Deciding whether to file a claim can be a tricky situation.
If you need to file a claim, or aren’t sure whether or not you should, before dialing our 24-hour claims line, call our agency first!
Our team of licensed agents will provide expert advice on whether your situation warrants a claim.
We’ll consider your deductible and ensure that the claim justifies any potential rate increase.
We’ll also review your policy’s exemptions and exclusions to determine if filing a claim is the best course of action.
Remember: a claim stays on your record for 3 years after an auto claim and 5-7 years after a home claim.
Short Answer: They’ll open a claim, whether that’s the best course of action or not.
Long Answer: The claims team is highly experienced, and they can definitely assist once the decision to file a claim has been made. They are, however, limited in the tools at their disposal when helping determine whether you SHOULD file a claim.
Sometimes the decision to file a claim is easy, like when there’s major damage after a car crash, or (God forbid) your home burns to the ground. Most of the time, though, situations aren’t so extreme.
The claims line simply isn’t designed to review coverage details and help you decide; it is there to open claims, often without considering whether or not a claim is necessary.
Your journey with us begins with a series of welcome emails from our agency owner, Shane Roehl. These messages will include:
Pro Tip: Opening these emails on your smartphone makes e-signing documents quick and seamless.
As your proactive partners in protection, we’re here when you need us:
Pro Tip: Make an appointment in advance of visiting our office so we’ll be ready to assist you when you arrive and you won’t have to wait.
Need something right away? Our carrier’s toll-free number provides round-the-clock access to:
Auto Insurance Discounts
Homeowner’s Insurance Discounts
Access digital ID cards instantly through:
Contact our office during business hours or access your online account for:
Contact our office during business hours or access your online account for:
Auto Insurance in Washington State: The Complete Guide, which we’ve written especially for Washington drivers, will teach you everything you might want to know about auto insurance.
In the insurance world, there is actually no such thing as “full coverage.” So why do we all pretend this term exists? When an auto sales person, or someone at a bank (or even an insurance agent) says you need “full coverage” what they are saying is “You need to have at least the state minimum liability coverage, as well as collision and comprehensive coverage on your policy so that you can legally drive this car, and we can fix it or get it replaced if you crash it.” Needless to say, this leaves A LOT of coverages on the sidelines if this is all you’re looking for and doesn’t address the limits, or deductible amounts that might work best for you.
In most situations, you are covered to drive a rental car up to the limits of your current auto policy. For the majority of carriers, this includes not only your liability coverage, but also your collision and comprehensive coverage including your existing deductibles. The one thing it may not cover is called “loss of use”. This is the money that the rental car company could make renting the car while it is being fixed after an accident. Be sure to ask the company what they charge for that level of coverage, if it’s just a couple bucks a day, it might be worth it.
Pro tip: When you rent a car, rather than buying the damage waiver, which typically costs between $12 and $25 per day,call your insurance agent and have your collision and comprehensive deductibles lowered to zero for the duration of your trip, and raise them back up to previous levels after you return your car. On a three day rental, you could
easily save as much as $60.
Every company has it’s own mix of factors when determining insurance premiums. But for the most part, just about every carrier considers the following: Length of Insurance history, accident history, number of traffic violations, where you live, consumer credit information, and number of miles driven are all very common factors. How each of these factors is weighted in determining your premium varies from company to company. You may have a perfect driving record, but if you live in a zip code that has a lot of accidents, or car thefts, that may outweigh your stellar driving record (depending on the company).
Call your agent to discuss your coverage options before filing a claim. If your agent is unavailable, you can call your carrier’s 24 hour claims service line, or get a claim started online. See Should I File a Claim? for information on how to know when to file a claim.
Home Insurance in Washington State: The Complete Guide, which we’ve written especially for Washington drivers, will teach you everything you might want to know about home insurance.
Most homeowners insurance policies have coverage for the home itself, your personal property, and liability coverage for you, should something happen to someone else while in your home. Coverage limits vary depending on the size and type of home you have, and these policies are customizable to your current situation. Contact one of our team members to discuss your home and what coverages are right for you!
When you purchase your home, the price you pay takes into consideration a number of different factors. Things like the location, property size, home supply and demand, and loan specifics can all dictate the price you end up paying for a home. Your homeowners insurance policy is ONLY concerned with the structure itself and how much it will cost to rebuild your home in the event of a total loss due to a fire, or another covered peril. Be sure to discuss your coverage needs with our team to ensure you have the right levels for you!
Typically, fire (unless it was started on purpose) is covered by the majority of insurance carriers. However, Earthquake coverage varies from carrier to carrier with the majority of carriers electing to exclude Earthquakes damage from their home policies. Additional Earthquake coverage can be purchased for your home as a standalone policy. Flood coverage is almost always excluded from a homeowners policy. Flood coverage can also be purchased as a stand alone policy. Discuss your options with your agent to make sure you qualify for these policies before purchasing.
The best question to ask yourself is “how much would I feel paying out of pocket before my insurance kicked in?” Everyone has their own threshold for how much money they have saved to cover the unexpected expenses life throws at us. Just keep in mind that the lower your deductible is, the higher your premium will be and vice versa.
-Term Life insurance is a policy that is in place for a specific amount of time (the term). You pay monthly premiums during this time and should you pass away during the term of the policy, the agreed upon benefit will be paid out to your chosen beneficiary.
-Permanent Life insurance is a policy that lasts your entire life. The premiums are typically a bit higher than a term policy, but, many of these policies can build what is called “cash value” which allows you to earn some interest on the premiums you pay each month.
Determining how much life insurance coverage to purchase is one of the most important questions you can ask yourself. How much money would my family need in order to survive if my income were to disappear? What expenses do I want this benefit to cover (mortgage, college tuition, etc)? Do I want to use this money to leave a legacy for my kids and grandkids by starting a trust, or an endowment? All of these are factors that need to be considered when selecting the amount of life insurance to purchase.
Pricing for life insurance depends on a number of factors. Your age, your health history, and the type of policy you choose are the primary factors that determine the rate. If you’re young and healthy, policies can start as low as $15/month!
Historically, the process for applying for life insurance has been as follows:
a. Meet with agent to determine life insurance needs
b. Submit application
c. Complete health questionnaire
d. Complete a paramed exam (height/weight/blood draw/urine sample)
e. Policy goes through underwriting approval
f. Client accepts/declines policy
Many carriers now have what is called “accelerated” underwriting, which allows people to bypass the paramed exam and health questions which leads to a much shorter turn around time.
• Insurance the way it should be •
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