If you ever doubt the value of car insurance, health insurance – or wearing a seat belt – you need to check out the traffic crash statistics put out each year by the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. There are around 700 traffic crashes daily in the Sunshine State. That’s no surprise in itself – we’re one of most heavily populated states in the nation, and accidents happen. What continues to be surprising is the percentage of drivers who fail to protect themselves by using the seat belts in their vehicles – around 60% of those killed in vehicle accidents in Florida are not wearing seat belts at the time.

A traffic accident can result not only in death or injury but also in financial disaster. If you don’t have adequate vehicle insurance you may find yourself having to pay for damages caused to the property of others as well as the cost of replacing your own vehicle and medical expenses. If you’re injured or without transportation and cannot work, that will be more difficult.

Accidents will continue to happen but you can protect yourself by:

• Driving safely & staying alert
• Wearing your seat belt or helmet
• Taking out car insurance

While you shouldn’t live life or drive in constant fear of having an accident, it makes sense to protect yourself physically and financially in case one occurs – you cannot always control the events around you. If you drive safely and maintain your car insurance, you can relax and enjoy life just a little more in the Sunshine State. Why not give Protection Connection Insurance a call now (800.925.0759) for a free car insurance quote?

General Liability coverage is one of the most important types of insurance policies that a business can hold. It is a protection that many businesses will purchase, but not always a protection that business owners understand. It is important that you review all of your business insurance policies with your insurance agent in order to ensure that you and your financial wellbeing are always covered. General liability insurance is typically outlined like this:

• You have a general limit of $1,000,000 per liability issue occurrence and a limit of $2,000,000 for your overall policy
• You have terrorism coverage that since September 11 is no longer optional
• Your policy is automatically renewed every year, so make sure any endorsements and adjustments to it are completed
• There is no fee for creating this policy. You have a set premium that can be financed at no charge to your per month.

It is also important to understand which “market” you fall into in terms of liability. If you are in the “standard market,” then your occupation has low risk (i.e. lawyers, technical companies). If you are in a “surplus market,” then you occupation has high risk (i.e. roofers, construction). General liability coverage is available only to those businesses that fall into the “standard market.” If your business falls into the “surplus market,” you will need to purchase Excess Surplus insurance, which can be more expensive and provide less coverage than standard general liability.

Business owners in Florida should contact Protection Connection Insurance for more information and a free quote on general liability insurance. Jones Insurance has formed the Protection Connection, a secure website to help with all of your insurance shopping. Visit our virtual insurance office today at www.protectionconnectioninsurance.com!

Purchasing insurance for your business is a no brainer. In today’s economy, most business owners cannot afford to take any chances. You may find yourself confused as to what kind of coverage you will need for your business, especially when it comes to the property itself. Usually, purchasing what is called a Commercial Property insurance line is the best choice for businesses.

It is important to understand what is generally covered and what is considered “property” of your business. Almost every insurance agency will have a different definition of what is considered “property” of a business and what will be protected under a commercial property insurance line. In most general commercial property insurance policies, the actual structure of your business is covered from events of “peril” (i.e. weather-related damage) and causes of loss (i.e. robbery). However, the “belongings” of your business are usually not covered unless you purchase additional coverage. Depending on the practices of your insurance agency, some standard commercial property insurance lines will cover what is considered to be business equipment and monetary losses accrued after events of “peril.”

A bare-bones commercial property insurance policy will cover the physical structure of the building your business is contained, and usually nothing else. It is rare to find a standard policy that will include enough coverage for equipment, etc. Every policy will differ in terms of which events of “peril” is will cover as well. Whereas one agency may offer you a policy that includes flood damage standard, another agency may require you to purchase additional flood coverage in the form of a separate policy. Make sure you look over what every agency has to offer you and know the details of their commercial property insurance lines. If you find that you still need additional coverage on a policy that you have chosen, many insurance agents can offer you discounts for combining your commercial property line with other business insurance lines.

