There are a lot of myths and misinformation floating around about workers compensation and workers compensation insurance. As such, you may not always understand when you are required to purchase a policy and when you are not. If you have a family-owned business, you may wonder if you need workers compensation insurance. At StateChoice, serving the greater West Hartford, CT. area, we want to help you understand the answer to this question. 

Are You Required to Buy Workers Compensation Insurance for a Family-Owned Business? 

In the state of Connecticut, you are required to buy workers compensation insurance if you have one or more employee who works for you. This employee can be your child, a niece or nephew, your own sibling, or the employee maybe someone who has no blood ties to you. If you employ one or more individuals, workers compensation insurance is required by law. 

When Are You Not Required to Buy Workers Compensation Insurance for a Family-Owned Business? 

The only time that you are not required to purchase workers compensation for a family-owned business is when all of those who are working for the company own all or part of the business. For example, if you and your spouse own the business, and you are the only two who work in the business, you do not need workers compensation insurance. Likewise, if you and all of your adult children own the business together, and you are the only ones who work in the business, no workers compensation insurance is needed. 

Are you looking to purchase workers compensation for your business? Here at StateChoice, serving the West Hartford, CT. area, we can answer any questions you may have about workers compensation and help you find the right policy and coverages for your needs. Call us now to get started. 

 

Your business is important and making sure that your commercial business is covered and well taken care of is a must. Commercial insurance covers a range of different things and employee injury and patron injury is one of them. For those that live in the West Hartford, CT area, the agents with StateChoice can help you to get the right policy for your needs.

For the most part, your commercial insurance is only going to cover injury that is accidental. If you have a dangerous situation and you do not rectify it and someone gets hurt, that injury is your fault and therefore you are going to be required to pay for any associated expenses. If someone if injured in your business and it is not your fault, you are not going to have to worry about paying as your commercial policy will help to cover those costs. If it is found that someone was injured on your property as a result of negligence on your part, that individual can then sue you for damages.

If you have an unsafe workplace and you want to make sure that you are not going to be at fault for any sort of issues, you should take the time to make sure that you are keeping your workspace safe for all your employees and for your patrons as well. Injury as a result of negligence on the part of the business owner can also be a cause for a criminal case, especially if you knew that the work place was not safe and you did nothing to rectify it. For those that live in the West Hartford, CT area, the agents with StateChoice can help you find the policy that is going to protect you and your patrons and employees.

For those who are yet unfamiliar, recreational toy insurance is a lesser known type of insurance that offers a variety of benefits. That said, the following is an overview of 3 things you should know about recreational toy insurance.

Recreational Toy Insurance Covers a Variety of Unique Vehicles

No matter what type of vehicle you may own, most require insurance. Luckily, recreational toy insurance covers the following types of vehicles:

• Motorcycles
• All-Terrain Vehicles
• Motor homes
• Campers and Trailers
• Golf Carts
• Classic Cars
• Personal watercraft (such as Jet Skis)
• Dune Buggies
• Various boats and watercraft

Liability Coverage

Even vehicles as small as golf carts can cause a massive amount of damages under the wrong circumstanced. Luckily, by purchasing a recreational toy policy, you can make sure your vehicle is covered no matter what type of accident you may be involved in.

Comprehensive Coverage

Last but not least, comprehensive coverage covers your vehicle against damages that occur that are not accident related. For instance, your vehicle could become damaged as the result of a fire, vandalism, theft, extreme weather, and much more. However, by securing the proper recreational toy insurance policy, you will also be covered against these issues.

Overall, dor residents of West Hartford, CT, StateChoice is an excellent choice for purchasing a recreational toy insurance policy.  Simply give them a call, drop them an email, or stop by their West Hartford, CT  office today. Their team of well-trained professional will be more than happy to help you explore your coverage options and secure your policy immediately. Contact StateChoice today to start your policy and hopefully save some money in the process.

There aren’t too many activities that are more enjoyable than a sunny day out on the water. But an afternoon of fun can turn into an afternoon of panic in an instant. While some states do require boaters insurance for certain types of boats, not all states do. However, that doesn’t mean you should go without it. If you have a boat slip, most marinas will require it if you are docking there.

Boat Insurance for West Hartford, CT Residents

Some types of homeowners policies may extend coverage for certain types of boats, but it will depend on the size of the boat and horsepower.  However, it’s important to keep in mind if you are on the water, especially with other passengers, you have the proper watercraft coverage in place.  Boat insurance not only protects your watercraft if it is damaged, boaters personal liability coverage protects you if you were to cause a boating accident.   

StateChoice knows the average boat owner may not understand all the coverages they need to protect themselves and their vessel. That’s why our insurance experts are happy to walk you through the pertinent coverages you need before enjoying an afternoon on the water with family and friends.

