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2154 North Rd SW
Snellville, GA 30078

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Will umbrella insurance cover things that my business insurance doesn’t cover?

Many business owners understand the benefits that commercial or business insurance provides. For most, handling many day-to-day operations, as well as unexpected incidents, could cause many businesses to go under. However, as with any insurance policy, there are limits to how far and how much a business insurance policy will cover. Some businesses may be more vulnerable if they have operations that carry more risk. However, there may be other reasons why umbrella insurance is important. Our team at Toney Insurance Services is committed to helping Snellville, GA business owners understand umbrella insurance and the benefits it provides.

What is umbrella insurance?

Umbrella insurance is secondary or backup insurance. In other words, if you have a lawsuit or some other unexpected or serious event taking place that exceeds the limits of your primary business insurance, your umbrella insurance policy will cover whatever your primary policy doesn’t cover. Interestingly, in some situations, umbrella insurance can also work as a primary insurance policy if your primary insurance doesn’t cover something. 

Will umbrella insurance cover things that my business insurance doesn’t cover?

Yes. If your primary insurance doesn’t cover something, it’s likely that your umbrella insurance will cover it as long as it meets the terms of your insurance policy. However, it is possible that your umbrella insurance policy and your primary insurance policy won’t cover an event or situation. This is why it’s a good idea to become very familiar with the terms of any insurance policy to ensure that you get the coverage you need. Speaking with an insurance agent and discussing your business needs as well as your business vulnerabilities and possible vulnerabilities makes it easier to get the coverage you need to fit your unique situation.

Schedule A Consultation Today

If you have questions about umbrella insurance, call us at Toney Insurance Services in Snellville, GA. We’d be happy to discuss your options. 

Preparing your Georgia home for winter

Winters in Georgia can be unpredictable. It can get quite cold even if snow and ice are not common occurrences. If it rains and then gets cold, ice can be a serious issue for drivers and just walking to get into your vehicle. At Toney Insurance Services in Snellville, GA we take the safety of our customers seriously, and we make sure that one thing they don’t have to worry about is having the right home insurance. 

 Preparing your Georgia home for winter

Exterior water sources need to be winterized

In Georgia, many people have sprinkler systems for their lawns. These need to be winterized to make sure that none of them burst if they freeze with water in them. Disconnect and store any outdoor hoses and turn off the water to outdoor spigots. 

Tune up heating

No matter what type of heating system you have, you probably haven’t used it for months, and it needs to be cleaned and tuned up, and the filters need to be changed. You want it to perform when you need it. 

Clean the chimney

If you have a fireplace that you enjoy using in the winter, getting the chimney cleaned yearly helps to reduce your risk of a chimney fire. 

Get trees trimmed

With the advent of winter weather, the potential for storms that can include ice increases, and if you have a tree with branches large enough to cause damage to your home or vehicle, getting any dead or damaged limbs removed before winter can save you a lot of grief. 

Plug the leaks

Make sure that your windows and doors are not letting your heat escape. 

Consult With Us

Contact Toney Insurance Services in Snellville, GA when it is time to review your home insurance or if you are a new homeowner. We can help make sure you have the coverage you need. 

When is it a good idea to have a full boat insurance plan in Georgia?

Being a boat owner can be a lot of fun if you live in or around Snellville, GA. This part of Georgia will continue to offer many amenities, including having access to warm weather and many local lakes and waterways. If you are going to buy a boat when you are here, it is almost always a good idea to be properly insured. There are various situations in particular when having this coverage is a great option. 

When Investing in a New Boat

A situation when you will want to have this insurance is when you are investing in a new boat. A boat can cost a lot of money to purchase and care for. When you are properly insured, you are doing all that you can to protect this investment. A full boat plan will give coverage if you are involved in an accident, or the boat is stolen, and you need to repair or replace it. 

When Coverage is a Requirement

You also need to have coverage if it is a requirement. While it is not always a requirement, there are situations when boat insurance will be a necessity. If you have taken out a loan, you will need coverage to meet lender standards and document requirements. Various local lakes and marinas will also require you to carry insurance.  

Consult With Us

Having proper boat insurance is very important if you are in Snellville, GA and own a watercraft. As there are a lot of options to consider when shopping for coverage, starting your search by calling our team with Toney Insurance Services can be a great start. Our team with Toney Insurance Services will give you the help that is necessary to create a new plan and properly cover your boat. 

What does no fault insurance mean for drivers?

A no-fault insurance state is one where drivers in an accident do not need to prove who caused the accident. Georgia is not a no-fault state, so it is important to understand how that affects you as a driver. At Toney Insurance Services, we help Snellville, GA drivers understand their risks and responsibilities.

Being At Fault In An Accident Can Have Long-Term Consequences

Almost every state requires drivers to carry auto insurance. If you are found driving without auto insurance, you can face penalties ranging from fines to license suspension to incarceration. 

