Should You Consider Flood Insurance?

Contrary to popular belief, flood insurance is not usually included with home insurance. This is a mistake that a lot of people make simply because they do not look at the fine print of their current policy or they just assume otherwise. You never want to assume this type of coverage in Pinecrest, FL because if you need it and do not have it, you could end up in a lot of financial trouble. Here at Hamilton Fox & Company Inc. these are a few different reasons you should consider getting it.

  • Hurricanes happen. One of the biggest reasons to get this type of coverage is that hurricanes happen and they happen a lot in FL. You do not know when they will happen but it is good to have in place when it does. 
  • Your home insurance may not cover it. You will want to check with your home insurance provider but if it is not included, now is a good time to get it. Plus, it is never a good idea to assume you have it. 
  • Floods can happen in many situations. A flood can happen with a burst pipe, an above ground pool leaking, or even in a really bad series of storms. You should not just assume that it can only happen in hurricanes because floods happen all year long and in a lot of different and unique ways.

We think that you should always have flood insurance in place because you cannot control the weather and there are a lot of other situations that can lead to a flood as well. If you are ready to get your flood insurance, be sure to contact us today at Hamilton Fox & Company Inc. serving Pinecrest, FL. We can get you a free quote and get you set up in no time.

Why Do You Need Restaurant And Bar Insurance?

The agents of Hamilton Fox & Company Inc. in Pinecrest, FL will walk you through the ins and outs of operating a Florida bar and restaurant. Anyone who has worked in a bar or restaurant enjoys the spirit of consuming good food and drink. But behind the scene is a jungle of liability from your first drink to your last trip to the salad bar. The liability is a result of alcohol abuse which could lead to assaults and car accidents, food poisoning, slip and fall accidents, employee injuries, and the dangers of fire to spilled oil in the kitchen.

Before a Florida bar and restaurant can open for business, its owners must contact the: 

  • Division of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco
  • Department of Business and Professional Regulation
  • Florida Department of Health (Health, Safety, and Sanitation)
  • Florida Workers Compensation Regulations 

These Florida Departments regulate the people who operate the bar and restaurant, the alcohol served, the regulation of all matters concerning food safety, sanitation, and issues related to worker injuries.

Further, there are multiple issues related to insurance that a business owner must consider, including:

  • Business Owner’s Policy
  • Commercial Auto Liability Coverage
  • Workers Compensation Insurance
  • Commercial Property Insurance
  • General Liability Coverage
  • Liquor Liability Coverage
  • Assault and Battery Coverage 
  • Fire Insurance 
  • Income Coverage
  • Food Contamination Insurance 

After you protect yourself from the multiple perils, business practices must be established such as:

  • An employer/employee manual 
  • Training to ensure the health, safety, and sanitation
  • Practices to control food safety, quality and preparation 
  • Liquor control policies
  • Fire and safety inspections
  • Recordkeeping 

The business owner must decide what activities are safe because every policy has its list of exclusions. The agents of Hamilton Fox & Company Inc. in Pinecrest, FL are experts in advising you about Bar and Restaurant Insurance. Please call for a quote and more information.

What Does Workers Comp Insurance Provide?

When you are a business owner or manager, there are many crucial decisions that you will have to make. One important decision you’ll have to make is to pick the right insurance policy. One type of business insurance that you will need to have is commercial workers compensation insurance. For those in the Pinecrest, FL area, workers comp insurance can provide many different benefits to you and your employees.

Medical Benefits

The first thing that workers compensation insurance will provide is medical benefits coverage to those that are injured while working on the job. This type of insurance coverage specifically provides coverage to individuals that are injured while working at their job. As opposed to having to use their own insurance coverage, the workers’ comp policy will provide necessary medical benefits to ensure they are taken care of while in the hospital.

Lost Wages

If someone is injured while they are working on the job, the workers’ comp medical benefits will be beneficial. However, they still will not be able to work for a period as they recover from their injuries. An employer will be able to take out a workers comp policy that will provide the employee with pay while they are recovering from their injuries. It can also provide extended disability coverage to those that incur more serious injuries and cannot work for a while. 

Business owners that are in the Pinecrest, FL area and need more help in picking a workers compensation insurance policy should consider contacting Hamilton Fox & Company Inc. When you reach out to Hamilton Fox & Company Inc., we can give you more guidance as to what type of commercial insurance you need and will work to make sure your questions are answered. Reach out to our offices for more information.

Protect Your Business With Workers Comp

If you run your own business and you have employees, it is up to you to provide a safe work environment. Now, some businesses do require potentially more dangerous tasks, but by taking the right safety precautions, the chance of injury can be reduced significantly. In the event of an injury though, your company needs to have workers comp insurance coverage. This will help pay for their time away from work, medical bills, and other expenses. It also helps reduce the potential for lawsuits against your business in the event of an employee injury. With the help of Hamilton Fox & Company Inc., you can find an insurance comp package for your business in and around the Miami or Pinecrest, FL area. 

