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For a majority of drivers, the insurance they have for their own cars usually provides sufficient cover for the typical rental vehicle. This, however, is for personal pleasure purposes and does not cover a car that is rented for business purposes.

Car Rental Insurance Types

There are four basic insurance types offered by most car rental firms that drivers need to be familiar with.

• Collision Damage Waiver (CDW) or Loss Damage Waiver (LDW)- This waiver relieves the renter of any financial responsibility in case a rented vehicle is damaged in an accident, by vandalism, or is stolen.
• Supplemental Liability Insurance (SLI)- This provides the driver additional liability coverage of up to one million dollars.
• Personal Accident Insurance (PAI)- This pays for medical expenses of all the occupants of the rented vehicle. This is really not needed as most of the renting firms are already covered by personal health policies or travel policies.
• Personal Effects Coverage (PEC)- This policy pays in case personal belongings inside the rented vehicle are damaged or stolen. Once again, this duplicates coverage already provided by majority of the renters under their own insurance policies. CBS News discusses the wisdom of this type of coverage here.

It is a common sales pitch for the auto rental companies to ask if you want to protect yourself in case of an accident. The fact of the matter is that CDW is as expensive as the coverage, it is paid for on a daily basis, and it is not insurance in the true sense of the word. That’s not to say it does not have value.

The Collision Damage Waiver is just an agreement between the car rental agency and the person renting the car that says the driver will not be liable for damages resulting from an accident.

However, you do need to be well informed in order to make sure that you are fully covered and know your rights before deciding to buy a package or to refuse it.

When CDW is a Good Idea

It is possible that by turning down CDW, you could be sorry later. This is because car rental companies usually charge a driver involved in an accident more than just the repair cost.

In most cases, the contract signed requires the renter to pay for all lost revenue. This means that you may have to pay for the losses incurred by the insurance company while the vehicle was being repaired.

Additionally, you may be charged for diminution of value. This is the loss of value of the vehicle due to the accident. The company renting the car has your credit card information and these charges will just be added to the bill.

Personal Insurance Cover

If you have car insurance and it covers car rentals, regardless of whether it is pleasure or business, there will still be deductibles to deal with.

So who pays those? Does the business pay it or do they come out of your own pocket? If the company picks up the tab for deductible there is still the issue of your personal premiums going up for a number of years due to an accident. Also, your own insurance may not cover all the charges that the car rental company puts on the bill.

Rental Insurance Cover with Credit Card

When you rent a car using a personal or business credit card, the credit card company provides insurance for car rentals. Here again there are issues and rules on what is covered and what is not covered. These vary from credit card to credit card and from the various banks issuing the cards. You can read Nerd Wallet’s blog on whether or not this is a good idea.

Most of the time, credit card companies only provide secondary cover. This means that you must file a claim with your own company before the credit card company pays anything. Unless you want to use one of the few cards that provide primary coverage (where an accident does not have to be reported to your own insurance company to get paid) for your business car rental, you are stuck with your primary provider’s coverage.

The Need for Rental Car Business Insurance

You need for insurance on your business rental car is going to be situation specific. A well informed business traveler may be better off by just buying CDW or renting a car with a credit card that has primary coverage. This way, your own insurance does not come into the picture at all. 

Some cards automatically have free primary CDW coverage up to a specified limit, while other types of cards offer special packages. These packages allow you to be covered with CDW for up to 42 days per rental by paying an amount that is roughly equal to the amount you would pay a car rental company per day. Other cards allow you to convert their secondary CDW coverage to primary car insurance coverage by paying extra.

When CDW, LDW or physical damage waiver is taken, the car rental company gives up the right to recover losses from the renters. Just remember that damage to someone else’s vehicle is not included. It is essential that sufficient car rental business insurance is in place to protect all parties involved in an accident. When renting a vehicle for business purposes, it is important to be informed and if in doubt, better to have the insurance than regret it later.

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Every major insurance company uses a different model for bringing their various products to the public. The insurers that use a vast network of local agents can be identified relatively easily. Every business owner should realize that insurance is an essential part of recovering from an unanticipated accident or natural disaster.

Only one in five businesses will have the money necessary to fund a recovery plan if one exists.

Each of the following major categories of business insurance must be addressed.

Business Property Insurance

All existing structures on the business property must be covered by property insurance with a replacement value clause in the contract. Many events can cause loss due to the actions of business partners, employees or customers.

A reputable insurer will respond to any claim by sending an experienced adjuster to the premises to determine the damage incurred. Insurance agencies support the needs of business owners by expediting the arrival of adjusters. Some of the subcategories under business property insurance are:

• Buildings – Where the buildings are located will be the most important factor in determining the cost of a policy. If rates are exorbitant, one response is to relocate the business to a less costly neighborhood. All exterior and interior building features must be explicitly covered by the policy, but the land should not be insured.
• Contents – Specialty contents must be included in riders that are placed on the policy because not every item is covered under a standard insurance policy. Any equipment that is required to conduct business must be listed in the policy.
• Flood – Private insurers do not sell flood insurance coverage, but an experienced insurance agent will guide business owners to purchase flood coverage from the federal government flood insurance program if it would be wise. Read the details of this coverage at the FloodSmart website.

Floods can end the life of a business and cost many people their jobs.