If you are found to be at fault in an accident that had injuries or damages of at least $500, that accident will go on your driving record. That can affect your insurance rate and even your employment opportunities.

How To Document Your Accident

The first thing you always need to do after an accident is move somewhere safe and check for injuries. However, as soon as you can, you should call for a police report.

When an accident gathers information for a report, it will include a wealth of information, such as the drivers’ data including insurance, the location and weather conditions, and the believed cause of the accident. This permanent report can preserve your claim that you did not cause the accident.

Protect Yourself

Go ahead and take your own pictures and gather the other drivers’ and witnesses’ information yourself. Document anything related to the cause of the accident, such as whether the other driver broke a traffic law or was on the phone during the accident.

Schedule A Consultation Today

Florida is across the border and is a no-fault state, so you need to have your own insurance to protect yourself if you visit from Snellville, GA. If you have any questions or would like to discuss your options, please call Toney Insurance Services today.

How does umbrella insurance work?

Anyone can benefit from umbrella insurance and you will be surprised how affordable it is, especially considering the level of protection it provides. You can buy umbrella insurance for yourself and for your business as long as you get separate policies. 

Umbrella insurance acts like an umbrella over all your assets, including your property and automobiles. Most umbrella insurance policies are sold in increments of $1 million, which is obviously a great deal of protection. At Toney Insurance Services, we help our Snellville, GA clients reach the level of protection they feel comfortable with. 

How Umbrella Insurance Works

You already have multiple policies to protect your home, your vehicle, and possibly your business. All of your policies have limits on how much they will pay out if there is an incident. After your policy reaches its maximum limit, you are responsible for paying the rest of the claim.

For instance, you could be in an auto accident where multiple people have serious injuries. If you only have the minimum required insurance, that coverage will run out quickly. Umbrella insurance will kick in once you reach those maximum limits. That means that you can only have an umbrella policy if you have an underlying insurance policy. 

Umbrella insurance will help cover the expenses for property damage, medical expenses, and any associated lawsuits.

Other Protections Your Umbrella Policy Provides

Umbrella insurance also offers protections other insurance does not. Most insurance will not help you if you are accused of false arrest, slander, or libel. Your umbrella policy may also add to your liability protection on your rental property.

 You can better protect your family and your business in Snellville, GA if you add umbrella insurance. Call Toney Insurance Services today so we can help you explore your options.

Home Insurance FAQs

Most people don’t even read their home insurance policy. This can lead to some nasty surprises. Having questions about your home insurance is a good thing, and at Toney Insurance Services in Snellville, GA, we have a team of very experienced insurance agents who are eminently qualified to answer your questions. 

Home Insurance FAQs

Do I need to have home insurance if I don’t have a mortgage?

No, the sad truth is that the state of Georgia doesn’t require home insurance, but that doesn’t mean that it is a good idea to be without it. For most people, their home is a major portion of their assets, and if you don’t have home insurance, you are risking the entire loss of your home from something like a fire or a tornado. Home insurance also includes liability coverage in the event you are sued by someone injured at your home or by a member of the family. 

Will home insurance cover my property if I lose it away from home?

Yes, it will. If your vehicle is broken into and your possessions are stolen or if you lose your laptop while on vacation, your home insurance will cover the items, but there is a deductible. 

Is my home covered for water damage?

Your home is covered for some water damage. If the damage is the result of an interior pipe or hose bursting, that will be covered. If a tornado ripens off your roof and you suffer water damage, that will be covered. However, if there is a flood, your home is not covered for damage. For that, you need to have a separate flood insurance policy. 

Consult With Us

Contact Toney Insurance Services in Snellville, GA when you want to discuss your home insurance needs. 

Key Facts You Should Know about Boat Insurance

If you love being on the water, a boat makes a great investment. It’s also wise to protect that investment with boat insurance. Boat policies offer diverse coverage options, so you can choose the level of protection you want and need. A customized boat policy from Toney Insurance Services in Snellville, GA can help you optimize your protection without wasting money on unnecessary coverage.

Key Facts about Boat Insurance

As a new boat owner, you may be misinformed about insurance protection for your watercraft. The following boat insurance facts can help you make knowledgeable decisions concerning the coverage you need.

  • First, you should be aware that home insurance offers very limited coverage for boats, so you can’t count on it to fully protect your new investment. Many home policies only cover boat towing, which is also included in a boat insurance policy.
  • The larger your vessel, the greater your need for a separate boat insurance policy. If your boat is motorized, we also recommend insuring it properly with a boat policy.  
  • Boat insurance will cover damage to your vessel from inclement weather or mishaps in and out of the water. It also offers liability protection against accidental injuries, coverage for boat theft and towing as well as loss of personal items if your boat sinks due to a catastrophe or accident.
  • Some factors that can affect the cost of boat insurance include the type and amount of coverage you desire, the type of watercraft you own and its value, the security and safety features of your boat and your boating knowledge and experience.  
  • By taking a boat safety course or purchasing multiple insurance policies from your insurer, you may qualify for a discount on your boat insurance coverage.

