Insurance

Tornadoes- Stay Safe & Get Covered!

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Major storms can wreak havoc on your boat, rendering it completely useless and costing you a fortune in the process. It’s important to keep yourself and your boat safe when a major storm is on the way. We may not have to worry about hurricanes here in Austin, TX, but as you know, tornadoes can cause just as much damage. Use the following tips to keep yourself and your boat safe when you hear the thunder begins and the tornado sirens sound. 

– Get off of the water. While it may be tempting to wait out the storm and see if it passes, it’s always a bad idea. When you’re warned of an incoming severe thunderstorm or tornado, it’s time to return to shore and get the boat out of the water if possible.

– Once your boat is safely secured on shore, remove any important papers or documents if you have time. If the storm is nearby, skip this step, of course.

– Evacuate the boat. It’s not a good idea to wait out the storm on your boat, even after it’s secured at the shore- you need to head to a safer location. If a sturdy building is not available, you’ll be better off in your car than on your boat. 

– Remove your boat from the water if possible. If not possible, take precautions. Make sure your boat is safely secured to a sturdy dock. Leave plenty of slack in the rope so that your boat is able to rise with higher tides, if necessary. 

There’s no doubt about it- storms happen, especially in Texas, and it’s important that you’re prepared. Call Southwest Insurance Center for your boat insurance needs.

Do You Need More Life Insurance Than What Is Offered By Your Job?

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Contrary to popular belief, the life insurance policy that is offered by your job is often not enough. Many people are fooled into thinking that they have enough from their employer but you should really consider whether it is enough in Austin, TX. Use these questions from Southwest Insurance Center to make sure you have enough life insurance coverage.

  • Do you have enough coverage to pay for your debts? Depending on how much debt you have, you may quickly find out that you do not have enough coverage to pay for all of your debts. This could leave one or more of your loved ones with an added burden of paying off these debts which is not something you want. This is especially true if you have a substantial mortgage payment. 
  • Do you have dependents who rely on you? If you have children who rely on your income for survival, then you should consider getting more life insurance that what your employer provides. This is especially true if your spouse is not working. If you want to be able to take care of them even after you are gone, you should consider getting 10 to 12 times your annual salary coverage which is a lot more than what employers offer. You can opt for an additional amount of coverage through your employer but you may still need to get an additional policy to ensure you have enough coverage. 

If you need life insurance, you want to make sure that you have enough coverage and for many, there is not enough coverage provided by their employer. If you are interested in learning more about your options and getting added coverage, be sure to reach out to Southwest Insurance Center, serving Austin, TX, today.

Your Business Just Got Sued – What Should You Do?

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If you are a small business owner and you worry about being sued, you are not alone. An organization called Faces of Lawsuit Abuse found that 75% of small business owners worry about being a target of an unfair or frivolous lawsuit. Small business owners in America pay an aggregate total cost of about $20 million per year to defend against tort lawsuits. Klemm Analysis Group reports that 52% of all civil lawsuits are against small businesses. For the average small business, which makes about $1 million per year, $20,000 per year will be used for legal expenses to defend against lawsuits.

Three Steps to Take If You Are Served Legal Papers in Austin, TX

1) If you are served legal papers that inform you that you are being sued, accept them. It is better to deal with this type of negative event right away, rather than to try to hide from it.

2) Contact your attorney before making any statement about the case to anyone (including your own workers).

3) Contact your agent at Southwest Insurance Center in Austin, TX, to discuss the coverage you have and to inform them of the potential liability, so that they can work with you and your attorney to reduce your exposure. 

Hopefully, you already had an annual review of your insurance coverage and the coverage is adequate. This is why it is critical to regularly review your commercial insurance coverage with your agent. Very often these lawsuits, especially ones that are frivolous, happen unexpectedly.

Summary

If you own a small business, the chances of being sued are very high. It is best to be proactive in order to prepare for this eventuality. Small businesses do not have the resources to easily defend themselves when compared to major corporations that have permanent in-house legal staff. 

Be sure to discuss the potential risks with your insurance agent at Southwest Insurance Center in Austin, TX and ask about umbrella coverage, which is used to insure a small business against some of the extraordinary risks, such as lawsuits.

Before You Float, Protect Your Boat – Austin, TX

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The summer time is meant to be full of fun in the sun without the worry of unexpected issues.  However, accidents happen especially when you are out boating with friends and family.  While boat insurance is not required in the state of Texas, there are many benefits to having insurance that can help protect yourself, family, friends and those around you.  

