Living in a busy world, our lives constantly intersect with the people around us, and some interactions can have surprising consequences. It is increasingly important to make careful insurance choices to protect yourself from the unexpected. Because, even if you carry excellent coverage with high limits, situations can still arise that leave you liable for costly damages exceeding what any single policy can cover.
This is where an umbrella insurance policy protects you, by sitting over other policies, such as home insurance, auto, boat, etc., to provide additional liability coverage if the underlying policy maxes out during a claim. Here are a few cases when an umbrella policy is essential:
Car insurance claims
Driving around with friends, it can be easy to get distracted and go a little too fast. If an accident occurs and people are seriously injured, medical expenses can add up quickly – potentially totaling more than what an auto policy would cover. Without an umbrella policy, any liability expenses beyond the auto policy limits may be the driver’s responsibility.
Social Media Mishap
With so much communication happening on social media, conversations with friends are now in the public eye. Picture a teenager getting angry at a teacher – no stretch of the imagination there – and venting online. Depending on what’s said, the teacher may decide to sue the student’s family for personal injury after the blow to his/her reputation. Cases like these have paid more than half a million dollars, far beyond the standard liability limit on a home policy. An umbrella policy may step in to cover the rest of the claim.
Dog Bites the Neighbor
Responsible dog owners take the time to train and socialize their pets. However, even breeds that aren’t typically associated with aggressive behavior can suddenly act out, despite our best efforts. If a pet badly injures a neighbor, the cost can go into the millions between medical bills and future disability. Most home insurance policies top off at less than $500,000 in liability coverage, leaving a huge gap.
While most people don’t stop to think about everything that can go wrong, insurance professionals very often see the worst case scenarios, such as the examples above. I know they sound like horror stories, but, trust me, they can be a lot worse if you don’t have enough coverage in place. So, work with your insurance professional to select the insurance you want to help protect yourself and your family in these and plenty of other scenarios.
