How to Make a Renter’s Insurance Claim in Oklahoma

Posted on July 30, 2021August 8, 2021 by admin

When you are a renter in Oklahoma, you will be assuming some risks in and around your home. Your renter’s insurance is designed to protect you financially from those risks.

You may have exposed yourself to financial liabilities already, without even knowing it. That is what renters’ insurance is for. At D & E Insurance Agency, we want Muskogee, OK residents to know how and when to make a claim on their renters’ insurance in Oklahoma.

What Information Do You Need?

When you have renters’ insurance, there are a number of things that you can make a claim for. Before you call your insurance company with a claim, have as much documentation on hand as you can.

That may be a police report, hospital or doctor expenses, or you may just need a home inventory if the claim is for property loss.

When you get your renters’ insurance, take a video and photos of the layout of your home. You want to also take a video and photos of the layout of your home when you are making an insurance claim.

If you don’t have that, a list of everything that you have lost and its value is the next piece of documentation that you need.

When you have the documentation that you need, make the call to your insurance company.

How to Handle Your Renters’ Insurance Claim

To make a renters’ insurance claim, take your documentation with you to the phone call. Tell them what happened, and they will instruct you on the next step.

In order to ensure that your claim is handled quickly, return every phone call quickly, and handle the forms quickly as well. Always be completely honest with your insurance company. They may have investigators looking into your problem, and your claim could be denied.

Follow the instructions of your insurance company to the letter. Your claim will be processed that much faster.

Get a Quote

Filing a claim with your renters’ insurance company is easy, and it will make you glad that you have renters’ insurance in Oklahoma. At D & E Insurance Agency, we want Muskogee, OK renters to feel secure. Call us for a quote today.

Do You Have Enough Auto Insurance?

Posted on June 14, 2021June 14, 2021 by admin

With so many motor vehicle coverages available, most vehicle owners face the challenging task of determining the exact amount of insurance they need. Ask any insurance agent, and they will tell you they’ve encountered the question: how much car insurance coverage do I need?

Unfortunately, there’s no precise answer to the inquiry. The amount of auto insurance needed primarily depends on the number of coverage you are considering and the deductibles you can comfortably bear. According to the D & E Insurance Agency of Muskogee, OK, here is how you determine the amount of car insurance needed.

Liability Insurance

In almost all the states, the law requires that you have liability insurance cover if you own a vehicle. This insurance coverage comes to your rescue when your car causes injuries or damages to other people or their properties.

Whereas you can’t predict the extent of damages or injuries you’d cause, you should have higher liability coverage — this would enable you to cover more damages.

Experts recommend having 100/300/100 liability insurance if you are to be on the safe side. This simply means $100,000 per individual, $300,000 per crash (bodily injuries), and $100,000 (property damage liability). If you have a high liability exposure, consider umbrella insurance.

Collision Insurance

This sort of insurance coverage protects your auto in case of a collision with other cars or properties. It’s essential to have this coverage as it covers your auto’s repair cost after an accident. But how much of it do you need? You should have coverage that repairs or replaces your vehicle without incurring out-of-pocket expenses.

Comprehensive Insurance

Unlike the collision insurance cover, comprehensive insurance coverage shields your vehicle from any damage that arises from reasons other than collision. For instance, a falling object can hit your auto while it’s parked. Like collision coverage, you should carry comprehensive insurance sufficient to cover repairer replacement of your vehicle without incurring expenses from your pocket apart from the deductibles.

The bottom line

Although there are several other auto insurance coverages that you should consider when answering the question “how much motor vehicle insurance do I require?” the above are the most common. If you are stranded, D & E Insurance Agency in Muskogee, OK will guide you to figure out the amount of insurance you need.

Is Commercial Insurance a Necessity?

Posted on May 31, 2021May 31, 2021 by admin

According to Small Business Administration, over 355,000 small businesses in Oklahoma employ more than half of the state’s workforce. Therefore, as a small business owner in Muskogee, OK, it’s imperative to consider various types of commercial insurance to cushion your business. Incidences such as customer slips and falls, natural calamities, theft, and employee injuries can threaten your financial stability. Thankfully, at D & E Insurance Agency, we provide various commercial insurance options to cater to various business needs.

Is commercial insurance mandatory in Oklahoma?

Oklahoma State requires businesses with employees, whether part-time or full-time, to maintain workers’ compensation insurance. This policy pays for medical expenses for work injuries and illnesses. Additionally, Oklahoma advocates that all business-owned vehicles get covered with commercial auto insurance.

