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Sump Insurance

113 N 15th St
PO Box 199
Clarinda, IA 51632

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Sump Insurance Blog

How do I know if I have enough auto insurance coverage?

Clarinda, IA drivers need to carry a certain amount of insurance by law. If you only want to meet the minimum requirements, Sume Insurance can help you find a policy where you will only have liability coverage. Liability coverage only kicks in to protect the other drivers and passengers when you are found to be at fault in an accident. 

Minimum Legal Requirements

Under Iowa law, you only need to carry certain amounts of liability insurance. Property damage coverage will help to repair or replace the victim’s vehicle while personal injury coverage will cover everything from emergency room visits to ongoing physical therapy. Any amount not paid out under your policy becomes your responsibility. If you cannot pay, the other insurance company will likely seek a court judgment. 

Other Important Coverages

If you still owe on your vehicle, your lender may require you to carry full coverage. Full coverage will also protect you during an accident, even if you are at fault. Many people become spoiled after carrying full coverage and keep it after the car is paid off. Full coverage gives you peace of mind that liability insurance alone can’t offer.

Here are some of the advantages of full coverage insurance:

  • Comprehensive coverage offers protection in case of unexpected events like fire, vandalism, or accidentally hitting an animal with your car.
  • Collision coverage provides protection during any kind of collision no matter who caused the accident,
  • Rental car reimbursement will help you stay on the road while your vehicle is being repaired.
  • Uninsured/underinsured coverage protects you when the other driver doesn’t have adequate coverage.

Sump Insurance Is Here To Help

You may also want to talk to us about how to get gap coverage, roadside assistance, or other benefits in Clarinda, IA. If you have any questions about your coverage, please call Sump Insurance today.

Does Umbrella Insurance Cover Businesses?

Umbrella insurance is a highly beneficial Financial tool to help prevent losses due to liability that exceeds your home or commercial insurance protection. If you are in the market for an umbrella insurance policy or would like to learn more about this type of coverage, you can count on the professionals at Sump Insurance to provide support and services to the residents in and around Clarinda, IA.

Umbrella Insurance Protection 

Umbrella insurance is designed to cover liability that exceeds the limits of insurance currently in place. Businesses that are more likely to exceed the limits of their liability protection should invest in quality umbrella insurance. If you’re interested in learning more about this type of coverage, our highly knowledgeable insurance agents can work closely with you to explain the terms and conditions of each policy and help match you to coverage that meets your needs.

Our agents take the time to carefully assess your situation and determine what level of coverage works best for your business’s specific needs. In addition to helping secure coverage, we can support you with any changes to your policy during its lifetime or with submitting claims. It’s all a part of our commitment to exceptional customer service and our goal of providing you with insurance that offers peace of mind.

Reach Out Today 

If you would like to get answers to questions about umbrella insurance or any other insurance products we offer, don’t hesitate to contact Sump Insurance. We proudly provide quality insurance products to the residents in and around the Clarinda, IA area. Call or stop by our office today to schedule a consultation with one of our knowledgeable team members. Don’t wait to get the liability protection you need with umbrella insurance.

Is Damage Caused by Plumbing Issues Covered by Insurance?

Plumbing issues can wreak havoc on your home, your budget, and your life. Burst pipes, leaks, or sewage backups can lead to water damage, mold growth, and structural problems. Homeowners experiencing water damage from plumbing issues like these often ask us at Sump Insurance in Clarinda, IA, if their insurance will cover the costs. While it depends on the specifics of your insurance policy and the cause of the damage, here are some general guidelines to consider.

Plumbing Issues & Insurance

Homeowner’s insurance typically covers sudden and accidental water damage caused by plumbing issues. If a pipe bursts or leaks because of factors beyond your control, like freezing temperatures or wear and tear, your insurance policy might cover the resulting damages. You can consult your agent or policy to determine whether there will be coverage in your particular situation. 

Certain kinds of plumbing damage are almost never covered by homeowners insurance, like damage that results from negligence or lack of maintenance. Additionally, some policies have specific exclusions for certain plumbing-related issues, like sewer backup. Carefully read your policy and consult with your insurance provider to understand what’s covered and what’s not.

In many cases, you can prevent plumbing-related damage by inspecting your pipes regularly, addressing leaks as soon as you notice them, and maintaining adequate insulation around your plumbing. If you do experience a plumbing emergency, take steps to limit the damage as soon as possible: turn off the water at the source, use towels or a wet vacuum to remove excess water, and set up fans in the affected area as soon as possible. Contact your insurance agent right away. As you work to repair the damage, take pictures and keep all of your receipts. 

We Can Help!

To learn more about homeowners coverage in Clarinda, IA, contact us at Sump Insurance today!

Is Auto Insurance Required in Iowa?

The agents at Sump Insurance serving the Clarinda, IA area want you to know that auto insurance is required in the state of Iowa. All motorists must have at least a minimum amount of auto liability insurance to cover any bodily injuries or destruction of property that may happen during an accident you cause.

