Do I Need Umbrella Insurance?

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This is a 2D Animation video.
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An umbrella policy can help protect you from unexpected situations.

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The home and vehicle disappear and the text inside of the circle reads:
“What is umbrella insurance?”

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What is umbrella insurance?

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Icons appear on screen depicting homes, vehicles, jewelry, and a boat.

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Umbrella insurance can provide an added layer of protection for your assets and cover the costs associated with injuries, damages to others that go above and beyond the liability limits of your auto, homeowners, or boat policies.

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A red car runs a stop sign during a rainy evening.
The red car crashes into a blue car.
There is heavy damage to the blue car. A dollar sign with exclamation marks appears.

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For example, you are running late to meet your friends at the gym.

You don't see a stop sign and end up side swiping a car in the intersection causing an accident where you are found to be at fault.

The four passengers in the other car are badly injured and the damages for bodily injury exceeds the limits of your auto coverage.

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The driver of the red car has his head in his hands looking distraught.
The number $1,500,000 appears on screen with court and gavel icons.

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You're sued, found liable, and the lawsuit results in a judgment of $1.5 million against you.

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Gavel and car icons appear on the left side of the screen.
The judgement and liability amounts are listed on the right, revealing a gap in coverage.

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Judgement Amount: $1,500,000
Auto Liability Limit: $500,000
(maximum payout on the policy)
Gap in Coverage: $1,000,000

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This exceeds your auto bodily injury coverage limit of $500,000, the maximum payout on the policy.

Without umbrella insurance, you'd be responsible for the difference of $1 million out of pocket, potentially bankrupting you even garnishing future wages.

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An animation shows $1,000,000 dropping to $0,000,000.
The driver gives a thumbs up.

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A $1 million umbrella policy could have helped to avoid this unforeseen financial responsibility.

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A circle with text reads:
“Range of insurance limits from $1 million to $10 million.”
“Rates start around $20 per month.”

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At Travelers, we offer a range of umbrella insurance limits with rates starting around $20 per month.

Call Travelers or your agent today to discuss buying an umbrella policy for an added layer of protection and peace of mind.

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Text, Travelers is proud to work with the finest Independent agents.
Travelers logo
www.travelers.com

Disclaimer Text, The information contained in this video is general in nature. Any description of coverage is necessarily simplified. Whether a particular loss is covered depends on the specific facts and the provisions, exclusions, and limits of the actual policy. Nothing in this video alters the terms or conditions of any of our policies. You should read the policy for a complete description of coverage. Coverage depends on the specific facts and circumstances involved in the claim or loss, all applicable policy provisions, and any applicable law. Coverage options, limits, discounts, deductibles, and other features are subject to individuals meeting our underwriting criteria and stat availability. Individual savings may vary and are not guaranteed. Receipt of this video does not constitute an offer to issue or renew an insurance policy.

Personal Liability Umbrella Insurance is underwritten by the Travelers Indemnity Company and its property casualty affiliates, One Tower Square, Hartford, CT 06183. In CA: Personal Liability Umbrella Insurance is underwritten by Travelers Commercial Insurance Company. Certificate of Authority #6519, State of Domicile: CT and The Standard Fire Insurance Company, Certificate of Authority #3545. State of Domicile: CT. In TX: Personal Liability Umbrella Insurance is
underwritten by Travelers Lloyds of Texas Insurance Company, Travelers Commercial Insurance Company and The Travelers Home and Marine Insurance Company. In WA: Personal Liability Umbrella Insurance is underwritten by The Standard Fire Insurance Company, The Automobile Insurance Company of Hartford, Connecticut, The Travelers Indemnity Company of America, The Travelers Home and Marine Insurance Company, Travelers Commercial Insurance Company and Travelers Personal Insurance Company. All underwriting companies in CA, TX, and WA are located at One Tower Square, Hartford, CT 06183.

Travelers and the Travelers Umbrella logo are registered trademarks of The Travelers Indemnity Company in the U.S. and other countries.

If you own a home, car or boat, you’re likely to have primary insurance policies that provide liability coverage for each of these assets. However, your primary policy limits may not be enough to cover all claimed damages, which can cause unexpected financial hardship. That’s where umbrella insurance comes in.

Umbrella liability insurance is designed to further protect against the costs of:

  • Claims made against you for bodily injury to others due to a car accident, boat incident, fall or other covered accidents.
  • Claims made against you for covered damage to others’ property.
  • Personal liability for claims like libel, slander, defamation of character and invasion of privacy.
  • Potential out-of-pocket expenses related to each of these (or other) covered incidents. 

Additionally, with increasing dollar amounts awarded by juries in personal auto liability cases—driven partially by social inflation1—it’s essential to safeguard your income and assets.

Who Should Get Umbrella Insurance?

Anyone who has assets that they want to protect should consider purchasing umbrella insurance. Here are some examples to think about:

  • At-Home Dangers – Trampolines and swimming pools could potentially lead to serious injuries and liability claims.
  • Slip and Fall Claims – Someone could slip and fall—and suffer an injury—on your property. This can apply to your primary residence or if you’re a landlord of one or more additional properties.  
  • Family Matters – Imagine your liability if your teenager causes a major car accident.  

These are just a few examples of the risks that might make umbrella insurance right for you. An insurance agent can outline additional potential risks you may face. 

Another important reason to consider purchasing umbrella insurance—peace of mind. In life, mistakes and accidents happen. Someone, including friends or visiting loved ones, could become seriously injured on your property or when you’re driving. 

When something like this occurs, you’ll know that you took extra steps to help cover the damages in the event you’re responsible for the loss.

How Much Umbrella Coverage Do I Need?

Umbrella policies range in limits typically starting at $1 million and going up to $10 million. To help determine how much coverage you should consider, start by totaling up the value of your property and financial assets, such as:

  • Cars, boats, other vehicles.
  • Jewelry, art, antiques, other valuables.
  • Home equity or equity in other properties you own.
  • Cash, savings accounts, CDs, bonds.
  • 401(k), IRA, other retirement accounts.
  • Stocks, bonds, other investment accounts.

Keep in mind that the specific assets you could lose as the result of a judgement may vary by state. Once you’ve calculated the total value of your assets, ask your insurance representative for guidance on the amount of umbrella coverage that makes sense  for you. 

It’s also a good idea to review your coverage periodically and make adjustments as needed to reflect any changes to your assets over time.

How Much Does Umbrella Insurance Cost?

Typically, umbrella coverage is considered very affordable. Your final cost will depend on variables specific to your situation. Talk to your insurance representative about whether you can save money on your premiums by bundling policies with the same insurance carrier.

Is an Umbrella Policy Worth It?

If you’re thinking about adding umbrella coverage, consider this: you hope you’ll never have to use it, but if you do, you’ll be grateful it’s there. Umbrella coverage is designed to take effect once the liability limits of your homeowners, auto, or boat policies have been exceeded. It’s an economical way to safeguard your assets now to help avoid the possibility of significant financial hardship later.

Ready to protect yourself today and into the future? Ask your local independent insurance agent or a Travelers representative about umbrella insurance from Travelers.

Sources
1Insurance Research Council. “Social Inflation: Evidence and Impact on Property-Casualty Insurance”

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