The ABCs of Flood Insurance

Posted on June 21, 2021June 21, 2021 by admin

Floods are always a constant flesh in the thorn of residents living in New Jersey and other parts of America. In fact, floods account for about 90 percent of all disasters in America! When floods strike, property damage is always on the card. And because your typical home insurance doesn’t cover flood damage, you need a stand-alone flood insurance coverage to protect your dwelling from floods.

If you have been thinking about flood insurance, here is a guide from O’Donnell Agency LLC to help you understand this coverage in detail.

Is flood insurance mandatory?

New Jersey doesn’t require you to carry flood insurance. However, if you reside in a location considered flood-risk, your mortgage lender will insist you purchase flood insurance alongside home insurance. But whether flood insurance is mandatory or not, every homeowner should consider this investment since all homes are at risk of flood damage.

How do I get flood insurance?

Most of the flood insurance plans are administered through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). However, you can purchase flood insurance from private carriers.

What does flood insurance cover?

The flood insurance coverage from NFIP covers your building up to $250,000 and contents up to a limit of $100,000. However, you can increase this limit at an additional premium. The dwelling coverage protects the foundation, floors, electrical and plumbing system, and other fixtures of your building. The contents coverage protects your cabinets, appliances, electronics, furniture, and other assets.

Does flood insurance take effect immediately?

Not at all. Flood insurance takes effect after a 30-day waiting period. With this in mind, you need to plan ahead if you want coverage against a looming storm.

Buy flood insurance today!

Given that your home insurance doesn’t protect your New Jersey home against flood damage, buy flood insurance from O’Donnell Agency LLC to avoid a bad experience when the unexpected strike. Contact us today for a competitive quote.

Can adult children remain on their parents auto policy

Posted on May 23, 2021May 23, 2021 by admin

With more than 6 million licensed drivers, chances are you will have plenty of company on the roads in New Jersey. More drivers mean more risks and more chances of an accident. Making sure you have the coverage you need is vital to your financial security. Having an independent agent you trust makes all the difference. In New Jersey, O’Donnell Agency LLC has an experienced team who is here to help make sure you get the right policy at the best rate. Our agency is locally owned and operated, and we have the experience you need.

Families have changed a lot in recent times. In the past, most children were eager to get out of the parental home and launch their own lives. That was in the days when there was some possibility that an adult child would earn enough money to be able to afford a place of their own. As the price of apartments and homes has risen, it has become harder for adult children to afford a place of their own.

Auto insurance is designed to cover the owners of a vehicle and others who live in their homes. One exception to this rule is college students. Most insurance companies will allow an adult child who lives on campus for most of the year to remain on their parent’s auto policy as long as their main permanent resident is still the family home. What has been happening increasingly is that once college is over, adult children move back home and stay there. This does allow them to remain on their parent’s auto insurance policy. But once the children have moved to another location and settled there, they need to get their own auto policy.

Contact O’Donnell Agency LLC in New Jersey with any of your auto insurance questions or needs.

Why Should I Invest In Home Insurance?

Posted on April 27, 2021April 27, 2021 by admin

At O’Donnell Agency LLC, we might be biased here, but there is no better place to call home than New Jersey. Whether it’s Robbinsville, Beckett, or Mountain Lakes, NJ, the state is full of serene neighborhoods to own a home. However, without home insurance for your prized asset, your investment is never complete.

Why home insurance is a worthwhile investment

Regrettably, most homeowners view home insurance as just another unnecessary expense. However, when the unthinkable happens, it’s when they realize how powerful home insurance can be. Below are reasons why you should buy home insurance.

Liability protection: Despite how careful we are, accidents are bound to happen. Your dog might bite a neighbor. A friend can slip and hurt their leg on your premises, and so forth. The good news is that when you have invested in home insurance, liabilities are taken care of up to your policy limit.
Structure protection: Your home costs hundreds of dollars, if not thousands. However, perils like fire, theft, vandalism, storms, and hail can turn your invaluable asset into a nightmare. When you carry home insurance, repairs and even rebuilding of your home is compensated when the covered risk strikes.
Personal belongings’ protection: Home insurance safeguards your clothing, electronics, furniture, and sporting equipment if they are damaged or lost.
Additional living expenses (ALE) coverage: Is your home unlivable due to hail, fire, or storm damage? Don’t panic. Home insurance pays for additional living expenses when you seek temporal shelter in a hotel.

Is home insurance mandatory in New Jersey?

While New Jersey law doesn’t require home insurance, your home lender may require you to carry standard home insurance until you settle the mortgage liability. But whether home insurance is compulsory or not, it’s a worthwhile investment for every homeowner.

Are you ready to get started with home insurance? Please contact O’Donnell Agency LLC today for all your home insurance solutions.

Who should get commercial insurance in New Jersey?

