to what you have in your other policies. If you want to know more about umbrella insurance, call us today at L & S Agency Inc. in Buffalo, NY. 

How Umbrella Insurance Works

More Liability Coverage

Both home and auto policies come with different types of coverage, and one of those is liability protection. The problem is that many of these policies have too little liability protection built-in. This can mean that your policy doesn’t pay all of the liability you owe for medical bills and property damage. When this happens, you end up with an overage, and that is yours to pay from your own pocket. To protect against this happening, there is umbrella insurance. 

Adding to Your Existing Coverage

If you were to add extra liability coverage onto your home and auto policies, it could be prohibitively expensive. It is much less expensive to get an umbrella policy, and it adds extra liability to both of those policies at the same time. When there is an accident that occurs with your vehicle or in your home, your home or auto policy will come in to pay what it can. It will only pay up to its maximum payout, and that might not be much. When there are more bills left after that, your umbrella policy will then come in to pay the rest of it. 

Get an Umbrella Policy

If you are interested in getting an umbrella policy, or you want to know more about them, contact us at L & S Agency Inc. in Buffalo, NY.

 

What New Homeowners Need to Know About Insurance

You’ve just bought your first home. This is an exciting moment. You are most likely dealing with a lot of details. Don’t forget that home insurance is one of those important details. At L & S Agency Inc. serving Buffalo, NY and the surrounding areas, we can help you navigate the insurance choices you need to make. Keep reading to learn more. 

What Does Home Insurance Cover?

A home insurance policy is the best way to protect your housing stability. This means, that if your new home is damaged or lost for some reason, you can rest assured knowing you can still provide housing for your family. Without a home insurance policy in place, a family will be responsible to pay for the repair of replacement of their home out of their own pocket. For many families, that would be an impossible financial burden. But home insurance provides a way to pay for those expenses so that you always have peace of mind. 

The types of damage that are covered can include damage from storms, fires, vandalism, or natural disasters. It can also include damage caused by indoor flooding.

You should be aware that indoor flooding is flooding that takes place as a result of plumbing issues or an appliance that has malfunctioned. This is not the same as naturally occurring flooding. Most homeowners will need to get additional flood insurance to cover damage from naturally occurring flooding. 

You can talk with an insurance agent to get more details on flood insurance. 

If you would like to learn more about home insurance, or any of our other insurance services, please contact us at L & S Agency Inc. serving Buffalo, NY, and the surrounding areas. 

Is basic auto insurance enough?

Before you can decide if basic auto insurance is the right choice for you, it is important to know exactly what basic insurance is in New York. In New York, the required coverage is 10/25/50. New York has an additional requirement for death in an accident. At L & S Agency Inc. in Buffalo, NY, we know that as independent agents we work for our customers and we are responsible for making sure that your auto insurance meets your needs. 

 

Auto Insurance Facts to Consider

With 10/25/50 insurance you get $10,000 in property damage, $25,000 for injuries to one person, and $50,000 for more than one person. The death benefit is $50,000 for one person and $100,000 for more than one person. If you have a lot of assets, this may not be enough coverage to sufficiently protect you. In which case, basic coverage is not for you. 

If you have a car loan or lease, you won’t be able to get away with just basic coverage. You need to protect the vehicle as well, so you need to have collision and comprehensive coverage. This means basic insurance is not the right choice for you. As a matter of fact, you don’t even have that option. 

Once your car loan is paid off or you buy your leased vehicle, you have the option of having only basic coverage. But if you count on your vehicle for the things you do every day, is it a good idea? If you need your car to get to work and if you don’t have the money it might take to repair or replace your vehicle, then basic insurance is probably not the right insurance for you. You need the additional protection collision and comprehensive offers.

Contact L & S Agency Inc. in Buffalo, NY when you are ready to discuss exactly what type of auto insurance is right for you. 

 

4 Questions to Ask an Agent About Umbrella Insurance for Your Business

Are you about to get business umbrella insurance in the Buffalo, NY area? If so, you’d do well to talk to an agent at L & S Agency Inc. about any concerns and questions you may have. They’ll do their best to put your mind at ease. 

What coverage do I actually need? 

The size and value of your business operation will matter a great deal here. Brick-and-mortar storefronts have an added layer of risk, since having a larger number of customers around increases the chances that someone can have an accident or cause damage in your space. 

What’s the amount of coverage for each policy? 

You’ll want to be clear on what amount would be best for your particular situation. The more risk your company has or the more assets you’d like to have covered, the higher you should request for the coverage amount. Though you shouldn’t pay for more insurance than is necessary, it’s just as important to know that you’re adequately covered in the event of a lawsuit. 

When do I need umbrella insurance? 

