increased available limits, usually up to your
liability limits which your auto policy provides
to others for injuries incurred in accidents you or
another insured driver may cause. Similarly, it is
vitally important to make sure that your umbrella
policy has UM/UIM coverage increased up to
the limits provided by your umbrella policy.
In essence, by providing for the appropriate
levels of UM/UIM coverage in your auto and
umbrella policies, you will be making sure the
same protection is provided for you and your
family members should they be in an accident
caused by another driver, as coverages you are
providing to others should you or your family
members cause an accident which injures them.
PERSONAL LINES - HOMEOWNER’S
COVERAGE
While most people are familiar with personal
auto coverages, your homeowner’s policy
for your primary residence can and should
provide a number of additional benefits beyond
insuring the fair market value or replacement
cost coverage (limits must usually be carried
for at least 80% of the actual replacement cost
of the damaged property) for the damage or
destruction of your personal residence and
its contents. A number of these coverages
(sometimes provided through supplemental
endorsements for a modest additional premium)
are not as well known or as self-evident as is
coverage for unexpected damage from naturally
occurring perils such as wind, lightning, hail,
gas or electric utility failures, frozen pipes, etc.
Other perils which may be covered by your
homeowner’s policy (and you should have) include:
• Coverage to defend you and provide payment
for any settlement or judgment up to a specific
limit due to a dog bite or other injury caused
by a pet;
• Coverage for personal injury protection to
defend you and provide payments up to a
specific limit for accusations that by word
(slander) or writing (libel) that you defamed
the reputation and integrity of another person;
• Coverage for invitees, guests and even
trespassers for injuries they may sustain from
slipping and falling either in your home or on
your property due to an alleged defect;
• Coverage for damage caused to your home by
raccoons, bats, or other wild animals. 1 For
example, millions of dollars are paid out by
insurers to homeowners nationwide in late
fall due to raccoons trying to get out of the
cold by crawling down chimneys or entering
through attic vent screens. (You may receive a
reduction in your premium if you have/install
wire mesh coverings to all chimneys and other
potential entrances into your home);
• Coverage for injuries to invitees, guests,
and even trespassers from trampolines, play
houses, playgrounds, etc. on your property;
• Coverage for being sued arising out of your
service (without compensation) to not-for-
profit organizations;
• Coverage for loss or theft from your premises
for specifically identified valuable personal
property, such as laptops, jewelry, art, etc.
(usually if they are specifically scheduled);
1 Damage caused by “vermin” such as mice, squirrels, chipmunks, etc. is usually excluded from most
homeowner’s policies.
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