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#2
posted to rec.boats
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Umbrella policies being gutted by State Farm
"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. |
#3
posted to rec.boats
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Umbrella policies being gutted by State Farm
"akheel" wrote in message ... "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 arthlink.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. BINGO! Give that man a ceegar! |
#4
posted to rec.boats
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Umbrella policies being gutted by State Farm
"Gene Kearns" wrote in message ... 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 hlink.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! -- Grady-White Gulfstream, out of Oak Island, NC. Homepage http://pamandgene.idleplay.net/ Rec.boats at Lee Yeaton's Bayguide http://www.thebayguide.com/rec.boats I think folks here, including you Gene, are forgetting the main point. We are talking about the umbrella (general liability insurance extending past the upper limits of the main policy), not the main policy itself on the cars or boat. If damage is done to the the car or boat by a 3rd party driving them, the main policy will cover the damages if the 3rd party is not insured. If however, that 3rd party kills someone while driving the car or boat *they * will be responsible for all claims against them, not the owner of the vehicle and actual insured. Why should the insurance company extend *liability* coverage to a 3rd party? |
#5
posted to rec.boats
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Umbrella policies being gutted by State Farm
On Tue, 17 Jul 2007 06:30:40 -0400, JimH wrote:
Why should the insurance company extend *liability* coverage to a 3rd party? Ask State Farm, they had been doing it. It seems the OP's umbrella just became a parasol. |
#6
posted to rec.boats
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Umbrella policies being gutted by State Farm
"thunder" wrote in message news On Tue, 17 Jul 2007 06:30:40 -0400, JimH wrote: Why should the insurance company extend *liability* coverage to a 3rd party? Ask State Farm, they had been doing it. It seems the OP's umbrella just became a parasol. That avoids the question. I ask again......why should an insurance company extend liability coverage to a 3rd party? State Farm corrected a mistake and did the right thing. The insured is still protected by the umbrella policy. |
#7
posted to rec.boats
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Umbrella policies being gutted by State Farm
On Tue, 17 Jul 2007 10:57:43 -0000, thunder
wrote: ;.On Tue, 17 Jul 2007 06:30:40 -0400, JimH wrote: Why should the insurance company extend *liability* coverage to a 3rd party? Ask State Farm, they had been doing it. It seems the OP's umbrella just became a parasol. Well, it doesn't surprise me. State Farm took a big hit with Katrina and Rita - they have to make their money somehow. Oddly, we've been with the same insurance company for - damn, upteen zillion years (over thirty anyway) and our insurance even went down last year. Our policy, including umbrella, costs us less now than it originally did and our net worth, including real estate, boats and cars is about ten times what it was originally and the policies cover more than they did originally. Mrs. Wave even has a seperate ultra high value liability/omission/comission rider because she goes a lot of different places with students in her car as part of her profession. If I were the original poster, I'd start looking around for a different agent and insurer - State Farm sucks anyway. Good hands my ass. And as long as we're on the subject of boats and insurance, don't buy Progressive boat insurance - talk about a rip off. A friend of my oldest had Progressive and the boat was whacked in a parking lot. Some fiberglass damage. Progressive made them take the boat to an auto body shop that did fiberglass work instead of a boat repair facility. Think about that one for a while. :) |
#8
posted to rec.boats
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Umbrella policies being gutted by State Farm
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#9
posted to rec.boats
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Umbrella policies being gutted by State Farm
Vic Smith wrote:
On Mon, 16 Jul 2007 20:37:12 -0400, Gene Kearns wrote: 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 ink.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! Bingo. $206 yearly premium increase for the same coverage. --Vic As I stated previously, it's just a way for State Farm to get more money out of the pockets of its policyholders. |
#10
posted to rec.boats
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Umbrella policies being gutted by State Farm
On Tue, 17 Jul 2007 07:45:35 -0400, HK wrote:
As I stated previously, it's just a way for State Farm to get more money out of the pockets of its policyholders. Yeah, but Gene didn't mention the B word, and I didn't want to get political. --Vic |
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