These types of claims are still subject to your deductible and are considered a comprehensive claim. Our advice to your customers was to make sure the damage was over the deductible before they call and make a claim.  Please be patient with the insurance companies, there were many claims called in last week.  To the right you will see a map of Phoenix showing the areas that were hit the hardest.

A monsoon storm can range from a minor dust storm to a violent thunderstorm. Normally a monsoon in Arizona starts with a massive wall of dust that is generally hundreds of feet high. The dust storms are not alone, they normally come with thunder, lighting, and heavy rain. The rain accumulated during the monsoon season will account for 1/3 of our yearly rainfall!!

Although the monsoon season is something the Phoenicians tend to enjoy due to the cooler weather and rainfall, since it is during the hottest part of our year, it is very dangerous. Remember that serious damage can happen during these storms. Debris is being thrown around, trees are knocked down, streets are flooded and power lines taken out. So make sure that your roof is in good condition so that shingles have less of a chance to take off. Check around your yards for things that may be easily picked up, and may land in your neighbors yard.

More things that you can do to protect yourself:

On the roads:

1.  Follow all signage especially in washes.
2. When driving in rain remember to slow your speed.

At Home:

1. Turn off all unnecessary electrical equipment.
2. Keep battery powered flashlights ready to go, and candles ready.
3. Stay off the phone unless an emergency, electric shock can happen easily.
4. Keep clear of showers and baths, lightning can travel through metal pipes.
5. Keep your distance from windows.

If your home or auto is damaged from the storms, please call our office first with your claim information. We will be happy to help you with your claim, and discuss your options. AnCap Insurance has been around since 1975 and have been through many monsoon thunderstorms.

Be safe out there!

 What do I need??

General Liability Insurance (GL) is the most common type of policy that is needed. It covers legal costs and damages if you are sued or someone is hurt on your property. Or if someone is hurt from using your product. Of course this does not cover Profesional Liability which is coverage for bad advice or slander.

Business Owners Policy (BOP) is a policy with multi levels of coverage. It combines liability with property and interruption coverage.  Which will certainly help in a loss. Since the homeowners coverage will not cover property that is specifically purchases for the business. This coverage would be included as the Business Personal Property. Interruption coverage is the loss of profits while the building is being rebuilt, such as after a fire.

No matter the business there is certainly a need for there to be coverage. Here at AnCap we can help you find the right amount of coverage for your business. Give us a call and we can get you a quote.

When they homeowner stepped into the house. It was destroyed, they had tubes from the vents going everywhere. There was a 2′ by 2′ hole in the wall. Not to mention the lights and humidity system they had established in the rooms they were growing the plant. From the humidity caused there to be extensive mold and asbestos. So she did what any of us would do, called her insurance company. She had a claim right? Wrong.

The insurance company denied the claim.

Why? Because illegal activity is not covered under by the insurance company. Since the owner did not do inspections on the home she cannot prove that she did not know that there was illegal activity happening on her property. Which is how the insurance company can deny the claim. One other important piece of information that was useful from this particular program was who pays for stolen electricity. The electrician on the program explained that the person who’s name is on the bill is the one who is responsible. So if you are renting a house out make sure that the bills are all in the tenats name.

Do you know what the law says about pool safety??

Arizona law states:

1. Pool enclosures need to be at least five feet tall.
2. Openings in the fence cannot be larger than four inches. A self closing gate must open outward.
3. The fence must start at least twenty inches from the edge of the pool.

  It is also recommended that all children living in Arizona take swimming lessons by age three. Basic rules to follow are never swim alone and never leave a child alone near water. When you are out by the pool this summer it is a good idea to make sure you have your phone with you.

  Of course the swimming pool is not the only place that a drowning can occur. Make sure that you are always careful when in your home cleaning, bathing or if you have an open pond. It only takes two inches of water for a child to drown.

All dog owners need to understand their potential liability should their animal bite, maul or, heaven forbid, kill someone. A single bite could cost you tens of thousands of dollars — a lawsuit, hundreds of thousands — and your insurance coverage might not apply. If the attack is especially serious, you could even go to jail.

* Dog bites make up one-third of all homeowner insurance liability claims, according to the Insurance Information Institute, and cost insurers $356 million in 2007.

* The average cost of a dog-bite claim was $24,511 in 2007, the institute found.

If you are or want to be a dog owner, here’s what you can do to limit your risk: Research breeds before you buy. Yes, the owners of many breeds blacklisted by insurers will insist their animals are cream puffs, but you should understand that some animals pose greater risks than others.

There is no guarantee that a dog will or will not bite. There are certainly ways to prevent a potential situation.  Make sure that you train your pet, using positive reinforcement. If there are children in the home or potential child visitors make sure they realize that most dogs do not like hugs and kisses. A dog that repeatedly snaps or lunges at people isn’t being “protective”; it’s being aggressive. Don’t make excuses.

Most homeowner’s insurance policies come with liability coverage that tops out at $300,000. You’ll probably want more. A $1 million umbrella insurance policy  and is a good investment if you’re at greater risk for lawsuits — which, as a dog owner, you are.

If you have more questions on your coverage please give us a call.