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Twin Bridges Insurance Agency

1881 Western Avenue, Suite 210
Albany, NY 12203

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Common Mistakes When Insuring Your Business

At NY Twin Bridges Insurance Agency, we’ve seen our Albany, NY customers make too many commercial insurance mistakes to count. That’s why we’re providing you with this in-depth look at some of the most common business insurance mistakes being made today.

Lacking Proper Vandalism Insurance

Vandalism is a common problem for many businesses and one that can be hard to pay for when it occurs. As a result, it is important to purchase high-quality vandalism insurance to protect your business from this serious problem.

Business Disruption Insurance

When your business suffers from a disruption of its services, this type of coverage helps cover your expenses until you start operating again. It isn’t inexpensive to get this type of insurance, but it is necessary if something serious breaks down.

Lacking Employment Practices Liability Insurance

This type of insurance, otherwise known as EPLI, protects you from serious employment claims. For example, if your employees sue you for wrongful termination, EPLI insurance will ensure that you don’t end up paying thousands or more in a lawsuit.

Hiring Multiple Agents

Anyone who has multiple policies from many different agents is making a huge mistake. You should try to avoid this kind of behavior as it can lead to coverage gaps or cost you hundreds of dollars more every month. Concentrate your commercial insurance with one agent.

Ignoring Cyber Liability

Do you have any type of presence on the internet, such as an online store? Then you need cyber liability. Getting hacked and costing your customers serious money will put you in a difficult, and expensive legal situation. Cyber liability insurance will protect you in this instance.

Don’t Make These Mistakes!

When you work with us at NY Twin Bridges Insurance Agency, you can get the kind of high-quality commercial insurance that your Albany, NY firm deserves. We will help you not only avoid these mistakes but others like them. Let us help you succeed.

Things You Need to Know About Commercial Vehicle Insurance

If your business has commercial vehicles as part of a fleet, then you need to consider getting commercial vehicle insurance. The insurance will need to cover both your commercial vehicle and the driver, even if they are using their own vehicle for work. Their personal insurance is usually not enough to cover any incidents. To better protect your business in Albany, NY, you need to invest in commercial vehicle insurance. These are just a few things to consider when you are looking to purchase some through NY Twin Bridges Insurance Agency. 

  • The lowest price doesn’t usually come with the best coverage. While looking for the lowest rate will help your bottom line in the present, if you ever need to use your commercial vehicle insurance, it will hurt you in the long run. You want to find the best policy at the lowest price and just because it is inexpensive doesn’t mean it is a good policy. 
  • Get the right insurance for your vehicles. There are many different types of insurance policies based on the type of vehicles you have and their use. Make sure you get a policy that meets your needs specifically. 
  • You should take the time to screen your drivers. Since you will be putting these people on your policy, in order to keep your costs low, you need to make sure you have reliable drivers. This means they should have a clean driving record. You should make it a standard to check these things before adding them to your policy. 

Now that you have a better idea of what to look for in a commercial vehicle insurance policy, you can start getting quotes. Contact NY Twin Bridges Insurance Agency, serving Albany, NY, for your free quote and more information. 

How Does Retirement Insurance Work?

Many people work with one company throughout their entire professional life, and one of the many benefits of this career path is the inclusion in their employer’s retirement plan and pension. Retirement insurance, the coverage additional to Social Security, is mainly associated with employment of one’s own or a spouse. Retirement insurance is one part of total insurance coverage that must be thoroughly understood and considered prior to the actual day of retirement. The insurance professionals at NY Twin Bridges Insurance Agency are here to help our clients in the greater Albany, NY area understands it all. 

In addition to retirement, divorce and death of a spouse are the two most impactful events on retirement plans and insurance. It is unwise to assume that all claims to Retirement Insurance as null and void in the event of divorce. It is different in every case, and the main deciding factor is the length of the marriage. If the marriage spans decades and is ended close to retirement age, it is possible that the spouse may have a claim for the benefits of the Retirement Insurance. If the marriage has lasted one or two years, it is a lot less likely that the former spouse will be able to claim any of the benefits. 

Retirement Insurance can make a very large difference in the way that retirement is spent and how stable and secure it will be. As each case is different, it is important to meet with an insurance professional to understand what your benefits are and how to use them.

If you are located in the Albany, NY area and have questions, contact us at NY Twin Bridges Insurance Agency to learn more about how we can help you to better understand how Retirement Insurance will affect you.

 

What Happens When You Lose Your Job and Your Life Insurance Isn’t Portable?

