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Janis-Shunta Insurance Blog

What Are the Steps I Need to Take After an Accident

Being involved in an accident can be frightening. It’s important for residents in Muskegon, MI to know what steps they need to take if an accident occurs. The agents of Janis-Shunta Insurance can offer the guidance you need during a difficult time.

Move to the Side of the Road

The first thing you should do is move all vehicles to the side of the road. This will help to keep you safe until the police arrive.

Check for Injuries

Secure the scene and make sure to check for injuries. Even if there are no visible injuries, everyone should get medical attention. This is extremely important because many injuries don’t present themselves for several hours after the accident occurs.

Call 9-1-1

Someone needs to call 9-1-1 immediately after the accident. The sooner the police arrive, the sooner those who are injured will get the medical attention they need. 

Exchange Information and Take Pictures

While the police are filling out their reports, the drivers should exchange their personal information. This includes any insurance information as well. It’s also a good idea for you to take as many pictures as possible to document the scene at the time of the accident. This will be beneficial for you if the insurance company has any questions.

At Janis-Shunta Insurance, the agents can assist Muskegon, MI residents after an accident occurs. Making sure that you have everything you need after an accident occurs is very important when processing your claim. Knowing what to do after an accident will help your agent not only process your claim but protect you if a lawsuit is filed. Talk to your agent now!

3 Perks of Condo Insurance

Unlike a homeowner, folks that live in condos don’t own the building itself or the land that it is on. Instead, the homeowner or condo association will be insured through a master policy that protects the building itself, the common areas, and property for damages that occur in those areas. With that said, it is likely that your homeowner or condo association will not pay for damage to the interior of your unit to include storm damage, stolen property, or injuries to guests that may be visiting. There is good news – condo owners don’t have to be on the hook for these expensive damages and instead can have peace of mind through the purchase of condo insurance or HO-6 policy. If you are in the Muskegon, MI area, give Janis-Shunta Insurance a call and we’ll help answer any of your condo insurance-related questions.

Covers Damage not Insured by the HOA

Condo insurance will protect you from having to shell out cash for things like damage to the interior of your unit that is not the walls, floor, and ceiling. Additionally, coverage typically includes stolen property like furniture and electronics plus payment towards medical bills if a guest is hurt while at your home.

Affordable Cost

Although cost can vary widely depending on where you reside, for instance, New York City is likely to be more expensive than Muskegon, MI – condo insurance is a relatively nominal sum when you think of how much it can cost to replace stolen furniture or damages to a unit. At Janis-Shunta Insurance, we will work with you to find a plan that fits in any budget.

Loss of Use Coverage

If you are displaced from your home due to damage, condo insurance can help cover the cost of temporary living spaces while you find a new home or wait for your unit to be repaired.

Do Landlords Need Home Insurance?

Homeowner’s insurance policies are typically geared toward homeowners who want to protect their own residences. But what if you’re a landlord who wants to protect the property you own but don’t necessarily live in? Do you still need home insurance?

The short answer is "yes." However, the policies you will be looking at will be most often referred to as "landlord insurance" rather than a typical homeowner’s policy. Likewise, your policy will be focused more on covering the building itself, the surrounding property and any structures (sheds, garages, etc.) that may be on it. 

What Landlords in Michigan Need to Know

As of 2018, the state of Michigan now requires both landlords and their tenants (renters) to have insurance. This is because neither should rely entirely on the other party’s insurance policy. While your landlord insurance will cover the general property itself and help protect you from losses and liability claims, your tenants’ renters insurance policy will help protect their personal possessions and help protect them from their own liability situations. 

Naturally, there is no "one size fits all" insurance policy for landlords. The amount of insurance coverage you need as a landlord will depend on the type of property itself, particularly when it comes to size and the amount of units/tenants within. Be sure to ask our insurance experts at Janis-Shunta Insurance in Muskegon, MI about all your specific concerns and coverage needs. 

What if I Want to Start Renting Out My Home to Tenants?

If you want to start renting out your personal residence to tenants, you will still need to get a landlord insurance policy. After all, your insurance will cover you in a wide variety of liability situations that may only affect landlords, such as wrongful eviction cases or property damage that may affect tenants. 

Have questions or simply want to learn more about your landlord insurance coverage options in the Norton Shores or Muskegon, MI area? Contact us today at Janis-Shunta Insurance! We’re ready to help you find a policy that suits your needs. 

Ways to Prevent an Accidental Fire in Your Condo

Owning a condo in Norton Shores or Muskegon, MI is something that several of our clients at Janis-Shunta Insurance enjoy for its lifestyle and condo community. Unfortunately, one accidental fire in a condo can destroy the property of several families, leaving them displaced and with expensive repairs. Below are three ways to prevent an accidental fire in your condo. 

