I’m Middle Class…Do I Really Need a Personal Umbrella Policy?

It is easy to assume that only a rich person would need an umbrella policy providing $1,000,000 or more liability protection.   You’d be surprised at how important an umbrella policy can be for an average member of the middle class.

An umbrella policy provides and additional layer of insurance above your auto and your home insurance liability coverage.  Consider the following scenarios where an umbrella policy would have been helpful:

-A $1.2 million settlement in NJ where in underinsured driver hit a policeman who was completing paperwork at a traffic stop.  The driver had to pay legal fees for his defense as well as the settlement.

- $1.76 million was awarded to a mother of her 8-year-old child in FL after a Waverunner accident that injured both of them.  The mother needed corrective surgery after the initial injuries were treated.

While the vast majority of umbrella claims are related to car accidents, an umbrella policy offers protection against accidents that occur at your home too – for example, in case you are sued because someone fell  down your stairs, or your deck collapses during a party. 

Another important feature of an umbrella policy is protection in a lawsuit for slander or defamation of character, or for decisions you might have made as a volunteer member of a nonprofit board.  If you regularly blog about controversial topics or rant on Facebook, an umbrella policy just might be a good idea to protect your assets from a litigious individual who believes you’ve damaged their reputation.

What is at stake?  Your retirement funds, investments, savings, and even future earnings are at risk if a judge allows for someone to garnish your wages to pay off a settlement.

The average cost of a Personal Umbrella policy found to be a relatively low price for the peace of mind and security it offers.   Consider letting us help you procure this important protection!