Business owners in Florida should contact Protection Connection Insurance for more information on comprehensive business owner policies and commercial property insurance lines. The Jones Group has formed the Protection Connection to provide Floridians with fast, easy, and secure insurance shopping on the web. Visit our virtual insurance office at www.protectionconnectioninsurance.com or call us toll free at 800.925.0759.

Homeowner’s in Florida are pretty well aware of what to do to prepare their houses in the wake of a hurricane. Even the most carefully prepared and protected houses can get destroyed by a strong hurricane or tropical storm. What every Florida homeowner should know is what needs to be done should such an unfortunate event occur. Not only will you have emotional stress to deal with, but also the stress of figuring out where to live, what to do with what was once your house, etc. Here are some tips to help you through that time:

• Call your insurance agent ASAP!
  This situation can be devastating and the last thing on your mind is insurance. However, calling your agent right away can save you a lot of time down the line and can get you and your family settled somewhere that much faster.
• Save your receipts!
  If your home is damaged to the point where it is unlivable, you may need to find a temporary living arrangement. Even if you have the opportunity to stay with relatives or friends, living expenses can still add up. Make you save all receipts for the period of time when you are out of a home. Anything from food expenses to the cost of storage can be taken care of by your insurance agency. Most insurance companies will advance you the money to cover such costs.
• Keep an inventory of damaged property!
  This is one of the most important things a homeowner can do in aftermath of a destructive hurricane or tropical storm. If possible, try to make a list of all damaged items. If you can make them out, make a list of the serial numbers of your material possessions and try to remember the price you paid for them and their age. This is an easy way for your claims adjuster to know exactly what kind of monetary loss you’ve suffered. Also, you should never throw anything away until the adjuster has had time to inspect and appraise identifiable belongings.
• Fill out your insurance forms!
  It is extremely important to fill out the forms that will be sent to you from your insurance agency should major damage be caused to your home. “Proof of loss” forms are not to be taken lightly. Upon arrival, fill them out and send them to your insurance agency as soon as possible. Make copies of the completed forms and keep them for your records as well.

Florida homeowners should take a good look at their homeowner’s insurance policy before the beginning of hurricane season. Also, you may want to consider adding supplemental Windstorm/Hurricane Insurance policy to your homeowner’s line to protect yourself from costs that exceed your homeowner’s coverage. The Jones Insurance Goup, located locally in Florida, has formed the Protection Connection to provide Floridians with easy and secure insurance shopping online! Visit our virtual agency at www.protectionconnectioninsurance.com and contact us today for a free quote on homeowner's insurance and hurricane/windstorm insurance lines.

Have you noticed the rates on your homeowner’s insurance line rising at a rapid pace? Is affording your coverage becoming increasingly difficult? Are you unsure of the fate your homeowner’s insurance provider? If these statements apply to you…then you may be a homeowner in Florida.

With the current shaky economy and ever-increasing risk of hurricanes and tropical storms to Florida, many homeowners in the state are finding it extremely difficult to afford purchasing new insurance policies or continue paying into current home coverage. Many smaller insurance companies in Florida are also finding it hard to stay in business or continue to cover those residents in areas in “high risk” (i.e. areas with major risk of hurricane/tropical storm damages). If you’ve found yourself wondering why the price of your homeowner’s insurance coverage has grown to an uncontrollable rate, you may want to contact your insurance provider to discuss the details of your policy. Many Florida residents will find themselves “skimping” on coverage as well, in order to save a few bucks.

If you live in Florida and are having trouble with your homeowner’s policy, contact Protection Connection Insurance. We have many different options for homeowner’s insurance lines specifically tailored to fit the needs of Floridians. Visit our virtual insurance agency at www.protectionconnectioninsurance.com or give us a call at 800.925.0759.

Hurricanes don’t happen every day- but that doesn’t mean they aren’t dangerous.

A hurricane can whip through your town quickly. Depending on the force of the windstorm, it can destroy all obstacles in its path. Homes bow down to the hurricane’s strong winds, while trees sway and fall in its wake. If these trees fall onto your roof, or your shingles fly off with a strong gust, do you have the means to repair the damage?

