Does commercial insurance provide business liability coverage?

Many business owners invest in commercial insurance to protect their assets. Our Reading, PA team at Berks County Insurance is committed to helping business owners get the necessary coverage. We know that no two businesses are exactly alike, and we strive to help business owners get coverage that meets their unique needs.    

What is Commercial Insurance?

Commercial insurance is insurance designed to protect business owners and their assets. Similar to auto insurance, or any insurance, commercial insurance provides liability protection for general risks and other forms of coverage. This insurance provides coverage for your business and employees and ownership. Commercial insurance provides liability coverage and property and business interruption coverage. Of course, a commercial insurance policy can provide a wide variety of different coverage designed to meet the unique needs of your business. This includes cyber liability coverage.

Does Commercial Insurance provide Business Liability Coverage?

Yes. Liability coverage is typically included as coverage provided by commercial insurance. Commercial liability coverage typically includes legal protection for lawsuits and protection against financial loss. This can include protection for defective products and other product issues that a business might be held responsible for. Similar to car insurance, commercial liability insurance also provides personal injury and property damage coverage. Also, commercial liability insurance can cover customer injury based on your advertising, business practices, and other negligent actions. As a business owner, it may be challenging to pay for unexpected situations that may arise. Commercial insurance provides financial and legal protection for your business. Call us if you have questions about commercial insurance and what’s covered. We’d be happy to help you explore the benefits of commercial insurance.

Your Most Valuable Asset Should Be Protected Too – Get Homeowners’ Insurance

Are you a homeowner in the Reading, PA area? Are you thinking about the purchase of a home? The professionals at Berks County Insurance can provide you with the insurance you need to protect your property.

Homeowners insurance coverage is vital as it protects the home and personal belongings of the homeowner. If the house is a total loss, insurance becomes the primary source of the rebuilding funds. It will also provide liability coverage for any legal action due to damage or injuries to another person on the homeowner’s property.

Homeowners’ insurance provides three major types of coverage:

  • It provides comprehensive coverage
  • It protects your equity
  • It protects you from lawsuits

A standard homeowners insurance policy will cover the repair or replacement of the home and contents in the event of damage. It includes damage resulting from theft, fire, smoke, vandalism, or damage due to a weather event such as hail, lightning, or wind.

The most important part of a homeowner’s policy is the level of coverage. The most common coverage level is HO2, a broad policy that will protect against 16 different events outlined in the policy.

Some damages are not covered by homeowners insurance.

  • Bird or rodent damage
  • General wear and tear
  • Hidden defects
  • Mold
  • Poor artistry
  • Rot or rust
  • Smog or smoke caused by industrial or agricultural operations
  • Termites and insect damage

Even those individuals who are fortunate to live mortgage-free need this protection. In the event of a lawsuit in which the homeowner is at fault, the security of their home is safe. As long as there is a mortgage on the property, it cannot be taken from the owner.

Contact Berks County Insurance today for a no-obligation quote or answer any questions you may have.

It is Against the Law to Drive Without Car Insurance – Make Sure You Have It

Do you live in or near Reading, PA? Are you a licensed driver? Did you know it is illegal to drive without auto insurance? Berks County Insurance can provide the insurance you need.

Driving without insurance is required in 48 out of the 50 states. Only Virginia and New Hampshire do not require it.

The primary purpose of auto insurance is to protect cars, trucks, motorcycles, and other vehicles. It provides financial protection against bodily injury or physical damage from a collision and against any liability you could face from that collision.

It also provides additional financial protection against vehicle theft and any damage to the vehicle sustained due to weather, natural disaster, keying, or damage sustained by hitting stationary objects.

The types of car insurance are:

  • Liability is a requirement in 48 states. Drivers need at least the minimum liability coverage defined by state law. Liability coverage consists of bodily injury liability that helps pay for costs related to another individual’s injuries if you are at fault. Property damage liability helps pay for any damage you cause to another individual’s property while driving.
  • Collision coverage is usually optional. However, it could be required by the vehicle’s lender or leaseholder. If you hit something, such as a tree or fence, collision coverage helps pay for the replacement or repair of your car.
  • Comprehensive covers damage resulting from theft, hail, fire, or vandalism. If a covered peril damages your vehicle, comprehensive coverage pays to replace or repair your vehicle.
  • Uninsured and underinsured coverage helps pay for medical bills or repairs to your vehicle. If you are hit by a driver that does not have adequate coverage or no coverage at all, this coverage helps.

Let Berks County Insurance get you started on your way to protecting your vehicle. Contact them today.

What Does Mixed Martial Arts and Boxing Events Insurance Cover?

Berks County Insurance provides comprehensive yet affordable insurance policies in Reading, PA, and its surrounding area. We provide typical insurance policies and not-so-conventional policies. For instance, we offer boxing/MMA Insurance to cover activities like kickboxing, martial arts, and professional-style wrestling. Please keep scrolling if you want to learn more about this special coverage.