Contact Us for Boat Insurance!

For comprehensive boat insurance protection to best meet your needs, contact Toney Insurance Services in Snellville, GA.

Common Auto Insurance Terms You Should Familiarize Yourself With

Here at Toney Insurance Services, serving the greater Snellville, GA area, we understand that shopping for auto insurance can be challenging simply because people do not fully understand the terms being used.

Here are a few common auto insurance terms you should familiarize yourself with:

Collision Coverage

Collision coverage is an auto insurance policy feature that provides coverage for damage to your vehicle in the event of a collision with another vehicle or object, regardless of fault. This coverage helps pay for repairs or replacement of your vehicle.

Comprehensive Coverage

Comprehensive coverage is an insurance policy feature that protects against damage to your vehicle that is not caused by a collision. This can include theft, vandalism, fire, natural disasters, or hitting an animal. It is optional coverage and often has a deductible.

Liability Coverage

Liability coverage is a type of auto insurance that covers the cost of damage or injury you may cause to others in an accident. It includes both bodily injury liability, or the covering of medical expenses, lost wages, and legal fees, and property damage liability, or the covering of repairs or replacement of damaged property.

Uninsured or Underinsured Motorist Coverage

This coverage protects you if you are involved in an accident with a driver who doesn’t have insurance or whose insurance is insufficient to cover the damages. It can help pay for medical expenses and vehicle repairs.

Reach Out To Us

These are just a few common auto insurance terms that are important to understand when shopping for or reviewing your auto policy. Familiarizing yourself with these terms can help you make informed decisions about your coverage and ensure you have the appropriate protection on the road. If you are looking for a new policy, Toney Insurance Services, serving the greater Snellville, GA area, would love to help you. Contact us to get started. 

How Umbrella Insurance Works

When you want enough insurance to protect you against liability, your home and auto insurance policies may not be enough. You may need to get umbrella insurance so that you’re better protected against liability. Accidents happen both with vehicles and in the home. In both of these cases, you could end up owing a lot for medical bills and other expenses. It’s smart to have an umbrella policy so that you know you can cover these bills.

When you’re interested in umbrella insurance, just give us a call at Toney Insurance Services in Snellville, GA.

Getting More Coverage

When you get an umbrella policy, it gives you more liability coverage for both your home and auto policies. If you were to add to each of these policies directly, it would cost a lot more than getting an umbrella policy. It also adds an enormous amount of coverage. The maximum payout of an umbrella policy is far higher than the amounts that the average home or auto policy has. It would be rare for there to be any bills left over after an umbrella policy came in and paid them.

Two Policies

If there is an accident, and you have umbrella insurance, you will have two policies that cover it. The first policy will be the auto or home policy. That one will pay as much as it can until it reaches its maximum. After that, the umbrella policy will pay any of the bills that are left over. This ensures that you won’t have a financial disaster after an accident. When the policy pays those bills for you, you save an enormous amount of money. 

Get Umbrella Coverage

If you want to be better protected from your liability, give us a call today at Toney Insurance Services in Snellville, GA.

Is It Necessary To Assess Home Insurance Needs On A Yearly Basis?

Absolutely. Not everyone’s policy will need to be updated annually. However, it’s a good idea to review your homeowner’s policy needs when you obtain new art objects, for example, jewelry and hobby items like rare train sets or 100-year-old porcelain dolls.

It’s not just about expensive things like classic cars or retro travel trailers. It’s also about the structure and any add-ons such as an extra room, indoor or outdoor pool, a deck, a bay window, or adding a permanent canopy over the patio to make an outdoor room. Toney Insurance Services of Snellville, GA is here to explain why this assessment is necessary.

The 80 Percent Rule

You just left closing on your new house with only change left in the bank. You had to purchase home insurance for closing. We get it. You should know, though, that the 80 percent rule is necessary for homeowners to receive full home insurance coverage. 

You should also know that had you not bought it and/or kept up with inflation to keep your insurance at 80 percent and a disaster struck, then the insurance would only pay the difference between the 80 percent of the value of the house and the amount of insurance you bought.

Why Update Your Home Insurance

Let’s say your new house needs upgrades. You upgrade it, and the value of your home increases. The snag to that is you forgot to upgrade your home insurance. Disaster strikes. The insurance company won’t pay for repairs because the 80 percent window has been closed.

According to the upgraded value of your house, you now have, say, 58 percent coverage on your house. The insurance company will take the difference between the 80 percent it originally was and the 58 percent it is now and pay you 22 percent. You’re on the hook for the rest of it. Toney Insurance Services in Snellville, GA will be happy to walk you through what other things you should know about home insurance.

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