Just because you have a smaller operation doesn’t mean that you should wait on purchasing umbrella insurance for it. You already likely have a basic commercial insurance policy, but looking into umbrella insurance for those extra areas which might be more at risk is a smart idea. Get the coverage now so that you don’t end up with any unpleasant surprises that can set your company back by a lot. 

Will I be able to afford umbrella insurance for my company? 

Think about this from a different perspective. Can you afford not to have the right amount of coverage for your business? An accident or some type of lawsuit can cost your company a ton of money if you don’t have proper insurance in place. It could be bad enough that you have to close your business. Even if this is only for a short while, why take that risk? 

At L & S Agency Inc. of the greater Buffalo, NY area, we’re happy to help you get the commercial umbrella insurance that will protect your business. Contact us today to set up an appointment and get started. 

Safety tips every homeowner should consider

Your home is your safe place, you should not only feel safe there, but you should also be safe. There are some steps that you can take to make sure your home is as safe as it can be. At L & S Agency Inc. in Buffalo, NY, we are an award-winning agency that makes the needs of our clients our primary concern. We will make sure that you have exactly the insurance that you require. 

Protect against fire

Fire is one of the greatest dangers that homeowners face. Nothing will ever completely take away the danger of fire, because you can’t protect yourself against things like lightning, but you can protect your home from other common causes. If you use your fireplace, you should get your chimney cleaned every year. You should also change the batteries in your smoke detector every six months. If you don’t have a smoke detector, get one. It can save your life. 

Carbon monoxide

Carbon monoxide is called the silent killer. It has no odor and there is no way to know that your furnace (gas or oil) is producing this poisonous gas unless you have a working carbon monoxide detector. Every year, entire families die from it. Don’t be one of them. 

Trip and fall hazard

Trips and falls are a serious danger in the home. Falls are responsible for 22% of all deaths. Keep walkways and stairs clear. Clear snow and ice from sidewalks and driveways and add salt and sand to avoid falls. If you must have rugs, make sure they have non-slip mats. Place a non-slip mat in the tub and shower. If you must climb a ladder, be sure that you have a spotter to keep you from falling. 

Contact L & S Agency Inc. in Buffalo, NY if you have home insurance needs. 

Who Needs Umbrella Insurance?

People purchase insurance in order to protect themselves and their families. Umbrella insurance is a type of insurance that adds extra liability coverage over and above other existing insurance policies, including home and auto insurance. Umbrella insurance is not mandatory, but it is definitely worth having it in order to have additional protection and coverage. If you are thinking of getting this type of insurance, here is what you need to know about it: 

What Needs Umbrella Insurance?

Almost everyone can benefit from umbrella insurance. The purpose of umbrella insurance is to help prevent you from paying out of pocket legal bills or medical bills for another person if you are found responsible. For example, suppose one of your guests fell and got injured on your property, and now you are responsible for it. Or, suppose you are at fault for a road accident that caused injuries to other people. Umbrella insurance will cover expenses in these unexpected situations. 

In addition, in most cases, umbrella insurance also extends to other family members, including your husband or wife, children, and other relatives in your household. This means that if your spouse causes a car accident and injured another person, umbrella insurance will protect them too. 

For this reason, umbrella insurance is good for everyone who wants to make sure that they and their family members are properly protected. 

L & S Agency Inc. – Winning Insurance Agency in the state of New York

If you are currently shopping for umbrella insurance, and you are from Buffalo, NY, or any other nearby towns, L & S Agency Inc. is the right place to contact. Our insurance company uses the latest technology and works with clients from Buffalo, NY, as well as other surrounding areas. If you have any questions about umbrella insurance, or you want to know about other insurance options available, feel free to contact our insurance company. 

How The Winter Season Impacts Home Insurance

L & S Agency Inc. provides coverage to the Buffalo, NY community. We work with multiple carriers throughout the East Coast. This allows us to offer our clients an assortment of policies and coverage options. It’s important to us that our clients find a policy that aligns with their individual needs.

How Winter May Impact Home Insurance

Home insurance allows you to protect one of your most valuable assets. You are covered if your home suffers interior or exterior damage. All of your personal items are covered if they are stolen or damaged. Liability coverage is important, as you are covered if you cause damage to someone’s property or if someone is injured while visiting your property. Home insurance protects you in emergency situations.

Buffalo, NY is well known for its harsh winter conditions, which means that is a great time for you to review your home insurance policy. Winter storms and high winds can cause damage to your home. Check your pipes to make sure that they don’t freeze. If the pipes freeze, that can lead to extensive water damage and possible mold issues. It’s important that you take care of your home, as you are not covered for any issues that arise because of poor maintenance. You may have to amend your policy to cover hail damage. Hail has the potential to damage your roof and siding during the winter. It can also make things slippery, which is a potential liability issue. Make sure that your landscaping is in order before winter. Check your gutters and shutters to make sure they aren’t clogged. Try to cut any bushes around your home and nail anything loose.

