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Does Car Insurance Cover Items in a Car?

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Vehicles don’t just transport people. They’re also used to move personal property and belongings. Perhaps you take your laptop to and from work. Maybe you sometimes leave your kids’ bikes in the back of the truck after spending an afternoon at the park. Alternatively, you may transport expensive personal property in your car if you’re moving from one house to another. In any case, coverage for items in the car is important as it protects your assets in the event they’re stolen or damaged. 

Car Insurance and Personal Property Coverage

The bad news is that auto insurance doesn’t cover personal items in your vehicle. This holds true even if you have a comprehensive auto insurance policy. The good news is that these personal items should be covered under your homeowners or renters insurance policy. However, the amount of compensation you’ll get after a loss depends on the terms and conditions in your policy as well as the deductible you set when you purchase your insurance policy.

What’s more, many insurers have lower coverage limits for items that are damaged outside your home, which means you may not be able to count on compensation to cover the full cost of the lost or damaged items. Be sure to take precautions when transporting personal property and parking your vehicle in and around Overland Park, KS.

Need More Information? Fortress Insurance Agency Is Here to Help

Fortress Insurance Agency serves car owners in and around Overland Park, KS, offering multiple forms of insurance to residents of all ages and walks of life. Call us to find out more about your policy options or to request price quotes for specific policies or policy bundles.

Is There a Deadline to File an Auto Insurance Claim After an Accident?

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After an accident, you might think you can wait a while to file a claim, but the window isn’t as wide open as you may assume. Auto insurance policies don’t give unlimited flexibility, and waiting a long time to file a claim will complicate the process for you. The rules vary based on your insurance company, yet the general idea is the same: report the accident promptly so the claim can be handled with accurate information.

How the Timing of a Report Works After a Crash

Auto policies through Fortress Insurance Agency, serving Overland Park, KS, usually expect drivers to notify the insurer “within a reasonable time.” It sounds vague, but it still carries weight. A reasonable time typically means contacting the insurer as soon as it’s safely possible after the accident, not weeks later when details start to slip away. Kansas doesn’t set a single statewide deadline for reporting accidents to insurers, so each company sets its own expectations in its policies. Some want immediate notice, others allow a short buffer, but none recommend delaying.

Why Waiting Creates Problems

When a claim is received late, the insurer may struggle to confirm what actually occurred. Damage changes as a vehicle sits, witnesses become harder to reach, and paperwork drifts out of order. If the delay affects the investigation, the company might question or reduce coverage. It’s not about penalties; it’s simply harder to evaluate a situation that’s no longer fresh. Even minor accidents can turn messy if the timeline stretches too far.

Additionally, Kansas drivers are required to report an accident to the Kansas Department of Transportation if the accident involves injury, death, or property damage of $1,000 or more.

Call Us for Information

If you’re involved in a crash, it’s best to report it right away. The insurer doesn’t require every detail on the first call, just the basics to open the claim. Stick to the facts and don’t speculate on fault. Once the claim is filed, gather documents, photos, and repair estimates. For clarity on your specific policy’s expectations, contact your insurance representative first at Fortress Insurance Agency, serving Overland Park, KS, who can help you avoid timing issues.

Motorcycle Insurance: How Much Bodily Injury Coverage Do You Need?

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Motorcyclists are at an increased risk of suffering from severe injuries because they don’t have the same protection as drivers in cars do. There are no airbags that will be deployed or seatbelts keeping them on the bike. Flying through the air and landing on the pavement during an accident can cause a broken leg or worse. It’s important to ensure you have proper motorcycle insurance in Overland Park, KS. 

State Requirements

Kansas requires all motorcyclists to have insurance that meets state guidelines. You must have bodily injury coverage that provides $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident. It should also provide $25,000 in property damage coverage per accident. Agents at Fortress Insurance Agency can help you learn more about minimum requirements. 

No-Fault State

Kansas is considered a no-fault state, which means that drivers are also required to have personal injury protection, commonly called PIP. POP covers medical expenses and lost wages for you and your passengers if you’e in an accident, regardless of fault. All policies sold in the state must include PIP. 

The limits for PIP are surprisingly low. PIP is supposed to cover medical expenses, yet the state minimum requirement is only $4,500 for medical expenses and treatment. This can easily be exhausted in one emergency room visit after a motorcycle accident. 

Upgraded Coverage

Many motorcycle owners opt for higher bodily injury coverage and a larger PIP amount to ensure they’re covered after an accident. You can get thousands of dollars’ worth of coverage, so you can focus on recovering instead of worrying about medical bills. 

Here at Fortress Insurance Agency, we understand the risk of riding a motorcycle. One accident can ruin you financially. Our agents will work with you to help you get the coverage you need before an accident happens. Contact us when you’re ready to learn more. We’re currently serving the Overland Park, KS, area. 

What To Do After a Workplace Injury

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If you’re an Overland Park, KS, business owner, one of your responsibilities is to protect your business assets with commercial insurance. Many company owners need guidance to help choose an ideal insurance policy. Our team at Fortress Insurance Agency can meet with you and help you discover the best insurance options for your business. We’ve been working with companies like yours for many years.

