Cross Creek Insurance

What You Need to Know About Teen Drivers

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Teens who are approaching the age where they are allowed to legally drive a vehicle usually get very excited. Their parents get terrified and naturally so. One of the greatest killers of young people is a fatal car accident, especially one that involves distracted driving (talking or texting on the phone while driving), and the use of drugs or alcohol.

The highest crash rates for drivers of any age are those caused by 16-year-olds. About one-third of all deaths of 13 to 19-year-olds come from auto accidents.

Most teens can be taught to drive responsibly. Many do take care when first learning how to drive. Unfortunately, many others do not and the rate for auto insurance premiums, to cover teenage drivers, reflects this greater risk.

For parents considering allowing their teen to drive, it is important to consult with your insurance agent at Cross Creek Insurance serving Hope Hills, NC and the surrounding area. Your agent can help you understand the impact on your auto insurance premiums from adding a teen driver to the policy.

Be sure to consult with your agent before you allow your teenager to drive the car. If the family has more than one vehicle, it may be a good idea to restrict the teen driver to the vehicle that is less valuable.

It is very helpful for teens to take a defensive driving course. Parents can encourage a teen to do this by attending a course themselves. We all get rusty in our driving skills and taking a refresher course in defensive driving is good for everyone. Most teens would not be comfortable taking a course along with their parents; however, taking the same course at different times gives parents and teens something of shared relevance that they can talk about together. Otherwise, a parent may find a new teen driver finding fault (and correctly doing so) with the bad habits of the parent driver.

To get an updated insurance quote, reach out to your insurance agent at Cross Creek Insurance in Hope Hills, NC if you are considering allowing your teen to drive. Having the teen as a listed driver on the vehicle’s insurance policy is critical before you allow them to drive the family car.

Must-Have Business Insurance Products Every Startup Needs

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As an aspiring entrepreneur, the to-do list is endless when planning your Hope Hills, NC startup business. Not surprisingly, significant aspects of your new endeavor can be overlooked. Protecting your new business is crucial, so one of the most important things to consider is evaluating what types of insurance your startup might need to in order to keep you and your assets protected. 

The types of insurance you will need for your startup depend on the type of business or industry you run. Here are some of the common insurance products Cross Creek Insurance recommends you consider when evaluating which insurance policies your new company should have in place. 

General Liability Insurance 

 Professional Indemnity Insurance 

This type of insurance covers your business against claims of slander or libel, theft of intellectual property, sharing confidential information, and more, and is essential if you are working with partners. 

Automobile Insurance 

If you have a company vehicle or use your own to conduct work-related tasks, you will need both personal and commercial insurance, regardless of whether you use one vehicle or maintain a fleet.  

Worker’s Compensation 

If you have employees, you must have Worker’s Compensation. This insurance covers potential employee medical bills and time away from work if they are injured at your workplace or while on the job.  

Professional Liability Insurance 

This form of insurance covers you if you fail to provide contracted services or render them improperly.   

Do I Need All of These? 

Most startup businesses will not initially need all of these types of insurance but may grow into them. Some startups may require specialized insurance such as Data Breach or if you work from home, homeowners or renters insurance. To find out which specific types of insurance your startup needs, call the Hope Hills, NC insurance experts at Cross Creek Insurance today. 

Do I need another life insurance policy if I have one through work already?

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Advantages of Employee Insurance

If you live in Hope Hills, NC, you know you have a great community that you can count on. You probably got a life insurance policy through your employer when you were signing up for health insurance, and you probably got a great deal. Employer life insurance plans get group discounts and are often at least partly funded by the employer, as an added benefit for working there.

Another great thing about your life insurance policy through your employer is that you probably didn’t have to qualify or take a medical exam. Your employer wants to take care of you, so you can usually get the best deal through them.

So Why Buy a Private Policy?

There are good reasons you should get another policy through Cross Creek Insurance, though.  You need to carefully consider these factors because taking advantage early is important.

  1. If you lose your job, you will also lose your life insurance coverage. Even if they let you take your policy with you, it will probably be very expensive.
  2. There may be other limitations for when coverage ends. For instance, you may not be able to retire at a certain age, but the life insurance through your employer may not be available after that.
  3. Your employer might decide to cut that benefit. While it would see unfair, it may be well within their rights.
  4. The policies offered through an employer are usually very specific and limited. They typically only offer a death benefit and don’t have options for turning your policy into an asset unto itself. Your work policies might also not offer as much coverage as you need.

We at Cross Creek Insurance work to help the people of Hope Hills, NC make sure they have life insurance coverage tailored to their individual needs. The earlier you sign up for a policy, the more benefit you can get from it. If you have any questions, please call us today.

When Is It Time to Update Your Home Insurance Policy?

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Here at Cross Creek Insurance, serving the greater Hope Hills, NC area, we recommend that you take a look at your home insurance policy every two to three years and ensure it still meets your needs. But there are also a few times that you should automatically change it without having to wait. Here are three of the times when you should update your home insurance policy. 

