When you own a boat it is always highly recommended to take out boat insurance. Unlike auto insurance, boat insurance is not something you specifically are mandated to have, nor is there set minimums you need to meet in order to operate a boat. However, you shouldn’t leave your boat up to chance. You never know when an accident might happen. And while even if you are protective of your boat while out on the water, some elements are completely out of your hands. If you live around greater Milwaukee, WI, and own a boat, let our staff at Dern & Company help you find boat insurance that properly protects your watercraft. 

While on the Water

Naturally, boat insurance will protect you while on the water. This includes not only damage sustained from striking other watercraft, but from objects that might be submerged, or from hitting the dock too hard. 

Out of the Water

Your boat is more likely to be damaged while in transit than while in the water, so you’ll want to protect the boat while you’re traveling. Boat insurance does this. Additionally, it is available for when you’re boat is in storage during the off-season. You never know when an accident might happen. 

Help Finding The Right Watercraft Insurance

There is no shortage of boat insurance options. You just need to identify the insurance that best protects your boat, both while it is on land and while it is in the water. Our staff here at Dern & Company thrives on connecting boat owners with watercraft insurance. So, if you want to make sure your boat is properly protected and you live around metro Milwaukee, WI, our staff here is ready and waiting to help you out. Give us a call today. 

Starting your own business, large or small, is risky to the say the least and you will want to protect the investment of time and money you put into your Wisconsin-based business through obtaining the proper insurance policy. Commercial insurance is one way to guarantee that your business is protecting but what is and what does it cover?

What Is Commercial Insurance?

Commercial insurance is designed to provide coverage for businesses and corporations, including each business’s property, employees, and products. It covers anything that can threaten the success of a business. Most of the time, owners of businesses and corporations can work with their insurance agents to create the best insurance policy for their situation based on their needs and preferences.

Commercial Insurance Coverage Options

Property insurance is an important option for commercial insurance. It will cover losses caused by weather-related disasters from hail, windstorms, fires, and lightning along with vandalism, theft, and civil disturbance like a riot or other commotion. This type of insurance also can cover supplies, appliances, office equipment, and machinery that is needed for the business to function after a disaster or other incident occurs. Business interruption insurance can also be added to your policy which will cover employee salaries and other things that must continue even if your business burned down or was otherwise destroyed. It will cover your net profits before the incident occurred.

Liability insurance is incredibly important for a business owner since it covers injuries that may occur to people while on your property or while using a product you produce and/or sell. From bodily and personal injury to damage to someone else’s property or injuries to someone through your company’s advertising, this is an important policy to have to ensure the protection and sustainability of your business.

Commercial insurance is imperative in keeping you and your business protected in Milwaukee, WI. Call an experienced and knowledgeable insurance agent at Dern & Company today to assist you in creating the best commercial business policy for your company.

Just because you don’t own your home doesn’t mean you should avoid protecting and insuring what is inside. With renters insurance, you’re able to do exactly that. It doesn’t matter what you own, it is possible to insure it with renters insurance. In fact, renters insurance is one of the most versatile coverage options out there. So, when living in greater Milwaukee, WI you’ll want to consult with the insurance experts at Dern & Company.

Cover Just About Anything

The beauty of renter’s insurance is that it can cover just about anything. From your computer to the paintings you picked up while traveling, you can have all of these and everything else in between covered. When working with your insurance provider you’ll go over the value of the item and then pay based on the value. Typically you can secure renters insurance for a very small monthly payment. This small monthly payment helps protect you in the event of theft, or if the items are even damaged due to fire or flooding. 

Protect Your Valuables With Renters Insurance

It doesn’t matter what you own if it is important to you it is worthy of being insured. From your collection of action figures to your entertainment system or purse collection, these are items that will cost hundreds, if not tens of thousands of dollars to fully replace in the event of theft, flooding, or fire. Avoid these kinds of issues and protect yourself and your valuables with renter’s insurance. When living in a metro Milwaukee, WI rental, you’ll want to talk with the insurance experts at Dern & Company. They will work with you in finding the right insurance coverage for your needs. So pick up your phone and give the team a call today. 

Contrary to what many people believe, renters may carry a certain amount of liability if someone is injured while visiting their home. The key is determining where the divide between the liability of the renter and that of the landlord. Agents from Dern & Company serve residents who live in and around Milwaukee, WI. It’s their job to help their clients get the answers they need about their renter’s insurance.