What To Do After a Workplace Injury

One of the important types of commercial insurance your company needs is workers’ compensation insurance. Inform every employee at the time of their employment that this program is available to them. Your employees must understand the steps to take when they are injured on the job. If these steps are not followed, the workers’ compensation payment can be denied.

According to the legal news site Bench Laws, the first step an injured employee must take is to report the injury to their supervisor. Your company must develop a documentation procedure for recording the details of each employee injury, and this documentation should be completed as soon as possible after an injury occurs. If the injury needs medical attention, the employee should have it attended to as soon as possible. After the injury is evaluated, it will be up to a medical professional to determine when the employee can safely return to work.

Call Us for Your Appointment

Your business represents your hopes and dreams, and it’s a livelihood for your employees. Our team at the Fortress Insurance Agency understands the importance of safeguarding your business assets. Clients in the Overland Park, KS, area have learned they can rely on us for all their insurance needs. Call us for an appointment and let us have the privilege of working with your company.  

When Does Motorhome Insurance Cover Towing?

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Towing a motorhome can be a stressful and expensive task, especially when towing a small vehicle is already costly. Before assuming you’ll need to cover the expenses on your own, it’s worth reviewing your motorhome insurance policy to see if towing costs are covered.

Will My Motorhome Insurance Pay for a Tow in Overland Park?

As with most insurance-related questions, the answer depends on your policy. At Fortress Insurance Agency, we can tell you that many policies include some towing coverage. For example, if you were in an accident, standard insurance typically covers the cost of towing your motorhome to a nearby repair shop.

However, if something goes wrong on the road, such as a mechanical failure, you may not have towing coverage unless your policy includes roadside assistance. To ensure towing coverage for non-accident-related incidents, you would need either a comprehensive policy with roadside assistance benefits or an add-on specifically for roadside assistance. It’s also important to check which events are covered, as towing benefits often apply to situations like flat tires or engine failures.

How to Find the Right Motorhome Coverage

If you’re searching for towing coverage in Overland Park, KS, consulting an expert can make all the difference. Towing a motorhome involves more than simply hooking it up to another vehicle. You need to account for the motorhome itself and the property inside, which could be damaged during transport. Understanding what your policy excludes can help you make contingency plans.

At Fortress Insurance Agency, we provide clear information about when you can file a claim for towing, whether your motorhome breaks down in your driveway or hundreds of miles from the nearest repair facility. Contact us today for more details or to request a quote!

Does Home Insurance Cover Storm Damage?

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Kansas has experienced a wide range of storms in recent years, including tornadoes, strong winds, flooding, hail, and severe winter weather. These events have caused significant damage, making it essential to have the right type of insurance to protect your home and belongings. Home insurance is crucial for any Overland Park, KS, homeowner who wants to safeguard their dwelling against storm damage, but it doesn’t cover every type of severe weather.

What’s Covered?

Home insurance typically covers many types of storm-related damage, such as lightning, high winds, and tornadoes. It also generally insures against losses caused by large hail, although cosmetic damage may be excluded. If lightning or strong winds cause a tree to fall and hit your residence, home insurance will usually cover the damage. Additionally, the removal of the fallen tree is often covered, and tree replacement may be included, though limits and deductibles apply.

What Isn’t Covered?

Home insurance generally doesn’t cover storm damage resulting from a lack of maintenance. For example, it won’t protect you from losses caused by an old, deteriorating roof that leaks during heavy rain. Home insurance also doesn’t cover flooding; you’ll need a separate flood insurance policy for that. Similarly, it won’t cover damage to cars or recreational vehicles, even if they’re parked in your driveway. To protect vehicles during a severe storm, you’ll need comprehensive auto or RV coverage.

Fortress Insurance Agency offers reliable home insurance as well as other types of policies that can be helpful after storms, such as flood, auto, and RV coverage. Our local independent agency in Overland Park, KS, helps customers compare policies from multiple insurers to find the most suitable coverage. To request a quote or get answers to your insurance questions, contact Fortress Insurance Agency by calling 402-201-6931 today!

Healthcare Coverage for Pre-existing Conditions

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If you have a major chronic condition, you’re not alone. Nearly 130 million Americans have at least one chronic disease, and over 40% of Americans have two or more conditions. The good news is that healthcare plans available through the marketplace cannot discriminate against individuals with pre-existing conditions or charge higher premiums than they would for someone without a health condition.

What Are Grandfathered Plans?

However, some health insurance plans started on or before March 23, 2010, that are exempt from following these rules. These plans are known as "grandfathered plans" because they were established before the passage of the Affordable Care Act (ACA). If you enrolled in one of these plans before March 23, 2010, your insurer may increase your premiums or even cancel your policy due to a pre-existing medical condition. Additionally, if your health insurance is provided by your employer and the employer purchases coverage from a grandfathered plan, you may need to seek separate coverage for a pre-existing condition.