Posted on March 29, 2021March 29, 2021 by admin

Owning a business is a dream for a lot of people in New Jersey. If you are looking to start your own business here, there are a lot of ways that you can be successful. However, there are also some risks that you need to think about when running a business. Anyone that is going to start a business here can mitigate some of these risks with commercial insurance. There are several situations when someone here should get this coverage.

When Contractually Required

A key reason that you should get a commercial insurance plan in this area is that you could be contractually required to do so. Any business owner would benefit by raising outside capital, taking out a business loan, or even leasing a place of business. If you do enter into any of these agreements, you will likely have insurance requirements. You should understand these requirements and then get a policy that allows compliance.

When Looking to Protect Investments

It would be best to have a commercial insurance plan to protect your business and investment in the company. Starting a company comes with a lot of need for investments. This may require that you purchase equipment, inventory, or other assets. In any of these cases, you will want to know that your assets are protected properly. With commercial insurance, you will know that you have the means to replace them and protect your investment.

A New Jersey business owner needs to get commercial insurance. When looking for coverage, you may find that many choices need to be made. The team with the O’Donnell Agency LLC can help you assess all of your insurance needs. O’Donnell Agency LLC will also answer your questions and guide you so you can build an ideal plan.

When Does the Law Require Workers’ Compensation?

Posted on February 25, 2021February 25, 2021 by admin

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that the private industry had 2.9 million nonfatal injuries in 2019. Cases of workplace injuries are not new. As an employer, the law requires you to ensure that your workers operate in a safe environment.

Regardless of the safety measures that you have put in place, accidents can still happen. It would help to get workers’ compensation insurance. If you’re in New Jersey, O’Donnell Agency LLC can help you with your workers’ compensation insurance.

When to Buy Workers’ Compensation Insurance

Most states require companies to have workers’ compensation depending on the number of employees. Workers’ compensation is a great way to protect your business from financial losses and reputational damage. It’s vital to understand when to buy workers’ compensation, whether your company is well-established or an upstart.

You need to get the coverage as soon as you hire your first employee. If any of your workers got an injury in the workplace, you wouldn’t be held financially responsible if there’s an insurance policy in place. It is best to comply with laws relating to workers’ compensation insurance to prevent cases of criminal or civil penalties.

Workers’ Compensation Insurance in New Jersey

In New Jersey, the law requires businesses to have workers’ compensation insurance. Some employers under federal programs or those in partnerships get some exceptions. Those without employees also don’t have an obligation to get this kind of insurance.

The insurance should also cover part-time employees if they are paid wages and taxed. However, the coverage doesn’t apply to volunteers, interns, and contractors. Business owners must understand workers’ compensation insurance and cases where it applies.

Workers’ compensation insurance can be a challenging concept, especially for new business owners. For businesses in New Jersey, check out O’Donnell Agency LLC to know more about this coverage. The team will guide you on workers’ compensation per the law.

Is renters insurance needed in New Jersey?

Posted on January 28, 2021January 28, 2021 by admin

If you are in the state of New Jersey, you will find that you have a lot of housing choices and options. One popular option that people make is to rent their home. If you are going to rent your home, you should make sure that you know your insurance obligations. There are a few different reasons that you will need to get a renters insurance plan here.

Landlord Will Require Insurance

Many people here are going to need to have renters insurance when they are required to have it per the terms of their lease. A renters policy will give a lot of coverage to both the tenant and, ultimately, the landlord. Due to this, landlords in the state almost always require you to get insurance. Usually, you will have to provide evidence of full coverage for the term of your lease.

When Looking to Protect Assets

You will also want to get a renters insurance plan when you want to protect your assets. Anyone going to move into a rental property will have personal assets stored under the roof of the home. If you experience a loss from damage or crime, the cost to replace these items can be significant. Fortunately, you can get renters insurance, which will give the coverage needed to offset the cost.

Those that rent a home in New Jersey need to get the right insurance for it. When you are going to get insurance coverage here, you should call the O’Donnell Agency LLC. The insurance professionals with the O’Donnell Agency LLC can help you determine what your needs and options are. From there, the team will help you build a policy that is right for you.

Why should I invest in an umbrella insurance policy?

Posted on December 29, 2020December 29, 2020 by admin

In the state of New Jersey, it continues to be very important that you spend time assessing your personal insurance needs. One type of insurance that all people in this state should think about getting is umbrella insurance. An umbrella policy will offer you personal liability insurance protection. There are several situations when someone should invest in a new umbrella policy.

When Looking for More Coverage

One situation when someone should get an umbrella policy is when they are looking for more insurance coverage. Most people are going to receive some personal liability coverage through their auto and home policies. However, the coverage that is received will be limited by the policy limit. If a liability claim exceeds this amount, you will have to cover the balance yourself. An umbrella policy can give coverage for liability that is not covered by the base policies.

Coverage for More Risks

It would be best if you also got an umbrella policy when you want coverage for more risks. When you have umbrella coverage, the number of situations covered by the policy is rather vast. This can ensure that you are prepared for unexpected situations that can occur.

