Four Add-ons to Consider for Your Commercial Insurance Policy

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Your commercial insurance is a lifesaver, but it isn’t perfect. Luckily, you can add special coverage to boost your commercial insurance. Endorsements or add-ons are special policies you buy to fill gaps in your underlying policy.

If you are unsure about add-ons you should buy for your commercial insurance, NCIB Group Inc. in Chicago, IL is here to guide you.

Flood Insurance

Like home insurance, your standard commercial insurance doesn’t cover flood damage. The good news is that you can purchase flood insurance to protect your business premises and the contents inside against flood damage. Flood damage compensates you for losing your building and assets up to your coverage limit.

Earthquake insurance

While earth movements are common, the sad bit is that your standard commercial insurance doesn’t cover damage from mudslides, landslides, and other earth movements. Luckily, if your business is in an earthquake-prone area, you can purchase earthquake insurance to protect your business.

General liability insurance

Although general liability insurance isn’t mandatory in Illinois, all businesses should invest in this coverage. General liability insurance covers your business when it sustains bodily injury or property damage to others. Additionally, general liability insurance covers your business against lawsuits. Legal fees can be costly, especially when the case isn’t ruled in your favor. Thankfully, you don’t have to worry about liability claims if you have the relevant coverage.

Cyber liability coverage

While digitalization eases the operations of businesses, it’s also an opportunity for hackers to terrorize businesses. When cybercriminals are successful, your business can incur significant losses. However, investing in cyber liability insurance can lessen your financial burden.

Would you like to invest in commercial insurance? Are you a resident of Chicago, IL, or the surrounding area? Please contact NCIB Group Inc. for all your business insurance solutions.

Why Do Boaters Need Boat Insurance?

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Owning a boat requires a lot, including frequent maintenance. One thing that isn’t required, but is a must to have, is boat insurance. States make their own laws about boat insurance and whether it is mandated. The state of Illinois doesn’t require you to have this insurance, but it’s not a good idea to own a boat without it. You are vulnerable to many financial problems after a boating accident if you don’t have boat insurance. Call NCIB Group Inc. in Chicago, IL to ensure your boat is protected.

Protection in Case of Boating Accidents

Boats collide on the water occasionally, which can be a costly error to make. You could have an accident for which you are found to be at fault, and you would owe money for the damage to the other watercraft and any medical bills that the other party incurred. Without boat insurance, you would be on the hook for all of these bills from your own pocket. When you have boat insurance, the policy can pay for the many bills that are owed afterward. This can be a lot because of the rising costs of both repair and medical services. Boat insurance protects you financially from financial problems from these costs.

Coverage Types for Boats

Like auto insurance, different types of this coverage can go into one policy. You can get liability coverage that pays for the damages and medical bills due for the other party’s boat. You can also get comprehensive coverage that protects you in case of an off-water incident that happens to your boat. 

Cover Your Boat

If you don’t have boat insurance, it’s time to get a policy. Call us at NCIB Group Inc. in Chicago, IL.

Tips for making your home a safer place

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Having a home that feels safe is vital to your security. Safety means many things. It means safety from external danger and dangers within your home. At NCIB Group Inc. in Chicago, IL, we have more than 30 years of experience providing our customers with the right insurance coverage at the best possible price. 

Making your home a safer place begins inside your home. Many people are injured every year in trip and fall accidents. Making your home as clutter-free as possible is essential, especially on stairs. Keep them clear at all times and make sure that handrails are in place and in good repair. Provide adequate lighting in hallways, especially at night. If you must use extension cords, ensure they are placed where they can’t be tripped over. 

Check the batteries in your smoke detectors every six months to ensure they are operational. Some people find that changing them on the day that the time changes makes it easier to remember. Also, check your carbon monoxide detectors at the same time. 

If you use your fireplace, it is vital to get your chimney cleaned every year to avoid chimney fires. Getting your furnace cleaned every year allows your furnace to work at its most efficient and avoid malfunctions that can result in a fire. 

Poison control in your house makes it a safer place for adults, children, and pets. Placing cleaning supplies, weed and pest killers, antifreeze, and all medication where children and pets can not reach them and, if possible, under lock and key. If you have a firearm in your home, it should be unloaded and stored in a locked gun safe. 

Call NCIB Group Inc. in Chicago, IL to get a no-obligation quote for home insurance.

Three Steps to Take after a Car Crash

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If you own a vehicle, you may know the financial risk that may exist when you are involved in a road accident. Auto Insurance is a requirement for motorists in almost every state, for instance, in Chicago, IL. At NCIB Group Inc., our mission is to ensure you have auto insurance coverage for your unique car insurance needs.

Automobile accidents occur, even to careful drivers. However, if an accident happens, there are specific steps you can take to protect yourself. The following are three steps you can take after a car accident:

Ensure everyone is safe

The first thing to do after a car accident is to ensure the safety of everyone involved. Call 911 to get an ambulance to the scene if anyone is injured. Also, inform the police since it’s a requirement in Chicago, IL.