If you have a life insurance policy through your employer, you may think that you are set even if you leave or lose your job. However, this is something that may employers do not tell you about. According to NY Twin Bridges Insurance Agency, if your policy is a non-portable policy, you may have to start all over with life insurance if you leave your job in Albany, NY or lose it for any reason. 

When a life insurance policy is not portable, that means you cannot take it with you if you are no longer employed with your company. The thing about enrolling in life insurance through your employer is that it is easy. Generally, if you enroll within your new hire window, you are approved with no questions asked. That means no matter what is going on with your health, you are covered. However, if you leave and need to get another policy, there is no automatic enrollment and over time, life insurance will get more and more expensive. If you change jobs several times over the course of 10 or 12 years, you will find out that most policies are not portable and the cost for each new policy is increasing every time. If you do not get offered life insurance at a new job, you will need to consider a personal policy that you can always keep with you no matter what happens, which may be the better option anyway. 

If you have recently lost your job and were not aware that you also lost your life insurance coverage, you may want to consider getting another life insurance plan that can better protect you and the ones you love. Contact NY Twin Bridges Insurance Agency serving Albany, NY to learn more about your life insurance options. 

Commerical Auto Insurance Keeps Your Delivery Business On Track

Maybe your Albany, NY business started out in your garage with just your minivan available for deliveries. Now it’s booming and you’ve had to hire a couple employees to keep up with demand.  However, it may also be time to add commercial auto insurance. NY Twin Bridges Insurance Agency reminds you why driving your personal vehicle can throw a wrench into your goals.

Commercial Auto Protects Your Drivers

Your personal auto insurance only covers you in the case of an accident. If you have an employee using the van to deliver goods around town, a commercial auto insurance policy will cover their medical bills if they are involved in an accident. Also, it removes any confusion over whose insurance will pay for repairs for the vehicle, even if it was your driver’s responsibility. Instead of waiting for red tape to be sorted out, the van will be repaired and you’ll be back to making money.

Extended Liability Fights off Potential Claims

When your vehicle drives around town with the company logo on the door, there is a perception that there’s a deep pocket paying for the entire production. With commercial auto insurance, you also receive liability coverage generally above the standards required by a personal policy. Your insurance company will be able to handle most greedy claimants without interrupting the cash flow of the business.  It helps to create a confident state of mind for you while protecting your investments and savings accounts.

Running a small business in Albany, NY is certainly not simple.  However, when you purchase your commercial auto insurance from NY Twin Bridges Insurance Agency, many of your questions and concerns regarding your delivery vans will be addressed by our friendly and knowledgeable agents.

Defenses for a Stop Sign Violation

If a police officer pulls you over and accuses you of running a stop sign, you may think that there is no way you can fight the ticket. After all, it is your word against theirs. However, a stop sign violation can result in your auto insurance rates increasing, as well as costing you money for a fine. Fortunately, there are a few defenses you can use for this type of violation. Here are a few defenses you can use for a stop sign violation in the Albany, NY area.

The Sign Was Obstructed

In some cases, a tree or other item may have been obstructing the sign. If you could not see the sign, you may have a defense. Be sure to take pictures of the obstructed sign to prove your case.

The Police Office Wasn’t Positioned To See You Stop

In some cases, you may stop a bit behind the stop sign line. If a police officer is hidden down a side street, they may have not been at the right angle to see you stop a few feet back from that line. You can use this defense in court by taking pictures of the angle the cop would have seen and showing why they could not have seen you stop from there.

It Was Unsafe to Stop

The last defense you have to a stop sign violation is that is was unsafe to stop. Was it pouring down rain and you had someone following behind you too closely when you ran the stop sign? If so, you may have a defense. If you stopped at the sign, the driver behind you may have slid into you and caused an accident. These cases are hard to prove but you may be able to convince a judge you didn’t stop to protect yourself from an accident or injury.

If you have received a ticket for a stop sign violation and your insurance rates have increased because of it, you may be looking around for a new policy. NY Twin Bridges Insurance Agency, serving the greater Albany, NY area, would love to help you with all of your auto insurance needs. Swing by our office or give us a ring today for a price quote.

What is the Difference Between Straight and Term?

Life insurance is a protection for yourself and your family in the unexpected instance of your death. There are two types of life insurance- whole, which is also referred to as permanent- and term life insurance. Below, find what each one entails, how they are different and what they cover. The two major differences is that term is a policy that is determined for a set amount of time and whole is to protect you for your entire life.

Term Life Insurance

Term life insurance is referred to as "term" because for the time, or "term" that you are paying your premium, you are paying for the cost of your death benefit for your family or beneficiaries. Term life insurance is usually pretty affordable, with premiums averaging around $30 a month for a healthy person in their twenties or thirties. Term life insurance only provides a death benefit. During this time, the insurance company may contest any claim that they feel is fraudulent. Most life insurance holders purchase term life insurance policies for basic life insurance needs.