You’ve Renovated or Remodeled Your Home

Following a home renovation or remodel project, you should take the time to update your home insurance policy. After remodeling or renovating, the value of your home and the items contained inside have changed. As such, you may need to update your policy limits to ensure your new materials or space will be fully covered in the event disaster strikes. 

You’ve Purchased Expensive Items

Another reason why you may need to update your home insurance policy is that you’ve purchased new items for your home. When you’ve purchased new items for your homes, such as jewelry, art, pricey furniture or electronics, you want to ensure these items are covered against theft and damage. Updating your policy helps to ensure that happens. 

You’ve Made Life Changes

Lastly, if you have made changes in your life, you may want to update your policy. This includes getting married, having a baby or retiring. You should always look at all of your insurance policies when making life changes. 

Do you need to update your home insurance policy or purchase a new one in the greater Hope Hills, NC area? Then contact Cross Creek Insurance today. We can help you find the right insurance policy for your needs. Call us now to get started. 

Does Auto Insurance Cover Hurricane Damage?

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Hurricane season stretches from June through November each year, and recent years have brought some dangerous and damaging storms to the Southeast region of the United States and beyond. It is truly staggering to see the extent of destruction caused by hurricanes and tropical storms, no matter what level of severity and intensity they are. That impact can include damage to automobiles. You might be wondering what your auto insurance covers during and after a hurricane. At Cross Creek Insurance serving the Hope Hills, NC area, we are happy to help answer questions like that.

Collision insurance coverage as part of auto insurance may or may not come into play when hurricane damage occurs, just depending on the individual circumstances. This type of coverage pertains to a vehicle hitting or being hit by something. So if an automobile accident happens because of a hurricane, collision insurance could address that.

Then there is comprehensive coverage as part of auto insurance. It covers many different circumstances. In a hurricane, some of the types of situations that would be handled under comprehensive coverage would be the wind that causes damage to a car, flooding that affects a car, hail damage, auto damage related to hurricane-force winds or glass breakage.

Just as you need to complete a variety of preparation steps before a hurricane, make sure you also obtain the proper auto insurance coverage in advance of any storms. Often it is not possible to get coverage right before a hurricane is about to hit and after watches and warnings are issued. If you need advice on the insurance that makes the most sense for your unique needs, contact us at Cross Creek Insurance serving the Hope Hills, NC area.

Myths about Life Insurance

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There are a lot of common myths about life insurance in Hope Hills, NC that can stand in the way of you getting proper coverage.

Employer-Provided Life Insurance Is All You Need: An employer may provide life insurance, and you may be able to purchase more worth up to six times your salary, but to provide for dependents you typically need more. You may also lose the insurance when you leave the job, and while you may convert, it’s typically more expensive than just purchasing a policy today on your own.

Only a Breadwinner Needs It: If something happens to a stay-at-home spouse, then the breadwinner will need to hire someone to care for the children and clean, which can be expensive. It’s a good idea to have insurance on both spouses. This way, the working spouse can also take some time off to help the family adjust.

You Are Too Young to Worry about It: It actually makes more sense to get life insurance when you are young, since it’s usually less expensive and you don’t have medical conditions that could disqualify you. By the time you need life insurance, it could be too late, which makes it a good idea to purchase it as soon as you are able to.

You Can’t Get It If You Have Health Issues: You can generally buy term life insurance, even with some health issues. It may mean higher premiums, but you should still be able to find insurance. Speak with an agent at Cross Creek Insurance if you have some health issues.

You Don’t Need It If You Are Single: You may still have family that relies on you, such as aging parents. Benefits can also be used to pay for burial costs, so your family doesn’t have to go into debt.

Contact an agent at Cross Creek Insurance, serving Hope Hills, NC, to get a quote on life insurance.

Where to Get Quality Business Insurance in Hope Hills, NC

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With so many choices at your fingertips, you may be wondering how to select your business insurance policy.

The protection of your enterprise is nearly as important as your business model. Running an unprotected company may be the single riskiest method of operation. As the owner of a company, you need to protect your employees, customers, and your assets. Business insurance is the perfect layer of protection for your company.

Our expert agents in Hope Hills, NC will help you understand the various types of commercial insurance to choose the best form and amount for your company. Business insurance provides coverage for your physical equipment, inventory, and company vehicles. You can also choose a policy that protects your company if an employee steals from you or you incur some other type of theft. Business insurance is vital if your company encounters a lawsuit. If you have an employee that requires an extended absence leave due to injury, commercial insurance provides coverage. 

There are typically four ways to categorize business insurance:

  • Business liability insurance
  • Business umbrella insurance
  • Business property insurance
  • Business automobile insurance

Business automobile insurance gives protection to all cars used only for business purposes. Umbrella insurance gives you extensive coverage for any losses that wouldn’t otherwise be covered. Business property insurance provides reimbursement for an individual suffering from financial loss due to destroyed property, buildings, land, etc. Business liability insurance pays for property damage and bodily injury when the insured party is responsible.

