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6990 W. 38th Ave. #200
Wheat Ridge, CO 80033

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3 Things to Know About Classic Car Insurance

Classic car insurance in Wheat Ridge, CO is a chance for you to get the coverage you need for something you cherish. These cars aren’t just a mode of transportation for their owners, they’re a link to history and heritage. If you’re looking for the best possible protection, CO Insurance Specialist wants you to know how classic can insurance can work for you. 

It’s Made for You 

Classic car insurance may offer policies that take into account much more than the value of the car. This means that if you’ve spent a lot of time and effort restoring the vehicle, you can negotiate the value of the car prior to taking out the policy. If it’s destroyed, you’ll be paid for the previously agreed-upon value rather than the actual cash value. 

It’s Reasonable

Classic car insurance is made for people who typically keep their cars in the garage. Because they’re so rarely driven, the policy is typically less than that of a standard car. Those with classic cars typically do everything they can to protect them, and the insurance company professionals know it. 

It Helps to Be Prepared 

Taking out classic car insurance in Wheat Ridge, CO is a great way to keep it safe from water damage, accidents, fires: the list goes on and on. If you have questions about the type of policy that’s right for you, CO Insurance Specialist is here to help. Policies may differ based on the age, type, and condition of the car. Whether it’s undergoing restoration or always kept in an enclosed building, we can help you find the right coverage for you. Give us a call today if you’re looking for insurance that will keep your class car in perfect condition. 

Homeowners Insurance and Liability

While most people have a homeowner’s insurance policy, they typically only think of insurance when the home is damaged in some way by a storm. However, homeowners insurance also provides liability protection. Here are some facts about homeowner’s liability insurance in Wheat Ridge, CO from CO Insurance Specialist.

Injuries

Suppose someone comes to your home, slips on a sidewalk, and falls, breaking a bone. What happens if your dog bites a delivery person who later needs stitches? Your homeowners’ policy will likely pay for the reasonable medical bills that your visitors incur as a result of these accidents.  Even some unusual occurrences may be covered. For instance, if you serve dinner to guests and they become terribly ill from food poisoning, requiring hospitalization, your homeowner’s insurance may cover their medical bills. 

Dog Bites

Dog bites may be covered or they may be excluded. Certain breeds of dogs may be excluded from coverage with some policies. Also, if your dog has previously bitten someone, your insurance company may notify you that they will not cover liability related to a dog bite. If you own a dog, you should ask your agent about your dog bite coverage before you are faced with this kind of situation.

Personal Liability

If a member of your family does something foolish, injuring someone else or causing damage to someone else’s property, you may be protected from a lawsuit by some homeowner’s policies. For instance, if your child gets into a fight at school and hurts someone else, your liability insurance may protect you from a lawsuit.

Property Damage

Suppose your child hits a baseball through a neighbor’s window, breaking it. It’s possible that your homeowner’s policy may pay for the costs of repairing the damage to your neighbor’s home. If your tree falls on a neighbor’s car, your insurance may cover the repairs. 

There are limits to liability coverage, so you can see your agent and find out more information on liability insurance. To ask questions about homeowner’s insurance in the Wheat Ridge, CO area, contact CO Insurance Specialist.

Hitting the Road for the Holidays? Update Your Auto Insurance

Like thousands of people across the country, you may be hitting the road to visit family or friends for the holidays. Before you go, make sure you have the protection you need by updating your auto insurance. You don’t want to be caught unprepared in the event of an accident. The following coverage from CO Insurance Specialist in Wheat Ridge, CO can protect you, your vehicle and others in the event of an accident. 

Liability

Liability insurance protects the interests of others in accidents you cause. Like most states, Colorado has minimum liability insurance requirements. Minimum coverage, however, won’t be enough to protect you against serious accidents on the road. Holliday traveling increases your risk of an accident due to adverse winter weather and a greater amount of traffic on the road. Ideally, your liability coverage should be sufficient to protect your assets if you were sued for damages due to causing an accident.

Collision 

Collision insurance covers the cost of repairing your vehicle if you crash into another car or object. Many drivers choose not to purchase this optional coverage as it raises premium costs. If you don’t have this coverage, you may want to add it to your policy to protect you against collisions on icy roads during your long-distance holiday travels.  

Comprehensive

Comprehensive insurance is also optional. It protects your vehicle against theft, vandalism, and damage caused by adverse weather. If your vehicle is damaged by winter weather during your trip or stolen at a rest stop, you’ll be glad you had this extra protection to get you through the holidays. Uninsured/underinsured motorist and roadside assist can also come in handy when traveling far from home for the holidays. 

To learn more about car insurance coverage and costs, call or visit CO Insurance Specialist in Wheat Ridge, CO.

The Differences Between Condo Insurance and Home Insurance

Homeowners who are buying their first condo may wonder if the insurance requirements are different when compared to insuring a home. The answer is that they are. Condominiums are different from homes because they may share walls, ceilings, and floors with other condos. They also share the common areas. The insurance risks are shared too.

