What Is Liability Coverage, and Why Do You Need It?

Name: Vargas & Vargas Insurance
Address: 1133 Washington St, Dorchester, MA, 02124
Telephone: 617-298-0655

Posted on February 19, 2018February 22, 2018 by cvargas

When talking about insurance, there are many ‘buzzwords’ used that many people don’t know the meaning of. One example of this type of term is ‘liability’ – many policies have liability protection built in, but do you know precisely what it is that this type of coverage protects you from?

This is a quick guide on Massachusetts liability insurance, including the definition of the coverage, explanations of the liability coverage you probably already have as a part of your current insurance products, and an easy way to get added liability protection.

What is Liability Insurance?

Liability insurance is the critical coverage that offers financial protection if you are sued or held legally liable for damages to another person, such as property damage, injury or negligence.

Let’s face it; we live in a litigious society where getting sued is more a right of passage than something that will never happen to you. What’s more is that being involved in a lawsuit is expensive. No one wants to have an unexpected outlay of that much cash, thankfully that’s what insurance is for! Liability protection will ensure that being involved in a lawsuit doesn’t ruin your financial future.

Depending on the details of your policy, liability insurance will often cover legal costs, and will also cover restitution including damages and/or the injured party’s medical bills, pain and suffering, lost wages, or death benefits.

Home Insurance and Renter’s Insurance Liability Coverage

When thinking of the coverage offered by a renter’s or home insurance policy, most people will immediately jump to coverage offered to fix things that are broken or damaged – but that’s not all that these policies include!

Home and Renter’s insurance often also includes liability coverage to protect against injury and damage to others in your home for which you are held liable. For example, this usually includes situations where someone falls or otherwise injures themselves on your property.

Massachusetts Auto Insurance Liability Coverage

Most states (including Massachusetts) require that a driver have a certain minimum amount of auto insurance coverage. This is to ensure that you will be covered if you are involved in an accident.

In Massachusetts, there are four required types of coverage when purchasing auto insurance:

Bodily Injury to others: $20,000 per person, $40,000 per accident
Personal Injury Protection (PIP): $8,000 per person, per accident
Bodily Injury Caused by an Uninsured Auto: $20,000 per person, $40,000 per accident
Damage to Someone Else’s Property: $5,000 per accident

Some of this coverage is to ensure that you are able to cover medical bills and property damage to another party if they are involved in an accident that is legally deemed to be ‘your fault.’ While we certainly never plan to be involved in an accident, it’s impossible to know when one will occur. More so, we don’t know whether our next accident will be a small fender bender or something more serious – that’s why the agents at Vargas and Vargas Insurance Agency often recommend that you carry more auto insurance protection than what is required by the state of Massachusetts.

Commercial Liability Insurance in Massachusetts

Businesses have a lot of moving parts. Whether you own a big or small business in Massachusetts, there is a potential that you will be held liable for damages by an employee, or even a customer. Thankfully, your business insurance will have built-in liability coverage for these situations as a part of your business insurance policy.

When speaking to your commercial insurance agent, make sure to ask about additional types of liability protection that your business may need, including EPLI, Product Liability Insurance, Indemnity Insurance, Directors and Officers (D&O) Liability Insurance, Errors and Omissions (E&O) Insurance, Cyber Liability and Data Breach, and more.

Get Umbrella Coverage for “Above and Beyond” Protection

So, how much liability protection do you need? There is no right answer, but the expert insurance agents here at Vargas and Vargas Insurance Agency agree: there’s no such thing as too much liability coverage. Thankfully, there’s an easy way to get this protection without increasing the coverage on each of your policies: get an umbrella insurance policy.

As discussed above, most policies have a liability component. The truth is that these are limited by the dollar amount set in the policy. Thankfully, umbrella insurance offers extra coverage that is very affordable. It offers a liability ‘umbrella’ on top of all of your existing policies. This means that if your costs or damages go above the original insurance policy’s limit, your umbrella coverage will kick in and ensure that you have added protection. This type of policy is available for both individuals and businesses, and the added protection is well worth the cost.