• Loss of income – Insurance companies offer this type of insurance to businesses with a sustained track record of income. If a significant loss occurs, the insurer pays the company throughout the rebuilding process, which can sustain the payroll checks for employees.

Liability Insurance

Sufficient liability coverage is essential to protecting against the cost of litigation. Property-related claims are less common than liability claims because of the risks that are experienced by the business. Liability coverage is broken into various major subcategories:

• Fire liability – If a business leases the property on which it conducts business, fire liability insurance should be carried to cover the owner’s property. Fire’s that start inside the building the responsibility of the business owner, not the property owner.
• Personal injury – When a person who is not an employee sustains an injury while on the property, this coverage will pay for awards provided to the injured person. Legal counsel can be added to some policy types to cover the cost of litigation.
• Medical payments – Visitors to the business who sustained injury will have their medical bills covered under this coverage, up to the limit on the policy. Any employee that is injured is covered under the worker’s compensation policy.
• Professional liability – Anyone in a profession that is based on advice provided to clients, including attorneys, accountants and consultants, should carry this type of coverage to compensate clients for any loss caused by inaccurate counsel. This is also called errors and omissions coverage. The Small Business Chronicle strongly recommends that all small business owners consider carrying this coverage. Physicians are required to carry malpractice insurance.
• General liability – Agents can tell the business owner if the standard liability coverage on the policy is sufficient for their business.
• Excess liability – Insurance agents are recommending that small business owners carry an umbrella liability policy to increase the coverage against loss caused by litigation. Lower premiums are charged for this type of liability coverage.
• Employee practices liability – Whenever employees perform skilled labor for customers, particularly in their homes, agents will recommend that the business owner carry sufficient coverage in this category. Incorrect installations and the damage they can cause would be covered.

Worker’s Compensation Insurance

Every one of the fifty states has requirements for companies that want to conduct business through the employment of people.

Worker’s compensation must be purchased from the state.

The National Federation of Independent Businesses will direct you to your state requirements here.

Lost income, medical expenses and pain and suffering are compensated for the employee that is injured while performing job duties. Premium costs for worker’s compensation coverage are affected directly by the job descriptions provided as part of the request for coverage. All efforts to train employees to follow safe practices will lower the annual premiums paid for coverage.

Automobile Insurance

All business vehicles must be covered by auto insurance that is underwritten specifically for businesses. Experienced agents know how to combine the coverage under the “symbols” that will provide the best protection at the lowest possible premium. While sufficient insurance must be carried, premiums can be lowered by carrying higher deductibles for each claim.

Care must be used in setting deductibles that will not cause financial hardship for the business. All tools and specialty equipment on the vehicles must be covered under specialty riders on the automobile insurance to provide replacement coverage.

Life Insurance

All business owners and principals should have life insurance policies with the business as the stated beneficiary. The funds provided by the insurance policy are meant to fund the transition period if the unthinkable happens. Most businesses never survive the loss of a founder or owner.

A Simpler Approach: A BOP

Some businesses are covered through a standard business owner’s policy, or BOP. As the business grows an experienced agent will notify the owner when the other special categories of coverage become necessary.

The BOP is easier to maintain for most business owners. Use of an insurance agency will make coverage decisions easier for business owners who have more pressing duties in their businesses.

Prior to speaking with an agent a small business owner needs an idea of average costs. By using the ZIP of your business and the FREE quote tool here, you can start the process right now!

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The survey further shows that although one in every ten households operate some sort of business, more than half of the business owners felt they did not need business insurance because their home owners insurance would cover any liability and risk of operating the business. Nearly 30% of those home-based business felt that their businesses were too small to need insurance, or that they did not operate the types of businesses that could incur liability claims.

To determine what type of protection your business requires consider the risks of your business and the assets involved.

Types of Home Based Businesses

When people think of home-based businesses they think of a business that may provide products or services outside of the home, but the office of the business is located in the home. Small home-based businesses are often single-person operations or operations that have two or three other people working in the business. Examples of home-based businesses include:

• Consultants
• Multi-level-marketing sales such as Mary Kay, Tupperware, Amway or any other direct-sales business
• Photographers
• Professional communicators and writers
• Childcare
• Party Planners
• Financial Advisors, accountants or any other financial services
• Virtual assistants
• Handyperson services
• Lawyers
• Seamstresses
• Programmers

Any type of business that provides one-on-one services can be started from home, as well as many successful product companies such as Carol’s Daughter which was started in the kitchen of the owner of the business. According to Bloomberg Businessweek, the number of people who are self-employed increased from 3.47 million to 4.34 million from 1999 to 2005, based on the latest Census information. Since that time, the economic situation has fostered more aspiring entrepreneurs that have home-based businesses.

Home based business entrepreneurs are educated and have a median family income of approximately $63,000, according to the Census report of 2005. Most home-based businesses are professional services such as accountants and consultants, and these are generally single-person businesses.

Home Based Business Insurance

The survey by IIABA reported that most home-based business owners assumed that their home owner’s policy would cover their business. The reality is that home owners insurance will only cover damages up to $2,500 for a home business if the damage is on the inside of the home, and $250 if the damage is outside the home. Further, if a business client or delivery person falls on the outside of the home, the business owner has no liability coverage.

Many small, home-based businesses do not meet clients in the home so the business owners believe that they should only have protection against loss of equipment.

Businesses that sell products that can be consumed or used on the body must have liability protection in case of product defects or to protect from product caused health problems.

