How Umbrella Insurance Works

Posted on July 29, 2022August 2, 2022 by admin

When you already have home and auto insurance policies, you have some protection against a number of risks. However, you might not have as much coverage as it takes to pay for certain accidents. It’s helpful to get umbrella insurance in addition to those policies. Umbrella insurance is unique, and it doesn’t work like most other types of policies. When you want umbrella insurance, call us at O’Donnell Agency LLC in New Jersey.

Add to Your Other Policies

Your home and auto policies have several different types of coverage within each policy. One of these is liability coverage. The problem is that home and auto policies often have too little in the way of liability coverage. This can mean that after an accident in your home or with your vehicle, your liability coverage may not be enough to pay for the medical bills and other expenses that are due. That’s why umbrella insurance is increasingly popular. Umbrella insurance adds more liability coverage to both your auto and home policies so that you have better coverage for serious accidents.

Paying for Accidents

When there is an accident that happens with your vehicle or on your property, there will be medical bills and other expenses due. First, your home or auto policy steps in to pay for those expenses. If the maximum payout on the policy isn’t enough to pay for the liability costs, there will be an overage that’s up to you to pay. When you have an umbrella policy, it will come in and pay for that overage. This saves you from having to pay it yourself.

Get Umbrella Coverage

When you have umbrella insurance, you have a policy that will pay the overage that you owe to save you what could be an enormous amount. To get umbrella insurance, call us at O’Donnell Agency LLC in New Jersey.

How To Prepare for a Flood

Posted on June 30, 2022June 30, 2022 by admin

Floods can be devastating. They cause billions of dollars in damage and destroy our homes and businesses. The best way to prevent flooding damage is to protect your home and property ahead of time. O’Donnell Agency LLC of New Jersey is here to show you how.

Flood Preparation: What You Need To Do

Preparing The Outside Of Your Home

Keep your drainage system clear by clearing drainpipes, gutters, downspouts, and the washing machine drain. If it’s clogged, water won’t flow well.

You can improve the grade of your lot at home to help prevent flooding by adding soil in low spots, raising the grade in the center of your lot, and removing any rocks or debris that are in the way.

Reducing impervious surfaces will help prevent flooding by reducing the amount of pavement and parking lots. This will help increase the amount of rain that flows into your yard instead of staying on the surface. It will also reduce the amount of runoff that flows into your neighborhood.

Elevating your water heater, furnace, and other utilities is a great way to protect them from flooding. This is especially important if you live in a flood zone or a low-lying area.

Preparing The Inside Of Your Home

Protect your valuables by removing spare objects, large-value items, and essential documents. It’s best to store them in a high-quality, water-resistant safe or bank vault. If you don’t have access to a safe or vault, you can also store them in plastic boxes, Rubbermaid containers, or other airtight containers.

Seal your foundation and basement. This prevents moisture from penetrating the basement walls and prevents water from leaking into the basement.

If you have a basement, you may want to install a sump pump. A sump pump is a device that sits in your basement and pumps water out of your home.

Give Us A Call

Are you a New Jersey resident interested in learning more about flood safety and insurance? Contact O’Donnell Agency LLC today!

Should your teen driver have their own auto policy?

Posted on May 31, 2022June 9, 2022 by admin

O’Donnell Agency LLC in New Jersey is here to help if you have questions about auto insurance, especially for teen drivers. Give us a call or stop by today.

Insurance coverage for teen drivers

Teen drivers can be more likely to be involved in fender benders and minor mishaps as they perfect their driving skills. When there are a lot of small claims against a driver, it can increase the premiums for everyone on the policy. This is one reason why some families opt to put the teen drivers in their families on their own separate policies.

However, when a teenage driver holds on to an impeccable driving record, there may not be any reason to have them on their own policy. Some parents look to car insurance as the first major financial responsibility for their children. This can mean that they have to pay for their own policies, or that they contribute to the payment of the family policy.

Keeping your teenage driver protected is the goal. The outcome of this goal may look different in different families as every situation is unique. Whichever way you decide to go, a family policy for everyone, or separate policies for teenagers, keeping your family safe is the desired outcome.

There are many auto insurance policies that can help families with their auto coverage. Find out more today about the options available in our area.

Call us for all of your insurance needs

New Jersey residents can rely on the O’Donnell Agency LLC for all of their insurance needs. If you have questions about the right coverage for your teen driver, we are here to help. Contact our office today and set up an appointment to find out more!

What Home Insurance Can Offer New Jersey Homeowners

Posted on April 29, 2022May 11, 2022 by admin

Owning a home in New Jersey is one of the greatest accomplishments you’ll achieve, so congratulations! The team at O’Donnell Agency LLC is excited to offer you a wide variety of coverage options for your home in New Jersey, and we know insurance shopping can be daunting and frustrating. We’re here to make the process easy for you so you can get back to enjoying your home and the fruits of your labor.

