3 Ways to Stay Safe While Driving on Icy Roads

When the winter months start to approach Flowood, MS and other parts of the state, one of the biggest reasons for auto accidents is icy roads. When you are traveling on the icy roads this winter, make sure to keep these few tips in mind so that you are safe and accident-free. 

1. Give Yourself at Least 10 Seconds To Stop

Even with the best set of tires, trying to stop on a whim with slick roads from the ice is not safe. When you are traveling and the roads are icy. Make sure there is at least 10 seconds between you and the vehicle in front of you. Should they have to slam on brakes, you need to have enough time to stop safely. 

2. Drive Slower

Just because the road has a posted speed of 55 does not mean that is ideal for icy conditions. If you are traveling on an icy road, it is a good idea to keep your speed at least 10 miles slower than what is posted. Traveling on roads that are curvy and have black ice around the corner can make a fast traveling vehicle slide much quicker. 

3. Brake Only When You Need To

Ice and brakes do not work well together, and antilock brakes do not work in the ice. If you are traveling at slow speeds and keeping your distance between yourself and others on the highway, you will not need to use your brakes as much. If you need to slow down or find yourself sliding, stay calm and just take your foot off of the gas to avoid overcorrecting. 

Be Careful Traveling This Winter

Make sure to use these three tips when traveling on icy roads and make sure to pack your auto insurance policy from Insurance Protection Specialists today. 

Commercial Insurance Adds Stability to Your Company

Are you looking for stability in your business? You are not alone. Many people are looking to insurance as a way to ensure that they have the utmost stability possible to protect their business. Commercial insurance is one way to help with this.

Insurance Protection Specialists understand the needs of business owners in Flowood, MS. Here’s how your commercial insurance policy can make your business more stable.

Commercial Insurance Assists With Steady Growth

One of the best things about your commercial insurance policy is that you can plan for your business to grow. You can consider your goals and the trajectory of your business as you speak with an insurance agent about your policy and coverage needs.

Commercial Insurance Helps You Plan for the Future

With your insurance policy, you can also make plans for changes. You do not have to keep the same policy for years to come. In fact, you can get a new policy with each change your business makes.

Commercial Insurance Helps With Workers’ Compensation

When you have a commercial insurance policy, you should also examine your workers’ compensation coverage as well. This will protect you if one of your employees is injured on the job.

Commercial Insurance Protects Your Assets

Finally, remember that your insurance protects you as the owner of the business. If somebody is injured at your business or as a result of a product you sell, your insurance can protect you from monetary damages.

Get Commercial Insurance Today

Are you trying to find the right commercial insurance policy for your Flowood, MS business? Insurance Protection Specialists can help. Contact our office to learn more about your options to protect your business.

The Basics of Home Insurance

Home insurance is there is protect one of your most valuable assets financially. The Insurance Protection Specialists serving the city of Flowood, MS would like you to know the basics of homeowners insurance. Whether you are an owner or a tenant, this information is relevant to you.

The Five Facets of Homeowners Insurance

Property Damage

This part of your policy protects your home and your belongings against perils. Perils are potential events that may cause loss like hail. The policy can either be a specified perils policy, meaning you only have cover for the perils you specify in the policy, or an all-risk policy covering all perils except specifically excluded ones like floods.

Liability Cover

This portion provides financial protection from legal liability and lawsuits due to negligence resulting in bodily injury to a third party or property damage.

Medical Payments Cover

This section pays for medical bills if a guest or third party is hurt by accident on your property and requires medical attention.

Additional Living Expenses Cover

If you cannot live in your home for reasons that meet the insurance policy requirements, then this section will pay for your motel or rental bills and possibly some extra living expenses that you may incur while your property is repaired. It is usually when your home is accidentally damaged to such an extent that it is unsafe to live there.

Other Coverage

There are other coverage options for the contents of your home not covered by the perils section and for structures not attached to the main dwelling on your property.

Depending on your requirements, cover your home as little or as much as you want in line with the value. Don’t let your home be uninsured!

Speak to the Insurance Protection Specialists serving Flowood, MS today.

Questions to ask yourself when buying renters insurance for the first time

If you rent an apartment in Flowood, MS, your landlord will likely ask you to buy renters insurance. You may probably be wondering why the landlord doesn’t cover your apartment as part of protecting their investment. The truth is, your landlord already has a policy protecting the whole building, including the walls, floor, and other parts of the building.

That means you’re responsible for what happens in your personal space, particularly personal belongings. Now, if your landlord wants you to have renters insurance, the policy is meant to cover your rented space. So, if it’s your first time buying the policy, here are three questions to ask yourself before settling on a renter’s insurance policy.

What is covered in my renter’s insurance?

This is often one of the most critical questions to ask as it helps you determine how much insurance to get. In most cases, renters insurance covers your personal belongings and additional living expenses if your apartment is rendered unlivable.

