Georgia homeowners are always asking, "am I covered for water damage"? In light of a huge influx of water damage claims over the past few weeks stemming from the severe winter weather in Texas and other states, we thought it would be a good idea to go ahead and clear this up for Georgia homeowners. 

The answer: sometimes.

Of course with insurance, it can never be too easy or cut and dry. There are some cases where water damage is never covered. There are some cases where water damage is almost always covered. And then there are some cases where it will depend on the circumstances and the policy contract language. Let's look at each of these scenarios:

When is water damage NEVER covered on a Georgia homeowners policy?

Water damage will never be covered if the water is coming from the ground. If it is coming from the ground, it is considered flood water and would only be covered by a flood policy. In some states, some specialty carriers have added an endorsement for this but, as of now, there's not a Georgia home insurance policy that will cover flood damage or damage from ground water.

Even if you're not in a flood plain, your home can still get damage from ground water. How you might ask? Over the years, we've seen several claims that were subsequently denied due to the damage coming from ground water. 

In a few instances, rain water was being redirected by down spouts to run up against the side of the home and foundation. Over time, this will allow water to seep through and begin causing damage to the interior of your home. 

In other instances, cracks in the basement foundation of homes has caused water to be able to seep through. 

This is one of the reasons you may want to consider getting a flood insurance policy to help protect your home in Georgia. 

When is water damage ALMOST always covered?

If an outside force causes sudden and accidental damage to your home to allow rain water to leak through or if the sudden and accidental damage results in a broken pipe. Unless you have a poorly written home insurance policy with specific exclusions, damage like this will almost always be covered by your Georgia home insurance policy. 

Another instance where water damage is almost always covered is when there is an accident. For example, you're filling up the bathtub, you run downstairs to get something while the water is running. You get distracted and next thing you know there's water coming through the ceiling. Unintentional accidents like this are almost always going to be a covered loss. 

When is water damage sometimes covered?

Water damage has potential to be covered by a Georgia homeowners policy when the loss is due to freezing and unfreezing (weather). Most Georgia home policies state that this is covered as long as the insured has made an effort to maintain heat inside the home. If you go out of town and turn the heat off in the dead of winter, this might not be covered. But generally speaking, as long as you keep the heat on, this should be a covered loss. 

Another situation that has potential for coverage is when there is a small leak that goes unnoticed. This will boil down to the policy language and the company you have your home insurance with. Some companies specifically exclude this type of leak. Others will cover this as long as the damage is addressed as soon as it is noticed. It is very important for you to read your policy, however boring it may be, to see if this is something that would be covered on your Georgia home insurance policy.

The Roberts Insurance Group is a Georgia Insurance Broker specializing in commercial and personal insurance for our clients throughout the state of Georgia. We help our clients lower their cost of insurance with our superior claim and risk management expertise and our extensive carrier access. We are in the business of building relationships with our clients to help them grow and succeed. Contact us today to see what we can do for your family or business.

Things change, times change, vendors change, operations change, government requirements change, client expectations change. So ask yourself, how are things different today in your business and are your insurance policies right for the circumstances you’re in today?

Failing to review your business insurance can put everything you’ve worked so hard to build at risk.
With all of that in mind, here are eight questions Georgia business owners need to ask as you approach your policy renewal date:

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1. If your business has added staff, added office space or operations, congratulations! Now let’s talk about what additional or special coverages you might need at renewal. Don’t leave yourself uninsured or under-insured. Insurance carriers consider company size, revenue and funding among a long list of factors when quoting your premium. So if you’ve grown rapidly in the past year (again, congrats!) don’t be surprised if your insurance costs increase.

2. Have you entered into a joint venture, partnership or LLCs? As you grow your business, new exposures develop, so, again, a good reason to make sure coverage is properly adjusted at renewal.

3. Has your insurance carrier performed a risk control survey of your company’s operations and issued formal safety or loss prevention recommendations? Be sure you have addressed these issues and documented your compliance.

4. Do you have coverage to help carry you through the period following a fire or other loss, when you may not receive income from your customers? Business income insurance bridges that gap to help you pay bills and key employees until you are able to reopen.

5. Have you reviewed loss runs with your agent to confirm your claim records are correct and updated? Be sure that any conditions that caused claims have been addressed and solutions have been forwarded to the carrier for underwriting consideration at renewal.

6. Do you rely on networks, computers, and electronic data to conduct business? Do you handle or store sensitive customer data? Traditional coverage forms, including Property, General Liability, Crime and Errors & Omissions, typically do not adequately cover the information and network security risks of modern business operations. You may need to consider purchasing cyber or data breach coverage.

7. Do you have strong safety programs and risk management oversight? If you believe in your risk management and safety programs, then accepting higher deductibles could yield premium savings.

8. Do you have the right coverage in the event a customer sues? Even if you are not at fault, defending your reputation still will cost money. For example, General Liability does not cover claims arising out of the delivery of professional services. To address those exposures, talk to your agent about Professional Liability.
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Finally, while it may seem like a lot of trouble, the best commercial insurance brokers will be able to work through renewal with you fairly painlessly. That’s why renewal also is a good time to evaluate whether your broker is a good fit. If the process feels a lot like filling out college apps by yourself — overwhelming, complicated, and frustrating — it might be time to shop for a new broker.

