Does my business need commercial insurance?

Posted on July 21, 2016 by AgentInsure

There can be a lot of details to consider when starting a new business. From choosing a location to setting up advertising, there are plenty of things to do. In the middle of considering everything, however be sure to consider your commercial insurance needs.

Commercial insurance actually includes several different types of insurance that are used by businesses. This can include commercial auto insurance in which a policy is written specifically for company-owned cars and/or vehicles that are being used on a part-time basis for a business. Another common coverage is commercial property insurance that insures the structure of a store, office, or manufacturing facility along with the contents of the building.

it can be difficult to know when it’s time to invest in commercial insurance, however. Any business that has assets such as inventory or heavy equipment that cannot be easily replaced needs to have this coverage. In fact, most small businesses start with small commercial policies that cover large equipment and their inventory. Eventually, these policies can be expanded to include additional assets, umbrella insurance, and other coverage.

Commercial auto insurance should be added as soon as your company has a dedicated car that is used for the business. Standard auto policies rarely cover vehicles that are being used primarily for a business, making it a bad idea to simply rely on a personal policy or the personal policies of your employees.

If you think it’s time for your business to make the investment in a commercial insurance policy, then call the agents at NY Twin Bridges Insurance Agency. They have years of experience helping their business clients find the policy that is right for them.

Riding Motorcycles in NY: Why it’s Better when Insured

Posted on July 12, 2016 by AgentInsure

A motorcycle trip can be the trip of a lifetime, but it can be ended all too quickly, especially if you aren’t properly insured. NY Twin Bridges Insurance Agency strives to make sure that every driver on the road has the proper insurance plan to suit their needs. This is because, while a motorcycle is the perfect vehicle to represent ‘freedom’ while driving down the highway, all of that freedom could disappear in the blink of an eye. It could be a traffic collision that leaves your motorcycle damaged and in need of repair (or worse – completely wrecked), it could be a serious medical bill as a result of the accident, or it could even be a suspended license, thereby limiting your ability to travel not just for fun, but also for your job. Using NY Twin Bridges Insurance Agency’s online services however can help you overcome the unfortunate status of an uninsured rider in just minutes. Even if you didn’t find what you want here, it’s certainly worth trying to avoid crippling financial debt.

And just in case any of your motorcycle riders thought that having insurance and a license was enough to be able to ride the highway in proper adherence to the law, think again – in the state of New York, all motorcycle riders and passengers are required by law to wear both a helmet and a pair of protective goggles (both must be up to a certain standard of quality and safety in order to qualify under the law, mind you). It may seem like a bit of a pain to have to wear one, but they can be life saving.

The law varies from state to state, so if you have any questions, contact NY Twin Bridges Insurance online or by phone at (518) 608-5797. Whether you’re from Albany, Ithaca, New York City, or even from out of town, we are happy to help.

How can commercial insurance help small businesses?

Posted on June 27, 2016 by AgentInsure

Typically, when you think of commercial insurance, you think of big businesses or commercial properties with a lot to protect. While these types of businesses do need insurance to protect their assets, they aren’t the only businesses that need protecting. Even small businesses can benefit from commercial insurance and should consider purchasing commercial insurance.

The biggest reason for a small business to get commercial insurance is to protect the assets in your business. This is particularly important if you have property or products to protect your business. For example, property insurance can be used to protect your products as well as the physical property where your business is located. Insurance is also used to protect any employees you have working in the business.

Some small business owners operate out of their homes and think their business is already protected. Unfortunately, not all homeowners’ insurance policies protect small businesses. So in order to get the full protections you need, your business needs a separate policy, even if you operate out of your home.

Insurance is about protection, and even sole proprietorships need protection. By getting the proper insurance for your business, you can keep from getting into trouble down the road. Make sure your business has the right insurance so you can protect your business while you grow it. Different businesses have different insurance needs. Since there are so many different types of and uses for commercial insurance, it’s important to make sure you choose the right insurance for your business.

For more information about commercial insurance to help your small business, contact the NY Twin Bridges Insurance Agency today.

How to Get the Most from NY Twin Bridges Insurance Agency

Posted on June 15, 2016 by AgentInsure

NY Twin Bridges Insurance Agency services residents in the New York area by providing them with topical information about homeowners insurance. We want policyholders to get the most from their insurance.

When you purchase home insurance your investment is automatically protected. A good policy gives you the assurance that no damages from a disaster will take you unawares. Although it may not take care of every component you will know you are covered for the regular items.

A good homeowners insurance policy does not have to cost a bundle. This type of insurance has a lower premium compared to other policies. Home insurance also coincides with the kind of home you own which means that your rates will reflect the value of your home, so evaluate your property – and the initial cost of your premium – before you purchase it.

