If your profession deals with transporting individuals or goods, your company vehicles can be the lifeline of your business. As such, it’s important to do what you can to preserve the quality of your fleet. This includes scheduling regular maintenance, providing driver training for employees and keeping your commercial auto insurance up to date. The following steps can help you better manage this important aspect of your business.

Maintenance and Repairs

Someone in your company should be responsible for vehicle upkeep and repairs. Having regular drivers makes it easier to keep tabs on the condition of your vehicles and schedule maintenance when there’s a need. It also helps to have a regular mechanic whom you can trust with vehicle repairs. Scheduled maintenance will lower the risk of accidents, extend the lifeline of your vehicles and reduce repair costs.

Hire Conscientious Drivers

Hiring good drivers is another way to keep company vehicles in good shape. New drivers should be screened before hiring to ensure they have good driving records free of accidents and violations. Your company can also sponsor driver training courses from time to time to reinforce safe driving habits. Companies that make driving safely a priority do their part to reduce the risk of accidents.

Establish Rules for Using Business Vehicles

Every business should have rules for use of their business vehicles. Such rules could include no texting, cell phone, alcohol or drug use while driving, mandatory use of seat belts, no aggressive driving, etc. Employees should also be encouraged to lock vehicles when parked in public areas to discourage theft.  

Partnering with the right insurance company in Oregon will give you great insurance coverage to protect your company vehicles. Call or visit us today at Linda Dugan Insurance to get the customized commercial auto coverage you need. 

There are a lot of different avenues a person must take in order to keep them and their loved ones safe. Unfortunately, a lot of Americans do not prioritize their insurance needs, or they may simply prioritize certain types of insurance but not others. What they often discover is that insurance is not a laughing matter; in fact, quite the opposite. When you are in a car accident, a health crisis, lose your home to a tornado, or find yourself leaving behind your loved ones, you do not want to be up a creek without a paddle. The five types of insurance that Linda Dugan Insurance has found are commonly expected to get include:

1. Life insurance – Insurance that makes sure that your family is well taken care of following their death
2. Health insurance – Insurance to protect you in the event that you need to get a check-up, get surgery, get medication, etc.
3. Automobile insurance – Insurance to protect you incase of an accident, either one caused by yourself or caused by an "act of god."
4. Long-term disability coverage – In the event of permanent/nigh-permanent disability, this insurance would make sure that you were able to support yourself financially and not burden others with your care.
5. Homeowner’s Insurance – Insurance to protect you from liability for damages, including certain weather or seismic activities (check your homeowner’s insurance to make sure these are covered!). Being in the pacific Northwest, Oregan has grown relatively used to hurricane-force winds.

Some insurance – like automobile insurance – is mandated by Oregon law; if caught without automobile insurance while driving, you may find yourself facing fines, a suspended license, and/or a towing.

Residents of Astoria, Oregon and other cities can contact Linda Dugan Insurance, either by phone at (503) 440-3909 or online if they have any questions or concerns about their insurance needs.

It can be exciting to get a boat and get ready to take it out on the water and make memories with friends and family. However, when you get your boat ready for boating, there are a few things to think about before you get on the water. Here are a few questions you can ask yourself to make sure that you have everything in place.

What kind of boat do you have?

Some of the regulations for boating are based on the size and speed of the boat you have. After all, it wouldn’t be safe or practical to take a big yacht on a small river. Be sure to research Oregon laws regarding what kinds of boats are permitted on public waters, and any limitations on boating. For example, you must be over 13 years old and pass a boater education course to drive a boat in Oregon.

Where can you use your boat?

There are lots of places to go boating in Oregon, but not all waters are public or allow boats. Be sure to check that boating is allowed before you take your boat to a body of water, and use the proper boating ramps once you arrive.

How do I keep myself and passengers safe?

In addition to driving the boat safely and keeping life jackets on board, you can keep yourself and your passengers safe with proper boating insurance. Speaking with a qualified insurance agent will help you find the best insurance options for your boat and needs.

For more information about protecting yourself and your boat with proper insurance, contact Linda Dugan Insurance today.

While you may find yourself in the position of needing a number of different insurance policies while living in Astoria, Oregon, you may also want to consider umbrella insurance. While there are a number of different agents out there who can set up an affordable umbrella insurance policy for you, look local first at a place like Linda Dugan Insurance, who serves the great Astoria, OR area and offer competitive rates. Below is more information about umbrella insurance policies, so you can make the most informed decision before setting one up for yourself.

WHAT IS UMBRELLA INSURANCE?

In short, umbrella insurance is a policy which protects you beyond the existing insurance policies you already have. This means that you will have added protection to your home and auto insurance polices in the form of added insurance that fills gaps that they do not cover, This specifically pertains to lawsuits that may be filed against you due to injury from a car accident or a fall at your home or property. With this umbrella insurance policy, you are protected from a lot of legal costs and possibly future legal judgement against you.

HOW MUCH DOES IT COST?

For about $200 per month you can usually get around one million dollars of coverage, though it depends on who you are and what your history is. For another $100 per month, another million dollars of liability is usually granted, though it is usually on a case by case basis per person who is setting up their umbrella policy.

WHO NEEDS IT?

Anyone who is worried about having a lawsuit filed against them for an auto accident, a home accident or libel or slander, which umbrella insurance policies also cover. While it’s tough to predict the future, one can get a sense of if they are more vulnerable to these types of issues than not.