Give the Space Heaters some space

If you want your condo to be extra cozy in the winter months with space heaters, make sure that you have these heaters away from any blankets or materials that could easily get too warm from the heater and start a fire. They need several feet of clearance around them so they can operate properly. Also, make sure that you turn these heaters off when you leave the condo. 

Blow out your candles

While candles are nice to have around when you are home and in your living space, they are not safe enough to leave alone through the night when you are sleeping or when you leave the condo unattended. Candles have been responsible for house and condo fires across the nation and should be watched with a careful eye. 

Is your wiring up-to-date?

This is especially true in older condos that may not have an upgraded wiring system. You should check your cords and outlets once a week to see if there are any signs of fraying or long-term burning on cords or outlets in your condo. These are premature signs of a burnout happening in your electrical unit, and could easily cause a fire in the near future. 

Get protection with condo insurance

If you are a condo owner living in or around Muskegon, MI without condo insurance, you need to give Janis-Shunta Insurance a call today for condo insurance options available. 

Auto Insurance for Beginners

Understanding auto insurance policies can be daunting. Learning the basics can make it easier to go through when you start searching for policies. Once you know the basics, you’ll be able to sift through your policy with a better perspective. In Muskegon, MI, Janis-Shunta Insurance is equipped with expert agents that are ready to help you navigate your way through an auto insurance policy.

What is Auto Insurance?

Auto insurance gives you protection for just-in-case situations. You may never need it, but you’ll be glad the insurance is there if you ever find yourself involved in an accident. There is certain insurance coverage that is required based on your state, and if you live in Michigan, you must have a no-fault insurance policy that protects you from being sued in certain circumstances.

What is No-Fault Insurance?

No-fault insurance is mandatory in Michigan and it is required by law. This type of coverage includes three basic sections.

  1. Personal Injury Protection (PIP) — is coverage that pays for medical expenses. This policy has no limits. 
  2. Personal Property Insurance (PPI) — will pay up to $1 million if you damage someone’s vehicle or other property.
  3. Residual Liability Insurance (RLI), also known as Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability — acts as insurance that starts when you are sued. There are several ways that you can be sued where you will need an RLI: You have an accident that results in someone’s death, your accident was with someone who is not from Michigan, or you’re in an accident out of the state.

Whether you are in Muskegon, MI or in the surrounding area around Norton Shores, you should visit Janis-Shunta Insurance. There are expert agents that can offer you advice and information regarding auto insurance policies. You can also ask about home, commercial, life, and boat insurance. Contact our office for more information.

What Kind of Insurance Covers My Off Road Vehicles?

You take you dune buggy out on back trails of Muskegon, MI, and suddenly slide straight into an embankment. Although only your pride is injured, your bike needs new fiberglass fenders. This is covered in your recreational vehicle insurance, and your agent at Janis-Shunta Insurance can tell you how to file a claim.

Recreation Insurance Coverage

Recreational insurance includes collision coverage to help you repair damage to your vehicle — even if you hit the side of a mountain. It covers skid plates, helmets, and other accessories.

Recreational insurance applies to off-road vehicles, including:

  • Dirt bikes
  • Snowmobiles
  • Golf carts
  • ATVs
  • Dune buggies

Understanding Your Recreational Insurance

Recreational insurance has many of the same coverage types as your car insurance, such as collision, liability, medical, and uninsured motorists.

Collision coverage pays for repairs on your vehicle, as discussed. If you cause an accident, liability insurance covers property damage and bodily injury sustained due to the accident.

Comprehensive coverage can pay for covered perils such as vandalism, theft, fire, hail, or animals. For example, if you’re snowmobile is stolen from your shed, comprehensive coverage pays to replace it if it’s not recovered.

If you’re riding your ATV, a large rock or roots can throw you off, leaving you with a dislocated shoulder or worse. Your recreational insurance covers the medical bills if you’re hurt in a covered accident. An uninsured driver hits your golf cart, but don’t panic. Your recreational insurance includes uninsured motorist coverage and pays for your damages or injuries.

Contact Us

Contact Janis-Shunta Insurance with any questions you may have on recreational insurance. We want you to spend your time enjoying the trails and tracks in Muskegon, MI, not worrying about your coverage.

Worried about your insurance policy limits? Take a look at umbrella insurance

Most insurance policies have limits to the amount of coverage that they provide and when those limits are reached, it typically falls to the policyholder to take responsibility for any overage. If you are seeking a way to minimize maxing out your insurance, it’s time to take a look at an umbrella policy. The team at Janis-Shunta Insurance is here to advise the greater Muskegon, MI community about their umbrella insurance options. 

Umbrella insurance is an effective tool to protect from personal liability

The liability limits of your primary insurance policy may not always be adequate to provide the protection that you need. In order to protect yourself from personal liability, you may want to consider an umbrella policy. There are many advantages to such a policy, with the increased policy limits being the main one. If your business is in a litigious industry, or your home and belongings require additional coverage for adequate protection, an umbrella policy can fulfill this need.