Master Insurance Policy

When considering condo insurance consult with an agent at CO Insurance Specialist serving Wheat Ridge, CO, and the surrounding area. Be sure to request a copy of any master insurance policy that covers the condominium building and property, so you can share this policy with your insurance agent.

The building owner should be able to provide a copy of this master insurance policy or if there is a management company or a condominium owners’ association (COA), ask them for a copy.

Individual Condo Policy

For adequate coverage, your individual condo insurance policy picks up where the master insurance policy stops. Many types of damage may be covered in part by the master policy, perhaps in part by another condo owner, and perhaps in part by your condo insurance.

A slip and fall accident illustrates one difference between home insurance and condo insurance. For a homeowner, if someone falls anywhere on their property there may be a claim made be made against their home insurance. 

For a condominium owner, if someone falls in the common areas of the condominium property the master insurance policy for the condominium building is the one that may see the claim. If someone falls inside the condo then the individual condo policy may be responsible for the claim.

Summary

To make sure you have adequate condo insurance get an insurance review with the help of your agent at CO Insurance Specialist in Wheat Ridge, CO. Talk about the details and have your agent look for gaps where coverage may be missing.  Be sure to discuss the benefits of having replacement cost coverage and sufficient protection for personal property in your condominium.

What Is The Worker’s Compensation Law In Colorado?

Colorado is one of the fastest-growing markets for small business ownership. One of the most important aspects of starting a commercial business is insurance. While the CO Insurance Specialist offers a wide range of insurance solutions for Wheat Ridge, CO, today we are discussing Worker’s Compensation, and what the law says employers must do about it.

What Is Worker’s Compensation?

Worker’s Compensation is a type of insurance employers are legally required to have. It covers work-related injuries or illnesses, regardless of who is at fault. The trade-off is an employee cannot sue their employer for such illness or injury, as long as it’s covered by the insurance.

What Are My Obligations As An Employer?

If you employ at least one person at full- or part-time then you are required by Colorado law to have worker’s compensation insurance. There are few special cases where this requirement is expected. As an employer, you are responsible for reporting an employee’s injury within 10 days. You also have the right to designate a medical provider to care for your employees. 

What is covered by Worker’s Comp?

In general, worker’s compensation insurance benefits cover health care expenses occurring because of an accident during normal business operations. This includes incidents that result in temporary disability, permanent disability, and death. The types of expenses deemed reasonable and necessary are determined by the Colorado Division of Worker’s Compensation. All filings and claims are handled by this entity. 

What Is NOT Covered By Worker’s Comp?

When an employee is injured due to being intoxicated by drugs or alcohol on the job, then compensation may be reduced or forgone altogether. This is also true in cases where an employee failed to use designated safety equipment. 

If you are a Wheat Ridge, CO business owner looking to learn more about commercial insurance, please reach out to the CO Insurance Specialist today!

Tips for Storing Your Classic Car during Winter

If you are storing a classic car in Wheat Ridge, CO, there are some things to keep in mind so your car is ready to go come springtime. Even while your classic car is in the storage for the winter, you want to make sure it’s protected with a policy from CO Insurance Specialist.

Detail the Car: It’s important that the vehicle be clean and dry before being stored. You don’t want to forget the underside to protect the chrome as well. Don’t forget about the inside and the rubber areas so they don’t crack in the cold.

Replace Engine Oil: A car should be stored with fresh, clean oil, even if you recently changed it. The vehicle should be warmed up before you change the oil so contaminants are flushed away.

Lubricate Everything: Oil the trunk, hood, and door hinges to help keep pivot points in check.

Stabilize the Fuel: You will need to add a fuel stabilizer before you store the vehicle. It’s impossible to fully drain the engine so the remaining tiny droplets can be exposed to air and lead to engine problems when springtime comes.

Check the Coolant: Verify the radiator is filled with the right mix of water or coolant or you could have ice in the system.

Prepare the Battery: Run a trickle charger but be sure to always exercise safety when dealing with a battery. Store the battery in an unfrozen place off the ground and not on concrete.

Pay Attention to the Tires: Avoid flat-spotting the tires by having the tires be lifted off the ground, overinflating for storage, or allowing enough room to start the car and move it once a month.

Be Mindful of Rodents: There are plenty of home remedies you can use to make sure rodents won’t disturb the car.

Store in a Safe Location: Be sure your classic car in Wheat Ridge, CO is in a secured facility that is dry and doesn’t have a lot of light. Check windows and doors for watertight seals and security. Visit your car regularly and keep an eye on things.

Contact CO Insurance Specialist to get a quote on classic car insurance. 

What does my home insurance cover?

Protecting your home in Wheat Ridge, CO gives you peace of mind and helps you feel secure that if anything were to happen, you could move on with your life and start again. It’s possible, though, that when you purchased your homeowner’s policy at CO Insurance Specialist that you focused more on questions like how much your limits and deductible were, and less on what is actually covered by your policy.