Whole Life Insurance

Whole life insurance premiums are much higher- up to four times as high- than term ones because they add up to a cash value along with the death benefit in the policy. A portion of the premium is put to the side in savings for each payment, which accrues interest over time and can be borrowed against. Whole life insurance policies are usually better for individuals that have a high amount of wealth, complex financial situations, and /or assets to protect or may need the cash value to borrow against while they are still living.

Contact one of the agents at NY Twin Bridges Insurance Agency to help you understand the ins-and-outs of life insurance. Call or stop by for a free quote today.

Does my business need commercial insurance?

There can be a lot of details to consider when starting a new business. From choosing a location to setting up advertising, there are plenty of things to do.  In the middle of considering everything, however be sure to consider your commercial insurance needs.   

Commercial insurance actually includes several different types of insurance that are used by businesses.  This can include commercial auto insurance in which a policy is written specifically for company-owned cars and/or vehicles that are being used on a part-time basis for a business.  Another common coverage is commercial property insurance that insures the structure of a store, office, or manufacturing facility along with the contents of the building.

it can be difficult to know when it’s time to invest in commercial insurance, however. Any business that has assets such as inventory or heavy equipment that cannot be easily replaced needs to have this coverage.  In fact, most small businesses start with small commercial policies that cover large equipment and their inventory.  Eventually, these policies can be expanded to include additional assets, umbrella insurance, and other coverage.

Commercial auto insurance should be added as soon as your company has a dedicated car that is used for the business. Standard auto policies rarely cover vehicles that are being used primarily for a business, making it a bad idea to simply rely on a personal policy or the personal policies of your employees.

If you think it’s time for your business to make the investment in a commercial insurance policy, then call the agents at NY Twin Bridges Insurance Agency. They have years of experience helping their business clients find the policy that is right for them.

 

Riding Motorcycles in NY: Why it’s Better when Insured

A motorcycle trip can be the trip of a lifetime, but it can be ended all too quickly, especially if you aren’t properly insured. NY Twin Bridges Insurance Agency strives to make sure that every driver on the road has the proper insurance plan to suit their needs. This is because, while a motorcycle is the perfect vehicle to represent ‘freedom’ while driving down the highway, all of that freedom could disappear in the blink of an eye. It could be a traffic collision that leaves your motorcycle damaged and in need of repair (or worse – completely wrecked), it could be a serious medical bill as a  result of the accident, or it could even be a suspended license, thereby limiting your ability to travel not just for fun, but also for your job. Using NY Twin Bridges Insurance Agency’s online services however can help you overcome the unfortunate status of an uninsured rider in just minutes. Even if you didn’t find what you want here, it’s certainly worth trying to avoid crippling financial debt.

And just in case any of your motorcycle riders thought that having insurance and a license was enough to be able to ride the highway in proper adherence to the law, think again – in the state of New York, all motorcycle riders and passengers are required by law to wear both a helmet and a pair of protective goggles (both must be up to a certain standard of quality and safety in order to qualify under the law, mind you). It may seem like a bit of a pain to have to wear one, but they can be life saving.

The law varies from state to state, so if you have any questions, contact NY Twin Bridges Insurance online or by phone at (518) 608-5797. Whether you’re from Albany, Ithaca, New York City, or even from out of town, we are happy to help.

How can commercial insurance help small businesses?

Typically, when you think of commercial insurance, you think of big businesses or commercial properties with a lot to protect. While these types of businesses do need insurance to protect their assets, they aren’t the only businesses that need protecting. Even small businesses can benefit from commercial insurance and should consider purchasing commercial insurance.

The biggest reason for a small business to get commercial insurance is to protect the assets in your business. This is particularly important if you have property or products to protect your business. For example, property insurance can be used to protect your products as well as the physical property where your business is located. Insurance is also used to protect any employees you have working in the business.

Some small business owners operate out of their homes and think their business is already protected. Unfortunately, not all homeowners’ insurance policies protect small businesses. So in order to get the full protections you need, your business needs a separate policy, even if you operate out of your home.

Insurance is about protection, and even sole proprietorships need protection. By getting the proper insurance for your business, you can keep from getting into trouble down the road. Make sure your business has the right insurance so you can protect your business while you grow it. Different businesses have different insurance needs. Since there are so many different types of and uses for commercial insurance, it’s important to make sure you choose the right insurance for your business. 

For more information about commercial insurance to help your small business, contact the NY Twin Bridges Insurance Agency today.