Six good reasons to have a personal umbrella

There is no question that the ownership and use of our autos present us with the greatest personal liability exposure. But our normal daily activities can expose us to the potential of a large liability claim that could threaten our personal assets.

One of the best ways to understand the need for a personal umbrella policy (PUP) is to review actual claim examples. Listed below are actual personal liability claims that illustrate the need for higher personal liability limits.

Loss #1

A couple hosted a pool party for their teenage children. They did not provide any alcohol, but it was brought by some of the guests and was available. After leaving the party, one of the guests was severely injured in an auto accident, and the injury was attributed to his consumption of alcohol. This case went to the Wisconsin Supreme Court which decided that anyone who sells or furnishes alcohol to a minor is responsible for the minor’s injuries as well as any injuries caused by the minor. The opinion of the court was that the homeowners should have prevented the consumption of alcohol by minors on their premises. Both the homeowners’ and personal umbrella policies responded to this claim.

Loss #2:

The insured hosted a party at his home. Among the guests was a family friend, who was also the insured’s financial advisor. The friend brought his wife, their 2-year-old child and their baby to the party. The insured gave them a jug of spring water to mix formula for the baby. The 2-year-old child also had a drink of the water. Shortly thereafter, both children became ill. The family left the party and took the children to the hospital. The hospital confiscated the water jug which was found to contain arsenic. An old label was found wrapped around the handle with the words “weed killer” printed on it. The insured had mistakenly given the jug, which was similar to the ones containing spring water, to the family. The baby died and the 2 year old survived after being in critical condition several days. The personal umbrella liability limit was paid.

Loss #3:

The insured’s 18-year-old son was driving his parents’ car to the store with his 19-year-old girlfriend. He left the roadway and hit a tree. The son told the police that another car cut him off, but there were no witnesses, and the girlfriend had no recollection of the accident. She was hospitalized for over a month with multiple fractures and internal injuries and received extensive physical therapy. The personal umbrella insurer settled with the girlfriend for the policy limit.

Loss #4:

An 18-year-old college student was struck by a fraternity paddle during initiation. He sustained facial fractures and blindness in his left eye. The fellow fraternity members and their families were sued. The court awarded $1,300,000.

Loss #5:

A 28-year-old engineer dove into a friend’s above-ground swimming pool, struck his head on the bottom and, as a result, became a quadriplegic. He sued both the homeowner and the pool manufacturer. The court found the homeowner to be 60 percent responsible and the pool manufacturer to be 40 percent responsible, and awarded $10,000,000.

Loss #6:

A babysitter left a 5-month-old infant unattended in a walker. The infant toppled the walker, struck her head on the floor and suffered brain damage. The parents of the infant sued the teenage babysitter and her parents. The court awarded the parents $11,000,000.

The above losses show the consequences of situations that can quickly exhaust the liability limits of the underlying policies.

For less than the cost of a cup of coffee a day, most folks can purchase a personal umbrella policy with a limit of $1,000,000, possibly $2,000,000 or even $5,000,000.

Why not allow us to quote this very important policy for you! Give us a call at 215-757-0816, or visit our website at www.websterins.com.

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas…..in Langhorne Boro anyway.  The Four Lanes End Garden Club’s Annual Holiday House Tour will be held  November 17th.  The tour begins at 11am and runs throughout the day, ending at 8:30pm.   Tickets are $18 and available at several local Langhorne shops (Judy’s Framing, Dance Ten, Langhorne Coffee Shop and St. Mary’s Thrift Shop) or from any FLEGC member.  You can visit them on facebook HERE or their website HERE. 

Check out their YouTube commercial!

FLEGC Holiday House Tour Commercial on YouTube

While you are out and about in Langhorne, Feel free to stop by our office! We would love to sit and chat about the tour and discuss getting a quote from us on your PA Auto insurance, or PA home owners insurance. 

Visit our website or Facebook page to request a quote. Or give us a call at 215-757-0816.  Follow us on twitter @websterins.

Are you listening??

Here’s a little poem by Joanna Fuchs to get you in the spirit:

Evergreen boughs that fill our homes
With fragrant Christmas scents,
Hearts filled with the loving glow
That Christmas represents;

Christmas cookies, turkeys stuffed,
Festive holly berry,
Little faces bright with joy,
Loved ones being merry;

Parties, songs, beribboned gifts,
Silver bells that tinkle,
Christmas trees and ornaments,
Colorful lights that twinkle;

Relatives waiting with open arms
To smile and hug and kiss us;
These are some of the special joys
That come along with Christmas.

From all of us here at the Webster Insurance Agency, we want to wish you and your family a Merry Christmas and the happiest of holidays. Please be safe in all your travels and have fun celebrating with friends and family.

Hello again fellow websurfers!

We’re back on track here on the Webster Insurance Agency blog, and we thank you for those who have checked in every now and then and leave a few comments here and there. Your feedback is extremely helpful to us as we continue to get you the best information about insurance.

Here’s a little tip for you all today: since we’re in the holiday season, make sure that you’re careful when you drive to Grandma’s house, cook that turkey/ham, or even deck the halls out with those new music-synched lights you’ve been dying to show the neighbors. That means, slow your roll on I-95, or read those cooking instructions 5 times over, or make sure your outlets can hold that extreme amount of wattage.

If you’re not like the crazy folks down the street that light their house up so much NASA can see it from their satellites, well, good.

Although, these are fun:

And if you wanted to go a little more techno:

Just kidding

But seriously, please be careful this holiday season. Even when you want to go after the last person who got the last tickle-me-elmo…  don’t.

Hey everyone, happy beautiful Friday!!

Are you or someone you know interested in getting a motorcycle? Check out this video of a harley up for sale

If interested, contact:

Dwight Webster
Webster Insurance Agency
200 S. Bellevue Ave.
Langhorne, PA 19047
215-757-0816
www.websterins.com

Have a great day guys, and an awesome weekend!!!!