As a business owner, you have many options for insuring your enterprise. Finding the right coverage for your small business can be challenging, especially when faced with so many business insurance myths. By debunking common commercial insurance myths, your Curtis Miller Insurance agent in Parkersburg, WV can help you make wise commercial insurance choices.

Myth: All you need is commercial property coverage.

Commercial property insurance protects your place of business, business equipment, and inventory such perils as storm damage, lightning strikes, fire, theft, vandalism and more. At the same time, you can’t rely on just property coverage to protect your business interests.

If your business deals with the public, you’ll need liability coverage to protect you against injuries on your business property. If you have employees, you need worker’s comp to protect your workers against injuries on the job. We can help you select a comprehensive business insurance package catered to your specific business needs.

Myth: Home insurance will protect your home-based business.

Home insurance isn’t designed to protect your business interests. If your business equipment is damaged by a home disaster or a client has an accident while visiting your home for business purposes, you could suffer financial loss if you lack the appropriate coverage. By getting commercial coverage for your home business, you’ll have the protection you need against any eventuality.  

Myth: A standard BOP (business owner’s policy) will protect your small business against flooding.

Commercial insurance doesn’t cover damage from flooding. You can, however, add flood coverage to your commercial policy to protect your business against this risk. If you live in or near a flood zone, it’s advisable to purchase flood insurance to protect your business assets.

For more information about commercial insurance and the coverage it provides, contact Curtis Miller Insurance in Parkersburg, WV.

As a classic car owner, you undoubtedly have great respect for your classic vehicle. As such, you want to do all you can to protect your valuable investment. Classic car insurance from Curtis Miller Insurance, Parkersburg, WV, is one of the best ways to protect your classic beauty. Here’s what you should know about coverage under a classic car policy.

Classic Car vs Conventional Auto Insurance

Conventional auto insurance is designed for conventional vehicles. A typical policy covers the actual cash value of your car in the event of a total loss. In contrast, a classic car policy covers the agreed-upon value of your collectible with your insurer when you purchase your policy. This value is often based on the condition of your vehicle and an appraisal from a professional in the classic vehicle field. Whereas ordinary autos decrease in value as time goes by, a true classic will augment its value, especially when kept in meticulous shape.

Qualifications for Classic Vehicle Status

Not all old vehicles are classics. To qualify as a collectible and be eligible for classic car insurance, your car must meet these requirements:

• Classic: Be 10 to 24 years of age and have a historic interest, i.e. muscle car or hot rod.
• Antique: Be 25 years of age or older and have historic interest.

Eligibility for Classic Car Insurance

To qualify for classic car insurance, you must agree to rules of use for your classic vehicle. You can’t use your vehicle for everyday driving and you can’t exceed restrictions on annual mileage. You can, however, participate in shows, exhibitions, and parades and take your collectible out for occasional pleasure drives.  

If you own a classic vehicle, talk to your Curtis Miller Insurance agent in Parkersburg, WV about classic car insurance. We’re here to meet all your auto insurance needs.

Homeowners in West Virginia realize the critical importance of having flood insurance due to the heightened risk caused by climate change and severe weather. Some homeowners must carry flood insurance because the mortgage lenders require it for the home to qualify for the financing. These requirements are based on whether the home is found in a flood risk area as designated on maps maintained by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

There are new flood risks and reasons why you should with your agent at Curtis Miller Insurance serving Parkersburg, WV, and the nearby areas, to get flood insurance for your home.

Flood Maps May Be Outdated

FEMA reports that it is trying to update its flood maps. However, in many areas, the updating process is three or more years behind schedule due to budget limitations and staffing shortages. Meanwhile, we are having record-breaking severe weather.

Flood Plains are Expanding

There are two general categories of flood plains that most people may have heard on the news. They are the 50- or 100-year flood plain and the 500-year flood plain. These are areas on the FEMA maps that historically had one flood during each 50 to 100 years or 500 years respectively. 