Understanding Coverage Limitations

It’s also important to note that not all healthcare plans cover every health condition. Carefully review your plan to understand what is and isn’t covered. In some cases, you may need to switch to a new plan or purchase additional coverage to ensure you receive the healthcare you need at a cost you can afford.

Contact Fortress Insurance Agency for Assistance

At Fortress Insurance Agency in Overland Park, KS, we have years of experience helping residents find and purchase insurance policies tailored to their needs. Contact us today to learn more about our policies and policy bundles, or to request a price quote. We’re happy to answer your questions and provide personalized assistance to help you secure the proper coverage.

What to Do Immediately After a Boating Accident: Insurance and Safety Steps

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A day out on the water can take an unexpected turn in the blink of an eye. Whether it’s a minor collision or something more serious, knowing what to do immediately after a boating accident can make a significant difference. At Fortress Insurance Agency in Overland Park, KS, we want you to feel confident and prepared if the unexpected ever happens during your time on the water.

Prioritize Safety First

Your first priority should always be safety. Check on everyone aboard your vessel and any others involved. If anyone is injured, call for emergency assistance immediately. Even if the accident seems minor, it’s important to report it to the appropriate authorities, especially if there’s significant damage or injuries. Staying calm and collected will help you think clearly in a stressful situation.

Exchange Information and Document the Scene

Just like in a car accident, you’ll need to exchange contact and insurance information with all involved parties. Take photos of the damage, the location, and any visible injuries. These images can be crucial when filing your insurance claim. If there are witnesses nearby, ask for their contact information as well—neutral accounts can help clarify what happened.

Notify Your Insurance Provider

Once everyone is safe and you’ve gathered the necessary information, contact your insurance provider as soon as possible. Starting the claims process promptly can make it smoother and more efficient. Be honest and detailed when sharing your account of the incident.

Boating accidents can be stressful, but having the right coverage helps ease the burden. To ensure you’re fully protected before your next outing, contact Fortress Insurance Agency in Overland Park, KS. We’ll help you navigate boat insurance with confidence and peace of mind.

When is the Best Time to Purchase Life Insurance?

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Deciding on an insurance plan can often be overwhelming, particularly when faced with choices on policy coverage, added options, and so on. Specifically, for life insurance, people often overlook the age-appropriate time to purchase a policy. However, residents of Overland Park, KS, need not waste time guessing. Our agents at Fortress Insurance Agency are more than willing to assist.

Deciding When to Purchase – Young or Old?

No matter your age, a life insurance policy provides an extra layer of financial protection for your loved ones and named beneficiaries. The timing of the purchase may vary, depending on your age and specific circumstances. Whether you are at an early stage of life or advanced in years, it is never too premature or too overdue to secure coverage.

Purchasing at a Young Age – Why It’s a Good Idea

There are sensible reasons to have life insurance, especially if you have a family. In the unfortunate event of your passing, a life insurance policy can aid your beneficiary in managing expenses. This is especially significant for single-income families with young children, as insurance can ease the financial burden on the family.

Purchasing at an Advanced Age – Why It’s Still Worthwhile

Although the premium may be higher in your later years, such as nearing or after retirement, there are several reasons to consider a policy still. These include having dependents who still rely on you, using the insurance to offset inheritance or estate taxes, supporting your favorite charity, and aiding in covering funeral costs.

Reach Out to Us

If you’re a resident of Overland Park, KS, considering life insurance, don’t go through the process alone. Leave the legwork to our team at Fortress Insurance Agency. Our expert agents can sift through the details and present you with the information necessary for you to make an educated decision. Get in touch with us. We’re here to assist.

The Role of Dash Cams in Supporting Your Insurance Claim

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Experiencing a car accident is stressful enough without having to deal with disputes over what actually happened. That’s where dash cams can make a significant difference. At Fortress Insurance Agency, serving the Overland Park, KS community, we’ve seen firsthand how valuable dash cam footage can be when it comes to filing and supporting an auto insurance claim.

Clear Evidence When You Need It Most

In the moments after an accident, it can be challenging to recall every detail. Additionally, each party involved may have a different version of the events. A dash cam provides an unbiased account of what actually occurred. Whether you were rear-ended at a stoplight or had to swerve to avoid a reckless driver, video footage can be the key to proving your side of the story.

Faster Claims Process

Having clear evidence can also help speed up the claims process. Insurance adjusters often have to piece together information from police reports, witness statements, and photos. Dash cam video can fill in the blanks quickly, leading to a faster resolution and, in many cases, a smoother experience overall. This means less back-and-forth and more assurance.

Protection Against Fraud

Unfortunately, insurance fraud is more common than many people realize. Some drivers stage accidents or make false claims, hoping for a payout. A dash cam can help protect you from becoming a victim of these schemes by providing hard evidence to back you up.

If you’re considering adding a dash cam to your vehicle or want to know how it might impact your coverage, reach out to Fortress Insurance Agency, serving the Overland Park, KS area. We’re here to help you stay informed and protected every mile of the way.