Bisnett Insurance

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2010-09-02T11:19:00.001-07:00

Flood Insurance and You

2010-03-16T14:26:00.000-07:00

Many people think if they do not live near a river or the coast, there is no danger of flooding. This is simply not true.

In recent years rainfall from severe winter storms has caused serious flood damage across Oregon. Everyone lives in a potential flood zone: homeowners' or renters' insurance does not cover flood damage, and federal disaster relief may not be available since 50 percent of floods nationwide do not result in a federally declared disaster.

Oregonians can take steps to protect their financial well-being before disaster strikes by purchasing flood insurance.

You are eligible to purchase flood insurance if your community participates in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), managed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). In the Beaver State, all communities with identified flood hazards participate in the National Flood Insurance Program.

Flood insurance covers direct physical loss caused by flood, an excess of water on land normally dry. Generally, physical damage to your building or personal property "directly" caused by a flood is covered by your flood insurance policy. For example, damages caused by a sewer backup are covered if the backup is a direct result of flooding. However, if the backup is caused by some other problem, the damages are not covered by flood insurance.

If you live in a high-risk area (Special Flood Hazard Area) you are required to purchase flood insurance if you have a mortgage from a federally regulated lender. You must carry the insurance for the life of the mortgage. If you live outside a Special Flood Hazard Area you are still at risk for flooding. In fact, 20 to 25 percent of all flood claims are filed in low to moderate flood-risk areas.

Insurance Required for Oregon

2009-06-16T13:49:00.000-07:00

When you're in Oregon you're required to have a minimum of:
1. $25,000 per person bodily injury and property damage liability,
2. $50,000 per crash for bodily injury to others,
3. $10,000 per crash for anyone else's personal property that decides to get involved,
4. $15,000 in personal injury protection (to cover "reasonable and necessary medical, dental and other expenses one year after a crash"), and
5. $25,000 per person and $50,000 per crash in uninsured motorist coverage.

Is This All I Need to Have?

With today's stiff economic hardships and the recession dragging on with no immediate end in sight it's very, very tempting to say good enough is good enough and stick with the bare minimum Oregon car insurance requirements (i.e. whatever isn't going to get you slapped with fines you'll be paying off for years).

That doesn't mean you're going to be protected against whatever life and route 84 throw your way. Who's going to pay for damages to your vehicle if hail the size of your fist starts falling from the sky? Or your car gets stolen while you're shopping at Lloyd Center? There are an infinite number of possibilities besides crashing that could cause damages to your car, and you don't want to be left without wheels for weeks while you try to come up with the money. That's why even though they're not technically part of Oregon's car insurance requirements, comprehensive and collision coverage for your vehicle should still be a part of your insurance policy. But that's entirely between you and your budget.

When it comes to car insurance Oregon isn't playing around, so don't wait. Contact your Oregon car insurance dealer today to make sure you've got the insurance coverage you need at a price you can afford.

Peak Motorcycle Riding Season - Are You Adequately Insured?

2009-04-23T08:47:00.000-07:00

By Adam Singleton

Indeed, when summer approaches, an increasing number of motorcycle riders take to the roads - either on organised group rides, individual outings, or extended holiday rides. Yet statistics show that a significant number of motorcycle riders won't update their insurance policies before this peak riding season - or worse, fail to secure an insurance policy altogether.

When it comes to insurance regulations, riding a motorcycle is similar to operating a car or any other vehicle. In the UK, it's illegal to drive without insurance - not to mention extremely risky, in the event that you are involved in an accident. Insurance protects you from mountainous bills - both medical and mechanical - with regard to both your needs and those of any other parties involved in the accident. And considering how costly accidents can be, it pays to ensure you're covered.

Yet, as is the case with car insurance, many people are still illegally choosing to forego motorcycle insurance. Moreover, recent studies show that a significant number of people are opting out of insurance due to the economic crisis. Instead, people are spending only on what they consider 'necessities': their rent or mortgage, food, and household bills.

