Basic Terms About Auto Insurance

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Every car owner in Laurel, MD understands that insurance is important. However, insurance jargon can be confusing, which leads to some people making mistakes when buying. To make sure you understand a policy before buying, Mid Atlantic Insurance Financial helps you understand important insurance terms in the list below.

  • At-fault accident: This is an accident where you are either partially or fully liable.
  • Auto insurance quotes: This is an estimate of what the insurance company will charge you for buying insurance.
  • Claim: A request to your insurance company to cover the expenses resulting from an auto accident.
  • Premium: This is either the monthly or yearly cost of your auto insurance.
  • Underwriting: A process by the insurance company to evaluate how risky you are. It is based on factors like age, location, type of vehicle accident history, etc.
  • Bodily injury liability coverage: A type of auto coverage that covers the medical expenses of a third party after they have been injured in an accident where you are at fault.
  • Collision coverage: It helps cover repairs to your vehicle from a collision accident such as hitting a tree or another vehicle.
  • Comprehensive coverage: Pays for any damage to your vehicle as long as damage is not collision-related. This includes losses like natural disasters, theft, and vandalism.
  • Limit: It is the maximum amount that your insurance policy will pay after an accident.
  • Deductible: The amount that the insurance company requires you to pay before they can start paying.
  • Policy: This is a contract stating the insurance coverage, terms, premiums, and deductibles.
  • Uninsured/ underinsured motorist coverage: If you get hit by a driver who does not have insurance or their coverage is not enough to cover the resulting expenses, uninsured and underinsured coverage help cover those expenses.

These are some of the basic insurance terms that you need to know about. Now that you understand, buying insurance should not be so difficult. You can also contact us at Mid Atlantic Insurance Financial of Laurel, MD, for assistance. We will break down the process for you, ensuring that you are aware of the policy you are buying.

How High Winds Can Damage Your Laurel, MD Home

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Homeowners in Laurel, MD are no strangers to high winds and the damage they can cause. However, you don’t want to sit around and wait for damage to occur. Instead, you should take preventative measures to ensure your home is ready to withstand high winds, which includes having the proper insurance coverage from a home insurance company like Mid Atlantic Insurance Financial.

Wind Speeds and Their Potential Damage

Many people assume that only hurricane-force winds can cause severe damage to a home, but even minor winds can cause serious problems for homeowners.

  • 20-25 mph Winds – There is a low risk of damage with these winds, but this doesn’t mean that no damage can occur.
  • 25-30 mph Winds – These winds will cause most trees to move, and branches may start to break and potentially cause damage. There is a good chance that shingles could be blown off the roof.
  • 30-40 mph Winds – Anything outside that is not secured will start blowing around and could potentially cause damage to your property.
  • 40+ mph Winds – There is a high chance that structural damage to your home will occur. The higher the wind, the greater the risk of damage to your home.

Protecting Your Laurel MD Home from High Winds

You can start by covering your windows and doors to prevent them from being broken by strong gusts of wind and/or debris. You should also secure any loose items outdoors, including gazebos, storage sheds, and the like. There are also ways to secure siding and shingles, so speak to a local contractor about how to do this.

Of course, regardless of how many preventative measures you take, it is still possible for your home to suffer damage from serious winds. This is where both home insurance and windstorm insurance come into play. For more information, contact Mid Atlantic Insurance Financial, serving the Laurel, MD area.

Maryland Home Insurance: Don’t Hire a Contractor Without Checking Your Liability Coverage

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When you are performing home renovations, one of the biggest stresses on your mind will be the safety risks, and liability risks. That is what liability insurance is for.

At Mid Atlantic Insurance Financial, we help Laurel, MD homeowners get the coverage they need for every liability when they are renovating.

Learn more about how to do that right here.

Check Your Home Insurance Liability Policy

One thing you want to do before you hire a contractor or begin any renovations is check your liability coverage. This will protect you in the event of financial loss if an accident or problem occurs for which you are at fault.

When the layout of your home is altered, or you have many people coming and going from your property, you are increasing your liability risks. With contractors comes the risk of broken structures, exposed nails, or danger with construction.