How much renters insurance should I get?

The amount of renters insurance to buy heavily depends on your needs. The value of your property renters insurance covers things inside and outside the home,  such as a work laptop that you could leave in your car or your office.  Insurance Protection Specialists recommend enquiring about different coverages in your renter’s insurance to understand your needs.

Should I take inventory of my personal belongings?

Yes. You don’t want to have trouble providing evidence that you own a specific item to your Flowood, MS insurer. Taking inventory is quite critical in determining the value and year of purchase for easier follow-up in case of damage. We recommend taking your inventory a few days or weeks before the policy purchase and updating the list every time you bring in a new item.

We can help

At Insurance Protection Specialists, we can help you understand your policy better so you can make informed decisions when buying renters insurance. If you have any questions or need further clarifications, feel free to contact our team, and we will be happy to get back to you.

Ready To Ride: Important Motorcycle Safety Tips

Driving a motorcycle requires a special set of skills and safety precautions. Even if you have already passed your riding test, there are still safety measures to consider before you hit the road. Insurance Protection Specialists, serving Flowood, MS, has prepared this quick list to help our local motorcyclists be ready to ride.

Wear Your Helmet, It’s The Law

Proper helmet use saves over a thousand lives annually. In fact, motorcycle lifts are 29 times more likely to die in a crash than those operating a passenger vehicle. Wearing a helmet also saves billions of dollars in economic costs due to accidents. This is why the state of Mississippi requires helmets to be worn by drivers and riders of any motorcycle-type vehicle.

Wear Other Safety Gear

Keep your arms and legs completely covered. Heavy denim or leather is recommended. Footwear should cover the ankles. Gloves offer protection and better grip. 

Be Familiar With Your Bike

If you have a new motorcycle, practice riding it in a familiar area before taking it into traffic. Get used to how it handles in different conditions and when encountering potential hazards. Some obstacles to look for include wet roads and potholes. Also perform regular safety inspections before riding, particularly if you’re going on a long trip. Check for gas or oil leaks, as well as tire pressure and brakes. 

Be Insured

Mississippi Law requires all drivers to maintain minimum liability insurance. In addition to staying legal on the road, Insurance protects you in the event you are financially responsible for an accident. Minimum liability typically includes coverage for bodily injury, property damage, and personal injury.

Don’t be caught without motorcycle insurance. Flowood, MS drivers can reach out to Insurance Protection Specialists today.

How Boat Insurance Protects You

Getting boat insurance is a must if you own any type of boat. The specific policy that you get will have a number of specific considerations such as the boat’s type, how often it is used, which waters it will travel, etc. But, there are two types of coverage that you can expect to have in your policy regardless of the circumstances. If you need boat insurance, give us a call today at Insurance Protection Specialists in Flowood, MS.

Damage to Your Boat

Boat insurance wouldn’t be helpful if it didn’t assist you with repairs after your boat has been damaged. There are many ways that a boat can become damaged, and many of them are covered by boat insurance. In addition to the boat as a whole being covered, there are certain components that are also covered by boat policies. If one of these is damaged in an accident or disaster, insurance can pay to repair or replace them. 

Liability for Accidents

A boat that strikes or collides with something can cause a number of problems, and they’re all expensive. Your boat may cause physical injury to one or more people, or it may cause property damage to boats, docks and other items. With your boat insurance policy, these damages can be paid for by the policy instead of your having to pay for them from your pocket. The payment from insurance can include medical bills, repair bills and even legal costs for the case. 

Get Covered by Boat Insurance

When you have a boat, and it isn’t covered by a boat policy, it’s time to get insurance protection for that boat. Give us a call today at Insurance Protection Specialists in Flowood, MS.

Professions That Need Umbrella Insurance

Insurance Protection Specialists offer coverage to the Flowood, MS community. We are an independent insurance agency. We have working relationships with over 20 carriers throughout the South. We want to cover our clients so that they are ready for anything life throws their way. We will work hard to help you find the coverage you need.

Professions That Need Umbrella Insurance

Umbrella insurance is a security blanket when things go wrong. It’s hard to predict when an accident may happen, though the consequences could be severe without umbrella insurance. If you are involved in a serious liability dispute, umbrella insurance can prevent you from possibly losing everything. There are various professions where umbrella insurance provides significant benefits.

General Services

If you operate a Flowood MS business where you offer a service, you will be held liable if that service goes wrong. Perhaps your products accidentally cause bodily harm or extensive property damage. Your assets are at risk if you’ve caused damage that exceeds your liability coverage.

Serve As A Board Of Directors Member

If you serve on a board of directors, you are at risk. If there are allegations of misconduct, you may be ill-equipped to defend yourself without the extra layer of protection that umbrella insurance provides. Also, be aware that the structure of your coverage may differ based on whether you are active on a non-profit board or an organized business.