Besides compliance, here are additional benefits you accrue when you invest in commercial insurance?

Secure your finances.

If a fire or other covered peril forces your business venture to close, business income insurance can compensate your lost income due to these disruptions. Again, business insurance pays for losses incurred when a covered peril destroys assets. Commercial insurance is an absolute necessity because it helps you pay for damages, employees’ injuries, and lawsuits that you would otherwise have to settle out-of-pocket.

Protects your customers.

If you purchase a business owner’s policy (BOP), which combines business property and business liability coverage, it safeguards your business against bodily injury, product liability, and advertising injury from customers and other parties.

Commercial insurance helps with lawsuits.

Every business venture is vulnerable to lawsuits attracting legal fees. However, you can safeguard your business against lawsuits by purchasing general business liability coverage. This policy assists in payments of costs emanating from lawsuits filed by your employees or clients.

It covers data breach damage.

Data breaches and cyber-attacks can affect any business with an online presence. Cyber liability insurance helps to cover ransom payments to hackers, negotiation costs, legal costs, and other recovery costs following a malicious online attack.

Buy commercial insurance today!

It’s paramount to determine the amount of commercial insurance you need to procure. For Muskogee, OK business owners, don’t be frustrated in establishing the amount of insurance you require. When you start your insurance journey with D & E Insurance Agency, we will assist you in landing coverage that matches your needs and budget. Contact or visit us today!

Renters insurance FAQs

Posted on April 28, 2021April 28, 2021 by admin

When you are a renter, you may feel as if you don’t have a lot to lose if your apartment is destroyed, or maybe you never think about that possibility. A recent study showed that more than 55% of renters do not have renters insurance. If you are like most people, almost everything you own is in your home, and if it were destroyed, you would need to start from scratch. This is much more expensive than you might think. At D & E Insurance Agency in Muskogee, OK, we are here to show you the benefits of renters insurance and why you should have it.

Doesn’t my landlord have insurance?

It is likely your landlord does have insurance to cover their building. Their insurance, however, offers no protection for your personal possessions. You need to insure your property yourself with renters insurance.

If someone gets hurt at my rental, am I responsible?

You may be. It depends on the type of injury and if you were negligent in any way. If they decide to sue, you could end up with not only a judgment against you, but you could have to pay for legal fees. Renters insurance includes liability coverage that can help pay for a judgment against you.

Does renters insurance cover property away from home?

Yes, if you are traveling, you still have coverage. It can be when you travel not only in your car but on a plane, train or bus. If something is stolen, you are covered no matter where you are or lost or damaged.

What type of property coverage should I choose?

You have two options: actual cash value and replacement cost. It is less expensive to choose actual cash value, but you will only receive what the item is valued at today with depreciation. With replacement cost, you would receive the amount actually to replace the item at today’s prices.

Contact D & E Insurance Agency in Muskogee, OK for all your renter’s insurance needs.

Tips for a safer home

Posted on March 31, 2021March 31, 2021 by admin

Creating a safer home should be a priority for everyone, no matter their age. Safety needs to be looked at from the outside and the inside of your home. You want to keep any danger from entering and make sure that basic safety protocol is in place. At D & E Insurance Agency in Muskogee, OK, we work for our customers to make sure we provide them with the best possible coverage at affordable prices.

Install a home security system

Home security systems have become more affordable than ever. You can purchase a system you install yourself for the price of a couple of dinners out at a restaurant. It can be as simple as a doorbell camera or additional cameras installed to give you a view around your entire home. They connect to your smartphone, and you can make sure your home is safe even if you’re away.

Door and window locks

Have a good door lock and deadbolt is a simple way to make your home safer. Of course, you do need to make sure it is locked at all times. Check windows to make the locks are also engaged. Safety bars are available for sliders that make them impossible to open.

Don’t have large bushes close to your home.

Keep large bushes away from your home. You don’t want to provide any place where some can hide from view. If someone is looking your home over, they will be visible to you and your neighbors.

Change the batteries in detectors.

Most homeowners have smoke and carbon monoxide detectors in their homes. They need to be operational to provide safety. Even if they’re hardwired, they have battery backup, and these batteries should be changed every 6 months.

When you are in the market for home insurance, D & E Insurance Agency in Muskogee, OK is here for you.

