Wickers Insurance Agency

What is Hired/Non-Owned Auto Liability Coverage

This type of insurance is for coverage in situations where your employees or volunteers are driving vehicles that are NOT owned by your business while they are engaged in business activity.  For instance, you send an employee out to the bank or to pick up lunch for the office and the employee takes their own car.  If there were an accident causing bodily injury or property damage, your business could be named in a lawsuit. The purpose of this policy is to provide what is known as “e... READ MORE Posted November 29, 2011 at 04:05 PM

What is a Business Owner's Policy (BOP)?

For many small-business owners, a business owner's policy insuring buildings, equipment, and legal liability may be most or all of the insurance they need. This type of policy (called a "BOP") insures the physical items used in a business and protects against claims for damage to property or personal injury. Additionally, the below listed coverages are often part of a BOP and can help you to maximize your insurance coverage. Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability Helps protect you agains... READ MORE Posted June 13, 2011 at 09:18 AM

What Is An Umbrella Liability Policy?

What Is An Umbrella Insurance Policy? Nobody wants or expects to be sued, but it can happen—regardless of your financial status. If you are held personally accountable and legally liable for certain injuries or property damage at home or while running your business, almost all of your assets could be used to pay the judgment. With personal and commercial umbrella liability insurance, you’ll have the extra coverage you need to protect yourself financially. And it’s affordable, so the extra pro... READ MORE Posted June 03, 2011 at 08:32 AM

Review Your Insurance Plans Each Year To Save Money

Although the leading economic statistics show that we are pulling out of the recession, in my discussions with local business owners here on the Central Coast and throughout California, it just does not feel that way. Although I feel that 2011 will be better than 2010, many of my clients tell me they just don't see things picking up as fast as the growth that is being reported on the cable news channels. One way to help your business during this tough economy is to make sure that you are not ... READ MORE Posted January 03, 2011 at 08:36 AM

Leaving Group Health Insurance Coverage

Unfortunately, no job lasts forever.  Sometimes people will leave a job voluntarily, get fired, laid off or find out that their employment is coming to an end.  Most people get their health insurance through their employer, so its important to understand what your options are while transitioning to individual health insurance coverage should that be your choice. You have probably heard the term COBRA before.  There are actually two federal laws that come into play when you are ... READ MORE Posted December 15, 2010 at 06:11 PM

Workers Compensation Insurance

As a business owner, you probably realize that Workers Compensation costs are a significant business expense.  This is primarily due to fraudulent claims, regulations, waste and expanding definitions of compensable injuries. In addition, over utilization of medical services contribute to the high cost of Workers Compensation Insurance.  The result of these factors is confusion, unnecessary expense for the business owner and inconvenience for the employee. We always suggest that a bu... READ MORE Posted December 02, 2010 at 03:43 PM

Maternity Insurance Coverage in California

A common issue when purchasing individual health insurance in California is whether or not to add maternity coverage to a plan, as this is not covered automatically.  As a matter of fact, most individual health insurance plans don't have maternity coverage.  There are only a few plans from each of the insurance companies that operate in California that offer maternity coverage.   This is different from group health insurance that you would usually get from work, which... READ MORE Posted November 27, 2010 at 09:15 AM

What is E&O Insurance?

Any company that provides a service to others in exchange for a fee faces a potential professional liability exposure. Errors and Omissions (E&O;) coverage provides insurance protection for entities being sued by their clients.   This coverage is also sometimes referred to as Professional Liability Insurance.   The financial impact of an E&O suit on a company can be devastating and can potentially wipe out corporate and personal assets. Even if the allegations pro... READ MORE Posted November 20, 2010 at 03:15 PM