What is umbrella insurance and why do I need it?

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Many people have no idea what umbrella insurance is. It is one of the most misunderstood types of insurance. One thing it isn’t is insurance for your umbrella. Bartal Insurance offers umbrella insurance to Scranton, PA residents and we are delighted to be able to share our expertise in insurance with our customers. We are independent insurance agents, and we offer more choices, which allows us to offer better rates.  

Why Umbrella Insurance?

Umbrella insurance is excess liability coverage. What that means is that it adds an additional level of protection to the liability coverage that you already have. Umbrella insurance is not a policy you can have if you don’t already have a policy with liability coverage. Many different types of insurance have liability coverage, including home, auto, condo, renters, boat, motorcycle, and more. 

How it works is that if you have legal action against you, your primary insurance will provide protection up to the limit of the policy. If legal fees and a judgment go beyond the coverage that you have, you are responsible for paying the rest out of your own pocket. When you have an umbrella policy, your primary policy will pay up to its limit, and then the umbrella will go into effect.

An umbrella insurance policy protects your assets. It is affordable and can make all the difference when you get sued. If you have any assets at all, you can benefit from umbrella insurance. Suing people has become all too common, and if you want to protect what you have worked so hard to accumulate, umbrella insurance is an important coverage to add. 

Give Us A Call

In and around Scranton, PA, you can count on our team at Bartal Insurance to help with your insurance needs. Call us today to learn more about umbrella insurance coverage. 

How do I Know if I Need Flood Insurance?

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It’s important to know if you are in need of flood insurance, as flooding events are not included in your standard homeowner’s insurance policy. You are not required by law in Scranton, PA to purchase flood insurance, but your lender will require it while you maintain a balance and especially if they are government-backed. 

How do I Know if I Need Flood Insurance? 

In Pennsylvania, the number of flood policies has increased 750% over the past five years with 12,800 properties covered, compared to just 1,500 at the start of this period. It’s also important to note that 40% of all claims from 2014 to 2018 came from homeowners whose properties were not located within high-risk areas. 

Climate change has been responsible for stronger storms that are depositing heavier rain in areas where the soil is not able to absorb it. Your Bartal Insurance representative can help you consult with the FEMA map to determine where your property falls on this resource. 

This will contain topographical data regarding where flooding has occurred and to what extent and frequency. In addition, statistical information will be updated every five years to accommodate changing information. 

People who live in areas where there are wet weather streams or roadside ditches or culverts that overflow dangerously near their homes or where the land does not perk particularly well can be at risk. Also of concern are houses situated close to rivers or creeks that can overflow their banks or people who live at the bottom of hills on city streets where water cannot be moved off the asphalt quickly enough. 

Bartal Insurance Company Can Help You

We specialize in providing our customers with the insurance products and services they need. We welcome you to contact us at Bartal Insurance Company to discuss the specifics of your situation. We serve those in and around Scranton, PA. 

Life Insurance FAQs

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Life insurance provides peace of mind to those who count on you. It provides the money your dependents need to continue their life in the event you are no longer with them. At Bartal Insurance in Scranton, PA, we are here to help you to make the right life insurance decisions for your particular needs. As independent insurance agents, we are able to offer more choices since we represent a variety of carriers. 

Life Insurance FAQs

When should you review your life insurance?

The amount of life insurance you get when you are young may not be the life insurance you need later in life. When you get married, that requires a review, and maybe a change of beneficiary. The biggest change comes when you have children. They are a long-term commitment, and you need to provide for their welfare for many years. 

How much life insurance is enough?

Every person who buys life insurance has individual and unique needs. The amount of life insurance you need is determined by the number and age of dependents you have. If you have young children, that requires more insurance than when you are retired or a young unmarried person.  Consider your income and the number of years you need to provide it. 

Does life insurance have cash value?

Whole life insurance accumulates dividends, and it has cash value. The value can be borrowed against if the need should ever arise. 

Can I choose anyone I want as a beneficiary?

You can choose one person or several people as your beneficiary. One thing to keep in mind is that if you choose children who are under the legal age, they will not have access to the death benefit until they reach the legal age.

Give Us A Call

If you live in or near Scranton, PA, contact our team of experts at Bartal Insurance when you have life insurance questions or needs. 

What is the value of obtaining an auto insurance plan in Scranton?

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The Scranton, PA area can be a fun place to live as there are a lot of great amenities in the area. If you want to have a convenient way to get around the community, you will want to know that you have a reliable mode of transportation. When you are looking to purchase a car, you should also get the right insurance for it.