 

When you purchase a home you are required to also purchase homeowners insurance. This policy gives you the security to know that you will be taken care of if a disaster befalls your home. It will cover most damages that you wouldn’t be able to pay for out of pocket. All of our agents serving Astoria, OR through Linda Dugan Insurance work hard to make sure you have coverage for all your needs. One thing they often encounter is a customer base that may not realize that this blanket policy they purchase for their home may have add on and optional coverages that they should consider. We want you to have the best policy you can so we want you to know when you may not be getting what you think you are from homeowners insurance.

Did you know that flood insurance is usually an add on policy? In the event of a flood you may not be covered for damages unless you have elected to add flood coverage to your plan.

A flood can be devastating and can cause thousands of dollars in damage. In the blink of an eye your home could be filled with the rising waters leaving you with nothing you can do to stop it. Once the waters recede you are left with a mess to the physical structure of your home but also to your emotional state. Seeing the place you live and possibly raise a family being destroyed is devastating. Adding financial strife to this struggle would be utterly life changing.

Don’t be caught in this mess. Call our agents today and find out just what your policy covers. Find out if you have any gaps that need to be filled and we would be more than happy to help you build the perfect plan. Covering you the best we can is a job we love doing.

 

There is some information you should have available when you decide to update your insurance. Whether you are updating your auto insurance, homeowners, or anything else, having the details in front of you can simplify everything. Plus, it can ensure that you have all of the necessary coverage in Astoria, OR.

Current Policy Numbers

Have all of your policy numbers in front of you. This includes homeowners, auto, and any other insurance that you need to update. This will make it easier for an agent to find your policies in the system.

VIN and Other Auto Details

When you are updating auto insurance, it is important to have the VIN in front of you. Having various safety features that you have installed handy can also help, particularly to see if you qualify for any discounts.

Coverage Levels

Depending upon your current level of coverage, you may want to increase coverage in certain areas on homeowners insurance, auto insurance, or elsewhere. For example, if you recently installed a pool on your home or you were involved in an auto accident, it may be necessary to update your policy so that you have additional coverage moving forward. Talking with an agent can help you determine what level of coverage you need, and they can make recommendations to you.

Budget

Having your budget at your side when you are updating insurance is always a good idea. If for any reason, the policy goes up, can help you to decide whether you want to shop around for a new policy from a different insurance company.

Call Linda Dugan Insurance today and one of our insurance agents can help you with all of your necessary updates. We can get quotes on all of the different insurance policies that you need in Oregon.

 

 

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Is it important to have renters insurance coverage? This is a common question asked by many of our clients—and our answer at Linda Dugan Insurance is always a resounding yes! Here are two common reasons why renters insurance is vital if you rent where you live.

Renters Insurance Covers Your Personal Property

One of the most common reasons why tenants need renters insurance is to cover their personal property. This means that if a fire, theft, weather event, or other covered claim situation happens, they would have the ability to replace each damaged item accordingly without having to pay out an exorbitant sum out of pocket.

Looking at the facts, it is important to remember that landlords are not responsible for taking care of renter’s personal belongings in the event of an incident. By having a policy in force ahead of time, you can rest assured that you have the means to replace the items if something unexpected occurs.

Renters Insurance Helps Protect You Against Liability Claims

We’ve all heard of stories about people sued because a delivery person slipped and fell on a wet floor or a would-be robber tripped on some stairs and broke an ankle. While some of these stories may seem a bit extreme, they do happen.­

Most basic renters insurance policies have a special section of coverage called liability. This portion of the policy contract helps pays for claims like the ones mentioned, plus any other time someone is injured while visiting your home or as a direct result of your actions. Other examples of liability claims include your child damaging a neighbor’s property with a toy or even your normally docile dog biting someone at a local park. Failure to have liability coverage in place could mean you are responsible for damage and medical bills of others—plus, you could be sued.

As you can tell, these two reasons make having renters insurance quite important. For more information about renters insurance or to receive a no-obligation quote, please contact us today.

you have a business in the Astoria, Oregon area, we have some questions for you.

If you could find better commercial coverage for your business, why wouldn’t you?

If you could find this better commercial coverage at the same price you are currently paying, why wouldn’t you?

If quotes were available for the same coverage that could actually save you money, why wouldn’t you want to know about them?

If you could get competitive commercial insurance from a local company that is here to answers your questions, that can help with claims, and help our local economy at the same time, why wouldn’t you?

If you could easily get a comparative quote for your auto and homeowners insurance right online, why wouldn’t you?

If an insurance review that is free and puts you under no obligation could provide you better peace of mind in knowing where and how you are covered, why wouldn’t you take advantage of it?

These are the questions our agents ask every day at Linda Dugan Insurance. These are questions that help people realize we can save them money, improve their coverage, and sometimes accomplish both. We can help them better understand where the risks currently are, and we do it without cost or obligation. We search a data base of insurance providers to find coverage that is affordable without sacrificing coverage. Many of our clients start with just one policy. Soon, we are helping them save on all of their insurance coverage.

So let us ask you one more question. With the ability to review your insurance coverage, potentially save you money and perhaps even improve your coverage just a click away, why wouldn’t you take the opportunity?

Contact us at Linda Dugan Insurance. After all, why wouldn’t you?