The main reason you have homeowners insurance is to protect your own belongings. Included in your protection are:

  • the actual physical property, including unattached structures like sheds in your yard;
  • your furniture and most of your decorations and treatments, like rugs and curtains (valuable artwork may not be covered unless otherwise stated);
  • your appliances large and small, like your refrigerator, stove, toaster, and washer and dryer;
  • your electronics, like your television, computers, and phones; and
  • your personal items, like clothing and books.

If there is ever a fire or theft, you may receive either a replacement or the actual cash value, depending on your policy. It is important to read your contract carefully and discuss it with your agent if you have any questions.

Your homeowner’s policy also provides general liability protection so that you are covered for bodily injury or property damage that occurs when you have visitors at your home in Wheat Ridge, CO. Those visitors may be just people who are walking in front of your home and fall, but if the fall is on your property you may be liable. 

If you have any questions about policy exclusions, it is always best to ask before there is a problem. You can often add-on protection to items not normally covered. If you want to make sure you are getting the protection your family needs, call CO Insurance Specialist today.

Getting Your Car Ready for Cold Weather

It’s not too early to start getting your car ready for winter. In fact, when you plan ahead and start working on car preps ahead of time, you make the task more manageable and less stressful. So with that in mind, check out these tips from CO Insurance Specialist serving Wheat Ridge, CO.

Consider snow tires

Not all cars in snowy climates have snow tires, but some indeed do. Consider adding snow tires if your home is in an area of very large amounts of snow.

Check windshield wiper blades

Being able to see really clearly while driving during winter is absolutely essential. You need great visibility, so replace your windshield wiper blades if needed. Test them out afterwards to make sure they’re working great.

Add windshield wiper fluid

It might seem minor, but adding windshield wiper fluid is really not minor. Keeping the windshield clean can make a huge difference in your visibility while driving.

Check tires

With tires, the first step is a professional inspection. So have a qualified professional inspect the tires and let you know whether to replace any of them.

Place safety kit in car

You need to keep an emergency kit with you in your vehicle  at all times. Put safety items like flashlights, snacks, extra blankets and bottled water in your emergency kit.

Have antifreeze on hand

Keep antifreeze on hand to use as needed. Use antifreeze with caution and only if necessary. Keep it away from all pets.

By being organized and methodical, you can get your car ready to keep you safe and warm all winter long. So complete these steps right away.

Special Coverage For A Special Car

When you drive a classic car, you tend to want to give it special care in every way possible. You don’t just take it to any old mechanic. If you can’t find an expert in Wheat Ridge, CO, you’re not above driving your car to the next town over to meet with someone who specializes in classic cars. You don’t just take it to the car wash, you scrub it down by hand and dry it with a chamois to keep it from streaking.

The same goes for your insurance, but here’s what a lot of people don’t know: Classic car insurance tends to be cheaper.

Obviously, there are a lot of factors that play into this. A classic car owner with a bad driving record is going to pay more. A classic car worth six figures is probably going to cost more to insure than a standard vehicle. But classic cars tend to be cheaper to insure, despite their special maintenance needs and value, primarily because classic car owners can be trusted to take excellent care of their cars. Someone who drives a classic Mustang isn’t just getting from point A to point B, their car is their hobby, their passion, they love driving and they’re going to take much better care of their car, on average, than someone driving a 2016 SUV.

Of course, to get a good deal, you need to get covered by an insurer that specializes in classic autos. A standard insurer is likely to treat your classic car like any other. CO Insurance Specialist knows what goes into owning and driving a classic car, and what goes into insuring it, so get in touch and see what we can do for you.

5 Tips for Protecting Your Home While on Vacation

With summer in full swing, you may be planning a vacation for you and your family. Before taking off on holiday, prep your home for security and safety while you’re gone. The following tips from CO Insurance Specialist can be helpful in protecting your Wheat Ridge, CO property during your absence.

Install a Home Security System

A home security system that includes alarm, window sensors, security cameras and security lights is sure to deter prospective thieves from targeting your property. By investing in a monitored security system, your company will notify the police immediately if there’s a security breach on your property while you’re gone.

Lock Up and Remove Spare keys

Lock all windows and doors before leaving and close curtains and blinds. If you have timers on one or two lights, make sure these lights are visible from the outside at night. Collect spare keys you’ve hidden on the property to reduce the risk of intruders finding them and gaining access to your home.

Stop Deliveries

If you’ll be gone for a week or more, put a stop on mail and newspaper deliveries until your return or ask a neighbor to pick these up, so they don’t pile up in your driveway or mailbox. Piled up newspapers and mail are a sure sign no one is home, making your home more susceptible to theft.

Programmable Thermostat

Invest in a programmable thermostat to control the temperature in your home during your absence. A smart thermostat will keep your home cool and dry during hot, humid weather so you don’t develop problems with mold or mildew.  

Update Home Insurance

Update your home insurance coverage to ensure your home and goods are well protected against unforeseen disasters while you’re gone.

For quality home insurance coverage to safeguard your Wheat Ridge, CO abode, contact CO Insurance Specialist today.

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