Businesses that provide professional services also need some form of professional liability insurance to protect against claims from unhappy clients who sue for non-delivery. This is called errors and omissions insurance.

Several types of insurances to consider:

• Property insurance – Provides coverage from loss of property due to theft, fire, vandalism or other disasters. Business equipment would be covered under this type of policy.
• General liability insurance – protects against claims if a person suffers harm, accident or injury when dealing with the business.
• Business interruption insurance – Protects the business owner against the loss of earnings due to not being able to operate the business because of illness or injury or the temporary closing of the business.
• Health insurance – Covers medical expenses for the business owner and family.
• Disability insurance – Provides income should the business owner become disabled or unable to work.
• Automobile insurance – Protects against liability when using the car for business purposes.

These basic business insurances are important to the business, and provide protection against claims filed against the business owner. The insurance protects the financial investments and personal property of the business owner, which can be attached as a settlement in a lawsuit if the business owner does not have insurance protection.

Purchasing Home-Based Business Insurance

Probably the biggest reason most business owners do not have business insurance is the cost. There are ways to minimize the cost of insurance.

• Home insurance endorsements – Business owners should check with their home insurance providers to determine if an endorsement can be added to their home policy to cover business liability. This is often the least expensive way to get limited insurance in some states.
• In-home business insurance – Due to the increase of home businesses, many insurers offer insurance on property and against liability for a reasonable amount. These policies often cover business interruption, as well.
• Professional organizations – Joining a professional group or organization such as the local Chamber of Commerce is a way to save on business insurance, as the business owner can qualify for group rates instead of individual business insurance rates. Many local Chamber of Commerce or other professional groups offer discounts on health insurance and business liability insurance.

Business owners should take the time do so some insurance comparison shopping and research to find comprehensive business insurance. The first place to start is generally with the home owner’s insurance company to determine if bundling all insurances can result in discounts to the business owner. Don’t be afraid to ask for these discounts and to tell the insurer if other companies offer lower or more attractive rate packages.

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What Does It Cover?

In short, it covers whatever someone wants it to cover. Umbrella insurance gives an individual peace of mind in knowing that assets are protected to their full value, and then some. Furthermore, it can also protect against things like slander and invasion of privacy. Claims of slander and libel have become all too common nowadays, and not having this extra insurance means that someone can lose his or her property and assets and not be able to do a thing about it.

Is It Right for Me?

The only person who can answer this question is the person considering umbrella insurance. Individuals need to take all their savings and hard work into account. They probably worked and saved for years to purchase their cars, boats or homes, and losing them in an instant is a real possibility.

As umbrellas protect people from sudden downpours, umbrella policies protect them from damage that goes beyond their typical policy limits.

Comparing Online Rates

To ensure that individuals and their property are sufficiently covered, they should compare online quotes. Umbrella insurance is there to cover things that go above and beyond typical policy limits and is an important investment. Before beginning or renewing a policy, individuals will want to get quotes from several companies to best decide what fits their needs and budget.

Here are some important things to keep in mind when beginning the search:

Looking in the Right Places

Finding suitable umbrella insurance begins with knowing where to look. The obvious first choice is to use a search engine. By using targeted keywords, one can quickly pull up dozens of insurance companies all willing to provide quick quotes. The drawback is that the wealth of choices can also be confusing, with many non-relevant pages getting mixed into the results.

A better solution is to use a site that has already done some of the work for you. Insurance comparison sites list reputable companies that are regulated and licensed to do business in the state in which the consumer is looking. Enter your ZIP code in our comparison tool to compare insurance quotes from multiple insurance companies for FREE.

Deductibles

A deductible is how much someone has to pay before coverage takes over, and it is a good idea to keep this as high as possible when choosing insurance. For example, if a person’s deductible is $1,500 but has suffered property damages worth $3,000, then insurance is only going to cover half of the cost.

The common misconception is that a lower deductible saves money, when, in fact, the opposite is true. The higher a deductible is, the lower the monthly payment will be.

Discounts

When researching umbrella insurance, the best way to ensure a low rate is to look for discounts. Discounts will keep monthly premiums low and they are fairly easy to find, if a person knows where to look. Most insurers will offer many vehicle discount options, including those for seniors, students, and anyone who completes a safe driving course.

Many insurers will also offer multi-driver discounts for married couples who occupy the same policy. Discounts are available on many other types of properties as well.

Credit Scores

People who know their credit scores can get a good idea of what their umbrella insurance rates may be. Most insurers will take credit scores into account as a way of assessing risk, and the higher a credit score is, the lower the insurance rate should be. A quick online search can lead to websites that offer a free credit report.

Adding Safety Features

Property owners should consider adding additional safety equipment to their home, boat or vehicle before applying for quotes. A vehicle equipped with safety features such as air bags, antilock brakes or an alarm system will represent a lower risk to an insurer, translating to lower umbrella insurance rates. A boat or home equipped with a security system will receive the same discounts.

Driving Record

Drivers should keep their driving records as clean as possible. Tickets, accidents, or citations of any sort will increase the premium cost. If a person’s driving record is already in poor shape, he may be at the mercy of higher rates, unless an insurer who is willing to overlook past indiscretions can be found. Drivers should bear in mind that driving records are checked for anyone listed on a policy, and it will affect the cost of umbrella insurance.

