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Brooklyn, NY 11223

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Featured New York Insurance Blog

Why You Need Flood Insurance

If you are thinking about buying a home, you are going to need to find homeowner’s insurance. Since there are so many options, you may be unsure about what you need and what you can save money on. 

Flood insurance may be something that you are considering. Here are some reasons why you should get it.

Your mortgage company may require it. Certain mortgage companies require you to have flood insurance if you live in an area that floods easily. 

If you can’t afford to salvage your home in a flood, you will need to have flood insurance. Many insurance companies won’t cover any flood claims unless there is a Presidential Disaster Declaration. If you have flood insurance, your insurance will take care of your claims regardless.  

The simple truth is that most homeowners’ insurance doesn’t cover any flood damage. Even if you don’t live in an area that is considered a flood area, you may want to get this extra insurance, just in case. If you don’t, and you find your home flooded, your insurance may not cover any repairs. 

Even if you get help, it may not be enough. When flooding happens, it can cost homeowners forty thousand dollars or more. If you get a loan or grant to help you, you may only get a few thousand dollars. 

Though you may not want to get flood insurance, your mortgage company may require it. If not, you may still want to get it, because flood damage can cost a lot of money. Even if you apply for loans and grants, that still won’t cover the damage. 

If you want to make sure that you are fully protected in Brooklyn, NY, contact us today at Access Legacy Insurance Group. 

How Workers Compensation Insurance Works

If you have questions about worker’s compensation for your Brooklyn, NY firm, we at Access Legacy Insurance Group can help you to understand these options better.

Employers Pay for the Policy 

Anybody who hires an extensive range of employees must pay for compensation insurance. If they don’t, they’re likely to get various assessed fines that will be much more than the insurance cost. 

Policies Protect Against Injuries 

High-quality workers compensation policies will pay for an employee’s injuries if they’re suffered at work. In addition, they help to support them financially and give them medical treatment as well. 

Coverage Helps Employers 

Employees who get compensation benefits will be able to pay medical bills and recover from injuries. Then, they can get back to work, benefiting the employer by minimizing retraining needs. 

Decreases the Need for Lawsuits 

Employers may find themselves in a serious lawsuit if they don’t have compensation insurance. However, with it, they can use these payments to keep their employees happy and secure. 

Injury Coverage Varies 

Your policy will cover things like carpal tunnel syndrome, slips, and falls, injuries while driving for work, physical injuries caused at work, and serious physical damage caused by working conditions. 

Policies Don’t Cover Some Situations 

If employees hurt themselves deliberately to get coverage, broke the law when getting hurt, or were not on the job at the time, they will not get covered by this type of insurance. 

Even Independent Contractors May Get Help 

Depending on where you live, independent contractors who get injured due to their work duties may be able to get some type of worker’s compensation coverage. 

Get Great Coverage Today 

Please call us at Access Legacy Insurance Group near Brooklyn, NY, to get worker’s compensation insurance. You’ll never regret this intelligent decision.

Do I need an inventory as a renter

If you are a renter and have renters insurance, you may wonder if you should have an inventory. Simply stated if you ever file a claim against your renter’s insurance you will be very happy that you took the time to make that inventory. The insurance company will accept it as proof of what you had. At Access Legacy Insurance Group in Brooklyn, NY, we work for ur customers and will go above and beyond to meet their needs.  As independent insurance agents, our customers have all of our loyalty. 

You may not think you have enough personal possession to warrant an inventory. You may think it will take too long to do an inventory. You may not have an idea where to start and where to store an inventory if you did one. All of these are minor issues and very easy to overcome. You will thank yourself if you need to file a claim with your renters’ insurance. 

Imagine your apartment has been destroyed by a fire or a tornado. There literally may be nothing left but a pile of rubble. It is devastating and now in order to get your possessions replaced you need to tell the insurance company what you had. That is adding trauma to your trauma. Creating an inventory will take some time, but you will thank yourself for doing it. 

Begin in whatever room you prefer and just write down all the items you have. Open drawers and closets and provide as much detail as possible. If you have sales slips or receipts attach them along with photos of every room. Then find a safe place, the cloud is a good option, to store the inventory. 

If you are ready to discuss renters insurance and your need for an inventory contact Access Legacy Insurance Group in Brooklyn, NY. 

Changes You Make to Your Boat: Will Your Insurance Policy Cover Their Damage?

At Access Legacy Insurance Group, we provide Brooklyn NY, and other areas of the state with high-quality boat insurance. However, we know that many boat owners love adding new elements to their vehicles to make them more appropriate and effective. As a result, it is vital to spend the time to understand whether your policy will cover these vehicular upgrades for your boat.

What Your Policy Does NOT Cover 

Are you planning on making upgrades to your boat that could affect its overall value in a handful of different ways? If so, it might be best to get a professional to do it because doing it yourself could invalidate your boat policy and cause these upgrades and changes to be ineligible for coverage. 

Why is this the case? Unfortunately, your policy is designed to protect your boat, as it has been valued when you purchased the policy. This protection included the original structure of the ship and its design, not any changes you may have made to it after you bought the policy. 

