Who Needs Commercial Auto Insurance

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Commercial auto insurance is insurance designed for vehicles used for business purposes.

Depending on your employer and/or your own business, you might need higher liability insurance, as well as additional coverage add-ons to make sure you, your employees, other individuals, your vehicle, and your business are fully protected.

Commercial Auto Insurance vs. Personal Car Insurance

When it comes to drivers, vehicles, and purposes, personal drivers don’t have the same kinds of car insurance concerns as do businesses.

Businesses have much higher liability issues; as such, usually they have higher liability insurance requirements or recommendations. Generally, businesses deal with:

• Employees. 
• Passengers. 
• Work gear. 
• Other people and/or equipment. 

Commercial car insurance is typically required to sufficiently cover the above.

Drivers Who Need Commercial Auto Insurance

You need commercial auto insurance if you use your vehicle for work or own vehicles operated by a business. 

Commercial car insurance coverage isn’t just about big rigs.

Commercial vehicles actually can include what you might consider “regular vehicles,”such as:

• Cars.
• Pickup trucks.
• Sports utility vehicles.

It also branches out to some of the vehicles you might more closely associate with commercial work, such as individual or fleets of:

• Trucks including, but not limited to, dump trucks, box trucks, refrigerator trucks, bucket trucks, and catering trucks.
• Vehicles outfitted with work equipment.
• Utility vans.
• Limousines, taxicabs, and other livery vehicles.
• Flatbeds.
• Rented or leased vehicles.
• Any vehicle owned or leased by a business, partnership, or other corporation.

Simply put, if you use a vehicle or vehicles for your profession or business (other than commuting to work), it’s likely you need commercial auto insurance.

NOTE: If you use your vehicle for work-related purposes and you aren’t sure if you need commercial auto insurance, ask your insurance agent.

What Does Commercial Auto Insurance Cover?

Basically, commercial car insurance covers the same major coverages private individuals purchase (usually at higher limits); however, there are many add-ons more suited for commercial driving, such as coverage for your:

• Employees, including fellow employee coverage and broadened and blanket policies that protect additional employees or people for whom your business is doing work.
• Equipment, including loading and unloading goods.
• Business, which protects your assets in the event of a lawsuit.

Your auto insurance specialist can inform you of your exact coverage needs based on your business and vehicle use.

How Much Commercial Auto Coverage Do You Need?

Generally, you must meet your state’s liability insurance requirements (which include bodily and property damage coverage). Understand that these coverage limits might be higher than they are for regular passenger vehicles.

If you don’t own your commercial vehicle(s) outright, your financial institution also might require comprehensive and collision coverage (which will pay for damages to your vehicle when you are at fault in an accident or the victim of non-collision events such as weather or fire).*

Aside from those coverages, you might consider additional types of auto insuranceincluding, but not limited to:

• Uninsured/underinsured motorist insurance: This insurance protects you if you’re involved in an accident with another driver who has no insurance or not enough insurance.
• PIP and medical payments coverages: Personal injury protection (PIP) and medical payments coverages help take care of expenses incurred when you and/or your passengers are injured in an accident.
  • PIP covers more than medical payments, such as wage loss.
• Emergency roadside insurance: Emergency roadside insurance helps you in the event you’re left stranded on the side of the road.
  • It can include:
    • Battery services.
    • Towing expenses.
    • Tire changes.
    • Fuel delivery.
    • Locksmith services.
• Personal effects insurance. Some insurance companies provide personal effects coverage that takes care of your or your employees’ personal belongings in the event of theft. Usually, this coverage is up to a certain dollar amount.

These are just a few suggestions. Your auto insurance provider will explain the appropriate coverages and whether they’re required or available in your state.

Ryan & Ryan Insurance Broker's Client of the Month is.....

 W.G.Minard & Sons, Inc.

Located in Clintondale, NY, W.G. Minard & Sons Inc., owned and operated by brothers Robert and Douglas Minard, has been producing apples on 450 acres since 1906.  Started by Robert’s grandfather, William G. Minard, W.G. Minard & Sons has been a family run business throughout its existence and has been passed down through three generations of Minard children.  All of the apples are grown, packed, stored and shipped from Clintondale, NY. Many apples are distributed by brokers who sell in bulk to locations right here in the Hudson Valley. Most, however, are sold abroad to various locations such as Israel, England, and Central America.