Those who don’t know how much insurance they need should talk to their current agent or visit a reputable online insurance comparison site. By entering your ZIP code in our FREE car insurance tool, you can find umbrella insurance options that will fit their needs and budgets.

Statistics indicate that approximately one in every three American households has been a victim of a white collar crime, and that U.S. organizations have inured damages and losses of more than $400 billion annually due to white collar crimes.

Whether you are a small or large business, data privacy insurance is a worthy and necessary investment. Although premiums might seem intimidating at first, you can not afford not to pay them. You can find affordable insurance when you enter your ZIP code in our FREE comparison tool.

What Primary Services Does a Data Privacy Insurance Company Provide?

A data privacy insurance company offers its clients a multi-faceted type of protection that covers expenses caused by data security privacy breaches, which can include penalties and fees associated with not enforcing state or federal policies or notification laws.

If a breach occurs, a data privacy company can help the organization or institution to comply with data breach notification laws. Currently 46 states require businesses to inform their consumers in the case of lost or stolen information.

Data privacy insurance also helps the organization or institution secure legal counsel and hires forensic experts to investigate and deal with a information privacy breach. If a third party claim arises regarding privacy, network security or internet media, a data privacy insurance company can also provide liability coverage.

Generally, services of a data privacy insurance can also be tailored to provide services that deal with pertinent cyber issues such as cyber liability. Clients of the organization who are victims are also helped by data privacy insurance as they are entitles to credit file monitoring services.

Finally, a data privacy insurance company will continually help an organization administer government-mandated identity theft prevention programs.

State and Federal Regulations for Privacy

Privacy is a right of every U.S. citizen and it is of the utmost importance for institutions which have access to an individual’s private information or records to exercise the utmost care in protecting it and keeping that information safe.

In large industries, such as the healthcare industry, there are federal and state regulations like HIPAA and HITECH regulations, that ensure that a patient’s sensitive and highly private information is gathered and stored that way, with the highest consideration to their privacy.

Failure to adhere to these policies or breaches in data privacy result in heavy fines and/or penalties for the institutions where privacy statutes are not followed.

Specialized Services

Data insurance companies are specifically geared to cater to the needs of different industries, for example, the healthcare industry, and provide coverage for legal costs in responding to regulatory proceedings, or paying for the penalties or fines that are assessed.

One data privacy insurance company is the MMIC which is based in Minneapolis and which enables clients that range from small doctor’s offices to large hospitals to respond immediately in the event of a privacy breach to minimize damage to both the institution and the patient and to mitigate exposure to legal liability.

In other similarly information sensitive industries, like the banking industry, data privacy is nationally regulated as well and therefore data privacy insurance is critical as the slightest breach of information or an uncontainable leak can cost billions and cause a bank to loose a significant number of clients. Enter your ZIP code in our FREE comparison tool

Who is Part of a Data Privacy Insurance Company?

Data privacy insurance companies are comprised of a highly qualified team of individuals which specialize in different fields to provide holistic services to prevent the loss of data, and rapid response to any breach or loss of data. These individuals can include but are not limited to:

• Attorneys
• Notification providers
• Credit monitoring staff
• Call center staff
• Specialists like forensic experts to investigate a breach
• Information technology experts

What are Example of a Limit and Rates Coverage Option by a Data Privacy Insurance Company?

An example of a basic coverage plan per rate that is extended by a data privacy insurance company, the Princeton Insurance, catering to physicians in their private practice is:

• Breach Notification, Credit Monitoring Costs $50,000
• Third-Party Liability Coverage $50,000
• Government Investigation Defense Coverage $25,000
• Remediation Costs $5,000

Premiums for one physician and entity with an aggregate of all coverages that averages to $100,000 can start as low as $450, then increase per physician in the practice.

For example coverage for two or three physicians that averages $250,000 has a premium of $750, 4 physicians and entity with coverage of $250,000 has a premium of $1,250, coverage of 5 to 10 physicians and entity of $250,000 has a premium of $1,750, coverage of 11 to 19 physicians and entity for $500,000 has a premium of $2,500 and so on.

Cost vs. Benefit of Insurance

Having data privacy insurance is an added expense but saves exorbitant fees that are related to payment of regulatory defense and penalties that result from privacy violations.

It not only keeps an organization or business in line with state and national laws but serves the best interests of the institutions itself and their clients.

It ensures a longevity of operation, consumer confidence, organizational profits and productivity and peace of mind regarding the safety of the most sensitive and private of information the organization is entrusted by the public with. Enter your ZIP code in our comparison tool now to compare FREE car insurance quotes.

Each insurance company has a different scale or prices depending on a number of factors including length of the short-term disability insurance, the amount of the policy and what it covers.

Enter your ZIP code in our comparison tool to compare insurance quotes for FREE and to find the one that best fits your needs.

Short-Term Liability Insurance for Construction and Contractors

Before a client will give a construction company or contractors a new building project, they often stipulate in the contract that there be a minimum amount of liability insurance. Though a company might already have liability insurance, there may be cases where the client asks for additional insurance for the duration of the project.

Depending on how much additional business liability costs, it might be more cost effective to purchase short-term liability insurance.

In this situation, it is best to go shopping for a short-term insurance carrier who will cover you. When shopping, there are a few things to keep in mind:

Never Sign Up for the First Quote: Always shop around until you find a quote that is reasonable and covers everything you need.