 According to Texas state law, your boat falls under Automobile Protection.  This may sound daunting, but the Southwest Insurance Center makes this process easier for you.  They take into account that boating involves interactions with not only the water but those around you.  Should an accident happen, having liability protection is a must.  Having Personal Injury Protection (referred to as PIP) protects you should someone harm you or your boat.  Of course, there is also overall insurance much like your regular vehicle.  Each of these aspects of insurance is considered by your Southwest Insurance Center Insurance Agent.  All you have to do is make a single call.

All of this may seem to be unnecessary, but should an unforeseen accident happen, not only might your boat be covered, but injuries sustained by yourself and by those nearby could also be covered.  With Southwest Insurance Center, a single phone call can strip away the worry that comes with not having an insured vehicle.  Remember, a boat is just like a car and prone to accidents.  In 2015, over 39,000 recreational vehicle accidents occurred which caused over $487,000 worth of property damage.  Instead of waiting to find the right way to purchase insurance for your boat before you float, call the Southwest Insurance Center today and work with an Insurance Agent to find the best coverage to fit your boating needs.

 

How to Get Insurance After You Are Convicted of Drunk Driving?

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In a perfect world, no one would drink and drive. However, we are humans and make mistakes. Maybe you thought you were fine to drive or did not realize how much you had to drink. Regardless, once you are charged with and convicted of a DUI, your life changes. You may lose your license, be forced to pay fines, take driving education and DUI courses and then obtain SR-22 insurance, rather than standard auto insurance. After you have been convicted of drunk driving, here are the steps you will want to follow in order to get insurance again.

Get Proof You Can Drive Again

In order to get insurance after a DUI, you will need to have proof from the court that you can drive again. Some courts will let you have a conditional license, that allows you to drive to and from work. Others will suspend your license for a period of time and only reinstate it after your fines have been paid and you have participated in the required classes. Getting a paper from the courts that states whether you can drive is the first step to getting insurance.

Get SR-22 Insurance

After you have been convicted of a DUI, you will need to get SR-22 auto insurance. This is basically high risk insurance and is required for those convicted of a DUI, those who may have had their license suspended for some time because of unsafe driving or those who were in an accident without having insurance in the past. Not every insurance company offers this type of insurance policy, so you have to find one that does.

If you were convicted of a DUI and now need SR-22 auto insurance, let Southwest Insurance Center, serving the greater Austin, TX area help. Not every company will insure drivers with a DUI on their record, but we realize everyone deserves a second chance. Stop by our office today for a price quote or to get started on signing up for a new policy.

3 Benefits of Umbrella Insurance

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Umbrella insurance has the rainy-day connotation, and that’s exactly what it was made for: an extremely rainy day. Most events you’ll see in your lifetime will fall into certain categories. For example, if you get into a car accident, you’re not going to say that you need to make a call to your umbrella insurance carrier. However, there are times when you really will need this type of extra consideration in your life for things that can’t be predicted, and it’s better to be on the right side of the line than the unprepared side. 

1. You Can Relax 

What have you invested in during your lifetime? If your home were to be involved in a catastrophe that wasn’t a part of your insurance coverage, could you afford the damage? Would you have to file bankruptcy? Is that loss going to come anywhere close to what umbrella insurance will cost you? Making the right moves now is a necessity for a better tomorrow. 

2. No More Questions, No Explanations

When you sign a car insurance policy, you’re probably used to asking lots of questions (and if you’re not, you really should be.) Umbrella insurance takes care of all the little events that no one could have prepared for or anticipated. There will be no explanations or justifications or long arguments about how you deserve this or that. That’s exactly what you don’t have time for. 

3. You Have Options 

Southwest Insurance Center has policies that can help you determine which type of coverage is best for you. Our agents can take your information, get you a quote and steer you towards a policy that can protect all you’ve managed to build. Give us a call today for more information if you live in Austin, TX. 

3 Reasons To Have RV Insurance

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When you decide to invest in an RV, you want to make sure that you purchase insurance. Regardless of whether you plan on using it in Austin or throughout Texas and beyond, it needs to be insured – and finding the right policy is critical.

It’s Required

One of the first reasons you need to have RV insurance is because it is required. It is a recreational vehicle, and all vehicles need to be insured in the state of Texas. You are going to be driving on the roads, and therefore you need to have at least the minimum level of insurance. There are various other levels of coverage that should be explored as well.

It Offers Protection

RV insurance in Texas is going to offer you a significant amount of protection. You want to do everything you can to protect your finances. You get into any accident you don’t want to be responsible for paying out-of-pocket. This could be something as simple as property damage or something that involves multiple people or vehicles. It is going to be much easier to file a claim with an insurance company than to drain your bank account.

