F I R M Solutions, LLC

Teen Drivers and the Road

The impact of teenage drivers reaches beyond the drivers family and friends. In 2008 681,000 people were involved in crashes where a teen driver was behind the wheel. Another 40,000 were injured, and nearly 30 percent of those who died in these crashes were not in the car driven by the teen. This data was provided by Children’s Hospital.

The report focused on four key behaviors among teen drivers that are considered major indicators.

Failure to use seat belts.

Speeding.

Alcohol use.

Distracted driving. (cell phone, iPod and texting)

More than half of the who were fatally injured were speeding, 40 percent had a positive blood alcohol level, and half were not wearing seat belts. 16 percent were distracted, though that percentage is thought to be much higher and the fastest growing behavior.

Most of these tragedies are due to inexperience, and therefore preventable. States are stiffing up licensing laws for teen that are expected to help. Continuing education will also help. FIRM Solutions offers a teen driving program that when completed will give a 30 percent discount off standard rates for the teen driver. At a time when auto insurance rates tend to be the highest the newly licensed driver now has the option to sit down and watch an educational video, complete a workbook session and save major money. If your teen is a good student FIRM Solutions can increase the discount to 55 percent.

If your teen just started driving or will be getting their license soon remember that FIRM Solutions would like to partner with the parents. Providing proper coverage is important but offering real life solutions for your family is our job. Contact us at 888-471-FIRM (3476) or 760-471-1312 or info@firmsolutions.net.

Home Insurance

If you own your home, FIRM Solutions, LLC offers several types of homeowners insurance policies that will fit your needs.

We give you the option to choose the homeowners insurance package you want and help you tailor them to give you maximum protection for your insurance dollar.

Homeowners insurance is designed to bring your home and possessions back to the same condition they were in before a loss occurred. There are several different types of homeowners insurance policies offered by a wide variety of insurance companies. As a result, not all coverages are the same. We review all your options and coverages so that you can make an informed decision.

FIRM Solutions, LLC homeowners insurance policies are normally issued on a Replacement Cost basis up to 100% of your Dwelling Coverage limit (Coverage A, as displayed on your policy declarations page). Replacement Cost is the amount required to repair or rebuild your home with similar materials. FIRM Solutions, LLC automatically includes additional coverage with our Extended Replacement Cost endorsement up to 150%.

FIRM Solutions, LLC homeowners insurance includes the following protections:

• Dwelling coverage up to the limits you choose to purchase and defined by our Replacement Cost-calculations. Information is the key here, that’s why we spend the amount of time we due fine tuning this figure.
• Coverage for your personal property up to the limits you choose to purchase. (Guranteed Replacement Cost coverage for your personal property. Coverage world wide)
• Coverage for structures in addition to your primary dwelling, such as storage sheds, boathouses, and pools.
• Coverage for loss of use, reimbursing you for expenses for loss of use of your home caused by named perils.
• Medical expenses, paying up to $5,000 per person if someone is injured on your property.
• Liability exposures, protecting you against certain risks up to $1,000,000 per accident for bodily injury or property damage.

Take the time to speak with an agent about insuring your most important asset, your home.

Give us a call if you have questions or want to discuss your present coverage. 1-760-471-1312 1-888-471-FIRM (3476) or info@firmsolutions.net.

Dog Bite Liability

One third of all homeowners insurance liability claims are a direct result of a dog bite. The long time family pet that has never acted like this, never bitten anyone before and is great with small children cost insurance companies hundreds of millions each year. Do you have a dog? Do you have enough liability insurance.

The average medical cost of a dog bite in 2009 was around $25,000 which represents a 30% increase over the last six years. 50% of all dog bites occur on the owners property. That issue right there should be of major concern to each and every homeowner that owns a dog.

The Centers of disease control and prevention report the 4.7 million people are bitten by dogs annually. 900,000 of those are children and required medical attention. 386,000 required a trip to the emergency room. 16 actually die from the bite.

Having the right amount of liability insurance can remove the stress of a very unfortunate situation. Having the proper coverage can protect your assets. Raising your liability limits on your home owners policy can cost as little as $50 - $100 a year. Adding a liability umbrella will add a level of protection and peace of mind for as little as $200 a year.

Three golden rules of dog ownership:

As a dog owner you are automatically liable for any injury or property damage the dog causes even without provocation.

“One-Bite” rule, in some sates the owner is not held liable for the first bite however it’s up to the owner to find out if that's the case in your state.