Read The Fine Print: One short-term liability insurance carrier may be more expensive than another, but that doesn’t necessarily mean you should take the cheaper quote. The pricier quote may cover more things, which could save you money in the long run should you need to use the policy for any reason.

Ensure the Policy Will Cover any Liabilities which May Creep up Later: For example, a short-term policy taken out for 3 months during a construction job. Six months after completion, something falls apart. A good short-term disability policy will still cover the incident since it is directly related to the 3-month insured policy. Enter your ZIP code in our comparison tool now for FREE liability insurance quotes.

Special Events Short-Term Liability Insurance

Some insurance carriers allow short-term policies for special events. This can include things like weddings, reunions and more. There are minimums that must be met. For example, some insurers won’t give out special event insurance unless there are no more than 10,000 people attending the event. Read this for more detailed information on why you need special events short-term liability insurance.

Be sure to do a thorough search for coverage that will cover all your needs. For example, let’s say you are planning a retreat for a company that lasts three days. Check the fine print to make sure all three days are covered. Here are a few examples of what companies may pay for:

1. Operations: coverage for events and all planning and pre-event planning
2. Premises: The insurance should cover accidental death and dismemberment on the premises of the event that is being insured
3. Deductibles: The deductible should be affordable or in some cases, zero. Generally the premium on this type of policy is high enough to have the deductible waived in case of an event that would lead to a claim on the policy.

Finding the Best Rate

Finding the best insurance rate is getting easier as technology gets better. This is because the Internet can be used as a great tool for comparing quotes from many different insurers.

There are websites that offer free quotes with just a few questions answered. These questions may include the following:

• State of residence: Policy prices can vary from state to state, so knowing where you live helps these websites get an accurate quote.
• ZIP Code: For a more specific quote, a ZIP code is used to make sure policies cover any local or municipal laws.
• Email Address: Some quote websites will email you the results of your search instead of displaying them on the screen right away. Before you consent to this, check the website’s privacy policy to make sure your email address will not get sold to a 3rd party who may spam you with unwanted or useless information.

Cautions

If at any point a website asks for more personal information such as address or social security information, navigate away and try another site. This may be an attempt to gain personally identifying information in an attempt to steal your identity. This can lead to many headaches including ruined credit. Always be careful!

Never give your credit card information. All websites that offer insurance quotes should do so for free. You should only have to pay if you are actually going to purchase your policy.

Once you have found a quote that covers everything you need at an affordable rate, you have some options. Most websites allow you to contact the insurance company directly through their website so that you get a fast answer and can buy the policy as soon as possible.

In some cases you may be able to book your short-term liability insurance online. Only do this if you are sure you have no questions about the policy and that it covers everything you want. If not, contact the policy provider and book after you have asked your questions. It is always better to be safe than sorry when buying short-term or any liability insurance.

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In addition, businesses may simply make careless mistakes with information while online, and those mistakes could prove costly. Any business with an online presence should consider coverages related to intellectual property and virus security.

However, companies engaged in e-commerce should protect themselves further by considering a wide variety of policies.

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Intellectual Property Coverage

An online business may wrongly or inadvertently misuse the intellectual property of others. Intellectual property may include:

• Advertising material
• Copyrighted material
• Slogans
• Trademarks

When businesses infringe on the intellectual property of others, they may become the subjects of a costly lawsuit. Even inadvertent copyright infringement could result in hefty settlements and compensation to the wronged party.

Internet liability insurance would protect both personal and business assets against claims brought against a company.

Business owners should look into intellectual property insurance to protect them against all forms of intellectual property lawsuits.

Failure to Protect Private Information

Many companies, particularly those with extensive customer files, have large databases filled with sensitive customer information. This information may include:

• Credit card information
• Social security numbers
• Checking account numbers
• Identifying information such as name, address and telephone number

If an employee, for instance, takes private customer information and uses it to commit identity theft, then the business could be liable for the clients’ losses because they didn’t take adequate measures to protect personal data. Businesses that have Internet liability insurance would have protection against claims that are brought due to the careless or premeditated actions of employees.

Employees may not be the only sources of information misuse within a company. News reports provide almost daily bulletins about companies whose customer files have been penetrated by hackers and identity thieves. In the modern age, even the best web security systems are vulnerable to attack. Companies can rely on Internet liability insurance to protect them from substantial losses.

Plagiarism

Large organizations produce a great deal of content. Unfortunately, some web developers and marketing professionals copy their content from the web or other sources and use it on their own sites or in their own article marketing campaigns. Plagiarized content could include:

• Literary formats
• Artistic formats
• Characters
• Performances

Even if an outside developer is at-fault, a company could still be held liable for plagiarism on its website or in its marketing campaigns. By obtaining Internet liability insurance, companies will ensure that they are not forced to turn over business or personal assets as part of compensation for plagiarism. You can use some of these tactics to protect your website from plagiarism.

Transmission of a Computer Virus

Companies may be hacked with malware or may accidentally transfer a computer virus to customers because they have taken inadequate security measures. Viruses may be accidentally transmitted to:

• Customers
• Suppliers
• Supporters
• Any other authorized user

Updating virus software usually takes a great deal of time and interaction with the IT department. This could cause end users to avoid updating, which could leave their systems vulnerable to attack. Businesses would be liable for malware and virus transmissions because they failed to make the upgrade, even if their intentions were for the good of the business at the time.