To talk to an experienced Massachusetts insurance agent about your liability protection, and to find out about our great deals on umbrella insurance policies, just call Vargas and Vargas Insurance Agency at 617-298-0655. We can get you a free umbrella insurance quote, or let you know where your liability coverage could use a little padding to ensure that your family or business is financially secure.

February 2018 Newsletter

Posted on February 4, 2018 by cvargas

Happy February!

I thought that I would start this month’s message with a positive message:

“No winter lasts forever; no spring skips its turn.”

-Hal Borland

It’s been a rough winter for many of us! With all of the really cold weather, there have been many claims around frozen pipes, check out our blog below on what to do to prevent pipe freeze-ups and Ice Dams.

Check out the story behind Saint Valentines Day, Click here to read more.

February marks the beginning of Black History Month. Each year Americans set aside this month to focus their historical hindsight on the contributions that people of African descent have made to this country. We must celebrate ourselves and do it loudly. No matter the shape, size, hue or ability, all of our stories matter and they deserve to be told through our lens. I recently read this article on the Queens of Black History Month, that I found very interesting, Click here to read it.

Life Insurance is LOVE Insurance, which makes February and Valentines Day a perfect time to remind you of the need for Life Insurance. The majority of Americans would have trouble paying for living expenses immediately or shortly after the primary wage earner in the house dies. Please click here to read more on how much life insurance you should carry. Have questions? Please c lick here and we will contact you to review your questions and your current life insurance.

I recently had the pleasure of cooking with guest chef Adelina Armas of International Food Gourmet in Brockton. Adelina shows Sharon and me how to make chicken breasts stuffed with prosciutto, mozzarella and spinach., Click here check out the latest “Get Fresh” cooking show below.

Click here to watch the video.

There are lots of great things to do in and around the Boston area this month, please find some fun family things to do below.

Carlos

PPS, What I learned today, “Which zodiac signs are a love match “ Click here

Continue reading →

Insurance Tips for New Businesses

Posted on January 11, 2018January 19, 2018 by cvargas

Starting a business is about more than just having a great product or service. So much of business ownership is about marketing and creating efficient processes. When you start a company, you need to protect all of the effort you’ve put in with a Massachusetts business insurance policy. Here are just a few basic commercial insurance tips for those of you thinking of (or in the beginning stages of) starting a new business:

Even Home-Based Businesses Need Coverage – All businesses have one thing in common; they all need insurance, no matter how big or small. When you start a new business, you may think that you don’t need insurance right away, but that simply isn’t true! You never know when something will go wrong, so get an insurance policy to protect your budding company.

Consider Your Risks – Depending on your industry, your business will have certain potential risks. All businesses will need general liability protection, some will need cyber liability protection, and others will need to EPLI protection. Your Massachusetts insurance agent will be able to assess your needs and recommend the right set of insurance policies and riders.

Reevaluate Your Needs Often – Your business is growing, and your risks and potential hazards are increasing. As you increase output and hire employees, talk to your insurance agent often to update your policy.

To speak to an agent about establishing or updating a business insurance policy, call Vargas and Vargas Insurance at 617-298-0655. We work with businesses of all sizes in the Boston area, and we can help your business through all stages if growth in the years to come.

Moving Tips for Your Small Business

Posted on September 28, 2017September 22, 2017 by cvargas

People move from house to house all the time, but you don’t hear about businesses moving very often. If you are thinking about finding a new home for your small business, be aware that a business move provides its own set of challenges. Here are just a few pieces of advice for your move from the Massachusetts business insurance experts:

As soon as you decide that you’re moving (and have a destination), begin calling several moving companies for quotes. Spots can fill up fast depending on the time of year that you wish to move, so book plenty far in advance.
If there is any office furniture that won’t be making the move with you, schedule a pickup in advance. Many companies like Goodwill and the Salvation Army will pick up donations for free.
Begin packing as soon as you can. Non-essentials should be packed early, and make sure that you carefully label all cords for electronics so they don’t get misplaced in the move.
Before you pack any computers or electronics, make sure to do a full and thorough backup of all your information and data. This could save you a huge headache if anything gets hurt beyond repair in the move, and is just a good practice to do every so often.