Negligence laws, The dog owner is liable for any injury that occurs because he or she was unreasonably careless, niece way to say "Negligent", in controlling the dog.

If you have questions regarding your current liability coverage let  F I R M Solutions help protect your assets. The time is now to evaluate your situation and take the necessary steps to ensure you have the right coverage, not after the loss. Too many times, too many conversations with clients after the loss wish they had more liability coverage.  Contact us at 888-471-FIRM (3476) or 760-471-1312 or info@firmsolutions.net

Do you have a swimming pool?

Home Based Business Insurance

When you start a home-based business, insurance may not be your first priority, but you cannot afford to ignore it either. When the unexpected happens -- and it will -- having insurance coverage may mean the difference between the success and failure of your home-based business. Remember that your homeowners insurance policy will exclude certain if not all commercial coverage. You may not require all types of insurance listed here, but taking some time now to consider your insurance needs can save you money and headaches in the future.

Business property insurance helps protect you against loss of inventory or equipment. If your business equipment or inventory is damaged in a flood, fire, or other disaster, this type of insurance will allow you to recoup your losses.

Comprehensive commercial general liability insurance is necessary for your home-based business if you plan on having clients or customers visit your home. Whether you plan to hold meetings, allow customers to pick up merchandise, or have members of the public enter your home for any other reason, this insurance will protect you if someone is injured while on your property. This insurance will typically pay for your legal defense should you face a lawsuit as the result of a fall or other damage that occurs on your property.

Business interruption insurance will help your business recover from natural disasters. It will cover you for income lost during the disaster, and will pay for operating expenses that continue to accrue, even though your business isn't up and running.

Workers' compensation insurance is vital if you plan on having employees working out of your home. Without workers' comp, you'll be responsible for any medical expenses arising from injuries employees sustain while working for you. Many home-based business owners mistakenly believe that this type of insurance is only required by businesses that have a retail or separate location, but that's not the case.

Health insurance should be a serious consideration. If you have just left your current job to start your own business, you may be eligible for COBRA, which will provide temporary interim coverage, but is often very expensive. This will keep you covered while you search for the best health insurance policy that will fit your new budget.

Disability insurance will guarantee you some income should you suddenly become unable to work because of injury or illness. Having this extra peace of mind may be well worth the extra money you pay.

Life insurance will help ensure that your family has the money it needs should you meet with an untimely death. Some lenders require that you have life insurance before they'll issue a loan; this guarantees that the loan will be repaid if you meet with an untimely end.

Do you have a home based business or home based hobby? The difference is setting your business up professionally making sure you have the right insurance coverage in place. Let FIRM Solutions help you make the right decision when it comes to your business venture. Call 1-888-471-FIRM (3476) 760-471-1312 or info@firmsolutions.net.  

Personal Liability Umbrella Insurance

Personal Umbrella Insurance: Protection When You Need It

Did you know that if you’re faced with a serious liability claim, your home and auto insurance liability coverage may not be enough? FIRM Solutions, LLC offers several umbrella policies that will provide the extra liability coverage you need to ensure that you and your valuable assets are protected.

Understanding Personal Umbrella Insurance

Personal umbrella insurance provides additional liability insurance coverage after the limits of your underlying liability policy are reached. For example, if several people were injured as a result of an auto accident and you are found to be at fault, the cost of their medical treatment could exceed your liability limit. But if you had personal umbrella insurance, those additional costs would be covered.

Personal umbrella insurance policies can vary depending on your situation and your individual needs. An extra million dollars of coverage can cost as little as $200 a year. We can write limits up to and exceeding ten million.

Give us a call at 888-471-FIRM (3476) 760-471-1312 or info@firmsolutions.net

Why Choose FIRM Solutions for your E & O Coverage

There are no "standard" policy verbiage for E&O coverage. Each policy must be read carefully to make sure that the coverage being offered fits your exposures. An attorney, a doctor and a computer programmer all have exposures; however, the same policy would not work for all. There is no "one size fits all" E&O policy. Let F I R M Solutions find the right coverage for your business.

Most E&O policies are written on a "claims made" or "claims made and reported" form. This means that any claims must be made or, in some cases, made and reported, within the policy period. These policies have a retroactive date that becomes very important. Claims that arise out of acts committed prior to the retroactive date will not be covered. The farther back the retroactive date, the more coverage provided.