It Gives You Peace of Mind

Having RV insurance is also going to provide you with peace of mind. You will feel more confident when you are driving around on the road knowing that you have sufficient coverage. As far as what that coverage is, it can vary significantly from company to company. This is why it is advantageous to talk with an independent insurance agent who can explain the various levels of coverage and help you to decide what it is that you need for your vehicle.

Contact us at Southwest Insurance Center now to learn more about RV insurance. Our agents look forward to helping you every step of the way.

 

Boat Safety Tips For First Time Boat Owners

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While you may be excited about being a new boat owner, there are still some areas concerning your safety  and the safety of others that is important.  Regardless of how many years of experience you may have, or the type of boat you may have, adding boat insurance can add coverage to reduce financial losses, whereas good safety habits will help you remain as safe as possible while on the water.

Common Boat Safety Tips

In general, everyone boarding the boat should have a basic understanding of general safety rules prior to departing.  Below are five basic boating safety tips:

1. Weather

Check the weather forecast prior to departing.  If while on the boat you notice a sudden change in the weather, such as dark clouds or high winds, that’s a good sign to head back before the weather conditions worsen.

2. Lifejackets

Make sure that everyone on board has access to a life jacket and knows how to properly wear one. Many drowning victims were not wearing lifejackets.

3. Checklist

Be prepared by making a check list of all the safety items that need to take place prior to heading out to make sure nothing is overlooked

4. Experience

Make sure you or someone traveling with you has the training and experience to properly operate a boat, are mindful of other boats, monitor’s their speed  and the speed of others and steers clear of other watercraft and larger vessels. Also be sure to have a means of communication with others outside of your boat.

5. Float Plan

Make sure that you alert someone to your proposed itinerary –  where you’re planning to go and how long you plan to be  gone so others will know if you become missing.

For more information and other boat safety tips, please contact Southwest Insurance Center online.

 

 

 

Flood, Fire, and Data Breaches: Commercial Insurance Coverage to Consider

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Most business owners understand the need to acquire insurance, but may not be aware of all their coverage options. Business insurance is not a one-size-fits-all solution. It’s important to understand what’s available to create a package that best suits your business. 

Three Types of Liability – Not all liability insurance is the same. There are three primary types: general, product, and professional.  General covers accidents that occur within your business, product covers unexpected injuries that emerge from product defects, and professional is oriented towards service-oriented businesses providing work with mistakes, errors, or other forms of negligence.
Business Interruption Insurance – Disasters happen. If your business is suddenly rendered unable to operate, this coverage ensures the bills you’d normally incur will be covered during the time it takes for you to get back on your feet.
Key Person Insurance – If your business relies heavily on the skills and assets of a particular individual whose loss would be catastrophic to your income, consider acquiring this type of coverage, which offsets the loss of an important individual due to disability or death.
Data Breach Insurance – With data breaches becoming ever more common, and more companies storing sensitive customer data electronically, this insurance is vital. It can help a company take preventative measures to avoid data breaches and handle any consequences that arise from a data breach.
Commercial Umbrella Insurance – For the unexpected moments, umbrella insurance covers the things you can’t foresee and don’t have coverage for elsewhere.

The best way to build a package appropriate for your business is to talk directly to skilled insurance professionals, like those at Southwest Insurance Center, Inc in Austin, TX. They can discuss your business and its unique needs and recommend a solid package that protects your vital assets and insulates your business from the unexpected. Email an agent today for a quote.

Riding A Motorcycle In TX: What You Need To Know

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Riding a motorcycle throughout Austin can be a lot of fun. There are various sights and sounds to explore, though there is also a danger with being on a road. Find out about a few things you need to know as a biker to be sure you are safe.

Avoid the Middle Lane

You may not realize it, but the middle lane is the most dangerous for motorcycle riders. This is because dirt, debris, and oil will often accumulate in the middle lane as a result of traffic. Avoid this and you will have a smoother ride.

Get the Right Equipment

You should have a few pieces of safety equipment and gear for when you are riding. This should include a helmet, a jacket, as well as boots. All of the gear will help to make your ride more comfortable and also protect you in the event that you lay your bike down.

Drive Defensively

A motorcycle is harder to see in traffic, and you can easily fall into blind spots. Learn how to drive defensively – and if you are new to riding, it may be a good idea to enroll in a defensive driving course so that you can learn a few tips and tricks to use while out on the road.

Have the Right Policy

An insurance policy is a must when you have a motorcycle. Not all policies are created the same, and therefore you want to make sure that you have the right coverage at the right price. Working with an insurance agent can ensure that you know what all of your options are.

Call us at the Southwest Insurance Center to find out about insuring your motorcycle in Texas. Our agents will answer your questions and guide you through the process to find an affordable premium.