It’s also important to make sure that your business’s belongings are protected during the move, so purchase insurance! And make sure to update your Massachusetts small business insurance policy with your new address once your move is complete – just call Vargas and Vargas Insurance Agency at 617-298-0655 to update your policy.

Business Auto Insurance Coverage Options

Posted on September 18, 2017 by cvargas

To find out if a business auto insurance policy is right for you, talk to Vargas and Vargas Insurance – your Boston insurance experts.

Does your business own or use automobiles? If you have a trailer, truck, or delivery vehicle to help you get your job done, you may need a Massachusetts commercial auto insurance policy in addition to your basic business insurance. To find out if a business auto insurance policy is right for you, talk to Vargas and Vargas Insurance – your Boston insurance experts. When you’re purchasing this coverage, your agent will help you determine if you need the following:

Collision Coverage – Pays for damage to covered automobile that is caused by a collision.
Comprehensive Coverage – Pays for loss or damage of insured vehicle that is not caused by an accident.
Personal Injury Coverage – Pays medical expenses for employees and clients involved in an accident while riding in the covered vehicle. Will sometimes also cover funeral expenses, if necessary.
Uninsured Motorist Coverage – Helps pay costs associated with an accident with an uninsured or underinsured
Property Damage Liability Coverage – Pays damages for damage to the property of others, as well as court costs if you are sued.
Bodily Injury Liability Coverage – Pays damages got bodily injury to others, as well as court costs if you are sued.

In addition to these types of protection for vehicles owned by the business, we can offer Employers Non-Owned Car Liability Coverage for your business. This coverage is specifically designed for businesses whose employees drive their own vehicles for work purposes.

When you’re ready to talk about your commercial auto insurance needs, just call Vargas and Vargas Insurance Agency at 617-298-0655. We can guide you through the process and get you a free, no-obligation quote that will satisfy the needs of you and your Massachusetts small business.

Guide: Starting a Small Business in Massachusetts

Posted on August 21, 2017August 17, 2017 by cvargas

Have you ever thought to yourself, “I should start a business!” Most people have, but very few actually take the required steps to establish a small business. If you’re thinking about becoming an entrepreneur in the state of Massachusetts, here are a few of the first steps that you should take on your journey:

Have a plan – You can’t jump into something like starting a business without a detailed plan. There are plenty of resources online that will help you create a business plan, whether you’re looking to do business online or start with a brick-and-mortar business.
Get Assistance – If it’s your first time starting a business, the path ahead may seem muddled or confusing. Get help from someone that has done it before – they will help create a plan of action to get your business up and running.
Register and Get a License – Depending on how you will be doing business, you will need the proper permits and licenses from the state of Massachusetts before you can open. This web page will help you understand what you will need, and how to obtain it. Some businesses will also be required to submit annual updates to the state.

If you’re looking for someone to help you on your journey, just let me know! I have aided many Massachusetts small business owners in their journey to success, and you may be able to benefit from my assistance. And also remember, Vargas and Vargas Insurance Agency is here to serve you in all of your commercial insurance needs.

Interview with Bobin Nicholson from Eye & Eye Optics

Posted on July 27, 2017 by cvargas

Hello, everyone! I would like to share with you a few snippets of an interview I recently did with my friend Bobin Nicholson over at Eye & Eye Optics. Bobin and his establishment are the best eyewear boutique in Dorchester – Eye & Eye Optics is the place to go if you need an eye exam or a new pair of glasses.

Carlos: Hello, Bobin! How are you doing on this lovely day?

Bobin: Hi, Carlos – I’m doing great. Loving the summer weather.

Carlos: It has been great, hasn’t it? So, let’s get right down to business… tell me a little bit about Eye & Eye Optics.