Protect Against Lawsuits

You do what you can to offer a safe work environment. From time to time though, accidents and injuries may still take place. Providing workers compensation for time away from work and to cover medical bills not only shows you want to help your employees, but it reduces the potential for any lawsuits. If you don’t have workers compensation and an employee is injured, they may have a case against you for the bills they accumulate and the money they miss from time off work. So protecting your business against lawsuits is essential.

Employee Peace of Mind

Employees want peace of mind, knowing they will be taken care of in the event of an injury. That is provided with workers compensation. 

When you run a business in and around the Miami or Pinecrest, FL area, it is important for you to invest in workers comp insurance. If you’re looking for assistance finding coverage that fits you and your company’s needs, make sure to turn to the team at Hamilton Fox & Company Inc. for your insurance needs.

What Risks Are Covered By My Boat Insurance Policy?

Boat insurance covers damages to your boat/watercraft, including your personal belongings. It also protects you against any liability claims. Whether you use your boat on a regular basis or occasionally, you are still exposed to the same risks. Pinecrest, FL is home to several water activities and has excellent weather, it’s only natural that you’ll want to enjoy your day with different boating activities.

Insuring your boat with Hamilton Fox & Company Inc. is the best way to protect your investment and have fun days, worry-free.

As much as boat insurance isn’t mandatory in Florida, it’s still important to protect your investment from unforeseen circumstances, not to mention that lenders may require it before financing your boat. Risks covered by boat insurance include:

Collision damages: This covers the cost of damages to your boat in case your boat hits or is hit by another watercraft or object.

Comprehensive damages: This covers damages that are non-collision related. They include fire, theft, vandalism, and damages due to weather events. It’s important to review your policy and understand exactly what is covered.

Liability claims: There is always a possibility of you causing an accident that would result in someone’s injury or property damage. This part of your policy covers your legal expenses and any compensation costs.

Uninsured/underinsured boaters: Since boat insurance isn’t mandatory, most boaters don’t have any insurance. So, what happens when an uninsured/underinsured boater hits your boat? This part of your policy covers damages to your boat and bodily injuries in such scenarios, including hit-and-runs.

Other minor risks covered by boat insurance include oil spills, road assistance, personal property damage, and fishing equipment damages. 

Hamilton Fox & Company Inc. provides affordable and reliable boat insurance policies that fit every boat type in Pinecrest, FL and its environment. Our agents will help you understand what coverage option works for you. For more information, contact us today.

 

Why Do You Need Umbrella Insurance?

Umbrella insurance policies will provide the much-needed extra level of security for you and your family when legal, medical, or property damages go beyond what your standard auto or home insurance policy covers. Hamilton Fox & Company Inc.’s umbrella insurance in Pinecrest, FL will kick in to safeguard your assets when you find yourself in such a scenario.

For instance, you may cause an accident resulting in an $800,000 in medical costs while your standard bodily injury policy under your car insurance covers you up to the limit of $500,000. You will need an umbrella insurance policy to cover the extra amount. Here are some of the critical reasons why you should purchase umbrella insurance.

Protects Your Assets

This is perhaps the most important reason why you need umbrella insurance coverage. Without this insurance, you may be held liable when the limit of your standard liability insurance is exceeded. You may be forced to sell some of your assets to cover the excess liability. That is something you can’t afford to do after many years of hard work and patience. Umbrella insurance protects your assets in Miami or Pinecrest, FL against various uncertainties.

Expands Your Coverage Limits

Let’s go back to the example we described at the beginning. If your standard auto or home liability policy offers you up to $500,000 per occurrence, having an umbrella insurance policy can expand your limit to around $1 million per event. This extra coverage is essential in your everyday life since you never know what might happen.

Covers Things that Your General Liability Policy Might Not Cover

Typically, umbrella insurance covers a wide range of activities and potential occurrences than your standard general liability insurance policy. For instance, if your standard home or auto liability policy is limited to events that may occur in a particular geographic area, the umbrella policy might come in and cover other regions.

In contrary to what most people tend to think, an umbrella insurance policy is affordable and essential to everyone. Talk to Hamilton Fox & Company Inc. today and get your quote.

Should You Purchase Flood Insurance in Florida?

A flood can happen at any time and any place, even if you are not located in a flood zone or an area that is prone to flooding. This is not something that people often think about until it is too late. However, it is essential to know that most home insurance policies do not include flood coverage of any kind. Because of this, many people think they are covered by their home insurance policy when they are not. If the question has come up about whether or not you should purchase flood insurance, here at Hamilton Fox & Company Inc., serving Pinecrest, FL, we believe that it is something everyone should have in Florida. 