You will want to check your home insurance for your liability coverage limits, to make sure that you have enough to cover you for every risk. Your insurance company can help you to increase your limits.

Liabilities for Home Renovation

When you are undergoing a home renovation, you could incur liabilities. There could be an accident or injury, or a problem could happen for which you are at fault. 

Your home insurance company will want to know what changes you are making to your home, and that you are covered for every potential risk.

Get a Quote

When you are launching home renovations, be prepared before you start. Before you even hire a contractor, check the liability coverage on your home insurance policy. At Mid Atlantic Insurance Financial, we want Laurel, MD homeowners to have enough liability coverage when they are renovating. Call us for a quote today.

10 Simple Tips to Prepare Your Vehicle for the Upcoming Winter Weather

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While there are many times of the year that are deemed dangerous to drive, winter tends to be near the top of the list. The reason for this is due to the brutal weather conditions. The conditions can change at the flip of the coin throughout the season. When this happens, will you be ready? The team at Mid Atlantic Insurance Financial wants to share a few simple tips with Laurel, MD residents to ensure that they and their vehicles are ready for the upcoming winter weather.

  1. Service your vehicle. You want to ensure that your vehicle has had an oil change, had all fluids checked, etc.
  2. Test your battery. You want to ensure that your battery is able to hold a solid charge. Winter can be hard on batteries, so you need a good one to start off the season. When your battery is tested, the technician can remove any corrosion that is present.
  3. Check the antifreeze. Whether you do it yourself or have a professional do it, the antifreeze needs to be checked and/or replaced. Without sufficient antifreeze, irreparable damage to your vehicle could occur.
  4. Check the hoses, belts, and spark plugs. This should be part of a vehicle’s overall inspection, but it can be helpful in preventing a car breakdown.
  5. Replace the wiper blades, and consider keeping a spare in your vehicle. Don’t forget to check the levels of your wiper fluid.
  6. Check the tire pressure. Always keep a tire gauge in your vehicle. Your owner’s manual will have a recommended tire pressure for different driving conditions. Just keep in mind that colder weather will result in tire deflation.
  7. Purchase snow tires. This is important, especially if you live in a rural area where roads aren’t as likely to be regularly cleared.
  8. Test the 4WD. You probably haven’t used the four-wheel-drive since last winter, so you want to ensure it’s working before you need it.
  9. Keep your tank full (or as close to it as possible). This helps to prevent frozen gas lines. Plus, if you find yourself stranded, you’ll be able to keep the vehicle running for heat until help arrives.
  10. Pack an emergency kit with all the necessary essentials, such as protein bars, water, flashlight, batteries, blankets, etc. You never know what will happen or when.

The most important thing for you to remember is to ensure that you have proper auto insurance in the event of an unexpected accident. Serving the Laurel, MD area, Mid Atlantic Insurance Financial can ensure you’re properly covered. Contact our team today.

Is Life Insurance Necessary?

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Laurel, MD residents seeking information on life insurance should be aware of their options when shopping around. Mid Atlantic Insurance Financial highly recommends life insurance for anyone who has dependents or family members who rely on them. 

Maintaining a life insurance policy means your dependents and family members will be financially taken care of if you should pass away unexpectedly. It also provides you with the peace of mind that once you are gone, your family members will be comfortable and secure with what you’ve left behind. 

While you can try to plan your entire life, everything you want to accomplish, and the money you want to earn, at the end of the day you can’t really plan for what may happen to you. All we can do is celebrate every moment and do our best to plan and be prepared for when that day inevitably comes. 

The best way to do this is to ensure that your family is supported and financially secure. There are so many life insurance policy options that can offer your family the relief they deserve in a time of mourning. Life insurance policies can also cover end-of-life costs and expenses, including a funeral or a celebration of life. 

Rather than having to worry about getting money together for those expenses, a life insurance plan will allow your loved ones to mourn and grieve together, rather than stress about the financial burden a funeral is putting on them. 

If you’re shopping around for life insurance in Laurel, MD, be sure to contact Mid Atlantic Insurance Financial. An agent with experience can guide you through the process of selecting a suitable life insurance policy and give you peace of mind along the way.