Bobin: Well, we’re an eyewear boutique on Dorchester Avenue. We sell glasses and contacts, and we can do eye exams. We’ve been around since 2010, and we’re looking forward to many more years here in this great neighborhood.

Carlos: This really is such a wonderful area, and we love that you’re a part of it! I talk a lot about how important it is to ‘buy local’ – why is supporting the local economy important to you?

Bobin: When someone buys their glasses from a local shop like Eye & Eye Optics, they are receiving the expertise and quality of service that isn’t found online or at a glasses chain store. Keeping dollars in the local economy is also an important part of helping Dorchester thrive.

Carlos: So, I know that you keep up with all of the current eyewear trends and styles. What is your favorite trend in glasses?

Bobin: Glasses used to be so boring – now you can find them in all shapes, styles, and colors! I like to mix up my glasses. Some days I wear more traditional frames. Other times I feel like something funky and fun. To me, it’s all about thinking of glasses as an accessory to your outfit.

Carlos: That’s a great point! I tend to be rather conservative with my glasses. If someone wanted to try something new, what would you suggest?

Bobin: I would probably start by playing with color. Branch out from the typical black and try blue or red, or something with a little sparkle. I have a pair of white glasses that I wear – you would be surprised at how many outfits they go with.

Carlos: Hmm, that’s all the questions I have. If someone wants to get a hold of you, how should they do that?

Bobin: Well, we’re open six days a week at 2271 Dorchester Avenue and they can always drop in during business hours to look at frames. If they have questions or want to schedule an appointment with our on-site opthamologist, they can call us at 617-296-0066.

Carlos: Thanks again for your time, Bobin. Have a great day!

So, if you’re in the market for a new pair of glasses, or if your eyes need their annual checkup, Bobin is your guy! Eye & Eye Optics is a premier eyewear boutique here in Dorchester, and they have glasses to suit every style.

Low Cost Marketing Ideas for Your Small Business

Posted on July 14, 2017July 10, 2017 by cvargas

One of the most-asked questions from small business owners is this: How do I market my business without spending a fortune? Thankfully, there are lots of potential customers out there for you, you just have to know how to find them. Here are a few tips for getting the word out about what you offer without breaking the bank:

Word-of-Mouth advertising is free! Just ask your customers if they are happy with the service that you provided and ask them to let their friends, family, and co-workers know about your business, and the word may start to spread.
Leverage Social Media – depending on the type of business you have, you can consider using many social media platforms, including Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, and more.
There are many local events going on in the Greater Boston area all year round. Ask to be an event sponsor or volunteer to help out in order to both aid the community and gain exposure for your business.
Running a contest could encourage your current clients to spread the word about your business – just make sure to spread the word both in person and on your Social Media.
Ask for reviews on Google and Yelp. If a customer is satisfied with your business, let them know that it would be a huge help to you if they would post a review of your business on websites like Yelp and Google. After all, those sites are a major influence on potential customers!
Leverage your friends, family, coworkers, really anyone that you have met in the past, typically referred to as your top 100, or executive 200, I call it working your Dunbar’s 150, leave a message below and I can share with you more details.

Here’s another tip on how to save your small business some money: talk to a Vargas and Vargas Insurance agent about your Massachusetts small business insurance. We can get you the insurance coverage you need while making sure that you get the discounts you deserve – so call 617-298-0655 today for your free quote.

Where Are You Now? A Half-Year Check-In On Your 2017 Goals

Posted on June 29, 2017July 1, 2017 by cvargas

“Vision is a destination – a fixed point to which we focus all effort. Strategy is a route – an adaptable path to get us where we want to go.” -Simon Sinek

Can you believe that the midpoint of 2017 is almost upon us? If you look back on the first half of this year, did you get done what you wanted to accomplish? How many of your goals are you hitting or have you abandoned? How are you feeling about your year so far? Pull up a chair and a mug of something warm and let’s talk about it. I’ve sitting outside enjoying a delicious organic coffee from my friends at Plate Restaurant and one of their “chubbs” What are YOU drinking? Leave a message below and let me know.