Possessing homeowner insurance gives you peace of mind where home repairs are concerned. You are far better off having a policy that provides you with all the coverage you need as compared to one with only minimum coverage. There is no need to deal with the stress of worrying about insurance when you can have a policy that gives you everything you need.

These are just some of the various ways you can get the most from your homeowner insurance policy. There are a lot more benefits besides these that it’s an advantage to know about. Knowing what you are covered for and just how much a good policy can help you should be a great incentive for purchasing the best policy there it. To find out all of the benefits of home insurance and what a good policy can do for you go online or call an agent.

Premium Gas vs. Regular Gas

Posted on May 5, 2016 by AgentInsure

For most cars, premium grade and regular gas burn in a similar fashion. Both ignite in the same way and eventually burn the same as well. The main difference between premium and regular is that premium gas works better under more aggressive conditions. A high-performance engine produces much more power than the average engine in your family’s daily driver. Using premium gas in a high-performance engine helps to improve how the motor functions and boost horsepower.

Your family car, however, is designed to be as fuel efficient as possible while providing the power to move your vehicle from place to place. The compression ratio is not as high as what is found in a high-performance motor, so the use of premium gas does not produce an excessive amount of power. In the past, the pinging sound heard within a motor has been attributed to the quality of gas or the lack of oil. Experts say that most engines will not "ping" due to poor gas quality. Newer cars are designed much better than in the past and the different "recipes" of gas that are being used today, allow for greater fuel economy and efficiency.

The agents at NY Twin Bridges Insurance Agency serve Albany, NY and the surrounding communities. If you are looking for a quality auto insurance policy, you may have to answer a few questions concerning how you care for and maintain your vehicle. The use of premium gas compared to regular gas may have an impact on how well your car ages. Talking to a knowledgeable insurance agent will help you get the answers you need when upgrading your policy or choosing a new one.

How to recycle your old appliances

Posted on May 5, 2016 by AgentInsure

Buying a new dishwasher or refrigerator can be a much-needed update to your kitchen, but every new purchase usually means that there is an older, possibly broken appliance that you need to get rid of. Unfortunately, old appliances take up a lot of space in a landfill. Throwing out your old appliance can do a lot of harm to the environment.

Fortunately, there are better ways to get rid of your old appliance. Try these ideas out.

Advertise the appliance as free. Many local repair shops look for old appliances because they can reuse the parts that work. This keeps the majority of the old appliance out of the landfill, and it can help others who need to have their old appliances fixed rather than buy a new one. Best of all, most will pick them up for free.
Call your local recycling center. Appliances use a lot of high-value metals, making them good for scrap even if they’re broken beyond repair. The problem is that the old appliances have to be broken down into their component materials before they can be recycled. Because this is labor intensive, not all recycling centers will take old appliances, but many know someone who will strip out the components for extra money.
Look for recycling drives. Occasionally, local appliance stores or government programs will run specials that allow consumers to get a credit for turning in old appliances. These programs usually are advertised in local newspapers, but ask about them when buying your new appliance. Often a sales rep will know when the next recycling drive will be held.

After replacing your old appliance with a new one, remember to update your insurance policy. Call the agents at NY Twin Bridges Insurance Agency to help you with this.

Drivers and Bikers: Etiquette Tips that Will Make Sharing the Road Easier

Posted on April 18, 2016 by AgentInsure

At times, it may not feel like the road is large enough for both you as a driver and bicyclists. However, there are etiquette tips that can help both of you share the road and prevent accidents. Unfortunately, accidents involving bicyclists are common and can amount to large amounts of money due to the injuries involved. Here are a few of the tips that will make sharing the road easier.

Make Sure You Are Visible

One of the best tips for both bicyclists and drivers alike is to make sure they are visible to the other party. As a bicyclist, this involves wearing reflective clothing and having lights on the bike. As a driver, this means having your headlights on in the dark and driving at a reduced speed around bicyclists so they know you are there. This may also mean making eye contact when you are both stopped at stop signs or lights, so you both are aware of each other and know what the other is doing.

Follow Traffic Laws

Another tip that will make sharing the road easier is for both parties to obey and follow traffic laws. Both parties should stay in their respective lanes, go at a consistent speed and signal when turning. These predictable behaviors help drivers know what bicyclists are doing and vice versa.

Be Respectful

Lastly, be respectful of one another. A bicycle can’t go as fast as a car, so as a driver, be prepared to slow down until you can safely pass the bicyclist. Honking or riding them won’t help them go faster. As a bicyclist, be respectful of drivers and try to swerve out of the way and let cars pass when you can. Remaining respectful helps keep the roads safe for everyone.