An auto insurance plan provides various forms of value and coverage:

Protection for Vehicle

If you are evaluating your needs for an auto insurance plan, you should first consider the value it provides to cover your vehicle. Cars and other vehicles today cost a lot of money to purchase and maintain. This can make it a big investment that you will want to protect. When you have auto coverage, you will have all of the support you need to replace or repair the car if you are a victim of theft or accident damage. 

Reduce Liability Risks

You also should consider getting an auto insurance plan to reduce your liability risks. There is always a risk that you could be involved in an accident that results in damage. If you are at fault, you will need to cover any costs you caused. Your auto insurance plan gives support and protection in these situations. 

Contact Us Today

Those living in the Scranton, PA area need to ensure they are properly insured at all times. Once you are ready to start looking for auto coverage, it would be wise to call Bartal Insurance. The professionals with Bartal Insurance know how important it is that you have an auto insurance plan. They will give you the right support you need to assess all of your options and build your next policy. 

Are You a Business Owner? Protect Your Biggest Asset with Commercial Insurance

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Commercial business insurance is a type of insurance coverage designed to protect your business from risk. The professionals at Bartal Insurance in Scranton, PA can provide you with all the answers you need to ensure your business is safe from any mishap.

Commercial property insurance is the most common business coverage, as it safeguards tools, office furniture and equipment, and other property from both damage and theft.

There are many different events that could impact your business:

  • Company cars could get stolen, or drivers could be involved in an accident.
  • A severe weather event or fire could damage business property.
  • Money or company property could be stolen by dishonest employees or thieves.
  • Customers could sue you over potential injuries if they get hurt on your property.

However, there are other types of business insurance. Consider the following coverage:

  • Business income insurance
  • Commercial property insurance
  • Data breach insurance
  • General liability insurance
  • Workers’ compensation insurance

Here are some reasons why business insurance coverage is recommended:

  • Contracts entered into may require business insurance.
  • Business insurance can help with costs in the event of a lawsuit.
  • Most states require insurance protection for businesses.
  • Business insurance can help employee retention and aid in recruiting new employees.
  • Many areas of the country suffer from natural disasters occasionally. Business insurance offers protection if disaster strikes.
  • Business insurance protects customers, employees, and management.
  • Business insurance helps build credibility.
  • Probably the most important advantage of having business insurance is the peace of mind it offers.

The knowledgeable insurance professionals at Bartel Insurance have the experience needed to design business insurance policies to provide the protection you require. They are a locally owned and operated agency committed to providing quality insurance products.

Using product knowledge and strong insurance background, they help clients prepare for any type of potential risk. Contact Bartel Insurance in Scranton, PA today to ensure your business is protected.

Make Sure Your Most Important Asset is Protected with Homeowner’s Insurance

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Let the insurance professionals at Bartal Insurance in Scranton, PA provide the protection you need with a homeowners’ insurance policy. It protects your home and personal property in the event of damage or loss. It can be the primary source for rebuilding or repairing your home.

Protecting Your Asset

Due to the many expenses that arise with the purchase of a home, it is a necessary protection for any homeowner. Most people live in their most valuable possession. If the home is damaged by water, wind, or hail, for example, the policy will pay for any repairs that need to be made.

A homeowners insurance policy protects your family’s financial future. But it is necessary to have the proper policy. When you shop for a policy, the limits of the coverage and what it covers should be the focus. You will have the chance to fully cover your home should a total loss result.

The personal property in your home will also be covered, but only if there is enough insurance for replacement. Outdoor structures such as sheds or garages will also be covered.

In the event you have a mortgage on your home, the lender will probably require that you have adequate homeowners’ insurance, as they have a stake in the property as well. Your home serves as collateral on the loan. If your home is damaged due to severe weather or some other reason, the value needs to be enough to cover what is still owed to the lender.

It is necessary you understand how to read your policy. There are many different types of policies available. For example, if you live in a flood zone, be sure to obtain a flood insurance policy. Flood insurance can be acquired through the federal government because standard homeowner’s policies do not provide flood coverage.

Also, if you reside in an area prone to hurricanes, landslides, or earthquakes, you may want to add those additional coverages in the event of this type of disaster.

Give Us A Call

Remember that different policies meet different household needs. Let the experienced agents at Bartal Insurance in Scranton, PA help you to obtain the protection you need for your most valuable asset. Contact them today.