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Dogs are great family pets and in most cases truly are man’s best friend. But many property and casualty insurance companies take exception to certain breeds they deem to be prone to violent or aggressive behavior. In some instances, if an insurance company learns a homeowner has a breed of dog it considers to be prone to vicious behavior living on the premises, the insurer might cancel coverage with the proper notices given and certainly will not renew coverage when the current policy expires. Many breeds of dogs have such a reputation for vicious behavior, whether deserved or not, that insurers consider them to be too great of a risk reasonably underwrite coverage for damages caused by them.

Pit Bulls Top List of Dog Breeds Insurers Dislike

As most might expect, pit bulls far more than any other breed have such a reputation for vicious behavior that no home insurer will provide coverage for dog bite liability or other potential damages that might occur. While most pit bulls arguably are perfectly docile family pets that make wonderful companions, too many people use the dogs for more sinister purposes and essentially train the dogs to be vicious. Add in negligent supervision in many cases, as occurs when any dog is allowed to run loose in public, and pit bulls commonly show up in news reports of vicious dog attacks on unsuspecting adults, children and other people’s pets.

Many Other Dog Breeds Also Commonly Uninsured

Rottweilers, German shepherds, doberman pinschers and great Danes are among other breeds generally excluded from homeowners insurance coverage. Others includes the chow chow, akita, Alaskan malamute and Siberian husky also commonly make lists of banned dog breeds. The less commonly known presa canario and virtually any wolf-hybrid dog also will nix coverage for dog bite claims and other damages and losses caused by breeds of dogs that insurers consider to be unacceptable risks for homeowners. Any family dog that is known to bite others, which could occur if a neighboring child is bitten by family dog and his or her parents file a lawsuit, and insurer might provide coverage for the initial bite but likely will not for subsequent bites that might occur.

Do you have a family dog whose breed insurance companies don’t like to insure?

Originally posted 2014-05-29 19:16:30.

With Valentine’s Day swiftly upon us, you may be spending a bit of your time poring over jewelry cases or browsing popular websites. After all, nothing says love quite like a piece of beautiful, unique, precious and likely expensive jewelry. If you’re going the precious metal and gemstones route this V-Day, you’re likely to score big points. But make sure you don’t lose out later; talk to us about a Las Vegas homeowners insurance rider.

You already know that homeowners insurance goes a long way in keeping your property protected. Your Las Vegas homeowners insurance policy include coverage for structure, liability and even much of the contents of your home. That said, most home insurance policies also have set limits on specific types of possessions, jewelry being one of them.

Las Vegas Homeowners Insurance Riders

If you have one or more pieces of valuable jewelry (or firearms, artwork, rugs, furs, etc.), you may want to talk to us today about adding a rider to your existing homeowners insurance policy. To issue you a jewelry rider, we’ll likely need records surrounding your jewelry, such as payment receipts, appraisals and certifications. If you do not have an appraisal of a particular piece of jewelry on hand, you can usually get one inexpensively from a local jeweler or appraisal company.

If you move from your home, remember that your jewelry rider isn’t going to follow you to your new place. Just as you’ll need to purchase new homeowners insurance when you buy a house, you’ll also need to add in a new jewelry rider.

This Valentine’s Day, give a gift that really means something – without worrying about keeping it protected. Talk to us today about adding your jewelry to your Las Vegas homeowners insurance policy with a home insurance rider.

Originally posted 2014-02-07 15:48:12.

Have you ever experienced the sensation where you’re driving and realize that you’ve gone from point A to point B and can’t remember anything that happened? You know how you kind of wake up and realize that you don’t remember waiting to go through that gate, or whether or not you caught the light green or red? It doesn’t last for a long time, probably less than 30 seconds.

Everyone has a cell phone now. The increase of their use and prevalence, unfortunately, is evident in the the rising numbers of car accidents caused by distracted driving. Namely texting. Last year alone there were over 11,000 deaths.

Think texting while driving isn’t a big deal?