The Roberts Insurance Group is a Georgia Insurance Broker specializing in commercial and personal insurance for our clients throughout the state of Georgia. We help our clients lower their cost of insurance with our superior claim and risk management expertise and our extensive carrier access. We are in the business of building relationships with our clients to help them grow and succeed. Contact us today to see what we can do for your business. 

When contractors have a loss to their equipment, it can put their entire business in jeopardy. For example, when a warehouse fire destroys all of the business' equipment, it will take some time to file a claim and acquire new equipment. Even if the claim is processed quickly, what if the equipment is back ordered? It's safe to say the current jobs/contracts are going to be at risk, along with upcoming jobs and projects. This is why it is crucial for Georgia contractors to have Business Interruption Insurance. 

Choosing a BII coverage limit can be challenging with many loss variables involved. It’s important to get enough coverage to bridge potential income interruptions.

Here are 10 key questions contractors should ask when considering what BII limit they need:

1. What equipment, tools, supplies, paperwork and other assets would you lose in a fire or other disaster?
   
   
2. Without those items, how much revenue would you lose per week or month?
   
   
3. While you're unable to work, what expenses would continue to accrue?
   
   
4. How long would it take to replace everything?
   
   
5. How long would it take to replace just the critical items?
   
   
6. If these items aren’t readily available, what items can you substitute, and what kind of delay will be involved in getting the substitutes?
   
   
7. Can you temporarily rent or borrow needed items?
   
   
8. Once everything is replaced, how long will it take to get your operation back to 100 percent?
   
   
9. What kind of extra expenses would you incur (such as penalties for failure to meet a contract deadline, rush shipping on supplies or equipment, labor to update contracts)?
   
   
10. What kind of loss could you sustain if a fire or other covered peril affects one of your key vendors?

Taking the time to run through these scenarios and calculate the potential loss exposure can pay huge dividends down the road. In fact, it can make the difference between protecting your profits and filing for bankruptcy.

How would your business fare if you were unable to operate for a week? A month? A few months? You get the picture. 

Since business interruption insurance is among the least understood coverage types, many contractors simply don’t have enough coverage – and that’s one of the biggest causes of business failure following a fire or other disaster.

If you or a crucial supplier suffered a fire or other disaster, would your income be in jeopardy? For more information about protecting your profits with business interruption insurance, talk to the construction insurance specialists at the Roberts Insurance Group today.

The Roberts Insurance Group is a Georgia Insurance Broker specializing in commercial and personal insurance for our clients throughout the state of Georgia. We help our clients lower their cost of insurance with our superior claim and risk management expertise and our extensive carrier access. We are in the business of building relationships with our clients to help them grow and succeed. Contact us today to see what we can do for your business. ​

According to government statistics, there are approximately 3 million work-related illnesses and injuries reported every year, or approximately 2.9 cases per 100 full-time employees. Benefit payments totaled nearly $62 billion for the most recent year in which figures were available.

Construction, as you might imagine, sees its fair share of work-related injuries but so does manufacturing, the retail sector and even finance and insurance, among others.

So, what are some of the do’s and don’ts for employers and injured workers considering filing a workers’ compensation claim? Let’s start with employers:

• Do get medical treatment for your employee. Give your employee your designated provider list notification letter and take your employee to the doctor. Your employee will appreciate your concern, and you will gain important information about the injury, recommended treatment and outlook for returning to work.
• Do investigate the accident. Use your carrier’s Accident/incident Investigation Report and Employee Accident Report. Complete your investigation immediately, before memories fade and evidence is lost.
• Do report the injury to your carrier, don’t wait to report if you don’t have all the information.
• Do complete a plan for modified duty if your employee is unable to return to regular duty work.

Here, too, are a few do’s and don’ts that, if you’re an employer, you can share with your workers:

• Do file a claim on a timely basis. Waiting does no one any good and only raises questions about the seriousness of your injury.
• Do take time to review the important information about your rights, responsibilities, benefits and assistance available to you sent by the claims examiner and the state workers’ compensation agency. It’s important to understand your benefits and to be actively engaged in helping to manage your claim.
• Do be honest and upfront about the injury and any prior injuries or accidents to the affected body parts. It’s crucial to be thoroughly transparent about your injury or risk losing your benefit.
• Do communicate with the employer and the claims adjuster about your medical status and work status to avoid delays in receiving benefits and the necessary medical treatment.
• Do follow the doctor’s orders. Ignoring them puts your health at risk, not to mention your benefits. Along these lines, don’t discontinue medical treatment before being released.
• Don’t seek medical treatment from unauthorized providers. Going to a doctor who’s out of your network could leave you without coverage.
• Don’t delay returning to work once you’re able.

The Roberts Insurance Group is a Georgia Insurance Broker specializing in commercial and personal insurance for our clients throughout the state of Georgia. We help our clients lower their cost of insurance with our superior claim and risk management expertise and our extensive carrier access. We are in the business of building relationships with our clients to help them grow and succeed. Contact us today to see what we can do for your business. 

