You're living in a hi-rise condo, 20th floor. The sewer is in the basement. No need to worry about it backing up. Drip! Drip! Drip! Oh, no, there is water coming thorugh the ceiling right unto your new maple walnut dining table! Is this covered under my insurance?
When it comes to sewer back-up situations, most property owners think of the black sludge that covers a basement after a sump pump is outrun by a severe rainstorm. However, even if your home is nowhere near ground level, sewer back-up insurance can cover your costs if escaping water damages your property. Without such protection, you could find yourself in a mess - both literally and financially!
Sewer back-up insurance typically covers you for losses or damage caused by water that has accidentally escaped from a sewer, drain, storm drain, sump, septic tank, eavestrough or downspout. Many property insurance policies limit or exclude coverage for these types of losses.
Whether you own or rent your home, adding a sewer back-up endorsement to your property policy can cover the cost of damages and clean up after this type of disaster.
Talk to us. We'll explain what your policy covers and help provide protection that's right for you!
Many home-based businesses are either underinsured or uninsured because the owners thought their business activities were covered under their homeowners policy.
If you run a business out of your home, don't automatically assume your Homeowners's, Condominium or Tenants policy has you covered. It doesn't. In fact, unless your insurance company is aware of your home-based business, you may even void your home policy.
As a business owner, you're exposed to insurance risks that aren't covered by your homeowner's policy.
* If your computer is stolen, you may find that it's not covered by your homeowner's policy because business property is excluded;
* If a delivery person slips and falls when delivering a package, you could be sued and find out you're not covered for injuries associated with business deliveries;
* If your house burns down, you may find that your fire coverage is void because you didn't tell the insurance company that you were using your home for business.
Fortunately, it's easy and affordable to protect yourself and your business by adding a Home-Based Business extension to your property policy.
For most home-based businesses, this extension is often what you need to protect your property and cover any liability exposure arising from your home business. Call us today to get started.
Hoever, for professionals, salespersons or providers of specialized services, you may be exposed to different risks. We'll take the time to explain your options and make sure you get the best protection at a competitive price.
Your business is more than a job; it's part of your life. Even a small home operation needs protection against the risks of doing business. Call us to make sure you are properly protected.
The number and type of tickets you have received while driving your vehicle, whether in Ontario or outside of the Province, can have a major impact on your insurance rate and limits the options available to you. All tickets that you receive under the Highway Traffic Act, Insurance Act or Criminal Code appear on your driver abstract and will ultimately affect your insurance rate. It doesn’t matter if demerit points were assigned.
A ll insurance have access to ordering a driver abstract, also known as a motor vehicle record (MVR) through the Ministry of Transportation, and can review your record when you’re purchasing a new policy or upon your current policy renewal.
If you accumulate enough tickets, you may find it difficult to obtain a quote for auto insurance through most (if not all) of the major insurance companies. You may also receive a letter from your current insurance company advising they will not be offering you a policy renewal.
At this point, you will be quoted a MUCH higher premium(as much as four times or even more) through the Facility Association, an association funded by all automobile insurance companies, to ensure that drivers who are unable to obtain insurance are able to obtain the coverage they need to legally drive their vehicles. If you also have accidents, watch out, the premium may even be higher.
There is an alternative however that may save you money, known as a “mid-market company”. Mid-market companies specialize in drivers who have too many tickets and cannot qualify for regular insurance, and their rate in most cases, is less expensive than the Facility Association.
If you have tickets and you are finding it difficult to obtain insurance, we have options for you.
Tickets are divided into 3 classifications: minor, major and serious convictions, which include criminal acts. All ticket classifications, regardless of demerit points, affect your insurance rate.
Parking tickets do not affect your driver’s license as they don’t appear on your driver’s abstract. However, if you do not pay your parking tickets, your license plate (renewal sticker) will not be renewed by the MTO.