Deliberate Living
When I looked at my business over 13 years ago, I came to a realization: I wasn’t really working as tightly to my plan as I had wanted. And as you know, I do a yearly goal alignment exercise at the beginning of the year and now I have started also looking mid-year at my progress with my goals.

We all get flustered – something fails, we end up feeling like we can’t make it all work, or we set our goals so high or they are so varied that we can’t possibly hit them. Have you heard that expression “You can’t be a servant to two masters?” I’ve been thinking a lot about that. I want to give you a quick run-through of how I’m handling this and what I’m doing to make 2017 my strongest year ever.

Remember my email message last December that said this on setting goals:

Make them “SMART.” This is an acronym, as you probably know, and it is interpreted in various ways by different teachers. When I refer to SMART goals, I mean goals that meet five criteria. They must be:

Specific—your goals must identify exactly what you want to accomplish in as much specificity as you can muster.
- Bad: Write a book.
- Good: Write a book proposal for The Life Plan Manifesto.
Measurable—as the old adage says, “you can’t manage what you can’t measure.” If possible, try to quantify the result. You want to know absolutely, positively whether or not you hit the goal.
- Bad: “Earn more this year than last.”
- Good: “Earn $5,000 more this year than last.”
Actionable—every goal should start with an action verb (e.g., “quit,” “run,” “finish,” “eliminate,” etc.) rather than a to-be verb (e.g., “am,” “be,” “have,” etc.)
- Bad: Be more consistent in blogging.
- Good: Write two blog posts per week.
Realistic—you have to be careful here. A real goal should stretch you, but you have to add a dose of common sense. I go right up to the edge of my comfort zone and then step over it. (If I am not out of my comfort zone, I’m not thinking big enough.)
- Bad: Qualify for the PGA Tour.
- Good: Lower my golf handicap by four strokes.
Time-bound—every goal needs a date associated with it. When do you plan to deliver on that goal? It could be by year-end (December 31), or it could be more near-term (September 30). A goal without a date is just a dream. Make sure that every goal ends with a ‘by when’ date.
- Bad: Lose 20 pounds.
- Good: Lose 20 pounds by December 31st.

Reevaluate your own goals for 2017
If I were thinking through the categories of how I’d change my goals for 2017, this is what I would all myself:

Where am I now?
Where do I want to be?
What do I think is missing/needs improvement?
What do I already know?
How can I reach my goal?
What needs to be in place to stay consistent?

I hope that these questions are helpful. Work through them and you’ll see that it helps in lots of ways. Use it however you see fit. It’s how I’m starting my mid-year goal review exercises to prepare for the remainder of 2017.

I’m looking forward to living deliberately from my plan, and my plan involves serving you to the best of my ability. Help me stay accountable? Please help me understand how best to serve you – please leave a comment below.

And know that you are loved.

Hope to see you around the neighborhood!

Monday Motivation June 19, 2017 When You Reach The End Of Your

Posted on June 20, 2017June 20, 2017 by cvargas

I hope you had an amazing Father’s Day weekend!

As always I like to start my week off right with some words of inspiration…

“When you reach the end of your rope, tie a knot in it and hang on.”
-Thomas Jefferson

Whether you are new to or a seasoned professional in sales, there are times in our life where we have done all we can… In those times,
don’t give up
don’t stop,
just hang on and continue pushing….

Consistent action, even if the action is just hanging on, will pay off…

Keep pushing and keep creating the amazing life you know you want and deserve!

We have made many changes at our agency to better help you and your clients when you have an insurance question or need a quote.

You can call us at 617-298-0655
You can now text us at 617-409-0329
Or, for a quick insurance quote, you can email: quotes@vargasinsurance.com

Check out our blog for some advice if you are working with a property that is vacant or unoccupied, read the blog here.

And remember that I work deliberately from my plan, and my plan involves serving you to the best of my ability. Help me stay accountable? And make sure you help me understand how best to serve you. Fair?

Have an awesome week!

And know that you are loved.

Carlos

Vargas & Vargas Insurance

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