Several events you may not realize could cause a flood, even in areas unknown for flooding. Below are some of the most common events that cause flood damage. This may be why you should consider adding flood coverage to your home insurance policy, even if you don’t live in a designated flood zone.

River Flooding

Excess rain in an area can cause local bodies of water to flood. This is especially true for rivers with a natural boundary where the water usually halts. However, if the water rises above this line, it floods nearby properties until it is absorbed into the ground or makes its way toward the ocean.

Flash Flooding

Like river flooding, flash flooding can occur in areas without a body of water, like a river or the ocean nearby. In these situations, a region receives a large amount of rainfall rapidly, causing excess water to accumulate but has nowhere to go. Consequently, when the water doesn’t have a channel to drain, it floods the areas, particularly low-level ones, resulting in significant flood damage.

Hurricanes

In Florida, residents are fully aware of hurricanes and the damage these tropical storms can inflict. Much of the damage comes from high winds, but slower-moving storms can bring a lot of water inland, potentially leading to significant flood damage. This can start on the coast and work its way inland for nearly 100 miles. The influx of such a large quantity of water can rupture dams that are essential for water regulation in the area.

Suppose you’re in the Pinecrest, FL, area and looking for flood insurance quotes. In that case, our team at Hamilton Fox & Company Inc. is on standby to provide you with a personalized quote to supplement your home or commercial insurance policies.

Many small business owners will find that running a company can be a great experience in the Pinecrest, FL area. While this is an excellent place to run a business, risks should always be managed and addressed with proper insurance. There are various reasons why someone here should get a full commercial insurance policy for their growing Florida business. 

Financial Protection

A common reason why many business owners get commercial insurance is financial protection. A proper insurance plan will offer financial support in many ways. This will include giving you coverage to make replacements or repairs to major equipment if it is damaged or stolen, managing your liability risks, and even offering workers’ compensation insurance. Ultimately, commercial coverage can prove to be a significant financial investment.

Insurance Obligations

Getting commercial insurance is also common because it can be an application and requirement. Many business owners today are required to carry this type of insurance in various contracts and agreements. It is common to find insurance requirements in vendor contracts, customer contracts, lease agreements, investor agreements, and loan agreements. If you continue to carry this insurance, you will remain in good standing.

While the Pinecrest, FL, area can be a great place to own a business, you need to remember that running a company will always come with various risks. One of the ways you can manage your risks is by getting a proper commercial insurance plan through our team with Hamilton Fox & Company Inc. If you are evaluating your options with us at Hamilton Fox & Company Inc., you will get to learn more about the different options so you can build a plan that will cover your business. 

The Importance of Protecting Your Business and Employees

If you’re a business owner or manager, securing workers’ compensation insurance for employees injured at work is non-negotiable. Operating in Pinecrest, FL, Hamilton Fox & Company Inc. is poised to help navigate suitable insurance options that cater to your business needs. Since 2016, we’ve supported multiple businesses in the region.

Procedure for Reporting Employee Injuries

Managers must correctly instruct their employees on reporting work injuries. Employees should immediately complete a written report of the injury, preferably including photographs of visible injuries and related equipment. Witness accounts, if present, should be taken and documented.

Steps Following an Employee Injury

Post-injury, the employee should alert the on-duty supervisor, who will authorize them to visit an approved physician for an examination. Subsequently, the physician’s report should be forwarded to the Human Resources department and the workers’ compensation insurance provider. A representative from HR and the insurance firm will then reach the injured worker to discuss treatment protocols at an approved facility.

Connect with Us for Tailored Insurance Solutions

Ensuring a safe and supportive work environment begins with a suitable insurance choice. At Hamilton Fox & Company Inc., we guide businesses in Pinecrest, FL, through the navigation of our wide range of insurance offers. Our President, Hamilton Jones, takes pride in extending his family’s tradition of providing insurance to businesses for over 70 years. Contact us today to discover the best workers’ compensation insurance coverage for your needs.

Hamilton Fox & Company Inc. helps Pinecrest FL businesses navigate the complexities of workers’ compensation, including the difficult decision of when to deny claims. While most workers should receive compensation for workplace injuries, there are instances where denial is warranted.

Understanding When Compensation Can Be Denied

Ordinarily, employees injured while performing their duties should not be denied workers compensation. However, not all injuries automatically qualify. Here are several circumstances under which denying workers’ compensation is justifiable:

• Off-the-Clock Injuries: Injuries sustained while the worker is not on the clock, even if they are still on the premises, do not qualify for compensation.
• Intoxication Injuries: If an investigation reveals the employee was intoxicated at the time of injury, the claim can be denied.
• Horseplay Injuries: Workers’ compensation does not cover injuries from in-office fights or horseplay.
• Travel Injuries: Unless job-related, injuries sustained while traveling to or from work do not qualify.
• Non-Sanctioned Activity Injuries: Injuries from non-approved activities, such as an unauthorized basketball game at lunch, are ineligible.
• Psychological Injuries: Psychological damage from minor incidents, such as a negative performance review, are not compensable.
• Criminal Injuries: If an employee gets hurt while committing an illegal act on the job, including fraud, they’re not eligible for compensation.

Contact Hamilton Fox & Company Inc.

For support navigating workers’ compensation complexities, contact Hamilton Fox & Company Inc. Our expert team will ensure your Pinecrest, FL business maintains compliance while adequately protecting your employees’ rights.

How Reliable is Your Boat Insurance in International Waters?

Living in Pinecrest, FL, provides many amenities, including quick access to the Atlantic Ocean. It’s a boat owner’s paradise, permitting exciting water trips to Coral Gables or Palmetto Bay. But some daring adventurers venture beyond neighborly shores into international waters. If you’re one, the question of how far your boat insurance extends might cross your mind. Let’s explore this.