The challenging facts are that in many parts of the country there have been 50- or 100-year floods and even 500-years floods within the past few years. In some places, there was more than one major flood in areas that never experienced them before. The flood plains are changing and, in general, the areas in West Virginia that have a risk of flooding are expanding.

River Overflows are More Frequent

The most common cause of home damage in West Virginia is flooding, landslides, and sinkholes. Torrential rains may cause rivers to overflow and may also cause mudslides. Overflowing rivers cause the water table to rise and water may seep into the home from below. Only a few inches of water that enters a home may cause severe damage.

Summary

In light of the increasing risk of flooding in West Virginia, it is prudent for homeowners to have flood insurance coverage. Contact your agent at Curtis Miller Insurance in Parkersburg, WV to get a home insurance review and a quote for flood insurance.

Successful companies are good for communities.  Effective leadership is also important for smart growth and profitability.  Many successful businesses have found quality customer service to be important for growth and revenues.  As many owners know, building a lengthier client list is part of providing good services for new and existing customers.  The community of Parkersburg WV is thankful for its businesses and the employees providing services and products.  As community leaders know, business-friendly environments are better for all new startups and existing companies.

With smart growth, many companies have more opportunities for business expansions and options for new hires.  This is also a good indication for smart planning with a company’s commercial insurance.  Whether the new office locations are being leased or purchased, an experienced insurance company can answer your questions about general liability and insurance coverages.  The owners of businesses can appreciate profits and revenue projections.  Also, leaders running a business are often excellent at communicating important company objectives for good quality service.  Product storage and office sites are additional considerations and justify a good relationship with a company such as Curtis Miller Insurance. 

Curtis Miller Insurance has experience helping companies with commercial insurance and is ready to answer your questions.  Serving the Parkersburg, WV area, the friendly staff enjoys working with businesses providing products, services or both.  For general liability or workers comp, you can call the company for additional information.  As many of the leaders know, being a part of a community that strongly supports its businesses is nicer for the residents and tourists.  Contact Curtis Miller Insurance for more information or visit their website to learn more about commercial insurance.  Whether it is new insurance or an existing policy, the experienced staff can help you with planning for commercial insurance.

 

Insurance coverage is an essential part of protecting your Parkersburg, WV business. These policies from Curtis Miller Insurance keep your assets safe from a range of potential threats.

• Commercial property. Even if you run your business from home, a commercial property policy is necessary. These contracts help you pay for damages to your property that could compromise your ability to earn a living.
• Commercial liability. When a customer suffers an injury or loss related to your business, this coverage takes care of your legal fees and court-ordered costs. Professionals like doctors, massage therapists, and those who manufacture products need this coverage most. However, anyone who regularly deals with the public should consider liability protection.
• Commercial auto. Whether you run a one-truck operation or command a fleet of delivery vehicles, commercial auto insurance provides protection against theft, accidents, and other vehicle-related problems.
• Errors and omissions. Small paperwork mistakes can cost you big profits. An errors and omission policy helps you navigate problems that occur when your contracts, advertisements, and other written material are inadvertently inaccurate.
• Worker’s compensation. In West Virginia, most employers are required to carry worker’s compensation coverage. These policies help pay for treatment and living expenses when employees are hurt on the job.

Depending on your business’ industry, size, and purpose, you may need additional coverage. Other common policies include:

• Boiler and machinery.
• Inland marine.
• Ordinance or law.
• Crime.
• Builder’s risk.
• Debris removal.

Talk to the experts at Curtis Miller Insurance for personalized guidance on your business insurance policies in the Parkersburg, WV area. We can help you understand which contracts best fit your goals, resources, and circumstances.

Umbrella insurance is an interesting animal. A lot of people are under the misconception that it’s “rich people” insurance. In reality, it’s the bridge between policies that can make sure you’re covered in areas that might escape your attention. The agents at Curtis Miller Insurance have noticed that too many people in Parkersburg, WV, are missing crucial coverage. They want to help clarify umbrella insurance so you can make informed decisions on your policies. Let’s start with that first question: does it cover legal fees?