The coverages you should consider adding to your watercraft policy include:

• Liability

• Agreed Value Coverage

• Medical Payments

• Physical Damage Coverage

• Fuel Spill Liability and Wreckage Removal

• Uninsured/Underinsured Watercraft Bodily Injury

• Unattached Equipment Coverage

• Personal Effects

• Emergency Assistance

Final Thoughts

If you aren’t sure you have the proper boat coverage, let our knowledgeable insurance professionals at StateChoice insurance explain the coverages you need and the best way to protect your investment. Don’t let an accident ruin your West Hartford, CT fun. Call us or stop by today.

 

If you felt there was an increase in the number of motorcycles traveling on the road today, you were correct in your assumption. There’s no better feeling than riding on a bike on the open road. And a bigger upward trend is families getting a motorcycle insurance package together. 

The rise in popularity has been gained due to the median age of motorcycle riders rising from the late 20s to the early 40s. This has help peak the interest of a rider’s siblings, life partner and children to get involved with their passion. The positive of this increase is everyone receiving proper training on how to safely ride a motorcycle. 

The Ease of Learning to Ride a Motorcycle

Too often, newcomers to the motorcycle community fail to realize that maneuvering a manual transmission bike is far more complicated to master than learning on an automobile. Plus, they’re unprepared to handle the speed of the far more popular models, which can accelerate to up to 100 MPH in a blink of an eye. 

Motorcycle insurance agencies like StateChoice in West Hartford, CT believe the learning curve for new riders is greatly enhanced if a family member is an active rider. They can convey how the bike becomes more stable at higher speeds because of the longer wheelbase and larger tires. Motorcycles are very fuel efficient as they average close to 44 mpg, and the newer models can reach up to 85 mpg. Plus, an experienced rider can suggest the proper protective gear to wear as all of this information provides better safety on the road.

How Motorcycle Insurance Policies are Created

The usage of a motorcycle does come into play when choosing an insurance policy. Family group plans work best for the casual weekend rider. The annual mileage number will impact heavily a group’s rate. The more you ride, the higher the premium will become. And if someone in the family plan is using their motorcycle for business purposes, then they become ineligible for the insurance policy. The person in question might be required to purchase a personal business policy. If not, then the entire can enjoy a discount on the family policy rate.

After a loved one has passed away, there are many different things you need to do. One of the things you need to do is to let their life insurance company know they have passed away and file a claim for an insurance payout. Here at StateChoice, serving the greater West Hartford, CT area, we know many people have never done this before. As such, you may have questions. One question you may have is whether you need a death certificate to file a life insurance claim. Here is the answer to that question. 

Do You Need a Death Certificate to File a Life Insurance Claim? 

You do not need a death certificate in order to file a life insurance claim. You can let the insurance company know your loved one has passed away and begin the process of filing the claim without a death certificate. However, it is important to understand that an insurance company cannot pay out on a life insurance claim until they have the certified death certificate. The certified death certificate proves the individual is deceased and shows how and why the individual passed away. The clock for paying out the claim does not start until the death certificate has been submitted to the life insurance company. 

Life insurance helps to ensure that your final expenses do not become a financial burden for your loved ones. If you do not have life insurance, it may be something you want to consider purchasing. Here at StateChoice, serving the greater West Hartford, CT area, we can help explain various types of life insurance plans to you and help you select the one that best suits your needs. Call us today to learn more. 

The holiday season is a time of year when many companies do a lot of seasonal hiring for their busiest days. Whether you are in manufacturing, run a delivery service, have a retail establishment, or own any type of business that employs temporary help, it’s important to understand your Workers Comp coverage needs.  If you are in the greater West Hartford, CT area and want to make sure that you have the protection that you need, the team at StateChoice can help.

Workers Comp is Still Required for Seasonal Hires

Even though you are not required to provide your temporary employees with health insurance and other benefits that you may offer to permanent employees, you are still required to carry adequate Workers Comp coverage. If you are unsure if your current policy is sufficient for coverage of your seasonal employees, now is the time to check! In addition to Social Security, Unemployment Insurance, and other taxes, Workers Comp insurance is required for all types of employees that you hire. While there are many differences between the Labor Laws affecting permanent employees and those that are temporary or seasonal, Workers Comp is required for all types of workers.

Business owners may not be sure if their current coverage is sufficient and it is always a good idea to make sure that you have the necessary protection before you need it. Your commercial insurance agent can help you gain the peace of mind that comes with knowing you are adequately protected.

Don’t be caught without the Workers Comp coverage that you need for this holiday season. If you are a business owner in the greater West Hartford, CT area, contact StateChoice today to schedule a policy review, and discuss your coverage options that are available to meet your Workers Comp needs.