Do You Need Commercial Insurance For An Online Business?

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Suppose you have a killer internet business idea. The business plan is in check, and you have already accumulated enough funds to execute your e-business in Laurel, MD. But have you thought about commercial insurance from Mid Atlantic Insurance Financial?

Yes, your business may not have a physical location, but that doesn’t mean it’s free from business risks. Do you have an online business? Do you know the business insurance options to consider? Here are a few commercial insurance coverages you can incorporate into your business.

Cyber liability

If you have a heavy online presence, it makes sense to invest in coverage that protects your data. Whether stolen or leaked, having your data out there is never a good thing. And worse yet, recovering from a data leak can be an expensive affair. For this reason, you must invest in cyber liability insurance to take care of the below costs following an online attack:

  • Business interruption costs
  • Notification costs
  • Legal costs
  • Public relations costs
  • Negotiation costs

General liability coverage

Online and brick-and-mortar businesses must invest in general business liability to protect themselves when accused of bodily injury, property damage, and advertising injury. For instance, if your product causes harm to users, liability insurance covers medical costs and ensuing legal expenses.

Worker’s comp insurance

Do you have employees in your e-business? If yes, you must invest in worker’s comp insurance to protect your workers when accidents happen in your business. And that’s not all. This coverage covers partial loss of income when an employee can’t resume work because of injuries sustained.

Commercial property insurance

This coverage protects your business assets, including IT equipment, inventories, and so on. If you don’t want to start from scratch after the unthinkable, invest in commercial property insurance.

Protect your business today with commercial insurance!

If you are shopping or renewing your commercial insurance, look no further than Mid Atlantic Insurance Financial in Laurel, MD. We will provide you with a formidable business insurance policy that covers your business needs.

Stay Protected With Home Insurance

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Home insurance is a must if you own a home. It offers many different types of coverage all in one policy. When you have a home policy, you are protected against a wide range of accidents and disasters. If you don’t have home insurance yet, it’s time to get a policy to protect yourself and your future. Give us a call today at Mid Atlantic Insurance Financial in Laurel, MD.

Your House

Your house itself needs protection, and it gets it from a home insurance policy. This coverage protects the house if it is damaged or destroyed by an incident that is covered by the policy. When the worst happens and whether there are repairs or rebuilding needed, the policy will pay for it. Trying to pay for significant damage done to a home without home insurance is simply too expensive for most people, making this coverage vital for protecting your future. 

Your Possessions

Another type of coverage included in home insurance is coverage for your belongings in the home. If there is a serious incident and items are broken or destroyed, your home policy can pay for those damages. Imagine trying to replace everything in a home without having this insurance. It would be impossible for most people to do. This coverage is a much-needed way to stay protected. 

Your Liability

When you have a third party in your home and that person becomes injured, you can be held responsible for the medical bills and other costs, including lost wages. When you have a home policy, it includes coverage for liability. This can be extremely helpful in the event that someone is injured. When you have this policy, the injured party doesn’t have to sue you to get their medical bills paid. 

Get Your Home Insurance

To get started with a home insurance policy, contact us at Mid Atlantic Insurance Financial in Laurel, MD.

Benefits of Full Coverage vs. State Minimums

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Benefits of Full Coverage vs. State Minimums

When you purchase auto insurance in the state of Maryland, the state provides minimum requirements. Mid Atlantic Insurance Financial wants you to understand why sticking with those though, does not provide you with the full coverage you need to protect your vehicle.

In Maryland, you must purchase liability insurance to legally operate your vehicle on public roads. The minimum insurance includes:

  • bodily injury coverage per person in the amount of $30,000,
  • bodily injury coverage per accident in the amount of $60,000,
  • property damage coverage per accident in the amount of $15,000.

Any accident in Laurel MD probably damaged both vehicles, but the state-required insurance only protects the other person’s vehicles and only pays for their injuries. You would need to pay out of pocket for all the repairs to your own vehicle plus your medical bills if you caused the accident. If police find you at fault for the accident, your insurance pays for the other people involved.

