IN Bethel Park Spring 2018

INDUSTRY INSIGHT INSURANCE SPONSORED CONTENT If If a a Tree Tree Falls Falls in in the the Neighborhood Neighborhood and and No No One One is is There There to to Hear Hear it... it... Does Does Your Your Insurance Insurance Cover Cover It? It? A beautiful tree covered in pristine white from the year’s first heavy snowfall may seem A beautiful covered pristine white from the year’s first heavy snowfall may seem like a lovely tree crystal dream in one minute, and a crashing dark nightmare the next. like lovely of crystal dream one minute, crashing dark nightmare the next. The a weight ice and snow or wind and and rain a can quickly bring a tree down in your yard, The weight of ice and your snow or wind and rain can quickly a tree down in your yard, on your house or on neighbor’s property. Who pays bring for this? That answer is often on your house or on your neighbor’s property. Who pays for this? That answer is often misunderstood. misunderstood. Your homeowner’s policy coverage will depend on how the tree fell, why the tree fell Your homeowner’s policy coverage will depend on how that the tree fell, what why the tree fell and what the tree fell on. There are insurance standards dictate is covered. and the tree enhance fell on. There are insurance that what is covered. Many what companies standard coverage standards and expand it. dictate Erie insurance offers this Many companies enhance coverage and your expand it. Erie carrier’s insurance offers this enhanced coverage. If you standard have questions about insurance coverage you enhanced coverage. If you have questions about your insurance carrier’s coverage you would need to call your agent. would need to call your agent. Scenario 1: A tree falls in your yard due to weather conditions but doesn’t hit anything. Scenario 1: A offers tree falls your yard due to weather but doesn’t hit anything. Erie insurance $500 in per tree for removal or up to conditions $1000 for the total loss no Erie insurance offers $500 tree A for standard removal home or up policy to $1000 for the provides total loss no no coverage. matter how many trees are per down. however matter how many trees are down. A standard home policy however provides no coverage. Scenario 2: A tree falls due to weather conditions and hits your house, your fence or Scenario 2: A tree in falls due to weather hits your house, the your tree fence another structure your yard. Erie will conditions pay for the and entire cost to remove and or another structure in your Erie to will the pay for the entire cost to policy remove will pay for the damage the yard. tree does structure. A standard will the pay tree for and will pay for the limit damage the tree to does to the structure. A standard policy will pay for damages but tree removal $500. damages but limit tree removal to $500. Scenario 3: Your tree falls in your yard, and in your neighbor’s yard damaging their Scenario 3: Your tree If falls in your and in your neighbor’s yard home or structures. the tree f alls yard, due to weather conditions then Erie damaging would pay their for the home or of structures. the yard tree and falls for due damages to weather conditions would damage pay for the removal the tree in If your to your home. then Your Erie neighbors removal the tree in your and for damages to your home. Your need neighbors and tree of removal would not yard be covered by your policy. They would to file a damage claim on and would not be covered by your policy. They for would to file damages a claim on their tree own removal policy. Your insurance would only be responsible your need neighbor’s their own policy. Your insurance would only responsible for your neighbor’s damages and removal if you caused the tree to fall by be cutting it, or failed to take reasonable action and removal if you caused the tree to by cutting to remove a clearly dead, damaged or fall dying tree. it, or failed to take reasonable action to remove a clearly dead, damaged or dying tree. When a tree falls due to weather conditions, the bottom line is that it is the responsibility When a tree falls due to weather line is that of it is the the property responsibility of the homeowner where the tree conditions, lands, and the not bottom the responsibility owner of the homeowner the These tree lands, and and not unexpected the responsibility property where the tree was where standing. natural losses of to the healthy trees owner are not where tree was and standing. These and unexpected losses to healthy trees are are not caused the by anyone, therefore no natural one is liable for the loss. All payments for the loss caused anyone, and therefore one personal is liable for the loss. All payments for the loss are subject by to the deductible limits on no your policy. subject to the deductible limits on your personal policy. Understanding coverage can be tricky and making sure you have right coverage to protect Understanding coverage can be future tricky and making you have right to protect your home, family and financial shouldn’t be sure left to chance. Have coverage an insurance your home, family financial future shouldn’t be left to chance. Have professional at the and Bill Flinn Agency review your coverage and advise you an on insurance how to professional at the Bill Flinn Agency review your coverage and advise you on how to properly protect everything you’ve worked so hard to achieve. properly protect everything you’ve worked so hard to achieve. This INdustry INsight was provided by Jason Flinn at The Bill Flinn Agency. This INdustry INsight was provided by Jason Flinn at The Bill Flinn Agency. For over 40 years The Bill Flinn Agency has been For over the 40 years Bill and Flinn Agency been serving Bethel The Park South Hills has communities. serving the Bethel South our Hills communities. Since opening our Park doors and in 1972 mission has Since opening our customers doors in 1972 our golden mission has Learn been to treat our by the rule. been treat us our by the golden rule. Learn more to about at customers www.billflinnagency.com, or stop more www.billflinnagency.com, by our about office us on at South Park Road in the heart or of stop Bethel. by our office on South Park Road in the heart of Bethel. There are no guarantees in life. Lifelong peace of mind can Lifelong peace of mind can be be yours yours with with ERIEflex4. ERIEflex4. SM SM Let’s Let’s talk talk life life insurance. insurance. Guaranteed death benefit can extend to age 121. Guaranteed death benefit will expire if no premiums are paid following initial premium, subsequent premiums are insufficient or account value is reduced by Guaranteed can extend age Agent 121. Guaranteed death for benefit will expire if no premiums withdrawal or death loan. benefit Contact your local to ERIE or see the policy details. are paid following initial premium, subsequent premiums are insufficient or account value is reduced by withdrawal or loan. Contact your local ERIE Agent or see the policy for details. Bill Flinn Agency Inc Bill Inc 2754 Flinn S Park Agency Rd 2754 Park Rd Bethel S Park, PA 15102-3858 Bethel Park, PA 15102-3858 www.billflinnagency.com www.billflinnagency.com 412-833-5351 412-833-5351 ® ERIE life insurance products and services are provided by Erie ® Family Life Insurance Company. Information regarding additional ERIE life insurance exclusions, products and services provided by Erie terms, conditions, licensure and are territory information Family Life Insurance Company. Information regarding additional is available at erieinsurance.com/life. Eligibility for insurance terms, conditions, exclusions, licensure territory based information coverage will be determined at the time of and application, upon is available at erieinsurance.com/life. Eligibility for insurance applicable underwriting guidelines and rules in effect at that time. coverage will be determined at the time of application, based upon S1603 5/14 underwriting © 2014 Erie guidelines Indemnity and Company applicable rules in effect at that time. S1603 5/14 © 2014 Erie Indemnity Company BETHEL PARK ❘ SPRING 2018 23

IN Bethel Park Spring 2018 | Page 25