That said, you may be able to get some protection if you work with a professional on these upgrades. If you get an expert to help you out with your renovations to your boat, your insurance company may approve these additions. That all depends on your policy and other factors, however. 

Find a Policy You Can Appreciate 

Do you want a boat insurance policy that makes sense for your needs as a person? Then, it is time to contact us at Access Legacy Insurance Group to learn more about your many options. We serve the Brooklyn NY community and will do what we can to help you find a policy that makes sense for you.

When Should I Get Flood Insurance?

Most homeowners’ insurance policies don’t protect your property and belongings from flooding or groundwater seepage damage. As such, it is prudent for homeowners or renters in areas that are prone to flooding to get some flood insurance coverage. Ideally, such an insurance policy covers damage caused by water that falls from the sky as rain or ice and later gets into a home and thus causing flooding and damage. 

But for the policy to get honored, the flooding damage shouldn’t be a result of negligence. For instance, damage caused by rainwater that floods your house may not get you compensation if the flooding results from leaking, and an unrepaired roof. The water damage should be a result of accidental flooding. 

When Does a Homeowner Need to Get a Flood Insurance Policy?

If you’re a resident of a designated flood zone, then you should get a flood insurance policy. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) marks flood hazard regions on the flood hazard maps. The agency makes recommendations on the acquisition of flood insurance policy. The flood hazard map zones flooding areas into three zones (A, B, & C) depending on the severity of potential flooding.

Zone A areas are close to water bodies and carry a significant flooding risk. Anyone with property in these zones should get flooding insurance. Zone B denotes areas with moderate flooding risk, and there is a need for homeowners with property in these zones to get flooding insurance too. But the cover often comes at a lower premium than zone A, and C.

The Zone C regions have a low flooding risk. But this doesn’t imply that you shouldn’t take flood insurance coverage if you’re in this region. Some zones may have the V mark indicating that they’ve not gotten assessed for flooding. As such, you may need to find a specialist who’ll make an assessment and advice you on whether to get flooding insurance or not. But it’s prudent always to get one. 

Get Enough Homeowners Insurance Policy Today

It’s possible to get flooding insurance from the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). But if you’re in Brooklyn, NY, you should visit the Access Legacy Insurance Group to get your homeowners’ flooding insurance cover. At Access Legacy Insurance Group, we provide updated homeowners’ flooding insurance policies to all Brooklyn, NY, residents. Check out our website to learn more.

Do business owners always need to have workers comp insurance in Brooklyn?

The Brooklyn NY area continues to be a densely populated area of New York and offers a lot of potential to business owners. Those that are business owners in this area of the state are going to need a few forms of insurance. One type of coverage that they will need to have is workers comp insurance. There are several reasons why this insurance will likely be needed by a business here. 

 

Coverage is a Legal Requirement for Employers

A key reason that businesses need to have workers comp insurance is that it is a legal requirement. In New York, the state law mandates that all employers have a full workers comp insurance plan. This coverage is needed no matter how many employees you have on your staff. If you do have a staff member and don’t have coverage, you could be penalized.

 

Coverage Provides Protection for All

A workers comp insurance plan should also be considered a necessity as it offers valuable protection for all parties involved. With workers comp insurance, you can assure employees that they will have support if they are injured while working. This can also help to protect the business as the workers comp insurance can reduce the employer’s liability risk if someone is hurt while they are at work.

 

Anyone that is going to own a business and has a staff in Brooklyn NY will need to have a full workers comp insurance plan. If you are looking for workers comp insurance when you are here, it would be wise to call the Access Legacy Insurance Group. The team with the Access Legacy Insurance Group can offer some very valuable guidance that will help you understand your needs and give the support to choose the right plan. 

Renters Insurance Guide: Defining Perils and Liabilities

When considering renters’ insurance, it may seem like a simple solution, but the terms could confuse you. The most common terms in a renters’ insurance policy are perils and liabilities. These are two different things. At Access Legacy Insurance Group, we are serving Brooklyn, NY with renters’ insurance. 

Learn more about what these confusing terms mean.

Perils in Renters’ Insurance

In Brooklyn, NY, there are several perils you could be subject to just because of where you live. Perils are defined by something that is a risk that causes loss. The risk could be a natural disaster or a fire or explosion that causes smoke damage. 

The risk could be anything that that is a risk that you did not exposes yourself to. If you drop a priceless vase on the floor, that is not a peril.

So you can file a claim under perils in your renters’ insurance after storm damage, natural disasters, and even some crimes. If your unit is on the first floor, flood damage may not be covered. Water damage that seeps through walls might be, though.

Liabilities Covered in Renters’ Insurance

Liability coverage is standard coverage in almost every insurance policy type. This coverage will cover you if something bad happens in your home, and you are legally liable or responsible for those damages.

It can also cover you when you are sued for something. This may not even cover you at home. If you are on vacation and something happens, and you are found to be liable, your legal bills could be covered for that as well.

Your insurance agent can walk you through the kinds of perils and liabilities that your policy covers.