However, what many people don't consider is the fact that insurance should be viewed as a necessity. Aside from being a legal requirement for operating a vehicle, insurance offers a great deal of financial protection - precisely what people need during the economic crisis. While many people might be able to afford a vehicle insurance policy on a month-to-month basis with a bit of budgeting, a significant number of people would not be able to deal with the financial ramifications of an uninsured car or motorbike accident - which brings forth the issue of policy costs.

A major misconception with regard to insurance policies is that they are overpriced to an unmanageable level. But the truth is that affordable policies are readily available through countless insurance providers across the UK. There are also different levels of cover depending on your specific needs - so you can get a policy tailored, in both offerings and price.
Whether you're an avid motorcycle rider or just a casual rider, it is important to make sure that you're adequately covered with a comprehensive motorcycle insurance policy - just in time for the peak riding season. Knowing you're protected will enable you to ride with more peace of mind, not to mention enjoy your riding experiences to the max.

Oregon Homeowners Insurance Policy Basics

2009-04-07T09:19:00.000-07:00

By James J. Robinson

Knowledge of Oregon homeowners insurance policy basics is very important for getting the best policy to meet your needs. Understanding the Oregon homeowners insurance policy basics means you will know more about what you are looking for and be less likely to settle for a policy that doesn't adequately protect you. Learn about Oregon homeowners insurance policy basics today to guarantee the best protection for your family and one of your biggest investments. Knowledge and information is power so read on to understand how to find the best Oregon homeowners insurance coverage and maybe even save yourself a little money in the process!

Dwelling: This type of coverage is for the cost to repair or replace your home or one of the outlying buildings in case of damage caused by one of the listed perils.

Contents: This covers replacing or repairing contents of your home that are damaged or destroyed by one of the covered perils.

Liability: This pays in case you are found to be liable for loss or injury that occurs on your property.

Medical Payments: This covers the cost of medical expenses in case someone gets hurt on your premises.

Loss of Use: If you cannot use your home for a period of time, this part of the policy pays for a certain amount of living expenses.

Deductable: The amount of money you must pay out of pocket before your homeowners insurance will kick in and pay the remainder of the claim.

Limits: The maximum amount of money you can receive for a loss. However if you are underinsured, you will receive a pro-rated amount rather than the full amount you are covered for, in case of partial losses.

Exclusions: These are things that are listed in the policy as not being included. Typical exclusions are flood, earthquake damage and incidents resulting from war.
Riders: This type of coverage is an amendment to a policy that allows it to cover something not typically covered by the homeowner's policy.

Taking the stress out of Car insureance buying

2009-02-03T12:40:00.000-08:00

By Nelson Kristek

Whether you are putting your first car on the road or your tenth car, you need not worry about what you need to do in terms of getting the right type and amount of auto insurance coverage that will meet your needs. There are certain things that are a must that need to be covered; and other things that are nice to have (but not really necessary). This is going to be a short that will help you to avoid the pitfalls that often go along with having to get a new auto insurance policy.

The first thing that you need to think about is what type of a vehicle you have and how old it is. If you have a brand new vehicle, you will need to put comprehensive coverage (as this is required if the vehicle is financed) so that you are covered if your car is run into or damaged in any way by a wild animal or a natural disaster. If you have a sports car or a car that is very expensive, you might/will also want to have comprehensive coverage on that vehicle.

On the other hand if you have an older vehicle that has been "around the block" more than a few times but is still very reliable; you might only need a very basic collision policy that will cover the basics as far as property damage, collision damage to your vehicle in the event of an accident and coverage for medical expenses. The only reason that you really need to worry is if you are dealing with an insurance agent that is trying to sell you a policy that is more than you really need. The best thing that you can do is do a bit of research beforehand regarding your state's/area's auto insurance requirements to know exactly what the minimum requirements are and then go from there.