What does boxing/MMA insurance cover?

Boxing and martial arts are considered to be extreme sports, and injuries and even death can occur. Promoters that house these events should invest in this coverage to ensure they are covered when mishaps occur. Boxing/MMA coverage covers the players, judges, and referees when they suffer injuries or even death.

Without this coverage, individuals or businesses that organize these results can face significant claims when injuries occur. Since the liability claims can be significant, this can easily wipe away your savings and assets. Worse yet, it can plunge you into debt as you try to shore up the difference.

Is boxing/MMA insurance mandatory?

With the rising popularity of boxing and mixed martial events, most state athletic commissions require promoters to purchase insurance for the participants. Furthermore, venues also increasingly require promoters to provide insurance proof before hiring out the venue. Venue holders want to ensure that they aren’t held responsible for bodily injury claims and that their property is covered should there be damage.

Before organizing a boxing/MMA event, please liaise with the venue holder and state commission to determine the insurance requirements.

Affordable insurance coverage near me

Would you like to invest in boxing/MMA insurance coverage? Please get in touch with Berks County Insurance. We offer flexible policies to meet your unique needs. We also serve numerous locations in Pennsylvania, including Reading, PA, and surrounding areas.

Why Do Renters Need Renters’ Insurance?

Once you’ve found a great place to rent, it’s time to get moved and settle all of your business. One thing that you also have to do during this time is to get yourself a renters’ insurance policy. This is a significant need that can protect you against many different potential problems. Many things can happen to your rental and what’s in it, and you need to be prepared just in case. Call us today at Berks County Insurance in Reading, PA when you’re ready for a policy.

Protection for Possessions

Because you are a renter, you generally don’t have to pay for damage to the home. That is for the landlord to handle. But, when a damaging event does happen, it can also damage all of your items inside that home. These items are your responsibility to protect with insurance. If you think about the many things you own and how much it would cost to replace them, it’s easy to see why renters’ insurance is important. 

Liability Protection

There are liability risks when you rent and the risk to your items. Renters’ insurance offers a few types of coverage, and liability coverage is one of them. This protection is important because it pays for the medical bills of a third party who comes into your home and has an accident with injuries there. The cost of medical bills is always rising, and it’s better to be prepared for them just in case of an accident. This protection can save you from severe financial problems after an accident. 

Get Your Renters’ Policy

To get started with the policy you need to keep yourself protected, you can call us now at Berks County Insurance in Reading, PA.

What To Look For in a Good RV Insurance Policy

Any experienced RVer will tell you that a good RV insurance policy is essential to the ownership experience. Not only does it provide peace of mind in the event of an accident, but it can also save you thousands of dollars in repairs. However, with so many different policies on the market, it can be challenging to know what to look for. In this blog post, we’ll take a closer look at some of the critical features of a good RV insurance policy and how they can benefit you. By the end, you’ll know exactly what to look for when shopping for your next policy.

1. Coverage

Coverage is the first and most important thing in a good RV insurance policy. You’ll want to ensure that your policy covers all potential risks associated with owning and operating an RV. This includes collision and comprehensive coverage options to personal liability and medical payments. If you’re not sure what kind of coverage you need, speak to your insurance agent for guidance.

2. Cost

Of course, you’ll also want to ensure you can afford your RV insurance policy. The cost of coverage will vary depending on several factors, including the value of your RV, your driving record, and the amount of coverage you need. However, you should be able to find a policy that fits your budget if you shop around and compare rates from multiple insurers.

3. Easy Claims Process

No one wants to deal with the hassle of making an insurance claim, but it’s essential to make sure that your insurer has an easy claims process. This includes everything from filing the paperwork to getting your RV repairs covered. The last thing you want is to be stuck in a complicated and time-consuming claims process.

As you can see, there are a few things to remember when shopping for a good RV insurance policy. If you are looking for RV insurance in Reading, PA, Berks County Insurance can help. We offer various coverage options to find the perfect policy for your needs. Contact us today for a free quote.

Getting Your Motorbike Ready for Fall

Motorbikes need special maintenance to transition from season to season. At Berks County Insurance, we want you to enjoy your rides around Reading, PA. That means keeping your motorcycle in top condition.

Transitioning from summer to fall riding takes a little maintenance to keep the bike running well. This process prepares you for those chillier rides before you put it up for winter.

During summer, you probably rode your bike in sandy or muddy conditions. It very likely picked up some dirt and debris. It needs you to wash it. Dirt and grime can damage your motorbike because they can enter the wheel wells, engine, gears, and seat.

Check the tires. Measure tread depth. Check the PSI of both tires. Examine both for foreign objects. Replace any worn tire.