Typically

Whenever we discuss insurance, we have to include this disclaimer: every insurance policy is unique and subject to its own specific contract rules. That said, many umbrella policies include coverage for legal fees. This can even be in addition to the liability limits named in the policy. Legal fees are one of the primary appeals of having an umbrella plan. So, always double check that your policy is worded this way, but it is not at all uncommon to find an umbrella policy that covers legal fees.

Broader Coverage

Perhaps the best part of umbrella insurance is that it’s designed to be broad. It isn’t necessarily limited to specific liabilities and legal fees. It can be extended to work internationally. It can cover all members of your household. Most importantly, it can cover instances that escape the limits of any other insurance. When you choose the right policy, your umbrella plan is the ultimate stopgap. Just remember that these are the details that will determine the final price of your policy.

Curtis Miller Insurance agents know the ins and outs of umbrella policies. If you want to explore possibilities and make sure you have exactly the right plan, let them help. They’ve been doing the same for residents of Parkersburg, WV, for a while. There’s no reason they shouldn’t help you too.

When people purchase motorcycle insurance they are typically concerned with coverage for liability and collision coverage. However, motorcycle policies can be versatile and can offer many additional protections. If you live in the Parkersburg, WV area and would like to learn about the many coverages a motorcycle policy can offer, please reach out to an agent at  Curtis Miller Insurance.

One of the many tricks people do not know about motorcycle insurance is that can cover a wide range of vehicles including ATV’s, snowmobiles and scooters. Many insurance companies consider these leisure vehicles and will insure them under a motorcycle policy. Many car and homeowners insurance policies specifically exclude leisure vehicles so it is crucial to make sure you have coverage to protect you in the event of an accident.

As most riders know, the gear that you need to keep you safe and comfortable on a ride such as helmets, boots and riding leathers can be expensive. In the event, something happens to your equipment, your motorcycle insurance policy can help you replace the equipment.

If an accident causes you to have to stay a certain distance from home, your motorcycle policy may help with the cost of lodging, food, and transportation. This is typically an “extra coverage” that you will need to ask your insurance agent at Curtis Miller Insurance to include in your policy.

If you store your bike through the winter months your policy can provide “lay up” coverage. Lay up coverage will protect you against events that are more likely to happen while your motorcycle is in storage such as theft.

If you would like to learn more about motorcycle insurance and live in the Parkersburg, WV area, please feel free to reach out to us today!

Residents of Parkersburg, WV may be interested in using their life insurance policies to protect their property or other elements of their home. We at Curtis Miller Insurance can help you understand whether this is possible and what you can do to protect your family with these policies.

Life Insurance Covers Loss of Income, Not Belongings

A life insurance policy is put into place to protect a family after the death of the policyholder. These policies do not come into play until after the person passes away, though, so an individual cannot use a life insurance policy to pay for damages to a home or their property.

However, they could create a payout plan designed to protect certain elements of their property, though these won’t be available until after their death. These payouts will be given to the beneficiary and provide them with cash to help protect their property.

How Payouts Can Protect Property

While life insurance can’t be used to cover liability or property damage, per se, the payout of a life insurance policy can be used in any way that the beneficiary sees fit. This technicality is important to understand because, in essence, an individual cannot use a life insurance policy, while alive, to pay for these damages.

However, if a person passes away and their policy pays out, the beneficiary can use this money to replace damaged goods or to pay a mortgage on a piece of property. The exact usage will all vary depending on what the individual who earned the policy wants to do with the money.

Understand Your Rights

The confusion between various types of life insurance and home property insurance may require a little help to better understand. So if you live in Parkersburg, WV and plan on buying life insurance, please contact us at Curtis Miller Insurance. We can help you better understand your policies and buy one that suits the needs of you and your family.