Internet liability insurance would pay for the losses incurred by clients without causing business owners to lose everything that they own. If you do any kind of business on the internet, it would be wise to have internet business insurance. Enter your ZIP code in our comparison tool to compare internet liability insurance quotes for FREE.

Comparing Online Insurance Quotes

To purchase Internet liability insurance, companies may either talk to an insurance agent or compare quotes online.

Comparing insurance quotes online allows companies to have at-a-glance information about the important features of different policies.

Online quotes may also be more affordable than quotes from an agent. When comparing insurance quotes, companies should look at the following policy elements:

Premium

An insurance policy premium is basically the monthly payment required to retain the policy. Some people tend to choose the company with the cheapest premium without considering other factors. As a result, companies could end up underinsured during a crisis. Ideally, companies should find the insurer who provides the most options for the least amount of money.

Reputation

In an emergency, companies need to know that their insurance company will be available to them and will fulfill the terms of their policy. Before choosing an insurer, customers should check out the company’s reputation and find out how long they have been in business. Business owners should consider paying a higher premium for coverage from a well-regarded insurer.

Deductible

The deductible is the amount that the customer has to pay before the insurance policy provides coverage for losses. Higher deductibles tend to mean cheaper premiums, but companies must have enough cash saved to ensure that they can pay a high deductible in the event of an emergency.

Coverage

Companies should look to see how much coverage an insurer offers for the price. Less coverage may mean lower premiums, but being underinsured in the face of catastrophic loss could be a business owner’s worst nightmare. Business owners should obtain sufficient coverage for their needs even if they have to pay higher premiums.

Time period

Most liability policies do not cover incidents that happen before a policy goes into effect. Companies should be aware that if their breach has already occurred, then purchasing a policy today will usually not pay for damages incurred in the past.

In the age of the Internet, companies open themselves to a whole series of new possibilities. Unfortunately, those possibilities also come with a sea of potential liabilities. Smart companies will add Internet liability insurance to their portfolios and will consider it to be just as vital as any other liability policy. Use our FREE comparison tool to compare insurance quotes from multiple companies for FREE!

You might think that you have a completely new invention that no one has ever thought about, so there is no way someone could try to sue you for infringing on another invention. The truth is that this insurance can help keep you from going bankrupt.

In the mean time, we can help you save money on your patent insurance when you enter your ZIP code in our comparison tool for FREE patent insurance quotes.

What is Patent Insurance?

Patent insurance is a type of insurance that protects you if someone takes you to court over your invention. The common court case for a patent can cost over $1 million, which is more money than most people have available. What patent insurance does is absorb most of those costs, so you only pay the insurance price and some other miscellaneous fees. For other things, you should look into intellectual property insurance.

Why Do I Need It?

Most companies are in a race to make products quickly enough to satisfy customer demand. Due to this, two or more competing companies may end up making similar products at roughly the same time. A regular patent search will not reveal this if the patent is not being filed, so there would be no way to know another similar product is being created.

When the other company sees your invention, they may sue over infringement, saying that you stole their idea. Instead of getting involved in a costly court case, the insurance will help you during this situation.

Power Struggles

Most of the time, someone will sue you over a patent because they honestly believe you are infringing on their patent. However, other people sue for a completely different reason. If you are an individual going against a big company, sometimes big companies will sue just to make you bankrupt so you can no longer compete. Unfortunately, without patent insurance, this plan can be very effective.

Bankruptcy can even affect your life insurance rates. Prevent all these problems by entering your ZIP code in our comparison tool for FREE patent insurance quotes.

How to Choose Patent Insurance

There are many areas to look at when deciding who your patent insurance provider will be. Here are some common areas to check:

• Copayment for lost cases
• Patents they protect
• Price of insurance
• If they protect liability and intellectual property costs
• Legal success rate

It’s very important to compare the different patent insurance companies, as no two offer the same thing. Many insurance companies specialize in certain patents, such as electronics patents or toy patents, and this can be useful when searching for the best provider.

Aside from the payments, you will also want to check copayment. This is the amount of money you will pay if you lose the case, or if the other side does not have to pay your legal fees.

The typically copayment comes to 1-5% for $1 million. While it keeps you from having to spend that $1 million on defense fees, you still have to pay around $10,000 to $50,000. Lower copayments are usually best, but make sure you are getting quality service despite a low copayment.

Denial of Insurance

Since it can cost so much, patent insurance companies will often check your patent before they decide to give you coverage. They will evaluate your patent for likelihood of being sued.

If your patent has a strong likelihood, you may be denied insurance. This is why it is important, before making an invention or getting a patent, that you ensure your patent is easily distinguishable from other patents. Otherwise, you may be sued and you will have no one to save you.

What Do I Need Before Getting Coverage?

Most insurance types require some type of paperwork before you get coverage, and patent insurance is no different. They don’t want to lay out the money for being sued, and they want to make sure you did all the proper work to get your patent. Here are the documents you will need:

• Proof of intellectual property search
• Proof of patent
• Any documents relating to patent

Without these documents, there is a high chance you will be sued since you didn’t take the right steps. Sometimes the insurance provider will be willing to perform these for you, or they will be willing to take you regardless. If you are taken though, you will have a very high premium.

Can I Get Covered While Being Sued?