Why You Need Flood Insurance

  • Floods can happen inside your home – You may not think of it, but you can have an internal flood. This can result from a burst pipe or even a sink or bathtub that has started overflowing. 
  • Hurricanes – Hurricanes happen every year in Florida, and with each one there is a potential for flooding. In fact, a lot of the damage from a hurricane comes from the flooding that results from it. This is something you should prepare for because of your location to the coast. 
  • External flooding – Even if you are not in a flood zone, you can still have a flood. If your neighbor has an outdoor, above-ground pool and it collapses, you will have a flood on our hands faster than you realize or can react. 

If you are on the fence or simply want to explore your options, be sure to reach out to Hamilton Fox & Company Inc., serving Pinecrest, FL, today. We can help you find the right policy and make sure that it is in your budget. 

3 Ways a Small Business Can Cope with Expansion

An expanding company is generally a cause for celebration and not a concern, yet some companies may not foresee the complications that stem from growth. It raises a number of big and small questions alike. Everything from how many extra people are needed to where to put them all may need to be answered sooner rather than later. Here are a few tips for coping with expansion from Hamilton Fox & Company Inc. 

Less Is More 

One of the most common problems that businesses in Miami and Pinecrest, FL have when they expand is forgetting that less is more. Don’t throw all of your resources at a problem simply because it seems like the easiest way to handle everything. Instead, make decisions carefully and remind yourself that you can always add to your efforts later on down the line when you’re certain you need to. 

Explore Your Opportunities 

Success in business means a chance to branch out, and companies who don’t take advantage of this are liable to be labeled as old-fashioned. Look for new customer markets, products, and services where you’ll be able to keep your current company mission while still allowing you the chance to grow. 

Consider Your Commercial Insurance 

One of the downsides of expansion is that there are more things that can go wrong. Every change brings with it a new element of potential danger. You can’t shy away from this, but it’s only natural to have a little fear of the unknown. Commercial insurance may be able to help with this fear. You don’t have to go from basic coverage to a comprehensive commercial insurance policy, but you may want to review your current protections.

Call Hamilton Fox & Company Inc. if you’re in Miami or Pinecrest, FL, and need a little guidance. 

What Is Workers Comp and How Do I File a Claim?

Miami and Pinecrest, FL residents who have been injured on the job may be eligible for workers’ compensation. Below, Hamilton Fox & Company Inc. will explain what workers’ compensation is and how you can file a claim if you were injured on the job.

What Is Workers’ Comp?

Workers’ compensation or “workers’ comp” is a form of insurance that business owners must purchase for their employees. Most employers must purchase workers’ compensation insurance for their employees by law.

Paying into workers compensation allows workers who were seriously injured on the job to receive compensation for their lost wages and medical bills. In these situations, it protects both the employees and the employer because those who seek workers compensation also cannot sue their employers if they are injured on the job (in most cases).

How to File a Workers’ Comp Claim

Both employees and employers will need to file a workers’ comp claim in the event of an injury.

As an employee, you must abide by a timeline that involves notifying your employer as well as the insurance company of your injury. Employers, in turn, must file their own paperwork with the insurance agency to notify them that a claim is being made for workers’ comp insurance. All plans will differ, but for the most part, filing a workers’ comp claim is simple and straightforward. Talk to your insurance provider for complete details.

Contact Hamilton Fox & Company Inc. Today

If you are a Miami or Pinecrest, FL resident, Hamilton Fox & Company Inc. can aid you in purchasing workers’ compensation insurance for your company or business. To learn about your workers’ comp plan options, contact us directly by visiting our nearest location or giving us a call.

Does Your Boat Insurance Cover Damages Sustained During Seasonal Storage?

The agents at Hamilton Fox & Company Inc. offer sound advice to Pinecrest, FL residents and those around Florida who have questions concerning boat insurance. We understand that you need sufficient coverage at all times, whether your boat is in the water, on the road, or being stored during the off-season. It’s crucial to maintain coverage throughout the year so that your boat is ready for the water when you are ready to use it.

What Constitutes "Seasonal" Storage?

Seasonal storage is used when your boat is going to remain out of the water for an extended period, normally longer than three to four months. Preparation for seasonal storage includes winterizing the gas lines and any water lines that may be present. The oil is changed, and the boat is cleaned both inside and out, making sure any debris is removed that could damage the interior or dull the finish.

Should Your Boat Be Protected During Seasonal Storage?

Maintaining a sufficient amount of insurance during seasonal storage is important. This type of insurance protects against vandalism, theft, and other forms of damage that can be caused while the boat is in storage. It will also cover damage to the watercraft if the building it’s stored in is damaged by weather. Many times, this results in damage to the vehicles and boats contained inside. Storage insurance is essential and shouldn’t be overlooked, especially if your vessel is still relatively new.

In Pinecrest, FL, residents are encouraged to call Hamilton Fox & Company Inc. if they have questions concerning the limitations of their current boat insurance policy or to learn more about the amount of insurance that is needed to remain adequately protected throughout the year. Don’t leave your boat at risk. Make sure you have the coverage you need at all times!