In 2004, the most recent year with results available, 8,750 claims were made against uninsured drivers and/or automobile owners in Wisconsin. Damages exceeded $37 million and as of July of 2006, 430 of those motorists still had unresolved claims against them.

“If you are in a collision with an uninsured or underinsured motorist and do not have adequate uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage, you may not be properly compensated for injuries that you, or other occupants of your vehicle sustain,” says Cindy Steinbach, Mayville Insurance Agency.

Although Wisconsin does not require proof of insurance to receive a drivers license or to register a vehicle, it does have a financial responsibility law. The law states that any motorist licensed to drive in Wisconsin must pay for damages to others though a liability insurance policy, a surety bond, personal funds or a certificate of self-insurance. But if an uninsured or underinsured driver hits you and has no means to pay for the damage, your only option is to sue the other driver for damages. It may take years for you to be reimbursed, if at all.

“Uninsured motorists coverage protects you by providing money to cover bodily injury to you and other occupants of your vehicle (or if you are injured as a pedestrian) that were caused by an uninsured motorist or a hit-and-run driver,” says Steinbach. “This protection does not cover damage to your vehicle or your property and is purchased as part of a typical auto insurance policy.”

“Underinsured motorists coverage increases the bodily injury protection for you and the other occupants of your vehicle up to the amount you purchase. This coverage would go into effect when the party causing the accident has lower bodily injury liability limits than your underinsured motorists limits.”

Your professional independent agent can help you determine the right amount of uninsured and/or underinsured motorist coverage to purchase for your situation.

Think you don’t need flood insurance? Recent weather conditions have forced many Wisconsin home owners to reevaluate that question.

Floods and flash floods happen in all 50 states and nearly everyone lives in a potential flood zone. Every year, flooding causes more than $2.4 billion of property damage in the U.S. Nationally, homeowners have a 26 percent chance of flood damage over a 30-year period versus only a 9 percent chance of damage due to fire.

“Only an inch of water can cause costly damage to your property,” says Cindy Steinbach, Mayville Insurance Agency. “Basic home owners’ policies do not cover flood damage, so a federal government backed flood insurance policy is needed.”

“The large amount of rain Wisconsin has received lately has caused flooding, which can lead to sewer back-ups,” says Steinbach. “Sewer back-ups are typically not covered or covered on a limited basis under your homeowner’s policy. Purchasing flood insurance should protect you if a sewer were to back-up due to flooding. Review your policy with your professional independent agent to ensure that you have the right type and amount of coverage for your situation.”

In order to purchase flood insurance, your community must participate in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). A $100,000 flood insurance premium is roughly $400 a year. If you live in a low to moderate risk area, your premium may be even lower. Last year, one-third of all claims paid by the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) were for policies in low-risk communities.

“If you live on a coastline, flood plain, etc., you may not qualify for federally subsidized insurance and if you do, your rates will be substantially higher,” says Steinbach. “In this case, should a flood occur, your only option may be federal disaster assistance in the form of a loan that has to be paid back with interest.”

Land development can increase flood risk if construction has altered natural runoff paths. Areas that have not flooded before may be susceptible if surrounding land becomes developed.

If you are building or renovating a home in a floodplain, be sure to elevate the furnace, water heater, and electric panel. Also, install “check valves” in sewer traps to prevent flood water from backing up into the drains of your home.

“Flood policies typically take 30 days to take effect, so be prepared before the floodwaters start to rise,” says Steinbach. “Contact your professional independent insurance agent to discuss adding flood insurance on your home.”

“Annually reviewing your insurance policies with your professional independent agent will help ensure that you are adequately covered and can help you to save money,” says Cindy Steinbach, Mayville Insurance Agency.

To save on homeowners insurance:

• Update your home inventory to reflect any major purchases and let your professional independent agent know if you’ve made any major additions so they get an accurate representation of your situation and the coverage you need.

• If you are in the market, purchase a newer home. You may be charged a lower rate because it’s electrical, heating and plumbing systems, as well as the overall structure are typically in better shape than an older home.

• It is usually not necessary to insure the land your home is built on. In the event of a disaster, the land will most likely remain. Only insure your home, outbuildings and your possessions.

• Adding deadbolts, home security systems and smoke detectors can lead to a discount from some insurance companies.

To save on auto insurance:

• See if you qualify for a low-mileage discount (if you drive less than a certain number of miles each year) or a discount if you use your car for pleasure only.

• Maintain a clean driving record.

• Purchase a low-profile vehicle that isn’t likely to be a target for thieves. To view a list of the “Most Stolen Vehicles”, visit the National Insurance Crime Bureau’s website at https://www.nicb.org/HotWheels/index.html.

For savings on life insurance:

 • Find out the rate per $1,000 of coverage, which often drops as the amount of coverage increases.

 • Start or maintain a healthy lifestyle. Quit smoking, exercise, and eat a healthy, balanced diet.