Perhaps you feel like looking at your phone for three seconds isn’t the end of the world. The problem with that is  when you’re cruising down the freeway at 65 mph, you’ll easily cover the length of a football field while driving a 4,000 pound metal battering ram while blindfolded.

The epidemic seems to be most prevalent among teens. This isn’t because teens are unintelligent. Without getting too scientific and technical, the pre-frontal cortex – the part of the brain responsible for decision making, judgement, and risk/reward balancing – doesn’t fully develop until the mid-twenties. This is why teens are more prone to participate in risky behaviors, and why teens are three times more likely to die in a car accident than people twenty and older.

The best way to avoid this epidemic sweeping our streets is to stop. Stop texting, checking Instagram, email – whatever. Talk with your teens about the dangers and help them understand just how serious the problem is.

If you feel the need to go the extra mile as a parent, there are apps available that will block all texts and phone calls while driving.

Originally posted 2014-02-20 14:52:40.

If you’re looking for work, going back to school or preparing to strike out on your own, avoiding these common insurance mistakes will help you save money and maintain a solid financial safety net.

• Mistake #1:  Reducing Your Home and Auto Insurance Coverage Levels
  While reducing your coverage levels may save you money in the short run, this may be the worst time to take on more financial risk. Consider increasing your home and auto deductibles as an alternative. You’ll save  money on your rates, but the risk of financial ruin may be far less.
• Mistake #2: Ignoring Alternatives to COBRA
  Maintaining health coverage via your former employer is not your only  option. If you’re in good health, individual health insurance—also called  “major medical” or “high-deductible” insurance—could cost considerably less overall.
• Mistake #3: Not  Comparing Rates from Multiple Insurers
  With every type of insurance, different insurance companies are going to look at you differently. All companies use different underwriting criteria to determine rates, and if you don’t call AMS Insurance you’ll never know if you could be paying less.
• Mistake #4: Neglecting to Tell Your Auto Insurance Company Your   Commute Has changed
  If your employment situation has changed, talk to your current insurer and      review the annual mileage you’re currently being rated for. If your new annual mileage is lower, you should save some money.
• Mistake #5: Not Buying Term Life Insurance as Soon as Possible
  Extra expense may be the last thing you need at this point; failing to address your life insurance needs could make a bad situation even worse if you were to pass away. Talk to AMS and let us put your mind at ease.

Originally posted 2012-09-05 23:20:45.

If you’re, well, anyone, chances are you’re always looking for ways to get cheap auto insurance rates. We understand that shopping around for the best insurance can be confusing at best and excruciating at worst! That’s why at AMS Insurance, our agents work with our clients to make sure that they’re getting the cheapest rates possible.

While you may not realize it, quite a few factors contribute to those auto insurance quotes. You probably already know that your driving record can affect your auto insurance rates. Did you also know that your demographics, neighborhood and credit score can as well? Here are four ways you can get cheap auto insurance rates today:

1. Take advantage of your age: If you’re over the age of 25, make sure you’re getting an age-based discount. Generally, the lowest premiums for car insurance are awarded to drivers between the ages of 25 and 55. If you have a teenage or elderly driver on your policy, you may want to look into separating your insurance.
2. Choose low-crime neighborhoods: Did you know that if you live in a neighborhood with a high crime rate, you’re more likely to have higher insurance rates? Moving to a neighborhood with lower crime rates can help you save money.
3. Drive a different car: The make and model of your car will affect your auto insurance rates. The newer the vehicle, the more expensive to repair and replace. But some older cars are less reliable, so those can also raise your rates. A less expensive, more reliable car will generally get you the best rates.
4. Go for a bigger deductible: You might cringe at a $1,000 deductible, but if you have a long history of safe driving, it may pay off in the long run to increase your deductible and lower your monthly Auto Insurance Las Vegas premium.

Last but not least, your best way to save is to call AMS today! We can help you take advantage of discounts you may not even know about!

Originally posted 2013-07-01 11:16:01.