When many people think of a commercial auto insurance policy, they may think of big vehicles such as semi-trucks, box trucks, garbage trucks, etc. However, there are many variations of vehicles that would qualify for a commercial auto insurance policy.

How to Determine If You Need a Commercial Auto Insurance Policy

1. If you're using your vehicle to transport business equipment.
2. Freight transportation- Is your vehicle used to transport non-owned goods? If so, you need a commercial auto policy. 
3. Towing vehicles
4. Delivering food or goods- Amazon drivers, food delivery drivers, etc.
5. Using your vehicle to transport passengers for a fee- Uber, Lyft, taxi, limo, bus, etc.
6. If your vehicle is owned by your business or used over 50% of the time for business purposes. 
7. If your vehicle is over 10,000 lbs., you may need a commercial auto policy.

How Is A Commercial Auto Insurance Policy Different Than My Personal Auto Insurance?

Since your vehicle is being used for business purposes, there are different risks that need to be insured. Additionally, the rating system used by companies is entirely different than a personal auto policy.  Each commercial policy needs vary, so contact us to help evaluate what type of coverage and limits your business needs. For Georgia business owners with many vehicles to insure, business auto fleet policies are available. Additionally, consider adding a commercial umbrella policy above and beyond your standard commercial auto policy to protect your business from a catastrophic vehicle accident claim.

How Much Does Commercial Auto Insurance Cost?

Just like your personal auto insurance policy, a commercial auto insurance policy is rated on many factors. Here are a few common examples of what could determine your insurance rate.

• Driving records
• Driver age
• Credit history
• The size & type of your vehicle
• The number of vehicles you are insuring
• What you plan to transport
• Your industry
• How your vehicle(s) are used
• Vehicle radius of operation

Not Sure What Kind of Coverage You Need for Your Business?

That is where we can help.  Our agents at the Roberts Insurance Group can help determine what type of coverage will be the best fit for your specific needs. If you plan to use your vehicle for business and personal purposes, we can help you determine an appropriate type of policy. If you are only looking to cover your vehicle for business use, we can help find you the best rate. We will explain all of your options so you understand your policy. Get a free commercial auto insurance quote by calling or emailing us.

Becoming a real estate investor is a great way to earn a living and grow your wealth. Some investors focus on rental properties and passive income. Some focus on fix and flips. Some focus on residential and others on commercial properties. And some do a little bit of everything!

Whatever your focus is as a real estate investor, you want to make sure your income and assets are properly protected. The last thing a successful investor wants is to lose the assets and income they have worked so hard to build. This is why it is crucial for investors to work with an independent insurance broker to ensure they have the right type of policy or package for their situation.

Some things to consider:

The type of policy you have matters 

A long term rental property is going to be on a different type of policy versus a fix and flip. Fix and flip policies are going to cover properties while they are vacant, while a long term rental property policy will not. New construction policies, like a Builder’s Risk, will be totally different than other types of investment property insurance. In addition, long term rental properties are going to be covered differently than short term rentals like Air BnB’s. You need to work with your broker to make sure they have all of the facts and have your property and investment properly covered. 

The only thing worse than having no insurance is having the wrong insurance. Having the wrong type of insurance means that you’ve paid premiums only to have your claims denied!

Something else to note is that commercial properties will need to be on a totally different policy form versus residential. To add to this, some companies will transition your residential rental portfolio to a commercial account once you have a certain number of properties. This differs from company to company. 

Having loss of rental income and adequate liability coverage is crucial

Loss of rental income will pay your lost income while your property is being fixed or renovated due to a covered claim, which is very important to make sure your bottom line is in-tact. 

Having the proper amount of liability coverage is crucial to ensuring your income and assets are protected if you or your business is involved in a lawsuit. Consult with your attorney or CPA on how much your business needs, but generally speaking you’ll want to make sure you have enough to cover all of your assets. In the state of Georgia, losing a lawsuit means that you’re subject to wage garnishment and/or asset seizure if necessary. Getting a large amount of liability insurance is very affordable and can be purchased for pennies on the dollar. In most cases, it will be with a combination of your property policy’s underlying limits plus an umbrella policy. 

Lastly, you need to make sure that you aren't over-paying for your insurance. As an investor, your bottom line is all that really matters. Your profit margins can be diminished quickly if you aren't careful. This is why it is important to work with an independent insurance broker who can evaluate your coverage with several different companies to make sure that you’re getting the right coverage at the best price. 

At the Roberts Insurance Group we specialize in working with all types of real estate investors. If you’d like to see how we can help your portfolio and bottom line give us a call at 678-250-8133 or click here!

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Welcome to our new insurance agency blog!
 
This is our very first post. We're not quite sure what we're going to write about here, but the plan is to create helpful content for customers and prospective clients about information that is relevant to you.
 
We hope you'll come to view this as a top resource for keeping your family and your finances safe.
 
Here are a few of the topics we may be writing about:

• Answers to clients' frequently asked questions.
• Helpful information about insurance shopping.
• Safety and Health Tips and Ideas.
• Local Community Information.

 
Stay Tuned!