Some policies also include the defense expenses within the limit of liability. Some will exclude punitive damages. The wording of these policies can vary greatly, and each policy must be read carefully to make sure the coverage fits the exposure.

This is why it is very important to let FIRM Solutions,  professionals that understand the E&O coverage and marketplace to accurately understand your unique exposure. Different information may be needed depending upon the type of exposure.

The cost of E&O insurance may vary greatly depending on the class of business, location, claims experience (both of the individual insured and of the industry they are in) and from insurance company to insurance company. An insurance company that is very competitive on insurance agents or real estate agents, may not be competitive, or may not even offer coverage on business consultants, even if the consultant works with real estate or insurance agents.

An insurance company underwriter may ask for copies of contracts, a description of quality control procedures, documentation procedures, training procedures, etc., or they may want nothing more than a completed application.

The underwriter will not only look at your experience to see if you have had claims, but they will also try to determine the reason you haven't had claims. Is it luck or are you doing something that prevents the claim in the first place? And if you have had claims, what steps have you taken to ensure that the same errors will not continue to occur?

This is why you need a professional who will take the time to understand your business and submit your risk to the proper company. Call for your quote today 888-471-F I R M (3476) 760-471-1312 or info@firmsolutions.net.

 

Why Buy E & O Insurance

To put it very simply, everyone makes mistakes. Even with the best employees and the best risk management practices in place, mistakes will be made. No one is perfect.

If a freight forwarder sends a shipment to South America instead of South Africa and it is a time sensitive shipment and their client loses a sale and, therefore, hundreds of thousands of dollars, who will pay the loss?

If a wedding planner reserves the reception hall, the band, the caterers, etc., for May 22 instead of May 29 and everyone shows up except the wedding party and guests, who pays? And imagine the emotional distress caused to the bride if this were to happen!

There is also the less tangible loss of reputation for both the professional and his client. What will the cost be to the business that now has equipment in South America instead of South Africa? Will they lose future contracts with their current client as well as future clients?

By not purchasing E&O a company can be taking a serious financial risk. These types of losses are not covered under a general liability policy. And, as stated earlier, even if you are not at fault, litigation is both time consuming and expensive.

FIRM Solutions can help. Call today and lets talk about your exposure and if you need coverage. 888-471-F I R M (3476) 760-471-1312 or info@firmsolutions.net

E & O Errors and Omissions Insurance Coverage

Errors and omssions (E&O) is the insurance that covers your company, or you individually, in the event that a client holds you responsible for a service you provided, or failed to provide, that did not have the expected or promised results. For doctors, dentists, chiropractors, etc., it is often called malpractice insurance. For lawyers, accountants, architects or engineers, it may be called professional liability. Whatever you call it, it covers you for errors (or omissions) that you have made or that the client perceives you have made. Most E&O policies cover judgments, settlements and defense costs. Even if the allegations are found to be groundless, thousands of dollars may be needed to defend the lawsuit. They can bankrupt a smaller company or individual and have a lasting effect on the bottom line of larger companies.

In short, E&O coverage provides protection for you in the event that an error or omission on your part has caused a financial loss for your client.

The best-known professionals who need E&O insurance are doctors, lawyers, accountants, architects, engineers, etc. However, less thought about individuals range from advertising agencies to commercial printers, Web hosting companies to wedding planners. If you are in the business of providing a service to your client for a fee, you have an E&O exposure. You may want to consider what will happen if the service is not done correctly or on time, and it costs your client money or harms their reputation.

FIRM Solutions will take the time to learn about your business and services and make the correct recommendations for your insurance needs. Lets us help you with your E & O Needs. 888-471-F I R M (3476) 760-471-1312 or info@firmsolutions.net

Commercial Insurance Products and Completed Operatons Coverage

Products liability may be included in the basic general liability coverage form, or be written on its own. It protects insured against exposure to lawsuits by people who may have been injured or suffered other losses because of their product. It provides coverage for the policyholder against claims stemming from products sold, manufactured or distributed.

Completed operations protects you from bodily injury or property damage claims that occur after the completion of a job, project or resulting from the negligence of the work performed. For example, if a contractor were to build a deck, and fail to secure the railing property, and someone were to lean on the railing and suffer bodily injury, the completed operations portion of the general liability policy would come into play. It is important to note however, that this does not cover the faulty work itself, just the resulting bodily injury and or property damage.

FOR IMMEDIATE QUOTES CALL 888-471-FIRM (3476) - 760-471-1312 or Info@Firmsolutions.net