In addition to liability insurance, there are several other coverage options you can choose from to add more protection for you and your vehicle.

Auto Insurance Coverage Options

Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist Coverage

If you happen to have the misfortune of becoming involved in an accident that is the fault of a driver without insurance or an inadequate amount of auto insurance, this type of coverage will assist you in repairing or replacing your vehicle and help with the medical bills you might incur.

Comprehensive Auto Insurance

Comprehensive insurance is a great policy to have since it will help you to repair or replace your vehicle if it catches on fire, is damaged by vandalism, or becomes destroyed or damaged by a natural disaster. This type of insurance will also help to replace or repair your car, SUV, or truck if it is stolen.

Collision Insurance

Collision insurance will assist you in paying for damages from a collision with another vehicle or some sort of object.

If you still owe money to a bank or lender for the purchase of your car, truck, or SUV, you will more than likely have to secure an auto insurance policy that includes both collision and comprehensive insurance.

Contact Us Today

To obtain an auto insurance policy that provides you with the coverage you need, contact the agents at Sump Insurance serving the Clarinda, IA area today!

Is an umbrella insurance plan necessary in Iowa?

Carrying proper and necessary insurance should be a priority for all in the Clarinda, IA area. One type of insurance that people here will want to consider getting is umbrella insurance. This is a form of insurance that will provide personal liability coverage.

There are a few reasons that someone in this part of Iowa should consider getting an umbrella plan a basic necessity:

Prepare for the Unexpected

A reason that all people in Iowa should have an umbrella plan is to ensure they are prepared for the unexpected. Liability risks need to be taken very seriously. If you are found liable for an accident that results in damages or other losses, you may have to pay a lot of money out of pocket. Because of this, having insurance will be helpful. If you get an umbrella plan, it will provide any support that you need to mitigate this risk. 

Coverage for Major Claims

If you are a property owner or car owner and have the right insurance, you are likely to have liability coverage for accidents that happen at home or on the road. However, those policies will have a coverage cap that can be exhausted if the accident is bad enough. If you are able to invest in an umbrella plan, you will get coverage on top of those types of policies. 

We Can Help

Umbrella insurance is a very important form of insurance to obtain. When you have this coverage, it can provide peace of mind and reduce liability risks. As you are looking to get this coverage in the Clarinda, IA area, you can benefit by calling us at Sump Insurance. Our team at Sump Insurance will offer the support that is necessary to build a new plan that offers ideal support and protection.

What Are the Benefits of Buying Home Insurance in Person Versus Online?

If you are looking to purchase home insurance, Sump Insurance, serving the greater Clarinda, IA area, would love the opportunity to assist you. One of the questions that we are frequently asked is what the benefits of buying home insurance in person from an insurance agent are compared to going online and purchasing home insurance.

Here are some of those benefits:

An Insurance Agent Can Help You Understand the Policy Language

One of the benefits associated with buying home insurance in person versus online is that an insurance agent can help you understand the policy language. Not everyone is familiar with every insurance term, so having a professional who is can be helpful. 

An Insurance Agent Can Help You Determine How Much Coverage You Need

Another benefit to buying home insurance in person versus online is that an insurance agent can work with you to determine how much coverage you need. This helps to ensure that you are fully protected in case an unexpected event occurs, and you need to file a claim with your home insurance company. 

An Agent Will Go Over the Exclusion List With You

Lastly, an insurance agent will go over the exclusion list with you. Many policies have exclusion lists that exclude things such as earthquakes or flooding caused by heavy rains. Knowing what is excluded helps you to better understand your policy and ensures you can purchase a separate insurance policy to cover things not covered by your home insurance policy. 

Reach Out To Us

An insurance agent can work with you to ensure that you understand the policy language, to help you determine how much coverage you need, and to be sure you understand what is excluded from your policy. If you are looking to purchase a home insurance policy in the greater Clarinda, IA area, reach out to Sump Insurance to get started. 

Three reasons why you must have auto insurance

When you purchase a vehicle, one of the most important things you need to do is make sure to purchase an auto insurance policy. At Sump Insurance, we sell auto insurance policies to motorists in Clarinda, IA. 

The following are three important reasons why you must have auto insurance if you own a vehicle:

Auto insurance is required by law

Auto insurance is basically required by law in every state. If you are pulled over and aren’t insured, you can be cited for driving without insurance. Penalties for driving without insurance coverage are very harsh in many states, so you need to make sure that you’re covered. 

Auto insurance protects you financially

It’s important to carry auto insurance to protect your finances. Auto insurance can protect not only your investment in your vehicle but also your savings. If you are responsible for a costly auto accident, you will have to pay out of pocket. This could lead to a significant or even complete loss of your assets. 