Boat Insurance and International Waters

Your boat insurance typically safeguards you within U.S. navigable waters. This means any water body within U.S. borders that can be navigated, such as rivers, lakes, and streams. However, what happens when your seafaring tendencies lead you into the Atlantic Ocean’s international waters?

With Hamilton Fox & Company Inc., your boat insurance can be extended to cover excursions into international waters with an additional rider. Without this specific addition, your boat policy would not protect you in these waters.

Implications of Sailing International Waters Without Adequate Coverage

Without the international waters rider, any accident or mishap would lead to out-of-pocket expenses. What’s more, if you cause an accident, there are potential legal implications, with some countries enacting severe punishments for boating without appropriate insurance.

Reach Out to Hamilton Fox & Company for More Information!

Hamilton Fox & Company Inc. simplifies the process of updating your boat insurance. Reach out to us by phone or email to add international waters coverage to your boat policy. If your boat is anchored in Pinecrest, FL, we’ve got you covered. Let’s get started with a quote and discuss your coverage options!

Umbrella insurance protects us when an accident results in liabilities that exceed the limits of our home, auto, or other insurance policies. While umbrella policies cover everyone in the policyholder’s household, the details can be complicated. We recommend discussing your umbrella coverage and needs with an insurance agent such as those on the Hamilton Fox & Company Inc. team serving Pinecrest, FL. 

Covering Household Members

Umbrella insurance kicks in when the liability exceeds the limits of other policies. While uncommon, these situations can result in insurance companies paying substantial amounts to the injured parties. This requires insurance companies to account for everyone covered by your home or auto policies. Like an auto policy that covers all household members with premiums adjusted based on household makeup and vehicles, insurers must adequately account for everyone covered under their umbrella policies. 

That means umbrella policies typically do not cover household members covered under separate policies. Examples include adult children or the policyholder’s parents who live in the house but have their own auto policies. Similarly, a child with a college apartment renters’ policy may not get covered by the umbrella policy. In some situations, the umbrella policy may cover these circumstances, with the premiums adjusted based on the liability limits of the separate policies.

Confirming your policy details with your agent while shopping for insurance and before making a claim is a good idea.

Working With Hamilton Fox & Company Inc.

Each situation is unique, so we recommend reviewing your circumstances with your agent. If you live in or near Pinecrest, FL, call or stop in today at Hamilton Fox & Company Inc. Our team can help you with your umbrella and general insurance needs.

Many people already have protection through car insurance, homeowner’s insurance, and other insurance policies. Still, in some cases, those policies may not cover enough when you are liable for an accident. The good news is that at Hamilton Fox & Company, we are happy to offer people in Pinecrest, FL, umbrella insurance, which can cover liability costs that other insurance policies don’t cover.

What’s the Point of Umbrella Insurance?

Serious accidents can lead to significant expenses. For example, if someone trips and falls at your house, they may sue you for the damages they have experienced due to that fall. These types of incidents can lead to huge expenses, and if your existing insurance policies only cover a portion of those expenses, you can be left with payment due that you can’t afford to pay.

Umbrella insurance policies basically hang over your other policies, such as home or car insurance. When you reach limits on those policies, your umbrella insurance can protect you by covering otherwise uncovered costs.

What Does Umbrella Insurance Cover?

Umbrella insurance can cover a range of costs that other policies may limit. Some lawsuits, property damage, injuries, personal liability, and other liability situations that are not covered by other policies can be covered by umbrella policies. The exact specifications of what the policy will cover will vary from policy to policy, so you always want to look at the types of liabilities a policy covers.

Who Should Get Umbrella Insurance?

Many people may think they are well covered by existing policies, but there may be huge limits in those policies that could cause much lasting damage without additional coverage. Many people can benefit from an umbrella insurance policy, but people with higher potential liability will especially want to consider this policy. For example, people with dogs, property hazards, trampolines, or swimming pools may have higher risks that could benefit from umbrella coverage.

Cover Yourself for Unexpected Storms

When you have an umbrella ready, unexpected storms are a lot easier to manage. If you’re prepared to get an umbrella policy, Hamilton Fox & Company Inc. will be happy to help you in any way we can. We offer Pinecrest, FL, residents clear, concise information so they can make the best policy decisions for themselves and their families. Contact us to learn more about umbrella insurance and available policies.

Businesses throughout the Pinecrest, FL area have continued to be successful over the past few years. While the area can be a great place to grow a business, some risks and responsibilities need to be followed. One factor that needs to be fully considered is your business insurance needs. There are many reasons why a business in this region should have a worker’s compensation insurance plan. 

Protect Employees and Business

Workers’ comp insurance is a top reason because it can protect your employees and your business. A worker’s comp insurance plan is designed to provide compensation to employees who have been hurt while working. This benefits the employee by ensuring they have some security, and it also limits the employer’s liability risks, as the employee should receive some level of compensation following an accident. 

Comply with State Law

A Florida worker’s compensation insurance plan is also essential to comply with state law. All businesses in Florida with a certain number of employees are required to carry this insurance. This requirement is similar to one in many other states. If you do not comply, you can face various forms of penalization in the future. 

A business in the Pinecrest, FL area must have a proper worker’s comp insurance plan. If you are looking for this insurance here, you will find that choosing the right plan can come with complexities. Fortunately, our team with Hamilton Fox & Company Inc. can help. When you call our team at Hamilton Fox & Company Inc., you can get all the support you need to create a plan and ensure you remain appropriately covered.