Monthly Archives: August 2013

If My Home in Lakewood, CO is Damaged, will my Home Insurance Cover the Cost of Temporary Living Arrangements?

When your home in the Lakewood, Colorado area is damaged and is not longer habitable, then you may find that it is necessary to move to a temporary housing solution. The problem that you may worry about is whether you will be able to pay for those costs or if you have solutions to help pay for some of the expenses.

The Simple Answer

The easy answer is that many home insurance policies will provide some provisions to help pay for temporary arrangements if your home is uninhabitable. The key is that the damaged house must be determined unsafe for human habitation or for your family before you are able to make the most of the policy.

Although the insurance should provide some funds to keep you and your family for a short period of time, the amount of funds that you can expect and the method of providing those funds will vary.

Specific Details

Although most home insurance companies and policies will provide you with some funds for a hotel or rental space until your home is repaired, each policy will have different guidelines and specific requirements that you must look over to determine whether your home insurance policy applies to the situation.

Specific details, such as discovering that the damage was caused by poor maintenance, can mean that your home insurance company does not provide coverage for living costs when your house is being repaired. The situation can dictate the amount of funds or the options that you have available.

While your home insurance policy will have different guidelines and specific details, most situations will allow you to get a reimbursement or some funds for short-term hotel expenses or similar costs. For help finding the right home insurance policy for your needs, contact us to speak with an independent agent.

Do Red Cars Cost More to Insure in Lakewood, Colorado?

When you are looking for a new vehicle in Lakewood, Colorado, it is likely that you will consider the cost of an auto insurance policy before you make any decision about the best choice for your needs. Among the myths that you might hear or assume is that a red car is more expensive to insure than any other color.

Idea Behind the Myth

The idea behind the myth is that a red vehicle is an insight into the driver’s personality. The color is often associated with riskier drivers because the individual selected a bold color.

Although the bold color can have some impact on psychological evaluation, it is not a sure sign that an individual is a reckless driver. In many cases, the color of the vehicle is primarily related to the individual’s preference for colors and does not have any impact on driving skills.

The Reality

Although the myth assumes that the color means you are reckless, the facts do not back up that idea. The color of your car does not impact the price of your car insurance policy. The key factors that impact the cost of your auto insurance relate to your driving history, your credit history, your current age and the actual vehicle you are driving.

The model of the vehicle is more important because some cars have expensive replacement parts or repair costs. Those factors are more important than the color of the car.

Finding the right autoinsurance policy means that you must compare different options to find the best deal for your needs. Although rumors suggest that color plays a role in the cost, it is not actually a factor in the price of your coverage. If you want to learn more about what impacts your coverage costs, contact us today to talk to an independent agent.

How will my Colorado auto insurance help if my vehicle is totaled?

If you have ever been in a car accident and ended up totaling the vehicle, then you know how frightening it can be. In order to understand the process of how your auto policy works when vehicle is totaled, you must first have a basic understanding of your policy. Here are some things to know about how your auto insurance policy works when your vehicle is totaled in Lakewood, Colorado.

Your Auto Policy and Your Totaled Vehicle

  • Make sure you know what your auto policy states in regards to a totaled vehicle.
  • Check to see if you have gap insurance on your vehicle. If you have a loan and the value of the car is lower than the amount of the loan, you will be responsible for the difference in the payout unless you have gap coverage.
  • The auto insurance company may need pictures of the car. So be sure to take a few once the police are done reviewing the accident.
  • The insurance company will pay out money in the value of what the car is worth. If you have added any special items to the car, make sure to document the changes and inform your car insurance company before the accident happens.
  • Once the auto insurance company has paid for the damages the car will belong to them. Make sure to notify where the car has been towed so the company can locate the vehicle when it is time to dispose of the car.

If you have any questions about your auto insurance policy in the Lakewood, Colorado area, then contact us to speak with an independent agent today. It’s important that you give us a call so that we can give you specific details for your circumstances so we can help get the coverage that you need to get back on the road. We are here to help you with all of your insurance needs.

If the Accident in Lakewood, CO Wasn’t my Fault, do I Still Need to Pay the Deductible?

When you are involved in an auto accident in Lakewood, Colorado, you may be concerned about the cost of repairs or medical expenses. Even if you did not cause the accident, it is easy to worry about the possibility of paying for the deductible on repairs and medical costs. Although your auto insurance policy will give you the best details about your specific insurance coverage, the situation will ultimately determine whether you need to pay the deductible.

Usual Payment

If you did not cause the accident, then usually you are not responsible for paying the deductible or your repair costs. The other driver who caused the accident is the responsible party and that individual’s liability coverage should pay for those expenses.

Inaccurate Claims

In some situations, the other driver may claim that he or she did not cause the accident. If there are no witnesses to the accident, then you may find that the accident is ruled undetermined and you might be required to pay for the deductible and repairs personally.

Uninsured Drivers

The other situation that may cause you additional heartache is when another driver does not have car insurance. Even though that individual is responsible for the accident, he or she may not be able to pay the full cost and you might be required to pay for some of the expense. In this situation, your uninsured driver coverage should provide most of the funds and your deductible amount is usually a reasonable cost.

Although the situation will dictate whether you need to pay for repairs or not, most cases will result in the other driver paying for the cost of repairs and your medical expenses. If you want to know more about your specific situation, contact us to talk to an independent agent.