There are plenty of reasons why someone in New Jersey should get an umbrella policy. Due to the benefits that this insurance provides, you should always make sure that you get the support and guidance needed to make an informed decision. One company that can help you better assess your needs and options is the O’Donnell Agency LLC. If you do work with the O’Donnell Agency LLC, you can have all of your questions answered and pick a policy that is ideal for your situation and mitigates your personal liability risk as much as possible.

Who should buy flood insurance

Posted on November 9, 2020November 2, 2020 by admin

In the United States floods are the most common natural disaster. Billions of dollars of damage are done every year. Flooding often accompanies other kinds of natural disasters such as tornados and hurricanes. Changing weather patterns has lead to increases in the number and severity of floods. Places that would never have had flooding are finding that they are no longer safe. O’Donnell Agency LLC in New Jersey has been in business since 1888 and you can count on us to provide personalized service to all of our customers.

The simple answer to who should buy flood insurance is just about everyone. No place is safe from the potential of a flood. Even one inch of water in your home can cause more than $20,000 n damage and that is a lot of money to come up with on your own. Even if you live outside of the high-risk flood area, about 40% of claims through NFIP were from homes in lower-risk areas. Participating in this program provides peace of mind that no matter what you will be able to rebuild.

Flood insurance is sold by 60 national carriers. It is offered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency and managed by the National Flood Insurance Program. . You can choose any of the carriers and they will all charge the same amount for the policy so pick the one who you know provides good service. To purchase this insurance, however, you have to live in one of the 23,000 communities that participate in the National Flood Insurance Program. The insurance comes as two options, building and contents and you can buy one or both.

When you are ready to discuss flood insurance, O’Donnell Agency LLC in New Jersey has an experienced team who can answer any questions that you have and provide a no-obligation quote. We look forward to hearing from you.

An Introduction to Auto Insurance

Posted on October 26, 2020October 26, 2020 by admin

Every driver goes through the process of buying auto insurance. At New Jersey’s O’Donnell Agency LLC, we don’t want you to wonder what all the options to add coverage mean since most states only require bodily injury and liability. The main policy components include comprehensive, collision, liability, and bodily injury to obtain full coverage.

The liability portion of your auto policy protects the other drivers, as does the bodily injury coverage. Each state requires those two types of coverage, so any accident you cause, you can pay for the damage caused by your negligence.

Of course, your vehicle and perhaps yourself incurred damage in the accident, too. The state minimums don’t cover that. Collision and comprehensive cover the damage you incur on your own vehicle, while personal injury protection covers your medical costs and that of any passengers. Collision covers just what it sounds like. If you collide with any vehicle, you use your collision insurance to repair your vehicle if you caused the accident or collided with a stationary object. Fences don’t typically carry insurance policies.

Comprehensive covers the damage of other types of accidents that have no other vehicle involved. Weather damages autos frequently. Hail, flood, fire, etc. all cause damage covered under comprehensive. When you hit a deer with the auto, the deer probably had no insurance. Your insurance covers the damage.

PIP pays your medical bills and those of your passengers. For any accident you caused, PIP pays the medical costs of those in your car. Auto insurance is simple. When they suggest collision and comprehensive, your agent wants to help you protect your vehicle and health.

Contact the O’Donnell Agency LLC, serving the state of New Jersey, to learn more about full coverage auto insurance. Let us help you protect your vehicle.

What type of commercial insurance is right for my small business

Posted on September 16, 2020September 16, 2020 by admin

Having a small business takes a lot of time and energy. It causes a lot of stress, and you may feel overwhelmed when it comes to choosing commercial insurance. No two policies should be the same, your business is not exactly like anyone else’s, and your needs may differ. Knowing which components are right for you can save you money and make sure that you are protected. The O’Donnell Agency LLC in New Jersey is an independent agency that can offer reliable policies from the top carriers at prices that make sense for your business.

Most commercial insurance is optional, but in New Jersey, two types are required by law, workers’ compensation and commercial auto insurance.

Workers’ Compensation

New Jersey employers are required to carry workers’ compensation insurance for full and part-time employees. All that’s needed is one or more employees. This provides a worker who is injured on the job or while performing work duties medical coverage for injures and lost time and even death benefits.

Commercial Auto Insurance

If your business owns even one auto, you need to have commercial auto insurance. Keeping your vehicle separate from your business is always a good idea to avoid entanglement.

Business liability

No business is safe from the danger of a suit being filed against you. Liability insurance helps to pay for expenses associated with legal action against you and will pay the judgment up to the limit of your policy. If someone is injured at your business location or by one of your products, they may decide to sue. Even if they don’t sue, you may be liable for medical expenses. This insurance offers valuable protection.

These are just three components of a commercial insurance policy. There may be others that would be a good fit for your business. Talking to an insurance agency like O’Donnell Agency LLC can answer any concerns that you have about coverage. Give our office a call or stop by for a free quote.

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Author: admin