Shield Insurance Agency shares 4 benefits of umbrella coverage

Posted on February 15, 2022February 15, 2022 by admin

Nothing gives you coverage like an umbrella coverage.

This applies to insurance too. Umbrella coverage policies provide an extra layer of protection. This extends beyond the coverage established in homeowners and auto insurance plans. When these limits have been reached, umbrella insurance kicks in. It’s about preparing for the worst.

Shield Insurance Agency understands this more than most. They want to ensure all Michigan residents have the proper protection. While there are many reasons to buy a policy, the agency lists four primary benefits of umbrella insurance.

Offers personal protection

Any insurance plan provides personal protection, but umbrella insurance extends to some unique areas. Slander, defamation, and libel are likely covered. Even false arrests or losses resulting from being wrongly accused could also be included. None of these are provided by a standard homeowners or renters policy.

Protect assets

Umbrella insurance typically has a $1 million coverage limit. So, if an incident does occur, keep your savings and future unharmed. Umbrella insurance will pick up the tab.

Reimburses legal expenses

Lawsuits can be even more damaging than accidents. Umbrella insurance will pay for some legal defense costs up to a policy’s limit. This exists no matter who is determined to be at fault.

Umbrella Coverage Shields the entire family

The policyholder is protected. However, umbrella insurance extends to your family too. Each policy will set specific definitions for what is considered a “household.” Review your policy carefully.

Contact a Michigan insurance agent

Shield Insurance Agency can provide an umbrella to keep you safe. Their experienced agents protect you, your family, and your assets, shielding you all when you need it most. For added security and peace of mind, call to set up an appointment today.

Safe Garage: 3 ways to make your garage safe

Posted on August 31, 2020January 30, 2025 by Shield Insurance Agency

When thinking about the biggest risks to your home, it’s easy to overlook your garage. However, with dangerous chemicals, a high potential for break-ins, and powered equipment, your garage easily becomes a hidden homeowners’ hazard.

Help keep your garage and family safe by completing these three tasks: maintenance, organization and protection.

1. Maintain your garage.

The first step in keeping a safe garage is performing simple maintenance checks to be sure everything is working properly. Visually examine your garage door and look for loose nuts and bolts, frayed cables, and rusted springs. Also, test the manual release function and the auto-stop system. To test the automatic reversal system, place an object like a brick or wooden block in the path of the closing door. If working properly, the closing door should detect the object and automatically open back up.

If you notice any wear and tear or hear any concerning noises, contact a garage door professional to examine and repair your door.

Another helpful maintenance tip – clean your garage every six months. With all of the chemicals and equipment in your garage, it’s essential to keep a clean space to minimize risk.

2. Organize your garage.

In addition to having a clean and well-maintained garage, it’s important to be organized and to safely store items. Chemicals should be placed in a locked box on a high shelf, out of reach from small children. This includes cleaning solutions, glues, pool supplies, pest-control products and more.

Also, make sure that all tools and lawn care equipment are stored out of reach or are properly mounted to the wall. And when it comes to powered tools or equipment, like a lawn mower, make sure each one has cooled down before storing it away.

3. Protect your garage.

According to the FBI, there were more than 1.4 million burglaries in the U.S. in 2017. Keeping burglars out of your garage not only protects the belongings you store there, but it can also keep intruders out of your house. Criminals can often get into your home through the garage or, if the garage is a separate structure, they can use your own tools to break into your home.

To prevent a break-in, keep your garage door closed and do not store a spare key inside. Also, it may be wise to invest in adequate outdoor lighting, including motion-sensing lights, as well as an alarm system. Get to know your neighbors, so they can alert you or the authorities of any suspicious behavior.

The final way to protect your garage is through insurance. A typical homeowners’ policy contains many different coverages in addition to the portion that protects your house. So, whether your garage is attached to your house or is its own free-standing structure, it should be covered by a standard homeowners’ insurance policy. Be sure to discuss your garage with your independent insurance agent to ensure that you have the right coverage for your unique situation.

This article is for informational and suggestion purposes only. If the policy coverage descriptions in this article conflict with the language in the policy, the language in the policy applies. Talk with your independent agent if you have any questions regarding the details of your home insurance policy or if you need to update your insurance.

Protecting yourself after a data breach

Posted on August 13, 2020January 30, 2025 by Shield Insurance Agency

A data breach is becoming more and more common. With over a billion records exposed since 2005, it’s likely that — if it hasn’t happened already — you’ll eventually rip open a letter to find that your data has been compromised and your personal information is at risk.

So what do you do next?

Just because you received this letter does not mean that you’re the victim of identity theft, it just means that your data was exposed, a data breach. However, there are five main steps you can take to better ensure that you come out of the situation with your identity and finances intact.

Breathe and read.

The first step is to not panic. That may sound counter-intuitive, but the best thing you can do is take a deep breath and thoroughly read the letter. The letter will explain what information is at risk, how the data breach occurred, and how you can get more information. When you’ve finished reading it over, keep it in a safe place in case you ever need to prove that your data was exposed.

Let your bank, mortgage lender, and other financial organizations know that your data has been compromised. This way, they can keep an eye out for suspicious activity.

Monitor billing and financial statements.

You must be on the lookout for fraudulent activity, too. Your bank or credit card provider may have text or email alerts to help you monitor your account, but be sure to check your statements regularly. And don’t just look for big withdrawals. Small purchases could be criminals seeing what they can get away with.

Check your credit report.

You can get a free credit report once per year. So after about 30 days, request your copy and check for anything suspicious. If you would like some extra protection, you may want to sign up for a credit monitoring service. While this typically comes at a cost, the business that exposed your data may offer these services for free in response to the breach.

Change your passwords.

In case the cybercriminals are in your online accounts or got a hold of the information that could give them access, change your passwords. Plus, it’s a good practice to update your passwords every 90 days. Be sure to include numbers, symbols, and uppercase and lowercase letters in your new passwords.

Grange Insurance offers an Identity Theft coverage endorsement that can be added to a Grange Personal Auto or Homeowners insurance policy. For full details on coverage and discounts, contact your Shield Insurance Agent. This article is for information purposes only. For specific coverage details, always refer to your policy.