IN Upper St. Clair Spring 2014 | Page 17

INDUSTRY INSIGHT Insurance SPONSORED CONTENT When It Rains, It Pours: Why You Need a Personal Umbrella Policy I n recent years, our society has become what some people call “lawsuit happy.” In other words, an increasing number of people are filing lawsuits for everything from emotional injury to property damage – and they’re suing for larger amounts than ever before. If someone were to file a lawsuit against you, you could end up losing hundreds of thousands of dollars or more, even if you won. While you may have some personal liability coverage through your homeowners or auto insurance policy, it’s probably not nearly enough to cover a major lawsuit. Fortunately, you can further protect yourself with what’s known as an umbrella policy. This type of policy offers a higher level of liability coverage and ensures that you and your family will be protected if someone sues you for damages. Umbrella policies: A liability coverage “extension” When it comes to lawsuits, the more assets you own, the more you stand to lose. A personal umbrella liability policy can protect you from these potentially devastating losses. These policies act as an extension to the current liability protection you probably have through your homeowners or auto insurance policy. Umbrella policies are typically sold in million-dollar increments, and you can obtain a policy once your home and auto insurance policies meet a minimum “attachment point” – typically a liability limit of $300,000 or $500,000. • • • • What does it cover? Most umbrella policies covers the following: Personal injury, in