If you are in a high risk area, you may be familiar with the damage caused by hurricanes. As an eyewitness to hurricane destruction, you must know friends and family who have suffered significant damage, or lost their home as a result of these intense windstorms. Often, with a strong hurricane, the damage is great- it could cost a family their entire savings and more to attempt to fix the damage.

The only true way to ensure that you can weather the storm and the damage that comes with it is to invest in a windstorm insurance policy. Windstorm insurance is not offered by every agency- but if you are in a high risk area, it shouldn’t be too hard to find.

In your search for hurricane insurance, we hope you keep Protection Connection Insurance in mind. We are an independent insurance agency located in Florida- a place known to be hit by a hurricane or two. To see the policies we offer, or to get a free online windstorm insurance quote, you can visit our Virtual Insurance Office at www.protectionconnectioninsurance.com.

The FTC estimates that as many as 9 million Americans have their identities stolen each year, and the number is rising. Even more disturbing is that many victims are completely unaware of how their personal information was stolen. Identity thieves use personal information, like a social security number, birth date, or mother’s maiden name, to impersonate a victim, stealing from bank accounts, shopping online, or obtaining credit cards accounts in their name.

How prepared are you to handle identity theft? Would you know if someone was using your private information to open accounts? Although getting a personal credit report can help monitor your credit, identity theft cannot be completely prevented.

Every day you share personal information about yourself with others. It’s so routine that you may not even realize you’re doing it- but identity thieves can and will take advantage. Protect yourself with an identity theft and fraud insurance plan from Protection Connection Insurance. Visit www.protectionconnectioninsurance.com to learn more about your options and to get a free online insurance quote.

The State Farm insurance giant has decided its finances are no longer able to handle the costs of supporting Florida homeowners. 1.2 million people in the Sunshine State will be affected by this abandonment within the next two years.

So what went wrong?

State Farm asserts that it was spending more on claims than it was making on premiums due to the cost of hurricane repair.

In the past, State Farm has plead with Florida's Office of Insurance Regulation to increase rate percentages on premiums. Recently, State Farm was denied a 67%, then a 47% rate increase request. Should we as Floridians be glad that State Farm is leaving us under water? Yes; absolutely.

If State Farm was granted these requests by Florida Insurance Commissioner, Kevin McCarty, we would be paying a fortune for not only homeowners insurance, but renters, condo, boat, business property, and some liability policies as well. I say good riddance to State Farm and their ridiculous  requests, and welcome in those that actually want to help.

Many will soon realize that Independent Insurance Agencies are a better alternative to these large single carriers that have the ability to flee town when the going gets tough. Independent agents are not tied to a single carrier - they will shop the top carriers to find YOU the best deals. Why chance the assets you've worked so hard for? Consider a local, independent insurance carrier.    

Protection Connection Insurance is located in South Florida, and we've been serving customers since 1977. We know it's important to keep up with the changes in your life. For more information on Florida homeowners insurance, contact us today!

 

All across the United States, people are feeling the pinch of hard times. The housing market is hurting, with homes going into foreclosure and housing prices plummeting. The credit crisis is limiting banks' ability to lend and our ability to buy. Unemployment rates are hitting highs that haven't been seen in forty years. Although the economic crisis has been touching US citizens from coast to coast, one of the worst hit areas is our State of Florida.

Many guesstimate that the economy will get worse before it improves. To help weather the storm that has hit the Sunshine State, we are all searching for new ways to save money and get back on solid ground. Most of us have been trying the usual tricks: bringing our lunch to work, car pooling, conserving energy, etc. We are cutting costs where we can, but unfortunately, the usual ideas just aren't saving us enough any more...

Your insurance may not come to mind when you are trying to save money, but in today's economic environment, your coverage costs should be one of the many expenses that gets another look. Why? Because there is a possibility that you can cut your costs without sacrificing protection.

Protection Connection Insurance will make sure that you are aware of your options. We can search the top carriers in the country to find you great rates and can save you up to 30% when you combine policies. Or you can visit our site to get a free quote, right now!