There are so many reasons that home insurance is one of the best investments you can make in the largest asset you own. Buying a home is likely the biggest investment you’ve made so far in your life, and it should be treated as such.

The coverage options that home insurance can provide you with include the following:

Liability protection – If someone is injured on your property, liability covers their medical expenses
Structural protection – From natural disasters, theft, fire, and more
Personal belongings – Besides the structure itself, your personal belongings inside the home are protected

It may never be necessary, but in the event that you need your coverage, you will be so relieved you invested in a good plan. We can’t foresee what may happen, and we know that New Jersey weather can be unpredictable. Knowing that your home, your belongings, and your family are safe in many situations is reason enough to invest in a quality home insurance plan.

As you navigate the waters of home insurance, know the team at O’Donnell Agency LLC is here for you. We serve the great state of New Jersey and we’d be happy to help find the policy that suits your lifestyle and eases your mind as a homeowner. Reach out to us today.

Why should all businesses get a commercial insurance plan?

Posted on March 8, 2022February 3, 2022 by admin

Businesses that are looking for a good place to operate should consider the state of New Jersey. This state offers a lot of opportunities for organizations in many industries. While you can have a lot of success here, there are risks to consider and try to protect against. One way this can be done is by getting insurance. There are various reasons why businesses should get this coverage.

Comply with Agreements

A common reason that many businesses in this state will want to have a commercial insurance plan in place is so they can comply with any agreements that require coverage. Many businesses will engage in contracts with vendors, lessors, lenders, and investors. Due to the protections it provides, a lot of these contracts will require your organization to maintain proper insurance. With a commercial insurance plan, you will remain in good standing with these agreements.

Protect Business

Even if you are not obligated to carry a commercial insurance plan at all times, you may still want to have it to protect your business. Organizations today should always focus on mitigating risks. With the right insurance, you can offset the risk of liability as you will have insurance to cover costs if you are deemed liable for the losses of another party. This plan will also offer coverage to protect the core assets of your business.

A business that operates in New Jersey would clearly benefit by having the right insurance in place. If you want to get a new insurance plan when in this area, you should call O’Donnell Agency LLC to discuss your needs. O’Donnell Agency LLC will give you customized advice based on the circumstances and requirements your business faces. This will give you comfort that you can remain in good standing and properly supported.

Workers Compensation Myths Revealed

Posted on February 15, 2022February 3, 2022 by admin

O’Donnell Agency LLC offers multiple types of coverage. For over 50 years, we have helped New Jersey residents find the coverage they need to navigate life’s risks. We are committed to helping our clients protect themselves, as well as their loved ones. We are confident that we can help alleviate some of your stress by giving you a safety net when an emergency arises.

Workers Compensation Myths Revealed

Many successful New Jersey businesses rely on their employees to provide excellent service. Sometimes issues may arise in the workplace that could put the entire business in jeopardy. Workers comp insurance protects employees while they are on the job. If you are injured on the job, workers comp covers your medical treatment and rehab. You are also covered in the event that you become disabled. Your employer is obligated to carry workers comp coverage. While researching the policy, pay attention to these common workers comp insurance myths.

I’m An Independent Contract So I’m Not Covered

This is incorrect. If you perform tasks for a business as an independent contractor, they are still obligated to cover you through a workers comp policy. If you are injured on the job, you can pursue legal action against the business if they don’t have the proper coverage.

I’m Not Covered Because I Was At Fault

Regardless of whether you accidentally hurt yourself or not, you are still covered through workers comp coverage. The only exception is if the incident occurred because you were drunk or had drugs in your system.

Workers Comp Insurance Isn’t Necessary For A Small Workforce

If you are a business owner with employees, you are required to carry worker’s comp insurance regardless of how many employees you have.

O’Donnell Agency LLC Will Help You Protect Your Assets

Visit our website to learn more information about workers comp insurance.

Water Damage In Your Apartment? What You Need To Know About Filing A Renter’s Insurance Claim

Posted on January 24, 2022February 3, 2022 by admin

If you’ve been the victim of water damage, it’s important that you work closely with your renter’s insurance company to get the money you need to replace your damaged belongings. Here, we’ll take a look at how to file a claim with your renter’s insurance company.

Reach Out To Your Landlord

More often than not, your landlord won’t have any involvement in your renter’s insurance claim. You’ll want to talk with them, however, about the damage in your apartment to ensure that repairs are made promptly. Left untreated, water damage can result in mold growth and further damage to your belongings.

Call Your Insurance Agent

Next, you’ll talk with your insurance agent about filing your water damage claim. They may ask for pictures of damaged items, and they’ll likely have questions about how the damage occurred. Your agent may ask that you add information to your claim online, or they may be able to work with you over the phone to complete your claim. Be sure to act promptly if your insurance agent asks you to submit additional information to complete your claim. In many scenarios, you’ll have a limited amount of time to complete your claim (usually two to three days). If you need more time to document your loss, discuss your options with your agent.

