L & S Agency Inc.

3868 S Park Ave
Blasdell, NY 14219

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Featured Insurance Blog

How much umbrella insurance should you get?

When it comes to protecting yourself from unforeseen circumstances, umbrella insurance from L & S Agency Inc. can be a great way to do so. But how much umbrella insurance should you get here in the Buffalo, NY area? 

Umbrella Insurance Coverage

The amount of umbrella insurance you need depends on the type and size of assets you have. You want to make sure that your umbrella policy has enough coverage to cover all your valuable possessions in the event of a lawsuit. Generally speaking, most experts recommend getting an umbrella policy with a limit of at least $1 million or more, depending on what you have to protect. 

Umbrella policies are also designed to supplement existing liability coverage such as auto and homeowners insurance. If you already have these policies in place, it is important to make sure that your umbrella policy coverage limit covers any potential gaps in existing coverage. It’s also important to consider different types of liability risks and choose an umbrella policy coverage limit that adequately protects against them. 

Finally, consider working with an experienced independent insurance agent who can help determine exactly how much umbrella insurance you need. They are familiar with the ins and outs of various policies and can provide tailored advice on the best option for your situation. 

Consult With Us

No matter what type of assets or liabilities you have, having sufficient umbrella insurance is crucial for financial security in case of a catastrophic event like a lawsuit or other unexpected circumstances. By taking the time to ask questions of an agent here at L & S Agency Inc. and find appropriate coverage limits, you can ensure that your assets and loved ones are adequately protected from any potential risks. So call us today! We are proud to serve the Buffalo, NY area.

When should you review your home insurance policy?

At L & S Agency Inc. in Buffalo, NY, part of our service is reviewing your home policy with you every year. It is an important part of our service to make sure our customers have the insurance coverage that they need. 

When your policy renews

Home insurance policies renew yearly. When your policy comes to you about a month before it is due, the top page is called the declaration page. It is a synopsis of the coverage you have. You can check the amount of property coverage, the type of content coverage you have, any enforcement you have added, and any discounts you are receiving. 

You should check the type of content coverage you have. If you have actual value, it will take depreciation into account, and you will get much less than if you have replacement cost. 

If you have bought or received any expensive items

Your content coverage for jewelry is limited to $2,000. If you have jewelry worth more than that, you need to add an endorsement to your policy and get appraisals of your jewelry. This will protect your property. This also applies to antiques or electronics. 

You’ve added structures to your yard

Have you added the long-awaited deck, the swimming pool of your dream, a gazebo, or a shed? All of these increase the value of your home, and you need to inform your insurance carrier.  

Smart home safety updates

Your insurance company likes nothing better than knowing that you are adding smart safety devices to your home. Have you installed a smart home security system? Put in a Ring doorbell camera?  These can make you eligible for a safe home discount, which can bring your premium down significantly. 

We Can Help!

Contact L & S Agency Inc. in Buffalo, NY for all your home insurance needs. Give us a call today. 

Three things you should know about auto insurance in New York

Choosing the right insurance policy is a priority when you are a motorist in Buffalo NY. There are a few things that vehicle owners need to be aware of when it comes to auto insurance. L & S Agency Inc. provides auto insurance policies to New York state residents. 

The following are three things you should know about auto insurance in New York:

The state of New York requires drivers to have insurance coverage to register their vehicles.

You need to show that your vehicle is insured to register it at a New York DMV. 

Motorists in New York can get in a lot of trouble if they’re not carrying auto insurance. Those who are caught without insurance can be cited by the police. You could have your vehicle registration and driver’s license suspended if you’re not insured and you’re caught driving on public roads in New York. 

New York State requires no-fault, liability, and uninsured motorist coverage.

There are minimum auto insurance requirements that motorists in New York must meet. Motorists need $50,000 in no-fault personal injury protection coverage per person per accident. Motorists also need $25,000 per person in bodily injury liability coverage and $25,000 in uninsured motorist coverage. 

Collision and comprehensive coverage are optional in New York. 

Motorists don’t have to buy collision or comprehensive coverage in New York. However, purchasing these types of coverage is important if you want full coverage that will pay for damages to your own vehicle in an accident. 

Give Us A Call

The auto insurance policies we provide at L & S Agency Inc. will give you peace of mind and fulfill your insurance coverage responsibilities in Buffalo, NY. Get in touch with us today to get a policy quote. 

What is Umbrella Insurance?

At L & S Agency Inc. in Buffalo, NY, we offer many types of insurance, including umbrella insurance. Umbrella insurance is designed to provide extra protection when you reach the coverage limits of your standard policies. 

What is Umbrella Insurance? 

Umbrella insurance is also known as catastrophe insurance. It’s designed to protect you from catastrophic events, which can be very costly. It provides liability protection beyond your regular home and auto policy and also covers situations that are excluded by these policies.