Even if you need insurance for business-related activity outside the realm of these categories, Cross Creek Insurance can help. We have been serving the Hope Hills, NC area for many years, helping business owners acquire insurance for their specific needs. Contact Cross Creek Insurance today for a custom policy. Rest easier knowing your employees, customers, assets, and financed are protected.

What You Should Know before Loaning Out Your Car

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If you are loaning out your car in Hope Hills, NC, you may think it’s no big deal. However, there are certain insurance aspects you should know about first.

Car insurance will cover the vehicle, not the individual driver, so if you lend your car to your friend and he or she gets into an accident, then your liability coverage pays for the damages. You are also responsible for filing the claim, paying the deductible, and suffering any rate hikes. The only exception is if you never gave permission to your friend. Express permission is important. If a friend takes your car without permission, then their insurance could be used first and yours second.

You should check to see if your friend is insured before handing over the keys. Your insurance is going to be the primary coverage if an accident occurs, but if your policy maxes out, your friend’s insurance could supplement and be the secondary coverage.

You should ask what your friend is planning to do with your car, because it could invalidate your insurance coverage. For example, if your friend is planning on driving with Uber or another ride sharing service while their car is in the shop, your policy likely won’t cover an accident because the car was being used for commercial purposes.

If you are going to be frequently lending out your car to a certain friend, it may be worth it to add them to your own policy. Adding new drivers can affect your rate, depending on their driving record. Those with bad records might hurt your rates, but a good driver could actually help. Speak with an agent at Cross Creek Insurance about adding new drivers to see how it affects your rates.

Contact an agent at Cross Creek Insurance serving Hope Hills, NC to get a quote on auto insurance.

How to Make Sure Your Homeowners Insurance is Adequate

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Most homeowners rarely think about their home insurance except for those rare times when they actually may need it. The unexpected is what catches everyone off guard. Home insurance benefits from an annual review as part of general home maintenance and protection. Talk with your agent at Cross Creek Insurance serving Hope Hills, NC and the surrounding areas at least once per year to get good advice.

Here are some tips of what to consider when making sure home insurance coverage is adequate:

  • Carefully Assess Risks and Coverage: Update the replacement cost amount that is insured by using cost estimation software with the help of your agent. Make sure the software calculates the replacement value using current construction and repair costs for the area where the home is located.
  • Extend Standard Policy Coverage: Basic home insurance coverage is usually not enough. If the home is located in a high-risk zone with a greater risk of having natural disasters such as floods, hurricanes, tornados, and earthquakes, having additional insurance for these special risks is a very good idea. Potential damage from hail during thunderstorms should be covered if that risk exists. Also, consider extended replacement cost coverage for these risks because reconstruction, after a natural disaster, is more expensive due to the high demand for services following such an event.
  • City Sewer Backups: Often overlooked, is insurance coverage for damage caused by municipal sewer systems that back up. Cities will older sewage systems can clog up and the sewage may run back into a home causing damage during severe thunderstorms.
  • Expensive Personal Items: Valuable personal items in a home may not be covered, or the coverage may be limited, and they may need to have specific insurance protection.

Ask your agent at Cross Creek Insurance in Hope Hills, NC about these risks to make sure you have adequate coverage.

At What Age Should I Get Life Insurance?

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If you are thinking about getting a life insurance plan, it’s essential to know that there isn’t a set magic age for buying this coverage. Whole life insurance plans are best bought at the youngest age possible while term coverages are often purchased to offer protection for a specific time-constrained obligation. This may include providing a child’s college tuition fees in case you pass on before they get to college.

Some people choose to get both policies so that one portion can offer protection for the unknown future while the other covers different financial obligations that happen as the policy holder’s family grows. You can always get a life insurance plan from Cross Creek Insurance. We serve the entire Hope Hills, NC area and its environs.

What’s the best time to get a whole life coverage?

The perfect time to start a whole life coverage is when your kid is born. A whole life policy accrues value over time, so buying one for your child will give the protection they need during their later years. By the time your child is ready to leave home, the plan will have accumulated adequate funds that can be borrowed against the coverage to buy a house or overcome an unexpected hardship.

Basically, the younger you are when buying a life insurance coverage, the lower the premium costs will be. Since the average people’s lifespan has increased, the standard length of life insurance plans increased as well. This means that the risks of paying out a claim prematurely are lower today than before.

What’s more, there will be more time for a young one to pay premiums compared to a 60-year old person, meaning that the premium costs will vary significantly. But this doesn’t mean that old people shouldn’t get life insurance plans even if it’s for nothing more than paying for their funeral expenses when they pass on.

At Cross Creek Insurance, we can offer life insurance plans regardless of your age. Contact our Hope Hills, NC office today.