This is a great article that explains what a Liability Umbrella is, what it does, and if you may want it.
Do You Need Umbrella Insurance? What Is It and How Can It Help You?
BY Mila Araujo – Updated October 31, 2019 – Source
Today, lawsuits are everywhere. Lawyers are awarding larger amounts of money than ever.
Homeowners, auto, and watercraft policies have a limit on liability insurance. Liability insurance is the portion of a homeowners or auto policy that pays for expenses such as: an injured person’s:
- medical bills
- rehabilitative therapy,
- lost wages due to the negligence of the at fault person.
The liability portion of an insurance policy also covers a legal defense. Once you add up all of the medical expenses for the injured and the legal fees, the standard liability in one’s homeowners or auto policy is often not enough.
Almost every state has financial responsibility laws that will hold drivers accountable for bodily injury and property damage resulting from car accidents and the at-fault driver could be sued for the damage. Personal assets could also be seized following a lawsuit. Similar laws are also in force for home and watercraft owners.
Tip: If an unfortunate accident should happen that is your fault, do you have enough liability insurance from your current policies to cover your costs for negligence? Since no one can predict how much a judge may award an injured person, umbrella insurance is not just for the wealthy anymore, but a needed protection for every policyholder.
How Much Does Umbrella Insurance or Excess Liability Cost?
A personal liability umbrella insurance policy can give you extra liability protection without a large added cost. Depending on how much umbrella liability coverage you decide to purchase, it could cost as little as $100 a year for 1 million dollars of coverage. Additional liability insurance is inexpensive, especially compared to the value of the coverage get, paying $100 to $150 in exchange for $1 million of protection is the cheapest million dollars you’ll ever buy.
How Much Umbrella Excess Liability Insurance Do I Need?
Deciding how much umbrella liability insurance coverage you need must be based on your personal situation. It helps to have an understanding of what you stand to lose, and what risks you personally face.
3 Questions to Ask Yourself About Umbrella Liability and Your Risks
- What is the value of your assets?
- What is your potential loss from future income, should it be seized to pay a lawsuit?
- What risks do you think you might face?
Who Can Benefit from Umbrella Insurance?
People with established assets that they want to protect stand to lose significant amounts of money in a lawsuit. If you get sued you could lose any assets you have built up, including investments and all of your savings. However, anyone who has potential future earnings or assets may also be at risk.
“In a litigious society everything is up for grabs, that includes your savings, your investments, and in absence of assets, potentially your future.”
If I Have No Money or Assets Why Buy Umbrella Liability?
Even though you may be just starting out, or have no established assets, don’t think that a court will not award benefits to the third party if you are held liable for damages.
Warning: When you have no assets, you may be obligated to pay o? the damages awarded with your future earnings! If you are a student studying for your degree, or even if you expect to eventually be promoted and work your way up to a high paying position, your future earnings can be targeted.
How Much Coverage Does Umbrella Insurance Come With?
You select the amount of coverage you would like to have with umbrella insurance. Umbrella policy underwriting varies from insurance company to insurance company and may provide coverage for tens of millions of dollars, or as little as just one million dollars. It all depends on you and your budget. Also note that some companies can double or triple the coverage from 1 million dollars to two or three, but the cost of the coverage does not double or triple respectively. It is worth getting quotes for a few umbrella insurance limits before you make your decision.
What Are the Conditions of an Umbrella Policy?
In order for the umbrella policy to start paying out coverages, a primary liability policy must be in place and have maxed out on claim payments.
Example of How an Umbrella Liability Policy Works
For example, homeowners, condo’s and renters policies will offer primary liability. Cars have various minimum liability requirements depending on the state. State minimum amounts of coverage are not always sufficient to meet the minimum underlying requirements of the umbrella policy. You have to make sure that the underlying policy is carrying enough liability for your umbrella policy to kick in. Consider increasing your liability limits on the primary policy first and then adding the umbrella policy to supplement the additional coverage you need. This strategy may also save you money.
Umbrella Insurance Policies Require Minimum Underlying Insurance
Insurance companies will set the underwriting requirements for an umbrella policy. The umbrella policy wording will clearly state the minimum amount of liability required in order to qualify for the umbrella policy.