Need A Renter’s Insurance Policy? O’Donnell Agency LLC, Serving New Jersey Residents, Can Help

If you’re looking for the right renter’s insurance policy for your needs, O’Donnell Agency LLC, serving New Jersey residents, can help. Reach out today to talk with an agent about choosing a renter’s insurance policy that keeps you and your belongings protected.

What value comes with a New Jersey auto insurance plan?

Posted on December 13, 2021December 9, 2021 by admin

If you live in the state of New Jersey, you will quickly find that there are a lot of great professional and recreational activities in the area. To ensure that you are able to enjoy them all, getting your own car is a good idea. Along with buying a car, you also need to choose a good insurance plan. There is a lot of value that comes with an auto insurance plan that makes it a good investment.

Protect Your Car

An important reason to get auto coverage for your vehicle is so you can protect your car. When you are going to buy a car, you will want to have access to it for a long time. If your car is stolen or in an accident, you may no longer be able to drive it until it is repaired or replaced. Your full insurance plan will give the support needed to ensure you are able to do this.

Liability Risk Mitigation

You also will enjoy an auto coverage plan to receive liability support. There is always a chance that you will cause an accident when driving. As you will need to cover damages, getting the right insurance for it is important. With auto coverage, you will get the liability support that you need to offset this concern and risk.

Anyone that is in New Jersey and needs to get a car also needs to get an auto insurance plan. As you are assessing various options for coverage, speaking with O’Donnell Agency LLC can be helpful. There are many choices to make when it comes to this coverage and O’Donnell Agency LLC can help you build an ideal plan. This can help ensure you remain appropriately covered and protected moving forward.

Commercial Insurance 101 for Small Businesses

Posted on November 29, 2021December 9, 2021 by admin

Entrepreneurs help drive the economy in New Jersey, so we at O’Donnell Agency LLC are proud to offer you a quick primer on the benefits of commercial insurance for your new business.

What Does Commercial Insurance Do For You?

Your commercial or business insurance policy will be made up of a selection of coverage that goes beyond what a typical person needs for their personal property and dwelling policies. For just a small sample: Professional liability coverage handles damage caused by your business due to an error, workers’ compensation coverage helps cover issues like employee injuries on the job, and business income coverage provides relief during temporary shutdowns. The full list of options will vary between providers.

Working from Home Considerations

More jobs and businesses are moving to remote work for reasons like the reduction in transportation and office costs at no loss when you can just as easily make a call from New Jersey to New York from your living room. While running a business out of your home, commercial coverage related to your storefront could be covered by your homeowners’ insurance policy. Whether or not it will be covered depends on the type of business you’re running, since adding heavy equipment, changing the general use of your home, or other major alterations will factor into the risk assessment.

For a service that you operate over the phone or Internet without changing the use of your home, your homeowners’ or renters’ insurance policies should help with anything that’s a covered peril in the policy. What it might not cover are other potential risks of doing business. That’s where the versatility of insurance policy coverage becomes convenient, even if it makes the process more complicated. Since you’ll be purchasing less coverage, your insurance bill should see a decrease.

To find out the options available for your new small business, O’Donnell Agency LLC can tailor your answer for New Jersey residents.

Setting Up Your Home Insurance Before Buying a First Home

Posted on October 15, 2021October 10, 2021 by admin

Buying your first home is going to be an exciting but challenging experience. For instance, you might not know when New Jersey law requires you to purchase insurance. At O’Donnell Agency LLC, we can help you understand these factors and make it easier to find the type of coverage you need.

Buying Your Policy

When you’re buying a house, you need to buy your insurance before you close. Your lender and the seller will not let you close if you do not buy a policy. The different options available for you will vary based on your area and your needs. The insurance company understands this and tries to pre-approve an approach to speed it up.

Once you get this pre-approval and Proof of Insurance from the provider, your home is almost yours. The insurance company will fax a record of your insurance to the seller and the lender, helping to set you up for closing. Once the deal is closed and money exchanged, the home insurance goes into effect.

Policy Coverage to Consider

When choosing coverage that meets your needs, it is essential to pay attention to various elements. Just a few things that you’ll need include:

Liability protection from different damage
Natural disaster policies that make sense for your area
High-quality coverage for fires and lightning
Temporary living coverage options

All of these policy elements help to make your insurance more in-depth and beneficial for your needs. Your agent will work with you to find the best balance between coverage and payments.

Take Control of Your Coverage

If you’re buying a home and want the best coverage for your needs, please reach out to us at O’Donnell Agency LLC. We serve New Jersey and strive to help find the most appropriate options for your clients’ needs. Talk to us today to learn more about the policy types we provide.

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