You can purchase collision insurance to cover the damage to your own vehicle. Even if you become involved in a single-car accident, this coverage pays for vehicle repairs. Similarly, if you were minding your own business when a tree fell on your car, comprehensive coverage pays for the damage. The combination of collision and comprehensive protects you against virtually every incident that can damage your vehicle, including deer running out in front of it.

Purchasing personal injury protection provides you with medical coverage regardless of who caused the accident. It covers your passengers, too. This works with any health insurance you have to cover all of your medical bills.

Contact Mid Atlantic Insurance Financial serving Laurel, MD to talk about full coverage auto insurance for your vehicle. We can help protect your financial future and provide you the insurance to pay for medical bills and car repairs if you get into an accident.

Do I Need Life Insurance if I Do Not Have Kids?

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Life insurance makes sense for most, especially parents, because it is a way to ensure the family is provided for should something unexpectedly happen. However, those who do not have children often ask if they need life insurance coverage. Life insurance offers Laurel, MD residents more than just financial security for families; it can help with financial planning and future money management. Call the Mid Atlantic Insurance Financial experts to discuss how life insurance can benefit you, even if you do not have kids. 

Here are some questions to ask yourself when determining if you need life insurance: 

Could you support yourself in the event something happened to your spouse? 

Life insurance helps replace the loss of income in the event a family member or partner prematurely dies. Therefore, it is necessary for couples to have life insurance, especially if they cannot survive without the other’s income. However, life insurance may not be essential if a significant amount of savings is built up or each partner could support themselves and maintain their current lifestyle should something unexpected happen. 

Do you have anyone depending on you? 

Even if you do not have children, you may have someone depending on you, other than a spouse. For example, are you caring for elderly parents? Do you share the debt with anyone else, such as a joint mortgage? Would someone else be financially impacted if something were to happen to you? These are all things to consider when deciding whether to purchase life insurance. 

Do you have a lot of debt? 

Those with a lot of debt, especially debt someone else has cosigned for, may want to consider purchasing life insurance. These debts may include an auto loan, credit card, or student loans where someone cosigned for you. 

Those in Laurel, MD, with questions about life insurance policies, can reach out to the experts at Mid Atlantic Insurance Financial for answers to their questions. 

Understanding Maryland Commercial Insurance

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Commercial insurance is instrumental for Laurel, MD business owners who want to safeguard their livelihood from financial constraints that usually culminate in accidents like a client’s slip and fall or a worker sustaining an injury. Those in the Laurel, MD area and dream of becoming business owners should weigh the option of operating a business. Are you a Laurel, MD resident operating or have an ambition of starting a business? We customize insurance plans in Maryland designed to suit your business insurance needs and budget. Don’t hesitate to contact our agents at Mid Atlantic Insurance Financial to protect your profits as your business grows.

Is commercial insurance mandatory in Maryland?

Maryland requires business entities with one or more employees to maintain workers’ comp insurance. This policy is designed to cater to employee’s medical bills for work-related injuries and general ailments. The state also advocates for commercial auto insurance to have a minimum liability limit, including bodily injury and property damage. Apart from the state’s mandated requirements, you need to consider other essential coverage options in Maryland.

General liability insurance: This policy is tailored to cover potential medical bills and prevailing legal fees. It also covers offenses like libel and copyright infringement. For resistance, a client is injured within your business premises propagated either by you or your employees; in that case, general liability kicks in and protects you.

Property insurance: It covers your building and contents, together with any resulting impact on your business income after a covered peril like fire, theft, or any other form of calamity.

Cyber liability insurance: Helps your business entity respond to a data breach if personally established information gets lost or stolen. Business entities store vital personal information for their customers. It protects your business from data breaches and cyber-attacks.

Business interruption insurance: Sometimes, your business may be interrupted by the occurrence of a given disaster or even a hacking incident. This policy is forged to safeguard your business during covered events to replace the money you would have made or provide funds to operate in an alternate location temporarily.

Are you a resident of Laurel, MD searching for salient commercial insurance to protect your business and employees? Please call or visit our Mid Atlantic Insurance Financial for more information about commercial insurance coverage.