The following is a list of the ticket classifications and the various types of minor, major, serious, and criminal code convictions that will affect your insurance rate:
- Crowding Driver’s Seat
- Defective Brakes
- Drivers License Violations
- Failing To Share The Road
- Failing To Signal
- Failure To Use Seatbelts
- Failing To Yield
- Failing To Yield To A Pedestrian
- Failure To Surrender Your License
- Failure To Produce Evidence Of Insurance
- Failure To Produce Or Carry Insurance Card
- Following Too Closely
- Headlight Offenses
- Improper Driving In A Bus Lane
- Improper Lane Change
- Improper Opening Of Door
- Improper Passing
- Improper Towing
- Improper Turn
- Improper Use Of Divided Highway
- Insecure Load
- Obstructing Traffic
- Overloading
- Use Of Radar Warning Device
- Improper Railway Crossing
- Speeding
- Stop Sign Infraction
- Traffic Light Infraction
- Trailer Passenger
- Unnecessary Noise
- Unnecessary Slow Driving
- Unsafe Move
- Unsafe Or Prohibited Turn
- Unsafe Vehicle
- View Obstructed
- Wrong Way On One Way
- Obstruction Of View
- Obstruction Of License Plate
- Driving without an up to date Inspection Sticker
- Speeding 60 mph over posted speed limit (or set limit in your province or state)
- Failing To Report An Accident
- Failure To Report Damage To Highway Property
- All Insurance Offenses
- False Statement Of Insurance
- Operating Motor Vehicle With No Insurance
- Driving With No Insurance
- Produce False Evidence
- Driving In Contravention Of Restrictions
- School Zone, Improper Passing Zone
- School Bus, Improper Passing, Fail To Stop
- Speeding in a construction zone is double the fines and points
- Driving Impaired, Blood Alcohol Over .08 (or set limit in your province or state)
- Careless Driving; Undue Care Or Attention
- Criminal Negligence
- Dangerous Driving
- Driving While Under Suspension
- Failing To Obey Police
- Failing To Remain At An Accident Scene
- Motor Manslaughter Racing
- Refuse Breathalyzer
- Stunting / Drag Racing
- All Serious Convictions; Can Be Unspecified
The majority of driving-related offences have demerit points assigned. It’s a misconception that drivers lose points due to convictions – in fact you gain demerit points. For example, if you have no driving offences, you have 0 demerit points.
Once you receive a demerit point, it will stay on your record for two years. However the infraction itself will remain on your driver abstract for three years and will impact your insurance rate during this time.
If you hold a Class G1 or G2 licence, you will be sent a warning letter if you obtain two demerit points. If you collect enough demerit points, your licence can be suspended by the MTO. At six points, you may have to attend an interview to discuss your record and provide reasons why your licence should not be suspended.
At nine points, your licence will be suspended for 60 days from the date you surrender it to the MTO. If you fail to surrender your licence, you could lose your licence for up to two years.
Once the suspension is over, the number of demerit points will be reduced to four and you will go through the same process again if you accumulate additional demerit points.
If you are fully licensed, you will be sent a warning letter if you obtain six demerit points. If you collect enough demerit points, your licence can be suspended by the MTO. At nine points, you may have to attend an interview to discuss your record and provide reasons why your licence should not be suspended.
At 15 points, your licence will be suspended for 30 days from the date you surrender it to the MTO. If you fail to surrender your licence, you could lose your licence for up to two years.
Once the suspension is over, the number of demerit points will be reduced to seven and you will go through the same process again if you accumulate additional demerit points. You may also be required to complete a driver re-examination (vision, written, road test).
Insurance companies may also take into consideration any licence suspensions you have received and they will therefore contribute to an even higher insurance rate.
- Failing to remain at the scene of a collision
- Failing to stop when signaled/requested by a police officer
- Careless Driving
- Racing
- Exceeding the speed limit by 50 km/h or more
- Failing to stop for a school bus
- Driver of a bus failing to stop at an unprotected railway crossing
- Exceeding the speed limit by 16 to 29 km/h
- Driving through, around or under a railway crossing barrier
- Failing to obey a stop sign, traffic control
- Failing to yield the right-of-way
stop/slow sign, traffic light or railway crossing signal
- Failing to obey the directions of a police officer
- Driving the wrong way on a divided road
- Improper driving when road is divided into lanes
- Failing to report a collision to a police officer
- Crowding the driver's seat
- Going the wrong way on a one-way road
- Crossing a divided road where no proper crossing is provided
- Driving or operating a vehicle on a closed road