L & S Agency Inc. Will Help Your Protect Your Investment

Visit our website to learn more information about home insurance.

What auto insurance is required in New York?

Like almost every other state in the union, New York has auto insurance requirements for drivers. It has to do with protecting other drivers from you. That requires liability coverage. At L & S Agency Inc. in Buffalo, NY, our award-winning agents place the needs of our clients first and work with you to make sure that you have the auto insurance that you need at a price you can live with. 

The minimum required auto insurance in New York is $10,000 in property damage, $25,000 for the first bodily injury and double that if it results in death. $50,000 for the entire accident in bodily injury, and $100,000 if there are multiple deaths.  

If you have an auto loan or a lease, you will have additional requirements. You will be required to have collision and comprehensive coverage to protect your vehicle. Collision coverage will pay for repairs or for the replacement of your vehicle if you are the responsible party in an accident or if you are the only driver in an accident. Comprehensive coverage is for things that might damage your vehicle which are beyond your control. Things like hail and other weather-related damage, glass coverage, vandalism, and theft of your vehicle. 

You may want to have collision and comprehensive coverage even if it is not required. If like most people, you count on your vehicle to perform your daily activities, you need it to get repaired in the event it is damaged. Unless you can afford to do this easily out of pocket, you need insurance to help. 

If you are in the market for auto insurance, L & S Agency Inc. in Buffalo, NY has a team of experts to help with the search. Give us a call or stop at the office for a no-obligation quote. 

What is Umbrella Insurance?

Umbrella insurance is an add-on insurance policy providing liability coverage above and beyond what your standard insurance policy’s liability coverage provides. Many people assume if they are not millionaires, they do not need umbrella insurance; however, anyone can benefit from purchasing an umbrella insurance policy. Those in Buffalo, NY should speak to their agent about umbrella insurance or contact the experts at L & S Agency Inc. to learn more about umbrella insurance policies. 

What Does an Umbrella Insurance Policy Cover?

In today’s world, anyone can be sued for any reason. If you have been sued and found liable for injuries and damages, you have to pay for the costs not covered by the liability coverage section of your insurance policy. Most insurance policies have caps on the amount of money they pay out for liability claims. Umbrella insurance picks up the tab and pays for the difference. The policy pays for medical bills, repair bills, and legal fees associated with the lawsuit filed against you. 

Is Umbrella Insurance Worth It? 

If a judge decides you owe more than the limits of your insurance policy, you are financially responsible for paying for those costs out of pocket. If you have substantial assets or a high income, both can be at risk of being seized to pay for your out-of-pocket expenses. Your umbrella insurance policy will protect your assets and income by paying your costs. Additionally, if you would be unable to pay for the out-of-pocket expenses, your umbrella insurance can save you from financial ruin. 

When shopping for insurance in Buffalo, NY, don’t forget to ask about adding umbrella insurance to your existing insurance policy. If you have questions about umbrella insurance, reach out to L & S Agency Inc. experts today to discuss your options. 

What every new homeowner needs to know about buying home insurance

If you are a new homeowner you know when you have a mortgage you are required to have home insurance. Home insurance is not one size fits all even if you are comparing two similar homes. Home insurance is made up of different components and each of those components needs to be considered individually to make sure you have the right amount of protection. At L & S Agency Inc. in Buffalo, NY, we are locally owned and operated. We are an independent agency that is consumer-driven, and we believe we work for our clients, not the insurance companies. 

You have options

The first thing to understand is that as a homeowner, you have lots of options when it comes to choosing home insurance. When you’re dealing with an independent agency, you have choices. Different carriers offer different combinations of coverage, and you need to discuss the things that really matter to you with your agent.

Know your risks

Liability coverage protects you from legal actions against you. As a homeowner, you stand a good chance of being sued at least once in your lifetime. If you have a dog, you need to make sure they are a covered breed. A swimming pool or a trampoline opens you up to greater liability. If you love to entertain and have people in your home and yard, this is a greater risk. 

Cover your content

Your personal property is an important part of your home coverage. Certain categories have limits. You need to know if you have expensive jewelry or electronics you probably need a policy rider to extend your coverage. You can choose actual cash value or replacement cost as to how your items will be replaced. Replacement cost is the value of your item at today’s cost and actual cash value takes depreciation into account. 

Contact L & S Agency Inc. in Buffalo, NY for all your home insurance needs.