BoatBanter.com - View Single Post - Umbrella policies being gutted by State Farm

akheel

"Calif Bill" wrote in
ink.net:

"akheel" wrote in message
...
Gene Kearns wrote in
:

On Mon, 16 Jul 2007 18:21:12 -0400, "JimH" ask penned
the following well considered thoughts to the readers of rec.boats:

"Hamish" wrote in message
rthlink.net...
I am in California. I just got the renewal bill for my personal
umbrella policy, and the "Important Notice" brochure that always
comes with it said, "The definition of insured is revised so that a
person or organization using an insured's auto, RV or watercraft is
no longer covered." So, when I let a valet park my car, he's not
covered. If I loan my car to a friend, relative, or neighbor,
they're not covered. If my ski boat was running - it isn't right
now - and I let a friend drive it to tow me, he's not covered.
(Yes, I know that my "underlying" car insurance covers them up to
the limits of that policy, but those limits are only enough to pay
for a stubbed toe.)

I called my agent and she was totally unaware of the change, and
asked me to fax her a copy of the brochure. Then, once she called
the underwriters, she still seemed unconcerned. She was happy to
quote me the increase in premiums to bring each of my car polcies
up to the same limits that were formerly covered by the Umbrella.
An additional $206 per year. I will pay the money, because I own a
home and it is vital that I remain insured up to a high limit.

I have taken the trouble to write this post because I think that a
lot of other people will fail to read the "Important Notice" (the
brochure is 17 pages long), will simply write the check like they
do every other year, and will end up with a big gap in their
coverage. And their insurance agent won't take the trouble to call
them or write them a personal letter telling about the big gap
that just opened up in their coverage. So, look out! And warn
your friends.

Ham

1. The valet company should have their own insurance.

*You* pay insurance premiums to make sure *you* are covered. Don't
assume that anybody else has you covered (they don't, though they
may try to indemnify themselves). If you have to take them to court,
be sure that you can afford all of the justice that you feel you are
entitled to....

2. Don't loan your car or boat to anyone outside your family.

Ok, I'll buy that, but it doesn't cover any non-loaner legitimate
use of your vehicle. Boats? Marina re-positioning your boat to
another slip (see? says they can do it in the lease agreement.....
Personal injury? You have a dangerous boat! Damage? See no evil,
hear no evil...... see #1 above)

3. Why should the insurance company cover anyone but you and your
family?

Because there *are* no-loaner issues to be dealt with....

So what is the big deal?

You have equity that other people want.... it really is a BIG DEAL!

While admittedly, I don't have the policy you are describing, so I
can't read it, I think you are misconstruing the change. What State
Farm is saying I believe is that your friend who borrows your boat is
no longer an insured on the umbrella, so if he borrows it and kills
someone, no insurance for him, at least from State Farm. But that
doesn't mean that you aren't still an insured if someone sues you as
the owner of the boat (they would probably claim you were negligent
to loan the boat to someone so obviously unskilled). You are still an
insured. Same with the car. In California, car owners are liable for
injuries caused by their car no matter what, even if not negligent
and not driving, up to $15K for injury to one person and $30K for
injury to multiple persons and $5K for property damange. Thus if you
loan your car to someone who causes an injury or damage, your auto
insurance will cover you up to these limits (by law). But if the
umbrella insurance company made your friend an insured, they would
have to pay up to the limits of the insurance, because your friend's
liablility (assuming he is found to be the negligent driver)is not
limited. So by eliminating your friend as an insured, they limit
their liability. It's really your friend who is screwed here, not
you. Moral of the story, YOU should never borrow someone else's car
or boat unless you are sure YOUR insurace covers you.

California minimum insurance is 15/30 (I think it is 20/40 now). But
if you own the car and own a house and stock, you will be sued for
those items by the killed persons heirs. You have the deep pockets
and are the owner of the car.

Yes, agree completely. But the original poster's complaint was his belief
that by excluding a friend who borrows his car as an "insured" under his
umbrella policy, that somehow left the O.P exposed. The O.P is still
covered when the inevitable lawsuit comes, his friend is not. So
increasing the limits on his underlying policies is a complete waste of
money as far as coverage on himself is concerned.