Your Liability

When it comes to liability, a renter may be considered to be responsible for an injury in their apartment if it is caused by something they have done or not done. A good example of this is running an extension cord across a walkway. If a person trips and is injured, the fault would lie on the renter for creating a hazard.

Your Landlord’s Liability

If the accident was the result of tripping over a piece of torn carpet or linoleum, the landlord may be responsible. If a landlord has been notified of damage to the apartment and has not made the repairs in a timely fashion, any compensation due to the victim could eventually fall on the landlord. In some cases, it may be determined that both the landlord and renter are at fault.

Renters in Milwaukee, WI can call the agents of Dern & Company if they have any questions concerning their liability. It’s important to understand what you are responsible for as well as what your landlord may be required to cover. Call and talk to your agent today to have your policy reviewed and possibly upgrade it. Schedule your appointment now!!

If you live in Milwaukee, WI and own a boat, you need to start thinking about getting it ready for the colder months of the year. While some people don’t do much, if you want to protect your investment, it’s best to take a few steps to ensure the elements don’t cause damage. 

At Dern & Company, we can provide you the protection you need for your boat and at an affordable price, but the rest is up to you. Consider some of the tips here to ensure your boat makes it through the winter unscathed. 

Dry or Wet Dock

You have two basic options when it comes to boat storage if you plan to keep it on or near the water; a wet or dry dock. Both have their appealing qualities, but a dry dock is going to be a more significant investment. You can also pull the boat on your trailer to a garage or warehouse where it can be stored. All of these options come at a price, so be sure to keep that in mind. 

Get the Engine Ready

Just like your car, you have to take care of your boat’s engine in colder weather. This means making sure it is winterized. If you aren’t sure how to do this, hire someone to do it for you. That way, when you are ready to get back on the water, you won’t have any problems. 

While storing your boat during the winter months in Milwaukee, WI is up to you, our team at Dern & Company can help you with your insurance needs. Contact us today to learn about the policy options we offer and to find out how we can get you the protection you need. 

Filing an insurance claim is always going to be a little confusing, no matter how straightforward the issue may appear at first glance. Because every business is different (and every business owner has their own set of priorities), there will always be some clarification needed before any professional can properly fill out all the questions. Here are a few things to expect if you’re filing a commercial insurance claim in Milwaukee, WI, courtesy of Dern & Company.

You Will Be Asked for Documentation 

There’s a lot of paperwork when it comes to filing a claim. Insurance companies keep all this information to assist with everything from audits to lawsuits. If you’re requesting the company to pay for damaged inventory or replace a broken window, you may need to take photos, provide proof of value, or get formal estimates. They’ll use all of this information to justify their approval or denial, so it helps for commercial business owners to have as much data as possible. 

You May Not Agree With the Results 

Insurance companies have formal policies with each of their clients, but that doesn’t mean the policy can define the parameters of every situation. Because two people may view the same event two entirely different ways, it can lead to disappointed customers who expected more out of their claim. Insurance companies have an appeals process that commercial business owners can use to ask for their claim to be reconsidered. 

If you have questions about your commercial insurance policy, call Dern & Company today. We’re here to get you a policy that will keep your business safe from natural disasters, theft, and even slander. We’re here to help the people of Milwaukee, WI protect the enterprises they worked so hard to build. 

As a renter, you need to be mindful of your home security to protect yourself and your property. Living in an apartment complex with high foot traffic puts you at greater risk of theft or intrusion. The following security tips from Dern & Company in Milwaukee, WI can be helpful in keeping you and your goods safe in a rental property.

Lighting

Make sure your apartment has good lighting, inside and out, to ward off intruders after dark. Your entranceway, hallways, parking areas, stairways, and elevators should all be well lit after dark to enhance safety.

Upkeep

A well-kept apartment building and landscaping is more likely to keep thieves at bay as it shows the landlord is concerned about safety and security. If your landlord is dropping the ball in this area, make your concerns known to ensure proper maintenance gets done.

Door & Window Locks

If possible, replace your door locks to reduce the risk of former tenants getting access to your apartment. Check window locks to ensure they’re working properly. This is especially important if your apartment is on the ground floor.

Fire Escape

If your unit is in a high rise complex, make sure there’s a workable fire escape for emergency situations.