Consulting

If you work in the consulting industry, you are also at risk. You may be held liable if a client alleges that you gave them bad advice. Umbrella insurance can help you protect your reputation and assets.

Insurance Protection Specialists Will Help You Protect Your Assets

Visit our website to learn more information about umbrella insurance.  

Why do Mississippi RV owners need to maintain RV insurance at all times?

When you are in the Flowood, MS area, you will want to find a way to get around and see all that the state has to offer. As you are looking for a way to explore the rest of Mississippi, investing in an RV is a great idea. Along with your RV, you need to also get a proper insurance plan. There are a few reasons why you need to maintain RV insurance at all times. 

Insurance Provides Protection for RV

A key reason that many in this area of Mississippi will get RV insurance is so they can have adequate protection for the RV. Those that are going to rent an RV in this area will want to know that they can enjoy it for a long time into the future. One of the best ways that this is done is by getting RV insurance, which will give coverage to repair or replace it in the future. 

Insurance is Required

You should also get an RV insurance plan to stay in compliance with requirements. Anyone that would like to drive an RV, will need to have coverage to comply with state law. They are also going to need to have insurance if they have taken out a loan. Having proper insurance will give you the coverage that you need to meet requirements. 

If you are in the Flowood, MS area and are in need of RV insurance, it would be helpful to speak with the team at Insurance Protection Specialists. Choosing an RV insurance plan is going to come with a lot of different insurance choices and the team with Insurance Protection Specialists can make it easier for you. They can help by providing the support you need to evaluate your options to ensure that you and your RV are properly protected. 

Understanding the Risk of Not Being Insured Against Flood Damage

As a homeowner in Flowood, MS, you might not have experienced flooding in the last five years. As such, you don’t see the need to incur additional expenses paying for flood insurance. However, without flood insurance, there are very many risks that you are likely to experience, some of which have been discussed below by Insurance Protection Specialists. 

Damages to the Building’s Structure

Flooding is one of the most devastating natural calamities that have been known to damage most of the building’s structure. With regular flooding, the integrity of your building might be compromised, which means that you will require comprehensive repairs. Without flood insurance, you face the risk of paying for all the repair expenses to your structure without assistance. These are huge expenses that you may sometimes find hard to handle without assistance.

Total Building Destruction

On very many occasions, buildings have been destroyed by floods across the country. Some buildings have been swept away, which means that owners of such houses need to build new properties. Without flood insurance, which will be responsible for constructing a new property, you will face an uphill task of building a new house. Your savings might not be enough for you to build a new structure rendering you to cold nights at your compound.

Property Damages

Sometimes flooding might not be big enough to destroy your building, but it might be very damaging to your personal items. Valuable properties such as electronics, clothing, and furniture are likely to be damaged when they get into contact with floodwater. Flood insurance caters for such damages, but without it, you have to pay for replacement expenses without support.

According to Insurance Protection Specialists, flooding can happen at any given time in Flowood, MS. The best way out of possible damages is to have a flood insurance policy that will cover all possible damages and replacement costs.

Life Insurance Questions Answered

Very few people understand the dynamics of life insurance. However, death is an inevitable outcome that makes it necessary to ask specific life insurance-related questions. For Flowood, MS residents, life insurance questions can be confusing unless you get someone to give you the right answers. Luckily, here at Insurance Protection Specialists, we are committed to answering some of the most pressing questions about life insurance. Here are some common questions. 

Can a Life Insurance Policy Have More than One Beneficiary?

Most people list one or two primary beneficiaries when applying for life insurance. On top of this, you can also name one contingent beneficiary. However, it would be best to be careful about the individuals you settle for as potential beneficiaries. If you wonder whether you can enlist more than one beneficiary, then the answer is yes; you can list as many as three. 

Is Life Insurance Taxable to the Beneficiary? 

Ordinarily, a life insurance death benefit is received free from any federal income tax. Either way, there are specific scenarios that necessitate taxation. In case the policyholder is a business, and the beneficiary is an employee, such a benefit may be treated as taxable income. At Insurance Protection Specialists, we also advise policyholders whose spouses have life insurance to be keen when naming their children as beneficiaries. Such an approach may necessitate taxation.

Is Life Insurance Necessary for Singles?

Most singles in Flowood, MS wonder if it’s worthwhile to consider life insurance. In most cases, the assumption is that life insurance is for older populations. This option is not a must for singles who don’t have children and spouses. If you are single but have cosigned debt, then life insurance is necessary. In case you are the only primary caretaker to an elderly dependent, you may also consider our life insurance plan at insurance protection specialists

We Have the Answers

Residents of Flowood, MS no longer have to worry about where to access life insurance coverage. With our experts at Insurance Protection specialists, you can get all your questions answered on anything related to insurance. Contact us today for great services and reliable support.