              

Robert Minard’s business has had a longstanding relationship with Ryan & Ryan Insurance, originating with Bob’s dad, Robert Ryan.  For numerous years, all insurance questions, billing issues, and concerns have been handled by Kathleen DiBella, who Robert Minard states is the frontrunner of Ryan & Ryan Insurance. Kathy is always willing to help and is very knowledgeable about Robert’s account; she goes above and beyond to help him. Robert also credits Jeff Smith,  the  account executive on his account, as also being extremely helpful.  ‘He and Kathleen bounce information off each other and what one may not know, the other usually does.  Altogether, Ryan & Ryan Insurance Brokers is a winning combination of great customer service.’

Ryan & Ryan Insurance Broker's Client of the Month is.....

 Minard Farms

Located in Clintondale, NY, Minard Farms, owned and operated by Robert Minard, has been producing apples on 450 acres since 1906.  Started by Robert’s grandfather, William G. Minard, Minard farms has been a family run business throughout its existence and has been passed down through three generations of Minard children.  All of the apples are grown, packed, stored and shipped from Clintondale, NY. Many apples are distributed by brokers who sell in bulk to locations right here in the Hudson Valley. Most, however, are sold abroad to various locations such as Israel, England, and Central America.

              

Robert Minard’s business has had a longstanding relationship with Ryan & Ryan Insurance, originating with Bob’s dad, Robert Ryan.  For numerous years, all insurance questions, billing issues, and concerns have been handled by Kathleen Dibella, who Robert Minard states is the frontrunner of Ryan & Ryan Insurance. Kathy is always willing to help and is very knowledgeable about Robert’s account; she goes above and beyond to help him. Robert also credits Jeff Smith,  the  account executive on his account, as also being extremely helpful.  ‘He and Kathleen bounce information off each other and what one may not know, the other usually does.  Altogether, Ryan & Ryan Insurance Brokers is a winning combination of great customer service.’

Ryan & Ryan Insurance Broker's Client of the Month

Casa Villa

Casa Villa Mexican Restaurant, located at 395 Albany Avenue, Kingston, NY has been owned by Jose Villa for the past 11 year. It has also been home to the annual Cinco De Mayo festival for over 15 years. Known for their Mexican features, their menu includes a variety of “must try” specialties including fajitas, tacos, enchiladas, burritos, and “Paella De La Casa”. They also provide American and Italian cuisine such as steak, seafood, and ribs with a twist of Mexican flare.

Mr. Villa’s relationship with Bob Ryan originated when he owned his first restaurant, El Rodeo, almost 19 years ago.  Jose has continued that relationship as a customer of Ryan & Ryan Insurance Brokers.  

Internally at Ryan & Ryan Insurance Brokers, Jose is primarily assisted by Kim Whelan with most of his insurance affairs.  He compliments her on being very good at what she does and her willingness to always support him with all of his insurance issues and needs.  

Visit Casa Villa Mexican Restaurant the next time you have a craving for a margarita or one of their Mexican specialties.

 

Find them on Facebook @  Casa Villa or call to make a reservation at 331-7646.

This Month's Insurance Tip

Thwart Dog Bites

Did you know that dog bites cause over 2,000 injuries that require immediate medical care in the United States each day? You can be held legally liable if your dog bites someone. Fortunately, this loss is usually covered by the homeowners policy, with some exceptions. In fact, around 33 percent of all liability insurance claims paid by homeowners policies are for dog bites! Even if your insurance covers the claim (and any ensuing lawsuit), however, imagine the personal grief you and your family would feel for the injured friend, not to mention the time and trouble you would incur in cooperating with your insurer in defending the claim following a tragic event involving your pet.

Therefore, thwarting such an ill-fated occurrence should be your primary objective, and there are steps you can take to reduce or prevent dog bites. Here are some suggestions from the professionals.