Change the oil. Summer’s heat combined with frequent riding saps your oil. It probably became rather dirty, too. Fresh oil provides you with a better ride from your bike.

Ride the bike until the gas tank is near empty. Once it’s nearly emptied, top it up with the best available gasoline, then add a fuel additive/cleaner product.

Check the battery. Examine the leads for corrosion. Measure the battery’s charge and use a trickle-charger to charge it fully.

You’ll repeat many of the items you check when you get ready to put your bike up for the winter. Doing them at the end of the summer season prepares you for more enjoyable fall rides.

Let Berks County Insurance help you with your motorbike insurance, too. We serve those in Reading, PA with the insurance they need to remain secure on the roads of Pennsylvania.

How Do I Safely Transport My Boat to and From My Home?

If you own a boat, you’ve probably experienced the joy of taking it out on the water. But if you’ve ever taken a boat out of the water to transport it, you know it’s not easy! It would help if you found a way to get your boat from the marina to your home or business. But how do you do that safely?

Berks County Insurance is happy to help our customers in Reading, PA understand the ins and outs of hauling a boat. Here are some tips to keep in mind.

1. Learn how your trailer’s jack works.

All trailers are different, so even if you’ve jacked up one before, read the manual for the new one. If you don’t, you could damage the trailer or your boat.

2. Always check your tire pressure.

Your trailer’s tires will leak air, even if you don’t use them much. Low air pressure is dangerous for your trailer and your boat. The tires can heat up and blow out while driving, which could cause a bad accident. Make sure to inflate your tires properly before every trip.

3. Check your lights, too.

Speaking of things to check before every trip, make sure your trailer’s lights are working. It’s a common joke among boaters that trailer lights always fail, but not fixing them can be a severe safety issue. Not only do signal lights keep you and other drivers safe, but in many states, they’re required by law.

4. Double-check (even triple-check) your hitch.

High-balling your trailer coupler is when the trailer hitch is too high and causes the trailer to be pulled up and over the coupler. This is dangerous, so always double-check your trailer hitch is at the right height.

Even when you do everything right, things can still go wrong. Protect yourself and your boat with a boat insurance policy from Berks County Insurance of Reading, PA.

ABCs of flood insurance

Berks County Insurance is proud to be an insurance resource for the greater Reading, PA community. We can address all of your insurance needs, no matter what they may be. Call our office today and schedule a time to discuss insurance solutions for your family.

What you need to know about flood insurance

There are a lot of questions about flood insurance, and you may not be sure if you need it or not. There are a few things to know when you are deciding if you need a flood insurance policy:

  • You may need flood insurance even if you don’t live in a flood plain. Just because you are not in a flood area, does not mean that you can’t benefit from having a policy. Many areas that are considered low-risk suffer flood damage. 
  • Flood insurance can be a good idea, even if your lender doesn’t require you to have it. Often, a lender won’t require a certain type of policy, and the homeowner will think they don’t need it. This can lead you to take on more personal responsibility than is comfortable.
  • Your homeowner’s policy doesn’t cover many types of flood damage. Read your homeowner’s policy carefully. There may be several exclusions when it comes to water damage. Make sure that you have the protection you need. This can often mean getting a flood policy.

Answering your questions about flood insurance

If you are a homeowner in the Reading, PA area, you may have questions about flood insurance. Fortunately, the team at Berks County Insurance is here to answer them. Flood insurance can be confusing, and you may not know if you need it or not. Give us a call today, and let us answer those questions for you!

What does flood insurance cover?

Flood insurance is designed to cover damage to your home, dwelling, and personal belongings due to an overflow of water on land that’s usually dry. A standard homeowners policy will not cover damage caused by a flood. This is why flood insurance is purchased as a separate policy. Our team at Berks County Insurance is committed to helping Reading, PA, homeowners, and business owners get the protection/coverage they need by investing in flood insurance. 

What’s Covered Under a Flood Insurance Policy?

Floods are the most common natural disaster in the U.S. As a result, it may make sense to invest in this type of insurance if you live in an area prone to flooding. Flood insurance provides coverage for your home or business, personal belongings, and even your car. This coverage covers your external and internal home or dwelling, including your electrical and plumbing systems. A typical flood insurance policy provides coverage for your home or business for up to $250K. 

Flood insurance also provides up to $100K for personal items, including clothing, furniture, TVs, PCs, laptops, and any other personal items in your home or business. Even the clean-up after the flood is covered under a flood insurance policy. An additional $30K classified as "increased cost of compliance" charges is also available to meet state and local regulations to repair a property damaged by a flood.

Other Considerations

Home and business owners who feel they may need more flood insurance can purchase additional coverage. Our team at Berks County Insurance can discuss your situation to determine how much flood insurance you need to protect your home, business, and personal belongings.