When our clients consult with Grillo & Associates, we often field questions about the purpose of and need for personal insurance. In New York, residents and businesses face considerably higher costs for everyday expenses. So it is completely understandable that they question the need for some coverages. In addition, its title confuses many. What is personal insurance? Who needs personal insurance? What does it entail and why?  In this posting we’ll go over its definition, purpose, scope, and validity. At Grillo & Associates, we assist business owners, families, and individuals to find optimal and affordable insurance policies that fully meet their needs. If you are thinking about purchasing personal insurance coverage, here’s what you’ll need to know:

Personal insurance for New York residents is also known as personal liability coverage. Essentially, it protects policyholders financially if they are held legally responsible for damages or injuries to others. In fact, some policies may also extend this protection to include household relatives, that is, those related to you who are also living at your address. An example would be if your son or daughter accidentally damages your neighbor’s property, you may be covered. Covered for what? Generally, when a personal liability claim is made against a home or business owner, such claims could include medical bills and legal fees.

Examples include guests who sustain injuries while on your property. The injury/injuries are serious, and legally deemed preventable due to poor home maintenance. Or, the accidental (as opposed to willfully) damage or destruction of someone else’s property is a prime example that prompts the need for personal insurance. Long Island is frequently battered by intense seasonal storms, including the historic hurricane of 1938 which devastated the East End. In the past decade, Hurricane Sandy’s high winds felled trees and knocked out power to over 90% of Long Island’s residents. Many liability claims followed, as trees from one neighbor’s property fell across property lines and damaged their neighbor residences and outbuildings. In these scenarios, a personal insurance policy would cover the costs of any subsequent medical bills, repair and or replacement of any damaged vehicles, as well as your legal defense fees up to your policy’s monetary limit. Here again, some personal insurance policies will cover incidents that occur outside your home and/or property.

What Does Personal Insurance on Long Island Cover?

There are three main coverage components to a standard personal insurance policy. These are:

  • Bodily injury to an individual.
  • Lawsuits that may ensue if an accident occurs.
  • Property damage that occurred due to your negligence.

Even if you already have a personal insurance policy, it is a good idea to let Grillo & Associates evaluate your coverage based on your current needs. It may have been some time since you took out that policy and in the interim have expanded or renovated your home and grounds, your children have become drivers, in short, you likely need more coverage. If the liability limits of your personal insurance in New York do not meet your current needs, you’ll want to consider personal umbrella liability insurance for an extra layer of personal liability protection. This way, if you are held responsible for costs that exceed the limits of your liability coverage, that you have additional coverage to depend upon.

By the way, if you rent instead of own your home, Grillo & Associates recommend that you consider personal liability insurance as well as a tenants’ policy to make certain you are covered for any contingency. As the leading insurance brokerage for personal insurance on Long Island, we want our clients to have the insurance you require to live well and continue to thrive. Schedule your confidential consultation with our team to learn more about this vital coverage. Call today!