An umbrella policy provides coverage that is over your primary policy and serves as a stop-gap when your primary limits are met or exceeded. If you are concerned that your main policy is insufficient, now is a good time to discuss your umbrella policy options with your local insurance agent. Don’t wait until a catastrophic event occurs to find out that you are under-insured. With an appropriate umbrella policy, you can shield yourself and your family from personal responsibility in the event that your primary insurance policy limits are reached.

Are you in the greater Muskegon, MI area and want to find out if you can benefit from an umbrella policy? Contact the team at Janis-Shunta Insurance today and set up a consultation to find out more.

Can Not Properly Maintaintaining Your Car Affect Your Insurance?

If you don’t properly maintain your car, a minor issue can turn into a huge problem that can affect your ability to commute back and forth to work. You may not have realized it, but not servicing your car and addressing issues as needed can affect your car insurance as well. At Janis-Shunta Insurance, serving Muskegon, MI and the surrounding region, we can help get the insurance required by law and protect you from incidents, whether caused by you not maintaining your car,  negligence, or various other problems.  

Accidents Caused by Car Malfunctions

Let’s say you didn’t maintain your car properly. You end up getting into an accident because your car stopped in the middle of the highway. This could lead to an accident that’s deemed your fault. Once you have an accident, it’s possible for your insurance to go up. This is just one example of an issue that could occur and lead to an accident if you don’t properly maintain your vehicle. 

Laws Regarding Car Maintenance

Although laws vary from state to state, you often have to take care of certain issues on your vehicle or you’re at risk for getting in trouble with the law. You could find yourself having to pay a higher insurance premium if you get caught, especially multiple times, for not taking care of your vehicle. 

Moving to Another State 

If you move to another state, you may need to get your car inspected. If you can’t afford to make the necessary repairs, you could find yourself in legal trouble if you continue driving your car without an up-to-date inspection, which could end up raising your insurance. 

Get a quote by contacting Janis-Shunta Insurance, serving Muskegon, MI and the nearby region, by calling us at 231-737-0000 or 231-744-0400. 

 

 

 

 

Questions to Help You Determine Your Condo Insurance Limits

Your condo insurance ensures that you have enough money to repair or replace your habitat and belongings in a covered event. However, finding the right amount of coverage can be tricky. Use these tips from Janis-Shunta Insurance to ensure your condo insurance limits are high enough to fully protect your Muskegon, MI property.

What Does the Master Policy Cover?

The master policy is the insurance coverage carried by your property management company. This policy generally covers common areas like parking lots and courtyards, the outside portions of your building, and other common property resources like utility connections. Talk to your property manager to find out what parts of your property your private policy needs to protect.

What Would It Cost to Repair Your Dwelling?

In a catastrophic situation, you could find yourself needing to rebuild your entire dwelling. Your policy needs to include enough coverage to ensure you won’t be left coming out-of-pocket for your rebuilding expenses. Speak to your insurance agent to help you understand how much you might need to rebuild or replace your entire dwelling.

Do You Have High-Value Belongings?

Your collection of mint condition magazines, playing cards, or other special items might not meet the limits of your condo policy. If you regularly store jewelry, tools, or other expensive items on your property, you’ll need more protection to ensure you can recoup your costs after an accident. Look into increasing coverage or adding extra layers of protection to your policy for your special things.

These questions will help you understand what kind of coverage you need for your Muskegon, MI condo. Do you still have questions? Contact the experts at Janis-Shunta Insurance for personal guidance on your condo coverage.

What Contents Does My Home Insurance Policy Cover?

What Contents Does My Home Insurance Policy Cover?

One of the most common types of insurance, Janis-Shunta Insurance of Muskegon, MI wants you to understand homeowners’ insurance and what it does. Most people understand that it helps repair their home when it gets damaged by a storm or fire. They also understand that it protects them by paying for a visitor’s medical treatment for injuries if your dog bites them. Few people understand the contents portion of the policy though.

The contents section of a homeowners’ policy covers every piece of personal property in your home. Note the personal property designation. That means that your home business equipment is not covered. Neither is the business equipment of anyone visiting or your inventory you keep in the garage.

Your contents coverage usually equals between ten to 20 percent of the value of your home’s value as it’s insured. That may not cover everything you own that you lose. Some items, like jewelry, have a limit of $1,500 coverage. Chances are your furniture alone would eat up your contents coverage. Then you are left with your clothes, electronics and other jewelry to replace.

That’s why insurance companies let you add additional coverage for contents to your policy. You can insure your personal property at a higher rate than the standard coverage. You can increase it to 50 to 70 percent. Choose replacement value rather than actual cash value so that the insurance will pay for a new item at the cost you’d have to pay to replace it.

Call or visit Janis-Shunta Insurance of Muskegon, MI to learn more about how you can protect your belongings. We can help you make sure you have the coverage to protect your personal property.