Get a Free Quote

When you are considering renters’ insurance, you want to know that it will be worth it and cover everything you are worried about. It will. Access Legacy Insurance Group LLC, serving Brooklyn, NY, can walk you through your insurance policy’s perils and liabilities clauses. Call us for a free quote today.

Understanding New York Auto Insurance

Owning a vehicle comes with a lot of responsibilities. And one of the financial responsibilities you have to contend with is auto insurance. Car insurance can be challenging to understand, especially for new drivers. However, the good news is that Access Legacy Insurance Group of Brooklyn, NY is here to help you understand auto insurance.

Is auto insurance mandatory in New York?

You guessed it right. Auto insurance is mandatory in New York. Failure to show proof of insurance ownership could result in numerous fines and penalties. Again, you have to pay for accident-related damages and bodily injuries from your pocket without auto insurance.

The New York requires you to incorporate the below mandatory coverages in your auto insurance:

Liability insurance

Covers medical expenses for bodily harm caused to other persons in an accident, you are deemed liable. The property damage liability covers losses caused to third parties in an accident in which you are at fault. The liability coverage also protects you against lawsuits.

Personal injury protection (PIP) coverage

It’s also known as no-fault insurance. It covers the below regardless of who was at fault.

  • Medical expenses for you and your passengers
  • Partial loss of income
  • Death benefits

Uninsured motorist insurance

Did you know that over 5 percent of New Jersey drivers aren’t insured? While this may be below the national average of 12.9 percent, it still puts you at risk. You see, uninsured motorists leave a trail of uncovered costs when they cause accidents. Since they don’t have insurance, they are unable to cover emanating medical expenses and property damages. However, when you have uninsured motorist coverage, you don’t have to worry about less responsible drivers.

While the state requires the above auto insurance plans, they don’t protect you optimally. That said, you need to consider the below car insurance options:

  • Comprehensive coverage
  • Collision coverage
  • Roadside assistance coverage

If you are in Brooklyn, NY, and looking for auto insurance, don’t look beyond Access Legacy Insurance Group. Contact us today, and our friendly staff will help secure you and your car with proper auto insurance.

3 Areas That Your Auto Insurance Should Cover

The mission of Access Legacy Insurance Group, located in Brooklyn, NY, is to see New York drivers stay on the roads with the right auto coverage. This way, drivers aren’t only compliant with the law but also protected from various perils inherent with vehicle ownership.

Most drivers understand that they must carry auto insurance, but it can be confusing to determine whether you are carrying adequate auto insurance. With many car insurance ads out there, it can be challenging to determine whether you are carrying the right insurance. Fortunately for drivers, we are here to explain three areas that your auto insurance must cover.

Liability protection

Driving comes with many variables. As such, accidents can occur at any time. And because we can’t predict accidents, your auto insurance must carry liability protection to cover for bodily injuries and property damages you may cause to third parties.

While the state has a minimum liability coverage requirement, your agent should advise whether that policy limit provides you with optimal coverage.

Vehicle protection

Ever thought of risks surrounding your car? Ranging from accidents, theft, vandalism, fire, and other natural disasters, these risks can quickly sink your investment in the twinkle of an eye. However, with the right auto coverage, your insurance should pay for damages or replace your car in case of a total loss.

Medical payments

You must be aware of the rising healthcare costs in America. Now, imagine you or your passengers sustaining accident-related injuries, and you have little or no health insurance coverage. Believe it or not, you would be expected to cover medical expenses from your pocket.

However, when you have medical payments coverage or PIP, your insurance covers medical expenses, funeral expenses, and income loss if you or someone else is involved in an auto accident.

Auto Insurance in New York

Shopping for auto insurance? Your search has ended. Contact Access Legacy Insurance Group in Brooklyn, NY today for all your auto insurance needs.

Who needs workers comp insurance in Brooklyn?

If you are an owner or manager of a company in Brooklyn, NY, having proper insurance in place is very important. A quality insurance plan can protect your business assets and give liability protection. One type of insurance that a business should not overlook is workers comp insurance. There are several situations when a business should get a workers comp plan in this area of New York.

Those that Want to Comply with Law

Similar to many other states, New York has some specific and strict workers’ compensation insurance laws. In this state, all businesses are required to obtain workers comp insurance to protect their staff. Even if you have only part-time employees or family members, having this coverage is required. If you do not maintain this coverage, you could face stiff penalization.

Those that Want to Protect Staff

Even if you were not obligated to get the coverage, you should still obtain it to protect your employees. With proper workers’ compensation insurance, you will know that your team is covered at all times. This way, if someone is hurt while working, your policy will ensure they receive the medical care and reimbursement for missed wages while they recover. 

If you would like to purchase a workers comp insurance plan and are in the Brooklyn, NY area, you may have questions about your needs and options. The Access Legacy Insurance Group team is a great resource for you to call when you are looking for a new plan. Access Legacy Insurance Group can assess your situation to determine your worker’s comp needs. We can then answer your questions and give you any support needed to choose an ideal plan for your situation. 

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