• Compare the single annual payment price to the total cost of the monthly payments. Monthly payments may cost you more than paying the premium up front.

“For all types of insurance, make sure your credit is in good shape because it is a factor companies use when determining your rate,” says Steinbach. “Try to purchase policies from the same company. If you have your home and auto insurance through the same company, you may qualify for a multiline discount. Increasing your deductibles can help you save on your premiums; if you can afford to cover the larger deductable if something happens. Your professional independent agent can help determine the policy for your situation.”

When you travel, either for a vacation or business, your focus is usually on purchasing airfare, making hotel reservations and figuring out what to do once you get to your destination. But if you aren’t reviewing your insurance policies before you leave, you may be putting yourself unnecessarily at risk in the event you get sick or in an accident.

“Take some time to review your auto and health insurance policies with your professional independent agent before leaving to ensure that you will be covered in an emergency, and are not paying for extra coverage you may not need,” says Cindy Steinbach, Mayville Insurance Agency.

Steinbach continues. ” Rental car insurance is an area where you may not have to pay extra coverage if your  regular auto policy extends collision and comprehensive coverage to rental cars in any state or country. Your professional independent agent can tell you if you are properly covered. Those without a comprehensive auto policy may rely on the coverage provided by their major credit card or through the loss damage waiver they can purchase through the rental car company for coverage. However, these options may not provide full coverage and will have exclusions so it is very important to read the fine print in the contract.

“If you have suffered a loss that isn’t covered under your auto policy, it might be covered under one of your other insurance policies. For example, if personal property has been stolen from your rental car, it may be covered under your homeowners or renters policy.”

When traveling within the U.S., most auto and health insurance policies will be sufficient to protect you while you travel. Your professional independent agent will be able to let you know if there are any gaps in your coverage. But when you travel internationally, these policies often aren’t enough to provide you with adequate coverage.

“Purchasing a travel insurance policy, through a reputable insurance company, should cover you in the event of an emergency overseas,” says Steinbach. “Typically, a comprehensive travel insurance policy will cost five to seven percent of the price of your trip. One of the biggest benefits of purchasing this coverage is the emergency medical evacuation. The costs to airlift you off a cruise ship or even to a different hospital can climb as high as $50,000, which you would be responsible for without this coverage.

“Another advantage is the 24-hour telephone assistance that many travel insurers provide. They can help you find a local pharmacy, get a replacement set of glasses, find an English-speaking doctor or reputable hospital and more.”

Ask your professional independent agent about purchasing a full-overseas insurance pack. These packages can cost less than $50 per person for seven days of coverage and typically include emergency medical evacuation, emergency medical and dental, accidental death and dismemberment, repatriation of remains, visitor to bedside and return of dependent children, pre-existing condition waiver, lost/damaged baggage, rental car protection and trip cancellation/delay/ interruption/default.

Many local citizens give back to their communities by volunteering their time to nonprofit organizations. But these individuals may be putting themselves at risk of being part of lawsuits against the very organizations that they’re trying to help.

“General liability insurance protects your organization from lawsuits involving bodily injury and property damage,” says Brad Steinbach, Mayville Insurance Agency. “But you may not be covered in the event of an abuse or molestation claim, if the space you are renting is damaged, if there is a fire or if one of your volunteers is injured.”

When you review your policy with your professional independent agent, be sure to check whether you are covered in the following areas:

• Abuse/Molestation Coverage: If your organization works with children, the elderly or the infirm, this coverage is especially important.

• Volunteer Coverage: Paid employees of your organization are covered within the definition of ‘who is an insured,’ but volunteers typically have to depend on their own resources or their homeowner’s insurance for protection. Also, check with your professional independent agent to determine if and when a volunteer might be considered an employee under your workers compensation insurance.

• Damage to rented space: If there is damage to the area you are renting to run your organization, are you liable or is the landlord?

• Business Income Coverage: Even nonprofits have revenues to protect, such as operating expenses and payroll.

• Professional Liability Insurance: This is especially important if your organization is in the health-care or human services field where there is a risk of malpractice.

• Auto Insurance: Are your employees or volunteers covered if they are driving an organization owned vehicle or even their own vehicle on organization business?

“If your nonprofit has a board of directors, you might also want to add a directors and officers (D&O) policy,” says Steinbach. “D&O insurance provides financial protection for the directors and officers on the board in the event they are sued in conjunction with the performance of their duties as they relate to the organization. Your professional independent agent can determine whether or not this type of coverage is appropriate for your organization.”

Anyone you hire to help around your house, such as the neighbor kid who mows your lawn, a babysitter, a contractor or other outside services, opens you up to potential legal headaches. If anyone performing work on your property is injured, you may be financially liable for the person’s injuries and disabilities.