Auto Insurance Requirements in Muskogee, OK

Posted on February 28, 2021February 28, 2021 by admin

If you live in the city of Muskogee, OK, and are interested in learning more about auto insurance in your area, agencies such as D & E Insurance Agency can help answer your questions and teach you more about the benefits of auto insurance and why it is mandated in Oklahoma.

In Oklahoma, anyone who drives a vehicle must have a minimum amount of auto insurance coverage. In fact, before you go to the DMV in Oklahoma to register your car, you will need proof that you have current auto insurance. Additionally, you will need to bring personal identification documents, such as your vehicle title. Then, you will need to take your car to the nearest Oklahoma Tax Commission or Oklahoma Department of Public Safety within the next 30 days to see a tag agent who will inspect your vehicle and confirm the vehicle identification number and odometer reading.

In addition to all of this, you need to ensure that you meet all of the minimum legal requirements for auto insurance coverage in Oklahoma. You will need property damage liability coverage for $25,000, as well as bodily injury liability coverage and uninsured motorist bodily injury coverage (both in the amount of $25,000 per person, in addition to $50,000 per accident).

Teenage drivers in Oklahoma needed to follow certain rules when it comes to auto insurance as well. They need to meet all of the requirements to receive a learner’s permit and then a license, and they must be covered by auto insurance in the state of Oklahoma, just like any adult who lives in the state.

If you are a Muskogee, OK resident, and want to know more about auto insurance, you should feel free to contact the professionals at D & E Insurance Agency. We will answer any questions you might have and point you in the right direction regarding what policy you should get for yourself.

How commercial insurance can benefit my small business

Posted on January 25, 2021January 25, 2021 by admin

Small businesses are the foundation of the American economy. More than 95% of Oklahoma businesses are small businesses and employ more than 50% of the private workforce. This makes keeping your small business operating important to both you and your employees. So many things can go wrong, and nobody knows better than you as a business owner. Commercial insurance can protect you from many of them. Your insurance agent will access your risk and make suggestions for the types of coverage that would offer you the best protection. In Muskogee, OK, D & E Insurance Agency provides personalized service to all our customers.

Commercial liability

As a business owner, you are all too aware of how vulnerable to being sued you are. If you aren’t, you should be. More than 50% of civil lawsuits target small businesses. You can be prepared for anything that happens by having the right amount of commercial liability coverage. Whether someone is injured while visiting your place of business or by one of your products, you will be covered for legal expenses and any judgment against you.

Commercial property insurance

Even if you rent the building that houses your business, commercial property insurance offers important coverage. It will help you get back into operation if you are hit by a covered hazard like a fire or storm. It covers your company’s physical assets, machinery, office equipment, records, inventory, and all the property you need to run your business.

Business Owner’s Policy

A business owner’s policy (BOP) combines commercial liability and commercial property insurance. It usually is less expensive than getting the policies separately. Other coverages to consider are commercial auto, business interruption, and workers’ compensation.

Contact D & E Insurance Agency in Muskogee, OK with any questions you may have about your commercial insurance needs.

Getting your home ready for an emergency

Posted on December 31, 2020December 31, 2020 by admin

All kinds of emergencies happen regularly, and Oklahoma is no exempt. On average, there are 52 tornados in Oklahoma every year. That is a staggering figure. But it does make you realize getting your home ready for an emergency is important. In Muskogee, OK, D & E Insurance Agency is a full-service independent insurance agency. We will work with you to make sure you have the right insurance and at a great price.

Preparing for an emergency involves many different things. It can be having smoke and carbon monoxide detectors in your home. It means having a first aid kit so you are prepared for any small injuries that may happen. It would be best if you discussed an emergency plan with your family. Setting up an emergency exit route from your home is important. In the event of a fire, you need to rehearse how you would get out of the home and alternative plans if one exit route is blocked. Having an escape route can save lives.

Losing power is an emergency you can be sure will happen to you. Many simple things can make sure your home is ready. Here are some things you should have on hand:

Three days of bottled water
Three days of non-perishable food
A generator and fuel
Flashlights and batteries
Battery or crank-operated lanterns
Manual can opener

Protecting your important papers is one of the most crucial things you can do. Put them together in a fire and water-resistant container. You might want to put your favorite irreplaceable photos in there as well. Make sure you are signed up with your cellphone provider to receive emergency alerts.

Your home is your castle, and ensuring it is protected is the best thing you can do for it and your peace of mind. Contact D & E Insurance Agency in Muskogee, OK for all your home insurance needs.

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