Get a Renter’s Insurance Policy

Renters insurance from Dern & Company can protect your belongings from theft and natural disasters that could befall your apartment complex. Your landlord’s insurance protects his building, not tenants’ property.

If your apartment is burglarized or catches fire, renter’s insurance will cover the cost of repairing or replacing your belongings up to the limits of your policy. Renters insurance also protects you against liability claims if someone gets hurt while visiting your apartment and sues you for damages.

To learn more about renters insurance options and costs, contact Dern & Company in Milwaukee, WI.

Commercial insurance plans protect your business. You don’t want anything to happen that would cause you to spend more money than necessary. Unfortunately, life in Milwaukee, WI can be unpredictable. The last thing you want to deal with is someone getting injured on your property, an employee slipping and falling, or a commercial vehicle accident. With the right commercial insurance plan, you can be covered against virtually anything that can happen.

There’s no one-size-fits-all commercial insurance plan. At Dern & Company, we can assist you in creating a plan that works best for your business.

The average commercial insurance plan references liability. It protects your business if someone gets injured on your property or if one of your employees damages someone else’s property. If something like this happens, you can file a claim with the insurance company. You would only be financially responsible for the deductible.

Liability alone may not be enough insurance for all that you have going on. This is when you may want additional policies to protect your business in Milwaukee, WI. If you have commercial vehicles, you need commercial auto insurance. If you have a certain number of employees, the state will require you to have workers compensation. You may also want to look at business interruption insurance, ensuring that you can get compensated for lost sales while you recover from a disaster.

It’s important for a commercial insurance plan to work for you. Without sufficient coverage, you’re left vulnerable to what could happen. As such, it makes sense for you to have a plan built that focuses on your individual needs. Further, you want your plan reviewed annually because things can change inside of business from year to year.

You don’t have to figure out what coverage you should have on your own. Contact us at Dern & Company so that one of our independent insurance agents can help you every step of the way.

 

When it comes to your business it is of critical importance to protect it as best you can. This is why you have commercial insurance taking out on your business. With commercial insurance you’ll bring in essential protection, so you don’t have to completely pay out of pocket for unforeseen expenses. However, there are likely add ons you should consider that will take your commercial investment protection to the next level. If you live in or around greater Milwaukee, WI, Dern & Company is here to help. 

General Liability Insurance

This is an important form of insurance coverage that will extend the level of liability protection for your business. This way, if the product you produce or the services your business offers ever causes bodily harm to a customer the insurance policy will protect you (and help pay for any legal damages). 

Property Insurance

Even if you don’t own the property your business is in you probably own the machinery and other equipment within the business. Property insurance will help protect these investments and replace what is damaged. 

Commercial Auto Insurance

If you drive your vehicle for business, or if you have a vehicle designed specifically for business, you’ll need commercial insurance. This is because your auto insurance likely won’t cover damages sustained while using the vehicle for work. 

You have put a considerable amount of time, money, and energy into the opening and creating your business. This is why you already have commercial insurance on the property. However, standard commercial insurance may not always be enough. That is why you need to consider insurance add ons. For more information on these and other additions to your current commercial insurance policy and your place of business is around greater Milwaukee, WI, now is the time to reach out and contact Dern & Company. 

If you are renting an apartment you may think that your dwelling is covered by your landlord’s insurance. This is often not the case, and many renters do not discover this fact until it is too late. Rather than hope that nothing bad happens to your belongings, why not gain the peace of mind that comes when you have adequate renters insurance? If you are living in the greater Milwaukee, WI area and do not have any insurance to protect your possessions you are living with an avoidable risk! The team at Dern & Company is here to provide the information you need to determine the right rental insurance policy to meet your needs.

When you have an appropriate rental insurance policy you will have protection for:

• Personal belongings that are lost or damaged due to a catastrophic event at your place of residence
• Burglary or theft of your possessions from your home
• Off-premises damage, loss or theft of any items that are included on your rental insurance policy

Your landlord’s insurance will likely cover any damage to the structure itself or any common areas throughout the building. The contents of your unit will likely not be covered by such a policy and you will be responsible in the event of their loss. Your local insurance agent can provide a quote for a range of policy options to help you determine which type and level of coverage best suits your needs. Don’t wait until disaster strikes to find out that you don’t have the coverage that you need!

Don’t leave your belongings at risk for damage, theft or loss! Contact your Milwaukee, WI team at Dern & Company today to learn more about how the right rental insurance policy can protect you!