“Many homeowners assume that their homeowners insurance policy will protect them if someone is injured on their property,” says Cindy Steinbach, Mayville Insurance Agency. “That is not necessarily true. Contractors such as builders or landscapers should be covered through their own workers’ compensation policy. However, if they do not have coverage, you would be held liable. That’s why it’s important to thoroughly check out any contractor you have work on your property.”

“Some homeowners policies may provide limited coverage for minors that mow the lawn and even domestic workers like maids or nannies. If yours does not, it might be a good idea to purchase an umbrella liability policy to supplement your homeowners insurance. Discuss your policy and your needs with your professional independent agent to determine whether or not you are adequately covered.”

“Homeowners should not rely on current market value or city tax appraisals to determine the amount of homeowners coverage needed,” said Cindy Steinbach, Mayville Insurance Agency. “Homeowners need to consider rebuilding and replacement costs when determining coverage.” With the hurricanes and floods of the past few years, building product costs have skyrocketed- especially wood and shingles. In addition, a home’s contents are typically insured at “actual cash value” in a basic homeowners policy. For example, if your television or computer is several years old, you would be reimbursed for their depreciated value, not for what it would take to replace them. “We recommend purchasing ‘replacement’ coverage for your personal property, it costs slightly more than ‘actual cash value’ but it ensures that you will be able to replace your current possessions with the latest models,” noted Steinbach. Another common issue is that homeowners will remodel their basement or enclose a porch and not alert their insurance agent about these changes. And, if you have a home office, your typical insurance policy will only provide limited coverage.Following is a list of guidelines to help you maintain adequate insurance coverage.

1.  Contact your insurance agent when you make big home improvements such as building a deck or remodeling the kitchen or bathroom.
2.  Meet with your independent insurance agent at least once per year to review your homeowners coverage and the limits you have on contents.
3.  Purchase insurance “riders” or “endorsements” for fine artwork, jewelry, coins, antiques, guns and other valuables. A homeowners policy typically limits the payments on these personal items.”We recommend homeowners take photos or videos of the contents of their homes, particularly any collections, artwork or jewelry. Then store the video and photos in a safety deposit box or off-premise safe,” said Steinbach. “This can help the claims process immeasurably as you took the time to document what you own.”

You’re driving to the store when, without warning, the car in front of you makes a surprise left turn, forcing you to slam on your brakes. You notice that the driver is hitting buttons on his GPS. In the shopping center, your car is almost broadsided by a driver who backs out of a parking spot without looking. The driver is on a cell phone. On your way home, you can see the driver in front of you reach over to pull a CD out of the passenger side visor. The car momentarily drifts to the right and nearly goes into the ditch. Using gadgets while you’re driving can be a very bad thing. According to new research, crashes and near crashes are twice as likely to happen when a driver is performing a moderately complex task not related to driving, such as inserting a CD. The statistics jump to three times as likely if the driver is attempting complex tasks such as dialing a phone or texting. “As new technologies are introduced, the list of potential driver distractions keeps getting longer,” says Brad Steinbach, Mayville Insurance Agency. “Safety concerns have even been raised about GPS navigation devices and complex ‘green’ energy monitoring displays on dashboards. The bottom line is that if you’re not paying attention and the result is an accident, you could be in big trouble.” A new study at the University of Iowa showed that most drivers overestimate their driving abilities and aren’t aware of the degree of danger they expose themselves to when they attempt to multi-task behind the wheel. The study confirmed that teen drivers in particular “don’t notice what they don’t notice.”

A flood involves rising waters, such as those caused by rain, melting snow, or overflow of a river.  It can cause enormous damage.  However, a homeowner’s or a commercial property policy does not cover it.  The primary way  to insure your home or commercial properties against flood is through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP)

Sewer and drain backup, on the other hand, involves water that causes damage to your house or property as a result of a sewer or drain that backs up.  Unlike flood insurance, the coverage for this type of loss can be purchased as an endorsement to your homeowner’s and commercial property polices.

Flood polices do not cover losses caused by sewer or drain backup.  Nor do sewer and drain backup endorsements cover true flood losses.

We urge you to consider adding Sewer and Drain Backup Endorsement to your Homeowners or commercial property polices as well as purchasing a Flood Insurance policy.

Michele Schultz, Personal Line Customer Service Representative of Mayville Insurance Agency, has successfully completed the Certified Insurance Service Representatives Agency Operations Course held at Brookfield.

The insurance course attended was one of the five parts offered by Professional Insurance Agents of Wisconsin.  After the successful completion of all five courses covering all major areas of the insurance field, and five comprehensive exams, Michele will be awarded the CISR designation by The National Alliance for Insurance Education & Research, the nation’s foremost provider of professional insurance and education.

Mayville Insurance Agency is an independent agency representing many companies and has been in business over 60 years.  Michele has been with the agency for two years specializing in personal insurance needs.  She lives in Mayville with her children Nathan and Sydney.