Moreover, the police will provide you with an accident report for your insurance company. After the accident, ensure everyone is in a safe location to protect them against further injuries. It could involve:

  • Moving everyone to the roadside
  • Putting on your hazard lights
  • Use your phone light or a flashlight if it’s dark
  • Setting up flares around the scene to alert other motorists about the accident

Exchange information and assess the scene

Once the safety of everyone is ensured, assess the accident scene and exchange information with the other motorists involved: exchange auto insurance information and contacts with the other drivers. The information will help if there are any compensation claims related to the accident.

To collect evidence, take pictures of the scene using your phone. Take pictures of:

  • Injuries of passengers and your own
  • Damages to the vehicles
  • The entire accident scene

Decide if you want to file a claim

You are not required to file a claim if the car accident was your fault. If the other driver is responsible, you must file a claim with their insurance company. After the accident, inform your insurer; they will file the claim on your behalf.

However, you still utilize your insurance in some instances, even though the accident was the other motorist’s fault. After an accident, our insurance agents at NCIB Group Inc. in Chicago, IL will guide you through the insurance claim process.

Contact NCIB Group Inc. in Chicago, IL for Auto Insurance

It’s advisable to have good auto insurance coverage for your vehicle to protect yourself after an accident. At NCIB Group Inc. in Chicago, IL, we are ready to offer auto insurance coverage solutions that fit your budget. Contact us today, and our agents will help you choose an auto insurance cover according to your needs.

Why All Condo Owners Need Condo Insurance

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If you own a condo, you may know that many risks exist that can cause damage to it. To protect yourself against many of those risks, every condo owner needs to keep a condo insurance policy. With this protection, you can have better peace of mind and protection against the high costs of damaging events. Call NCIB Group Inc. in Chicago, IL when you need condo insurance.

Protection for Your Condo

When you have condo insurance, you get adequate protection against several types of damaging incidents that can happen to your home. These may include specific disasters and certain calamities that can cause expensive damage to your home. With this coverage, the repairs you need to your home can be paid for by the policy instead of all coming from your pocket. With condo insurance, the policy can even pay for you to live somewhere else if necessary while the repairs are being done. 

Coverage for Your Possessions

Your belongings inside your condo are also expensive and need protection. When you have condo insurance, you get coverage for everything inside it. When a damaging event happens to your condo and your possessions are destroyed, your condo insurance will pay for your items to be replaced so that you can return to your everyday life much faster after a severe incident. This coverage is vital because of how much your possessions can cost when you add them. 

Get Condo Coverage

To keep your finances protected against damaging incidents, you need condo insurance. To get started with your own policy, call us at NCIB Group Inc in Chicago, IL.

The Different Types of Commercial Insurance Coverage Explained

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Every business is different, meaning there is no one-size-fits-all commercial insurance policy. To get the coverage you need, it’s important to understand the types of commercial insurance available. This blog post will explain the different coverage options and help you decide which ones are right for your business.

1. Property Insurance

Property insurance protects your business against physical damage to your property, including buildings, equipment, and inventory. If your property is damaged or destroyed by a covered event (such as a fire or storm), property insurance can help you cover the cost of repairs or replacement.

2. Workers’ Compensation Insurance

Workers’ compensation insurance protects your business if an employee is injured on the job. If an employee is unable to work due to a work-related injury, workers’ compensation can help cover their medical expenses and lost wages.

3. Liability Insurance

Liability insurance protects your business against third-party claims of bodily injury, property damage, and personal injury (such as libel or slander). If you are sued and found liable for damages, liability insurance can help you cover the cost of a settlement or judgment.

4. Business Interruption Insurance

As a business owner, you need to be prepared for the unexpected. Business interruption insurance can help you cover the cost of lost income and expenses if your business is forced to close due to a covered event (such as a fire or natural disaster). This type of coverage can help you keep your business afloat until it can reopen.

5. Vehicle Insurance

If your business uses vehicles, you need to have vehicle insurance. This type of coverage protects your business from the cost of damage or theft of company-owned vehicles. It can also help you cover the cost of liability if one of your employees causes an accident while driving a company-owned vehicle.

Get Commercial Insurance In Chicago, IL

Now that you know the different types of commercial insurance, you can start shopping for the right policy for your business. NCIB Group Inc. can help you find the coverage you need at a price that fits your budget. Give us a call today to get a quote.

Get Your Boat or Watercraft Summer-Ready With the Right Insurance

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With the weather warming up in the Chicago, IL area, it’s time to enjoy all those summertime activities you’ve put off during colder weather. One of those is likely to be taking your boat or watercraft out for a spin. But before you take to the water, you need to be sure you’re ready. Contacting us at NCIB Group Inc. can help. The right boat & watercraft insurance can go a very long way toward protecting you this summer, and you want to be sure you have the best policy for your needs.