Umbrella policies are typically sold in increments of $1 million, up to $15 to $20 million.  

How Does Umbrella Insurance Work?

If you reach the coverage limit on your standard home or auto policy, umbrella insurance will cover the difference up to its coverage limit. To qualify, you must have a homeowners and auto policy that meets the requirements of the umbrella policy. 

Let’s take a look at an example of how this type of policy works. You are involved in a major auto accident that involves ten vehicles. You are determined to be the cause of the pileup. 

The total cost of the accident is $1 million. However, your auto policy only provides coverage up to $500,000. In this case, the umbrella policy will cover the gap between your liability and your auto coverage limit, which is $500,000.

What Does an Umbrella Policy Cover? 

An umbrella policy will generally cover anything that your existing home or auto policy covers, with much higher coverage limits. In addition, an umbrella policy covers legal expenses for liability, slander, false arrest, and malicious prosecution. 

Reach Out To Us

If you need umbrella insurance in Buffalo, NY, contact us at L & S Agency Inc. Our friendly agents will discuss your needs and help you select the best policy for your needs. 

Four signs that it’s time to make some changes to your home insurance coverage

Home insurance needs and details change over time. You shouldn’t think that you’ll never need to make any changes to your home insurance coverage after you’ve bought a policy.

At L & S Agency Inc., we can help you recognize when it’s time to update insurance coverage on your home in Buffalo, NY.

The following are four signs that it’s time to make some changes to your home insurance coverage:

You’ve invested in new home security features.

It’s a good idea to invest in a home security system to protect your family. Insurance savings are another great reason to have security features like surveillance cameras and home alarms installed in your home.

Home insurance providers often offer discounts on premiums to homeowners who have a home security system. 

You’ve gone into retirement.

It’s not uncommon for home insurance providers to offer discounts to retired homeowners. Retiring could also change your finances so that you want to adjust your deductible or coverage amount.

You should review your home insurance policy after retiring and may want to make some changes. 

Your home has recently been remodeled. 

Remodeling your home can increase your home’s value. This can make it so that you need to change the coverage amounts on your home insurance policy. Make sure you discuss your remodeling project with your home insurance provider. 

Your household includes a new canine member.

Dog bite injuries are one of the liabilities that are typically covered by home insurance. However, you have to let your home insurance company know that you have a dog to get coverage for such incidents. 

Give Us A Call

Homeowners in Buffalo, NY can call us at L & S Agency Inc. to get a quote on a policy. Get in touch with us today to buy the insurance coverage you need to protect your household financially.

Tips to prepare your car for winter

As the winter season approaches here in the snowy Buffalo, NY area, it’s important to make sure your car is ready for the cold weather and snow. Here are some tips from us at L & S Agency Inc. to help you prepare your car for winter.

Tips to prepare your car for winter

1. Check Your Tires

Make sure that your tires have enough tread on them and are properly inflated. This will ensure that you have better traction in snowy and icy conditions.

2. Change Your Oil

Get an oil change before the cold weather sets in so that your engine can stay lubricated and run more efficiently in colder temperatures.

3. Check Your Fluids

Top off all of your fluids, including windshield washer fluid, brake fluid, coolant, and power steering fluid to keep everything running smoothly throughout the season. 

4. Inspect Your Battery

Colder temperatures can put additional strain on an old or weak battery, resulting in a dead battery when you least expect it. Make sure you get yours checked out before winter sets in! 

5. Check Wiper Blades & Lights

Make sure your wiper blades are still functioning properly so that snow won’t impair visibility while driving in bad weather. Also, check all of your exterior lights to make sure they’re working correctly as well! 

By following these tips, you will ensure that your car is safe and prepared for winter driving! From what tips, or if you want to explore your auto policy, give us at L & S Agency Inc. a call today. We proudly serve the Buffalo, NY area and would be glad to help you find a policy that meets your needs and your budget.

Do Businesses Need Umbrella Insurance?

Umbrella insurance is protection designed to exceed the limits of your general liability coverage. Although a business may have commercial insurance, it’s not enough to cover catastrophic liability or potential losses from a lawsuit. Anyone interested in learning more about umbrella insurance for their business can count on the experts at L & S Agency Inc, serving the residents in and around the Buffalo, NY area.

Umbrella Insurance Protection 

Regardless of the limits of liability protection for commercial insurance, more is needed to provide comprehensive protection and peace of mind against risk. Anyone interested in securing reliable protection against liability should consider purchasing umbrella insurance. Customers with questions or needing assistance shopping for an umbrella policy that meets their business’s needs can count on our team of experts to provide them with the support they need. They can carefully assess each business’s current and potential future needs, recommend policies that provide adequate benefits, and offer a comprehensive solution.

