coverages & terms
business insurance
home page
links
coverage
tips
articles
about us
what's new
book corner

 

© 2001-2002
freeinsuranceinfo.com
All rights reserved.

 

 

These coverage descriptions are intended to provide a quick reference. It is absolutely essential that you read your policies.

 

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R
S T U V W X Y Z

 

This is a general overview. Please contact your agent, insurance company or underwriter for all specific questions and issues pertaining to your policy.

 

 

COVERAGES & TERMS - BUSINESS INS.

A

Actual Cash Value (ACV) Actual cash value is a settlement type. Damage settled on an ACV basis is subject to depreciation. Technically, ACV=Replacement Cost - Depreciation.
B Bodily Injury Liability
This coverage applies to injuries you, the designated driver or policyholder cause to someone else. You and family members listed on the policy are also covered when driving someone else’s car with their permission.

It’s very important to have enough liability insurance, because if you are involved in a serious accident, you may be sued for a large sum of money. Definitely consider buying more than the state-required minimum to protect assets such as your home and savings.

Business Interruption This coverage provides reimbursement for ongoing costs and loss of revenue when the business must be shut down due to loss under a covered peril. This is a very important coverage to understand BEFORE a loss, since the payout depends heavily of producing the recosrds to substantiate the claim. Great care must be taken to maintain a backup system so that key records are not lost during an occurence.

C

Collision
This coverage pays for damage to your car resulting from a collision with another car, object or as a result of flipping over. It also covers damage caused by potholes. Collision coverage is generally sold with a deductible of $250 to $1,000—the higher your deductible, the lower your premium.
Comprehensive
This coverage reimburses you for loss due to theft or damage caused by something other than a collision with another car or object, such as fire, falling objects, missiles, explosion, earthquake, windstorm, hail, flood, vandalism, riot, or contact with animals such as birds or deer.

Comprehensive insurance is usually sold with a $100 to $300 deductible, though you may want to opt for a higher deductible as a way of lowering your premium.

Comprehensive insurance will also reimburse you if your windshield is cracked or shattered. Some companies offer glass coverage with or without a deductible.

States do not require that you purchase collision or comprehensive coverage, but if you have a car loan, your lender may insist you carry it until your loan is paid off.

   
D Deductible The deductible is that portion of the loss that must be paid for by the policyholder before the insurance company begins to pay. It is always worth checking the premium difference for various deductible options before finalizing policy options.
Directors & Officers Liability (D&O) Coverage provides defense and settlement cost reimbursement for claims against directors or officers of the company failing to dischare their duties in a fully responsible manner. Does not cover intentional fraud and can be rendered null by the company withholding critical information from the insurer.
E Employer's Liability In the few states without a Workers' Comp requirement, this coverage provides reimbursement an an employee for medical and loss of income due to an accident for which the company is liable.
Exclusions Exclusions are used in policy language to modify a general coverage description. In an auto policy, almost every coverage has at least one. Important also to cross reference endorsements to see if they modify coverage through exclusion.

F

   
   
G Gap Coverage If you lease your vehicle, this coverage makes sure that in the event of a total loss, there is enough insurance to pay off the lease contract. Without it, an ACV settlement could be insufficient.
H    

I

   
   
J    

K

   

L

   

M

Medical Payments or Personal Injury Protection (PIP)
This coverage pays for the treatment of injuries to the driver and passengers of the policyholder's car. At its broadest, PIP can cover medical payments, lost wages and the cost of replacing services normally performed by someone injured in an auto accident. It may also cover funeral costs.
   

N

   

O

   

P

Property Damage Liability
This coverage pays for damage you (or someone driving the car with your permission) may cause to someone else's property. Usually, this means damage to someone else’s car, but it also includes damage to lamp posts, telephone poles, fences, buildings or other structures your car hit.
Products Liability Provides coverage for defense and settlement costs arising out of claims against the company due to failure to manufacture and distribute their products safely.
   

Q

   

R

Replacement Cost Replacement cost will normally be defined in the policy, but means that, subject to some limitations, losses will be settled using the amount to repair or replace using NEW materials.
Rental Reimbursement Optional coverage that reimburses for the cost of a rental car due to loss from a covered peril, up to the $/day limit shown.

S

   

T

Towing & Labor An optional coverage that reimburses for emergency towing and labor up to the limit shown. Usually unnecessary if one carries a AAA membership.

U

Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist Coverage This coverage will reimburse you, a member of your family, or a designated driver if one of you is hit by an uninsured or hit-and-run driver.

Underinsured motorist coverage comes into play when an at-fault driver has insufficient insurance to pay for your total loss. This coverage will also protect you if you are hit as a pedestrian.

   

V

   

W

   

X

   

Y

   

Z