• Consider dog breeds carefully prior to selecting a pet. Some breeds are more aggressive than others, and a veterinarian can help you decide which breeds might best fit your lifestyle.
• Spay or neuter the animal, as this often decreases the aggressiveness of dogs.
• Seek a veterinarian's advice quickly if your dog becomes aggressive.
• Socialize your dog from an early age to encourage appropriate behavior.
• Never leave dogs alone with small children.
• Avoid aggressive games with puppies and dogs, such as tug-of-war.
• Do not place your dog in situations where he or she can be teased or feel threatened.
• Train your dog to obey commands.
• If your dog does bite someone, a board-certified plastic surgeon should treat this person to minimize scarring and potential disfigurement. 

There is one other loss exposure concerning dogs you should consider. You may face liability claims if your dog gets out into the road and causes or contributes to an auto accident. You can be sued for violation of leash ordinances by allowing your dog to "run at large." Use a well-maintained and sturdy fence or other safeguards to reduce this exposure.

And if your dog does injure someone despite all your efforts to avoid it, report it to your insurance company immediately to assure your coverage is not jeopardized for late reporting.

Copyright 2016
International Risk Management Institute, Inc.

Ryan & Ryan Insurance Brokers Client of the Month

Hudson Valley Distillers

What did two fraternity brothers from Bloomsburg University fantasize about while vacationing together and enjoying some craft distilled spirits next to an open campfire?  Partnering and opening up their very own distillery, of course. And that’s exactly what Thomas Yozzo and Chris Moyer of Hudson Valley Distillers, our Client of the Month for May, did.  In 2013, Thomas, Chris, along with their two wives, Jennifer and Jennifer, purchased a small apple farm and apple orchard in Clermont, NY. They named it Spirits Grove Farm.  The property also came with a nursery, a house, a retail center, a 150 year old barn, four acre apple orchards, and four greenhouses.  The apple orchard is slowly being restored without the use of chemicals and the 150 year old barn has been renovated by both families. In April 2014, the renovated barn opened as the distillery for Hudson Valley Distillers.  The distillery includes a steam boiler, a 300 gallon still, and a 300 gallon mash tun, from Artisan Still design.   In 2015, when New York State Laws changed their laws for farm distilleries and allowed selling by the glass, Hudson Valley Distillers opened a new and exciting addition to the distillery, Cocktail Grove.  Cocktail Grove is an intimate and inviting space where friends and customers can gather to enjoy unique cocktails (made from the spirits created at Hudson Valley Distillers), and light local fare such as charcuterie, cheese, crackers, bread, and soup. A covered patio has been the most recent addition to Cocktail Grove.   Hudson Valley Distillers is a destination distillery offering tours, tastings, and bottle sales.  The current line up of spirits include Vodka, Applejack, and ‘Fine Shine’, all made from local apples.  They also have a gin made from New York grapes, and two whiskeys, one made from a locally produced beer and the other from a local rye.

There is often an interesting story to go along with how most clients find Bob Ryan, and Ryan and Ryan Insurance Brokers. Bob was not the first choice for Hudson Valley Distillers’ insurance. Tom and Chris actually have a fraternity brother who is also an insurance agent (“Sorry Bob, we hadn’t even met you when we first approached him.”), but he just couldn’t put a real plan together for Tom and Chris. They found out early on, in this burgeoning industry, you don’t want to have to train your insurance broker or banker, you need them to advise you.  Bob had distillery and winery clients prior to bringing Hudson Valley Distillers on and that was a real benefit for them. Tom and Chris signed on Ryan and Ryan from the day they bought their  farm in July 2013, and have been with them ever since.