Whether you’ve just purchased a boat or watercraft to enjoy or had yours for a long time, it’s important to check it over thoroughly before heading out onto the water. You’re reducing the chances that something could go wrong and result in an injury by doing that. It’s not just the safety check that matters, though. You also want to be adequately covered for accidents and other unexpected issues. A boat or watercraft policy is a valuable part of your summer experience.

Working with knowledgeable agents is a good way to make sure you aren’t missing anything that should be in your policy and that you have the right type of coverage. The coverage limits are essential to protect your boat or watercraft more fully. Then you can enjoy all it has to offer and have the peace of mind that comes from knowing you’re adequately protected.

Contact us today at NCIB Group Inc. if you’re in the Chicago, IL area and need a boat or watercraft insurance policy. We can help you choose the right options, and then you can enjoy exploring the area waterways without worry.

Home Insurance Add-ons and Riders

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You could purchase an HO-3 policy that covers your home for the typical perils and liability. You can also customize your homeowner’s policy to cover items like expensive jewelry, swimming pool, detached workshop, hobby equipment, etc. At NCIB Group Inc., proudly serving the great city of Chicago, IL, we recommend customizing your policy.

Policy customization only takes a few minutes and adds little to the cost of your insurance, but in the advent of an incident for which you must file a claim, it can make all the difference.

Your Jewelry

Few people think of it, but if you’re married, you probably own at least one piece of expensive, fine jewelry. The bride probably wears her engagement ring every day with her wedding band, but few people think about including it under special jewelry coverage on their home policy. The median cost for an engagement ring is $6,000, but most home policies provide about $1,500 jewelry coverage. If you don’t add to the coverage, you’ll have to cover the cost of a replacement ring on your own.

Your Hobby Equipment

Whether you enjoy cycling and own a couple of road bikes or love photography and developing film at your home, you probably own about $5,000 of hobbyist equipment. Let’s say you love books. Well, avid reader, if you own 500 books, replacing them with used ones for $5 each would run you $2,500. You could quickly edge up to that $5,000 mark if you own more than that.

Your Swimming Pool

If you own a swimming pool, you immediately increase your need for liability insurance. Your home policy contains a typical amount of liability, but putting in a swimming pool increases your need for liability insurance. The same is true of trampolines.

Contact NCIB Group Inc. in Chicago, IL today to learn more about customizing your home policy. It will only take a few minutes to insure your precious belongings fully.

Does auto insurance cover a rental vehicle

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If you are heading off for a much-deserved vacation and flying, you will most likely need a rental vehicle when you arrive at your destination. The questions of what kind of insurance you need to purchase and the amount of insurance is vital for your peace of mind. At NCIB Group Inc. in Chicago, IL, our agents have the answers you need. We put the needs of our customers first, and we go the extra mile to make sure your coverage is customized to your fitting. 

Not every auto policy will cover a rental vehicle. It depends on whether you have full coverage or you have basic coverage. Call your insurance agent and ask if you have any questions about exactly what kind of coverage you have. They will have the answer you need. 

Liability coverage is what you have if you have a basic policy. This means you won’t need to purchase additional liability coverage, but you may not have any coverage to protect the vehicle. One way to make up for that is to talk to your credit card company. You may have rental vehicle coverage as a perk of your card.

If you have any insurance that covers what you own, like home insurance, renters insurance, or condo insurance, you don’t need to purchase insurance to cover the theft of your property because you already have that. 

If you are concerned about the amount of coverage you may have, the CDW that the rental car company offers takes all the responsibility away from you. It does add a lot to the cost of your rental, but it also provides a lot of peace of mind. 

Contact NCIB Group Inc. in Chicago, IL with all your auto insurance needs.

What to do if you are stranded on the roadside

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Auto safety is a top priority for the team at NCIB Group Inc. If you are living in the Chicago, IL area, you know just how important road safety can be. Here are a few tips to help keep you safe when you are out on the road!

Roadside safety

The first thing to do if you find yourself stranded on the roadside is to immediately get to safety. Once you are out of harm’s way, you can telephone for medical assistance, towing services, or both. If you or anyone involved in an accident is severely injured, call 911 right away.

Once you are safe and have notified the necessary parties, be sure to double-check that you are in a safe location. It is advisable to always have an emergency kit in your vehicle, especially during the winter months. Make sure that you are warm enough if it is cold outside, or that you have your windows down if it is warm.

Roadside assistance services will come in handy if you ever find yourself stuck on the roadside, whether due to an accident or a breakdown. Fortunately, many comprehensive auto policies available in our area do offer roadside assistance features. Having this service can help turn a fiasco into an annoyance and help to keep you safe!

Let us help you with all of your insurance needs

NCIB Group Inc. is here to serve the insurance needs of the greater Chicago, IL area. If you want to make sure you have the auto coverage you need or have any other insurance questions, call or stop by our office today!