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Personal Umbrella Policy

Protect yourself from the unexpected with our comprehensive New Jersey personal umbrella policy

Imagine being involved in a long and drawn-out lawsuit. You’ve exceeded the liability limits that either your auto or homeowners policy covers or you have no idea how you’ll be able to pay the rest of your legal fees.
Then you find out that they all could have been covered by insurance if you had spent only a few extra hundred dollars that year on a personal umbrella policy.

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What is a Personal Umbrella Policy?

A personal umbrella policy or personal liability umbrella policy, as it is also referred to, is a policy that provides an extra layer of liability coverage encompassing all properties the insured owns, as well as all vehicles/motorcycles/boats, etc. registered to them.
Even with higher-than-average limits of liability on homeowners and personal auto policies, those that are insured are still at risk for liability related incidents that could exceed the policy limits. In order to qualify for an umbrella policy, underlying coverage on cars must be at a minimum of 250/500/100 for liability and homes must have no less than $300,000 in liability coverage.

What Does A Personal Umbrella Policy Cover?

Personal umbrella policies cover all liability related occurrences. Coverage limits are provided in increments of $1 million, up to $5 million total. It exists for the purpose of protecting the insured against the excess cost of lawsuits due to car accidents or incidents where someone is hurt on the insured’s property. It covers anything above and beyond the liability limits you are already insured for under your auto and homeowners policies.
For example, if someone falls down a flight of stairs in your home and chooses to sue you, your personal liability umbrella will not be effective until the cost to defend yourself exceeds the $300,000 limit of liability you have on your homeowner’s policy.

Why Do You Need A Personal Umbrella Policy?

A personal umbrella policy is always the most beneficial to have when there are a greater number of risks. Here are a few examples:

  • Many different types of vehicles all belonging to the same named insured (boats, RVs, ATVs, cars, motorcycles, etc.) means different levels of liability coverage per vehicle. Wouldn’t it be nice to know you have an extra million or two in coverage available in case something catastrophic happens?
  • Big families with many drivers on the same policy. More drivers on the road at any given time means a greater chance that there could be a mishap.
  • Families with young and inexperienced drivers. Lack of experience and some initial nervousness could lead younger drivers to being involved in accident.
  • Families with very elderly drivers. Elderly drivers can have diminished eyesight, especially when driving at night, and slower reflexes, resulting in car crashes.
  • An insured that owns several properties and rents them out. If a renter moves into a property you own and gets hurt due to your negligence of the property’s upkeep, they could sue you.

InsureYourCompany has had over a decade of experience helping clients choose the right coverages for their lives. We take the time to identify our clients’ needs and find policies that provide not only exceptional coverage, but also reasonable pricing.

In New Jersey, a personal umbrella policy can provide extra liability coverage on top of your current homeowners and auto insurance policies. This policy activates once the liability limits of your other policies are used up, paying for costs associated with major legal fees and judgments in lawsuits. It applies to incidents with any vehicle, property, or recreational assets owned by the insured, providing protection against high liability claims exceed the primary insurance limits, ranging from $1 million to $5 million increments.

Personal umbrella policies are particularly beneficial for individuals who face higher liability risks. This includes families with multiple vehicles such as cars, boats, and RVs; households with numerous drivers, especially with young or elderly drivers who might be more prone to accidents; and property owners who rent out multiple properties. Such coverage ensures that substantial financial resources are available in the event of lawsuits or major claims, providing peace of mind and significant financial protection.

In order to be eligible for a personal umbrella policy in New Jersey, you need to first have underlying liability coverage that meets specific minimums. The usual minimum liability coverage for auto insurance is 250/500/100, while homeowners insurance generally requires at least $300,000 in coverage. These requirements guarantee that the umbrella policy functions as a continuation of coverage once the primary policy limits have been met or surpassed.