Umbrella Policy... What is it and Do you need one?
Protecting your family and assets is a top priority, which is why people have insurance. But what happens if you find yourself in a situation where your insurance is not enough? Well, that's when a personal umbrella insurance policy could help cover you.
Understanding Your Personal Umbrella Insurance Policy
A personal umbrella policy (PUP) is a type of insurance that provides liability coverage over and above your automobile or homeowners policy. So, if your liability coverage isn't enough to cover the damages of an accident you cause or an incident on your property, a personal umbrella insurance policy kicks in right where your other liability underlying limits have been reached. An umbrella policy can protect you when your automobile or homeowners insurance isn't enough.
Personal Umbrella Insurance Policy in Action
To better understand how a personal umbrella policy works, here's an example: If you're at fault in a car accident that injures another driver, your regular automobile insurance will cover the other driver up to the limit you selected, say $250,000. But what happens if that limit is not enough to cover the other driver's needs?
If the other driver's injuries are severe, he may require benefits beyond the $250,000 your policy covers. In this case, he could sue you, which means your personal assets would be at stake. This could be a small amount, but imagine if that injured driver were a surgeon or another high paying professional. What if the accident you caused resulted in an injury that kept him from doing his job for six months? Suddenly, he's suing you for $1 million to cover the six months he's away from work.
Your automobile policy covers the initial $250,000, but where would you come up with the remaining $750,000? A personal umbrella policy can cover the additional costs when your insurance isn't enough. The PUP could provide the additional coverage you need so that you don't get stuck trying to pay the remaining balance yourself. This extra policy could protect your bank account, home, and other personal property.
Understanding Your Personal Umbrella Insurance Policy
A personal umbrella policy (PUP) is a type of insurance that provides liability coverage over and above your automobile or homeowners policy. So, if your liability coverage isn't enough to cover the damages of an accident you cause or an incident on your property, a personal umbrella insurance policy kicks in right where your other liability underlying limits have been reached. An umbrella policy can protect you when your automobile or homeowners insurance isn't enough.
Personal Umbrella Insurance Policy in Action
To better understand how a personal umbrella policy works, here's an example: If you're at fault in a car accident that injures another driver, your regular automobile insurance will cover the other driver up to the limit you selected, say $250,000. But what happens if that limit is not enough to cover the other driver's needs?
If the other driver's injuries are severe, he may require benefits beyond the $250,000 your policy covers. In this case, he could sue you, which means your personal assets would be at stake. This could be a small amount, but imagine if that injured driver were a surgeon or another high paying professional. What if the accident you caused resulted in an injury that kept him from doing his job for six months? Suddenly, he's suing you for $1 million to cover the six months he's away from work.
Your automobile policy covers the initial $250,000, but where would you come up with the remaining $750,000? A personal umbrella policy can cover the additional costs when your insurance isn't enough. The PUP could provide the additional coverage you need so that you don't get stuck trying to pay the remaining balance yourself. This extra policy could protect your bank account, home, and other personal property.