This is why you need patent insurance immediately. Patent insurance will protect you only if you are not being currently sued, or if you are unaware of being sued. If you are being sued, then you will be turned down.

There are very few providers that will come to your rescue unless you file immediately. That is why comparing patent insurance companies now, rather than waiting until a court case happens, is so very important. If you claim to be unaware of a case when one is going on, you may have an additional fee on top of the patent case, so don’t lie to providers.

What If Someone Infringes on My Patent?

Usually patent insurance is meant for protection against being sued, but there is also pursuit policies that help you when suing someone who infringed on your patent. Much like when you are being sued, the legal defense fee can be astronomical when you are pursuing someone else. You may not even be reimbursed for the fees if the court finds the defendant not guilty.

When you are comparing patent insurance, look for pursuit policies, as they can be of great help. This type of policy rarely costs much more than other policies, so be sure to get it. For more things to do when defending a patent infringement, click here.

Final Thoughts

Patent insurance is very important for any type of inventor, scientist, engineer or anyone else who makes any sort of patent. You should not wait to file for a policy, because it may be too late by the time you do. There are plenty of patent lawsuits happening everyday, and regardless of what side of the fence you are on, this insurance will help protect your assets so you, your family and your company does not go bankrupt.

Start comparing patent insurance rates today, by entering your ZIP code in our FREE comparison tool to compare insurance quotes.

A wedding is one of the most important events of people’s lives; it should not be remembered as a catastrophe. There exist many potential calamities that could wreck the event. The bride or groom could fall ill or a plumbing or heating problem could close the venue for the wedding or reception.

Modern society supplies a number of potential disaster scenarios. Weddings are subject to cancellation due to unforeseen weather such as hurricanes or snowfall. Airports might be closed due to inclement weather or terrorist alerts. Military brides and grooms could find themselves deployed overseas before the assigned date. Wedding insurance was created to address these incidents.

Looking to buy wedding planner insurance? Enter your ZIP code in our comparison tool to compare FREE insurance quotes.

Who is Liable for Injuries at Weddings?

There are many documented cases of injuries and death caused by guests enjoying too much of a good thing. Many people may be implicated in cases of severe injury. These include the bride and groom, the people paying for the wedding, the event planner, the hosting venue, and the bartender that served the alcohol. Everyone involved should have suitable coverage for financial protection against catastrophe.

If you are the owner of the venue, you should look into premises liability insurance to protect you from injury claims on your premises.

Wedding Planners Require Extra Protection.

People who engage in wedding planning as a career are operating a business. These planners must take their professional responsibility seriously and obtain adequate insurance coverage for personal and company protection. Here is is what you need to know about wedding planner insurance.

Professional wedding planners that rely on client’s insurance coverage are taking a tremendous risk. Planners should research the types of coverage and make recommendations to the client and also obtain their own coverage for personal protection. A comparison of types of coverage and prices can be facilitated with online comparison engines.

If clients make their own arrangements, wedding planners can never be sure what is covered, and they could find themselves facing tremendous personal liability.

Event insurance is available as low as $75, and the price is easily incorporated into the planning fee.

Event Insurance Addresses the Needs of Planners and Clients.

Planning professionals can research coverage online to make intelligent comparisons and choose the kind of insurance most suitable for client’s needs and their personal protection. Coverage offers the following benefits.

• Choosing an insurer to recommend to clients affords reliable enhanced protection.
• Primary coverage protects planners and clients when both are named in a suit.
• The venue can be protected as an additional insured party. The confirmation can be emailed directly to the venue for convenience.
• If planners are both named in a suit, and the client is found at fault, insurance coverage can pay claims promptly without increasing planners’ liability rates.

Event Planners Rely on Three Types of Coverage.

A wedding planner’s clients can experience frustration trying to find insurance that satisfies some historic venue’s requirements. Planners should locate an insurance carrier that provides seamless client coverage at an attractive price. Reputable agencies will also furnish free brochures to give potential customers. There are three types of coverage that may be required.

Liability and Property Damage

This policy protects against personal injury and property damage that might occur during a wedding and reception. If alcohol is not served, then an insurance policy can be purchased at a reduced rate. The amount of insurance needed may be determined by the hosting venue. Most plans provide coverage increments of $500,000, $1,000,000 and $2,000,000.

Event Postponement or Cancellation

If an event is cancelled or postponed due to unforeseen complications, it could cause a tremendous financial burden. Insurance provides protection so that money is not wasted on vendors and deposits, travel plans, and other particulars.

Event Insurance Liability

If rehearsal dinners and other affairs related to a wedding do not occur within 24 hours, most wedding policies will not cover the event. Significant parallel events may require separate coverage.

Important Facts Planners and Primaries Should Research.

There are many questions that planners and primaries may need answered about particular insurers before making a decision to contract insurance coverage. These include the following.

• Some insurers do not have coverage in all states. Make sure the wedding venue is covered.
• Determine if the wedding, reception and rehearsal dinner are covered, and if there are time limitations.
• Find out about policy dollar limitations and whether there is a discount for combining liability and cancellation policies.
• Many companies can offer wedding insurance with only 24-hour notice. Quick policy approval may be essential in some cases.
• Most venues require primary liability coverage, so planners should determine the venue’s requirements.