While these tips may help you share the road with a bicyclist, it is always best to prepare yourself for the worst case scenario. When buying auto insurance, making sure you have enough insurance to protect you in case you are involved in an accident with a bicyclist. If you are looking to purchase a new auto insurance policy in Albany, NY, or simply looking for a company to review your limits and compare what you have with what they can offer you, be sure to check out NY Twin Bridges Insurance Agency.

Preventing Fender Bender Fraud – 3 Tips

Posted on April 13, 2016 by AgentInsure

As anyone who has ever been involved in an auto accident will tell you, it can definitely be frustrating. But what happens when the other driver or their passengers wrongly claim damages or injuries that don’t match up with the facts of the loss?

Unfortunately, insurance fraud is quite common throughout the industry. People looking for a quick payday often target certain vehicles or individuals to ensure a fender bender happens, then overinflate their damages once the incident has occurred.

So, how can you protect yourself against fender bender fraud? Here are three tips to consider.

Tip #1: Take Down Information at the Scene

After a minor accident happens, you might be tempted to just let the other driver leave without taking down their information. It is very important that you do not do this, as the other driver could eventually come back with trumped up physical and medical damage claims in the future. Instead, get as much information as you can at the scene and even take a photo of the fact that their vehicle does not have damage. This way you already have the proof on hand if you ever need to dispute the claim.

Tip #2: Document Your Side of the Story

Another way to prevent fender bender fraud is by documenting your side of the story as soon as possible. Write down where you were, what happened, and anything the other party said. Add a time stamp by either emailing the copy to yourself or taking a cell phone photo of the paper you wrote it on. The truth never changes, and having this to back up your side is an excellent way to prove your case if the other party tries to claim something that never happened.

Tip #3: Try to Get the Police to Take a Report

In certain situations where an accident is relatively minor, it can be difficult to get a police officer to respond. However, it is very important to at least try. If an officer physically responds to the scene, the report that he or she creates acts as impartial proof of the incident. This is crucial if the other driver changes their story or tries to make the collision out to have more damage than it actually does.

Do you have the right level of insurance coverage? At NY Twin Bridges Insurance Agency, we are dedicated to helping our clients with all of their policy needs. Please contact us today.

Importance of Life Insurance in Albany, NY

Posted on March 30, 2016 by AgentInsure

Having life insurance in Albany, NY is an important thing once you get to certain point in your life, because you need to provide for those you leave behind in the event something tragic or unexpected happens to you. Below are some reasons to set up a life insurance policy with NY Twin Bridges Insurance Agency, who serves the greater Albany, NY area, so you can be sure those you care about will be taken care of in case something happens to you.

YOU CAN’T PREDICT THE FUTURE

Having life insurance is just a safety net for all the things that could happen and it doesn’t cost much per month to ensure family members will be taken care of after you are gone. This piece of mind is worth every penny you pay into the policy which will inevitably pay out some day to those you care about most, and it assuages that undeniable fact that you can’t predict the future.

ALLOWS YOU TO LIVE YOUR LIFE

Having life insurance actually allows you more freedom to do things you may be hesitant to do because of what would happen to your loved ones if a tragedy occurred. So by having this life insurance policy, life actually becomes more fulfilling with more possibilities.

GIVES YOUR FAMILY PIECE OF MIND

While those who would benefit from a life insurance policy would be devastated, they at least have piece of mind to know they would be taken care of by the life insurance policy you had set up. So it gives them piece of mind as well and that is why insurance is so important — so you can live with less worry.

Three Ways Home Insurance Can Save the Day

Posted on March 25, 2016 by AgentInsure

Many states have homeowners insurance requirements, and most banks will not lend for a mortgage without an appropriate level of coverage. So even though you have to have it, what can it really do for you? Ultimately coverage varies by policy, but these are the three most common scenarios that are protected.

Theft

One of the most important parts of home insurance is protecting the assets inside the home. When choosing your policy, you should always consider how valuable the things in your home are. From electronics to jewelry, most items can be covered against theft, usually up to a predetermined value. That means that the disaster of a home burglary can largely be mitigated by giving you the means to replace your valuables.

Human Caused Damage

Another major concern for homeowners is significant damage to the dwelling itself. In cases where human actions cause the damage, such as a car driving into a building or a worker damaging important infrastructure, most policies have conditions that will help you pay for repair or even relocate if necessary.

Liability

This is the concept that most owners overlook, but in many cases the owner of a building can be faulted for injuries to people on the premises. Like any aspect of insurance, the scope of this protection will depend on policy you choose, but protecting yourself from lawsuits should never be overlooked. There are numerous accounts across the country where owners have been found liable for injuries even to attempted burglars.

If you plan or hope to own a home, you need to understand your insurance options. There are many benefits to committing to a good policy, so spend some time to find the perfect plan for your lifestyle. You can schedule an appointment with the NY Twin Bridges Insurance Agency to get expert advice from an agent well versed in the laws and needs of the Albany, NY region.

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