Once a customer selects an umbrella policy, the agent can submit documents and information to help secure coverage quickly. Additionally, they can assist with any changes that may occur during the policy’s lifetime and with clean submissions. The goal is to ensure the business has coverage that prevents gaps and losses while giving the business owner peace of mind.

Get Information Today 

Anyone who owns a business in or around the Buffalo, NY area can count on L & S Agency Inc to provide them with the information, support, and education to help ensure they get the ideal umbrella insurance protection level. Call or stop by our office today to schedule a consultation with one of our insurance agents to get more information.

Things home insurance won’t cover

Home insurance provides the peace of mind most people require when it comes to their homes. It covers many things that can happen to damage your home, but not everything.  At L & S Agency Inc., serving the residents of Buffalo, NY, we understand that as independent insurance agents, we work for our customers.  We will do everything we can to ensure you have the right home insurance coverage. 

Home Insurance Exclusions

Flood

Floods cause an immense amount of damage all over the world every year. Only a few inches can cost thousands of dollars in damage to your home. Traditional home insurance does not cover water damage due to a flood. You can, however, purchase a flood insurance policy if you live where there is a danger of flooding. The National Flood Insurance Program offers flood insurance,

Owner neglect

The insurance carrier who holds your insurance expects that you will do the required maintenance to keep your home in good condition. What that means is that if your roof is old you need to replace it before it causes damage inside your home and they won’t pay for damage that results from it. If you get termites, the damage is your fault because you didn’t get your home treated for it. No coverage for wear and tear is included.

Earth movement

Earth movement covers several different potentially damaging events, including earthquakes, landslides, mudslides,  and sinkholes. You can, however, add this coverage to your policy if you have need of it. 

War

War, warlike or hostile actions are excluded from home insurance policies. Typically, it is assumed that this sort of damage would be so great that the insurance company would go bankrupt if they had to pay for this much damage. 

Get in touch with us

Call L & S Agency Inc, serving the greater Buffalo, NY community, for a no-obligation quote. 

Reasons You Should Consider Participating in a Defensive Driving Course

AT L & S Agency Inc, we are pleased to provide auto insurance to residents in the greater Buffalo, NY area. We strongly recommended to our customers that they participate in a defensive driving course. When you hear this, you may wonder why we encourage this. 

Here are a few benefits associated with participating in a defensive driving course:

You Can Learn to Drive Safely

One of the reasons why you should consider participating in a defensive driving course is so that you can learn to drive safely. No one is perfect, and everyone can learn. As such, there is always something new for you to learn by participating in one of these courses. 

You Can Decrease Your Chances of Being Involved in an Accident

Another benefit associated with participating in a defensive driving course is that you can decrease your chances of being involved in an accident. Statistics show that those who take defensive driving courses are involved in fewer accidents. 

You May Be Able to Get a Discount On Your Auto Insurance Policy

Lastly, many auto insurance companies offer you a discount if you participate in a defensive driving course or a safe driver driving course. This can be a great way to learn safe driving techniques while also possibly getting an auto insurance discount. 

Get or Update Your Auto Insurance Coverage

A defensive driving course may teach you new tips to help keep you safer on the roads, can help to decrease the chances of you being involved in an accident, and may be able to help you get a discount on your auto insurance policy. If you are in the market for a new auto insurance policy, the team at L & S Agency Inc, serving the greater Buffalo, NY area, would love to help you. Call or email us now to get started. 

How Does Umbrella Insurance Work for Boats?

Buffalo, NY residents are not obligated to purchase umbrella insurance for their boat policies, yet many people choose to do so.

This is because there are many benefits to this financial investment:

At its most basic, umbrella insurance coverage is designed to work alongside existing policies in a particular area. For example, if you already have boat indemnification, an umbrella policy will extend past the limits of what your standard insurance offers. 

Typically, umbrella insurance will provide benefits once the initial policy’s limitations have been breached, as it typically has higher limits and can extend to situations outside the purview of other insurance. Your L & S Agency Inc. representative can discuss the specifics with you in greater detail.

Because a boat is a costly investment, your potential for damage can be higher than with other possessions. In addition, a collision with another vessel can create significant financial outlay in the form of medical bills and property damage. 

Buffalo, NY boat owners can also be involved in wrecks on land during times when their watercraft is involved in transport. Guests can injure themselves while on board, causing injuries in need of medical care. These can also lead to lawsuits to recover lost wages and medical expenses. 

Accidents can occur when young adult children or passengers decide to take the boat for a spin. Storms can threaten your property, as can theft or vandalism. Investing in an umbrella insurance policy when the stakes are high removes the risk that such expenses will come out of pocket. 

Let Us Work For You

L & S Agency Inc. seeks to make sure you are properly insured in all aspects of life. Contact us today for more information via phone, the internet, or by stopping in person to speak with one of our agents.