“We deal with Ryan and Ryan on a regular basis.  A big part of our business is wine and beer fests and they all have differing insurance requirements.  We are constantly asking for Certificates of Insurance and Linda does a great job getting us what we need in a timely manner.  We try not to ask for a COI on Friday afternoon for a Saturday fest, but it’s happened and she has come through.  We also have arcane bonding requirements and no matter how esoteric my bonding requirements, Ryan and Ryan has a quick answer on how to handle it.  We’ll go directly to Bob for more generic business advice, such as guidance on whether it would be wise to start a shuttle service with our van (he recommended against it) or whether expanding into Kingston is a good idea.  Bob has also helped us get into events such as Benedictine Health Foundation’s Sample Sip and Savor and introduced us to  customers such as J&K Wine and Liquor.  You can’t quantify this type of benefit in terms of an insurance premium, but it is definitely a factor in why we stay with Ryan and Ryan.”   Chris also made sure to mention again that he had emailed Linda and left a voicemail for her with a COI request after business hours on Friday for a Saturday fest.  I’m not sure if she was in the office when I made the request, but sure enough, I had it later that evening.  I thought that was impressive customer service.      

Hudson Valley DIstillers is more than just a distillery, Come relax on the patio or lawn, enjoy a cocktail or tasting, or learn about the spirits production process with a tour.  Bring your entire family, children and dogs included, to Hudson Valley Distillers!  Located at 1727 Rte 9 in Clermont, New York, distillery hours are Friday - Sunday, 12-6 PM, for tours, tastings, and bottle sales.  Cocktail Grove is open Wednesday - Sunday, 3-7 PM.  Cocktail Grove is also available for private parties outside of normal business hours.  If you are interested in visiting the distillery, given them a call (518-537-6820), send them an email - info@hudsonvalleydistillers.com  or reserve on-line here: Online Reservations   Also, look for live music and events by visiting their website www.hudsonvalleydistillers.com.  

Liquor Liability Insurance & Why Would You Need It?

What is Liquor Liability Insurance and 

Why Do I Need it?

Any establishment that sells, serves, or assists in the purchase or use of liquor (i.e. dram shop) opens its doors for a liability claim as a consequence of someone getting drunk to the extent that injuries or property damages are the result. This includes restaurants, bars, nightclubs, and taverns. While it’s logical that the inebriated person should be the one to pay, in reality the business that served the alcohol could be liable for injuries, damages, or both that occurred as a result of actions, behaviors, or conduct of a patron who drank too much.

Take into Account the Following Scenarios

Liability claims made to a restaurant or bar as a result of damages or injuries caused by an intoxicated person can be quite costly. A common example of an alcohol-related claim occurs when an intoxicated patron leaves a bar, gets into his car, drives, and commits a vehicular manslaughter act. In this case, the victim’s family could now sue the bar for both civil and criminal damages. As another example, suppose at a catered event, a restaurant serves alcohol and two guests are subsequently involved in a fight, whereby serious injuries are incurred. These are just two of the many scenarios that can occur when a business that sells or serves alcohol may be held liable for the actions of the inebriated persons served.

Accordingly, it’s vital that if your establishment serves alcohol, you protect yourself from potential financial losses by being covered with a liquor liability policy. In the above examples, liquor liability insurance could help cover the bar’s legal costs, court fees, and any civil or criminal damages awarded.

Liquor Liability Insurance Policies

The terms surrounding of a liquor liability policy vary, but some commonalities ensue:

▪   Most states in the US require establishments that sell alcohol to carry liquor liability insurance.

▪   Most liquor liability insurance policies exclude the selling of alcohol illegally, such as selling liquor to a minor.

▪   Most liquor liability policies are sold as a stand alone policy or packaged with a general liability policy.

What Liquor Liability Insurance Covers

As might be expected, a good deal of alcohol-related liability claims filed against bars, taverns, and restaurants are a result of liquor-induced fights or altercations. In fact, the mere act of an employee escorting an unruly patron to the exit is frequently all that is necessary to trigger an assault and battery allegation. Therefore, assault and battery coverage should be included in your liquor liability policy. Lastly, litigation costs, including the fees to retain an attorney and court costs are covered under a liquor liability policy.

Take Appropriate Preventative Measures

Aside from investing in liquor liability insurance, establishments should be proactive in limiting their liquor-induced claims. From training employees to refuse serving alcohol to clearly intoxicated persons to requiring strict measuring of mixed drinks to encouraging designating drivers or taxi use, you can reduce your chances of having to deal with a liquor liability claim by implementing and enforcing safe alcohol serving practices.