Insurance Coverage is Essential to Guarantee Wedding Integrity

The type of insurance needed may vary according to the specific circumstances of a particular wedding. Basic insurance covering the cost of videos, photographs, presents, rings, wedding attire, and deposits can run from $155 to $550. General liability can be found as low as $75 for $500,000 coverage at events where alcohol is not served. The average price for $1,000,000 coverage with alcohol runs in the vicinity of $185.

Overlapping overage may not be needed. Check with vendors, caterers and hosting venues to see if they have their own coverage and ask for a copy of the policy to ensure it is up-to-date and meets an individual’s or wedding planner’s needs.

Wedding insurance has long been in force in Great Britain, but it has only come to the United States in the past decade. There are many specific carriers for wedding policies, and many homeowners’ insurance agents may have special event policies to consider. Simply enter your ZIP code into the FREE tool below to find and compare insurance rates!

Do business insurance benefits outweigh the costs? To answer this question each business must examine their specific insurance needs by performing a cost versus benefits analysis and include in this assessment the risks associated with daily business operations. You can find more affordable business insurance when you enter your ZIP code in our FREE comparison tool.

Variables of a cost versus benefits analysis

The analysis must take into account all variables that pertain to the total number of years that the business has been in operations, the industry sector, the total amount of gross revenue and the type of risks that need to be covered by the policy.

Any business cost analysis would be incomplete without comparing total costs from different competitors to negotiate for the best rates. A

cost related assessment for business insurance will help determine the exact dollar amount that needs to be deducted from business expenditures to cover the policy premiums, monthly, quarterly and annually and the appropriate amount of coverage that is needed.

Begin by requesting a no-obligation rate quote to build a cost analysis worksheet that includes a critical breakdown of all the business related variables.

Compare rates

A comparison will allow the business owner to analyze different insurance products and then make an informed decision based on which competitor provides comprehension coverage in terms of benefits versus costs in monetary value.

Use the secure online request form to get a free, no-risk business insurance quote.

Benefits of business insurance

• Protects valuable business investments against loss, theft and liability lawsuits
• Provides coverage for commercial property and casualty
• Includes employee accident liability coverage
• Offer value to the business in the form of supplemental insurance coverage
• Applied savings and discounts represent a return on the investment
• It is possible to purchase multiple policies from different insurance providers without penalty

Business related costs associated with policy coverage

1. Coverage is more expensive for small businesses and self-employed entities
2. Premiums will increase as the business grows
3. Multiple policies are needed for commercial property and vehicles
4. Higher costs are associated with industry specific insurance
5. Premiums may be higher at the expiration of the policy

It is possible to find commercial insurance coverage, getting a free rate comparison will help keep costs in check. Just provide your necessary business information and any specific requirements to review different types of policy coverage. Use our FREE comparison tool now!

Business Insurance offers protection against the following types of liabilities and losses:

• Coverage for third party injuries caused by your business operations
• Damage caused to the property of a third party
• Business insurance provides protection against lawsuits involving libel, slander, wrongful entry and false arrests
• Business owners are protected from liability lawsuits prompted by misleading or false advertising
• Insurance for damage to office equipment and crime coverage for employee theft, robbery or burglary

Higher Insurance Premiums

Business insurance is based on the cash flow at the time of policy purchase and this amount may fluctuate. To get the best value for the money request a comparison, check the rate quotes to determine which insurance provider offer a policy that is not auditable.

If the premium is based on revenue, check the fine print to see if the premiums will be adjusted to reflect business growth during end of the year audits. Business owners should always read the fine print before signing the policy. If the policy is subject to an adjustment, it will be listed in the business owner’s common policy conditions.

Types of Business Insurance

1. Workers Compensation
2. General Liability
3. Umbrella Coverage
4. Professional Liability
5. Employee Practice Liability
6. Employer Liability
7. Self-Employed Liability
8. Product Liability

Saving money with a cost comparison

The way to save money on business insurance to ensure that the benefits outweigh the cost is select a local insurance provider. Get a free, instant business insurance rate quote to find the best rate and purchase the policy online to secure even greater savings.

There are risks associated with doing business regardless of the industry and these risks include:

• Fraud
• Damage due to fire, intentional and accidental
• Natural disasters that may cause work stoppage and lead to loss of revenue
• Environmental hazards
• Lapses in policy coverage

The above are variables that most business owners can do little about, but preventing lapses in policy coverage is manageable.

Always remember to gain the greatest benefit from business insurance, the company should:

• Always maintain current policy coverage
• Carry all form of insurance-Workers Compensation, Life, Property and Liability
• Maintain a safe, worker friendly environment to avoid accidents and lawsuits
• Never allow the business to be without protection by going underinsured or uninsured

Summary

The out of pocket costs associated with not having business insurance is considerably higher than maintaining proper coverage. Being sued is far more costly than any business insurance premium.

If a lawsuit is levied against your company by an employee or a third party due to gross neglect or negligence that results in unintended injury, the litigation process itself can drain the company’s finances.

Obtaining insurance is beneficial for asset and revenue protection, which is a cushion that allows room for long term growth and success. Avoid high premiums by finding the most competitive offer for business insurance.

Only purchase business insurance after finding out exactly how the insurance is going to benefit your business and what the costs will be, check to see if there are any additional costs associated with providing policy coverage because of the specific nature of the risks related to your industry.

Request a FREE cost comparison and instantly receive rate quotes from multiple business insurance providers. Compare competitive rates for all business related insurance products such as comprehensive general liability and auto insurance.