Auto insurance is required by auto loan lenders

Many motorists took out a car loan to purchase their vehicle. If you borrowed money to buy your vehicle, it’s important to know that your auto lender will require you to carry auto insurance.

If you are carrying auto insurance to meet your auto loan lender’s requirements, you’ll need to have both liability and collision coverage. Collision coverage protects the value of your vehicle while you’re paying back your loan. 

We Are Here To Help

Are you interested in exploring your auto insurance options in Clarinda, IA? We can answer your questions about auto insurance and provide you with a quote on a policy at Sump Insurance. Get in touch with us today!

Does Umbrella Insurance Cover Home, Auto, or Personal Belongings Damage?

While serving the Clarinda, IA region, our team at Sump Insurance frequently receives questions about what is covered under umbrella insurance policies and what is not covered. Since umbrella insurance policies can vary from provider to provider and policy to policy, it can be confusing to decipher what your specific umbrella policy entails. To clear up the confusion, we’ve tackled these confusing topics below.

What Is Umbrella Insurance?

If you take the term literally, you might think umbrella insurance covers, well, umbrellas. This wouldn’t quite be accurate. As an insurance policy, umbrella insurance acts as an “umbrella” to cover claims beyond what your home insurance, auto insurance, or other policies cover. Typically, umbrella insurance comes into play when you have reached your limit on another policy.

It’s like a safety net or backup plan that ensures that you will be covered even in significant events that go beyond your primary policies’ reach.

What Does Umbrella Insurance Cover?

While every policy is different, umbrella insurance policies generally cover liability, medical costs, and expenses associated with lawsuits that go beyond what the primary home or auto policy handles.

Does Umbrella Insurance Cover Home, Auto, or Personal Belongings Damage?

Unfortunately, for most umbrella insurance policies, home, auto, and personal belongings damage is not covered under the umbrella policy. While some umbrella policies may cover these things, it is usually meant to cover damage or injury to others, as well as liability. That being said, some umbrella insurance policies may cover these if they are related to other forms of coverage such as liability. It all depends on the individual policy terms and the specific situation at hand.

We Are Here To Help!

To discover what our umbrella policies cover, call Sump Insurance in Clarinda, IA today!

 

Is Home Insurance Mandatory in Iowa?

Owning a house brings comfort and satisfaction to anyone’s life. However, homeownership is not without risks. Therefore, it’s advisable to look for protection for your house and the belongings placed in it. Our team of insurance experts at Sump Insurance is here to help.

Is Home Insurance Mandatory in Iowa?

Home insurance is not mandatory in Clarinda, IA or anywhere else in the state, but if you acquire your house through financing as a mortgage, the lender might want you to have it until you pay the outstanding debt. Regardless, it’s very important for a homeowner to consider insurance packages to ensure preservation for both your house and the personal materials stored in them.

The benefits include:

Dwelling coverage: 

This protection is intended to guard your house, comprising the walls, built-in appliances, and floors, as well as separate structures like a gazebo after an insurable risk strikes.

Additional living expenses: 

If your beautiful home is destroyed by the stated risks in your legal document and becomes unlivable, this protection kicks in and pays for accrued expenses when your home is being restored or reconstructed.

Contents coverage: 

Getting this policy safeguards your belongings such as clothing, furniture, and electronic gadgets after they get damaged or robbed by a predominant catastrophe.

Contact Us Today

Have you bought or constructed your house recently in Clarinda, IA? Give us a call at Sump Insurance to get more details about home insurance.

Does Your Auto Insurance Cover Multi-Vehicle Collision Costs?

Auto liability insurance policies are legally required in most states, including Iowa. However, collision insurance covers an entirely different aspect of auto insurance that you may never have considered. While it is safe to assume that most people do not want to experience a collision in their lives, imminent danger on the road is always an unfortunate possibility. Particularly when the weather is rainy or snowy, the chances of being involved in a car crash go up exponentially.

Not all auto insurance policies cover multi-vehicle collisions, but there are insurance agents who can help protect you in the event of a life-altering crash.  Sump Insurance in Clarinda, IA is here to assist.

Auto Insurance & Multi-Vehicle Collision

Let’s say that you are driving on icy roads and fail to notice that the cars in front of you are coming to a stop, or perhaps you cannot see through the thick sheets of snow. If you rear-end the vehicle in front of you and it continues on like a domino effect, your liability insurance will cover the damage done to the other vehicles.

Alternatively, if you are in one of the vehicles that get hit (or in other words, if you are one of the drivers who is not at fault and got caught in the crossfire), the driver at fault will need their liability insurance to cover your vehicle’s damage. There is also the option of obtaining collision insurance, which may especially be recommended in states with drastically inclement weather. 

Give Us A Call

If you are in the Clarinda, IA area, stop by Sump Insurance to discuss your auto policy with a qualified professional.  Call Sump Insurance today or stop by the office if you are in the area. Allow the experts to give you the information you need to protect yourself and others.

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