Personal & Business Insurance Resources

Yes, in most circumstances within the U.S. and Canada. Your personal automobile liability and physical damage coverages (collision and comprehensive) typically transfer to temporary rental vehicles, subject to the deductibles on your primary vehicle.

The Critical "Loss of Use" Trap: When a rental car is damaged, rental car companies routinely charge for "loss of use" (the daily rental revenue lost while the car undergoes repairs). Standard personal auto insurance policies do not always cover loss of use charges. However, rental car Collision Damage Waivers (CDWs) cost $8 to $12 per day—annualized to over $4,000 per year—and are an expensive waiver rather than true insurance. Many major credit cards offer secondary or primary rental protection that covers loss of use if you charge the full rental on the card.

Yes. Your personal auto policy provides territorial protection throughout the United States, its territories and possessions, and all Canadian provinces. Furthermore, your policy includes an automatic upward adjustment clause: if another state or province mandates higher minimum liability limits than Delaware, your policy automatically broadens to satisfy that jurisdiction's legal threshold.

Important Exclusion: Coverage does not apply in Mexico or overseas territories. Dedicated cross-border Mexican policies must be secured before driving south of the U.S. border.

In the insurance industry, coverage strictly follows the vehicle. When you loan your car to someone driving with your express or reasonably implied permission, your auto policy acts as the primary source of insurance coverage. If damages exceed your policy limits, the driver's own personal insurance may serve as secondary coverage.

If you are at fault: Your insurance company pays for vehicle repairs minus your collision deductible, makes payments to lienholders/lessors, and manages third-party property damage and bodily injury claims up to your policy limits.

If you are not at fault: The at-fault driver's insurance is responsible for vehicle repairs and bodily injury medical bills. If the at-fault driver lacks insurance or carries inadequate limits, your own Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist (UM/UIM) coverage responds directly to cover the deficiency.

A core commercial risk management package comprises:

• Commercial General Liability (CGL): Protects against bodily injury and third-party property damage claims arising from business operations.
• Professional Liability (Errors & Omissions / E&O): Mandatory for advisory, medical, engineering, architectural, and legal consultants.
• Commercial Property & Business Interruption: Reimburses structure/inventory losses and pays payroll and operating expenses while rebuilding.
• Commercial Auto: Required for all company-titled vehicles and transport operations.
• Workers’ Compensation: Statutory requirement in DE, MD, PA, and VA covering workplace injuries and medical care.

At Pratt Insurance, our in-house claims advocacy desk guides you through five clear stages:

1. Adjuster Contact: Within 24-48 hours of reporting, an assigned claims adjuster contacts the policyholder to review loss details.
2. Loss Inspection: The adjuster performs an on-site physical inspection or verifies asset valuation receipts.
3. Repair/Replacement Estimate: A formal itemized scope of loss and estimate is prepared.
4. Claim Payment Check: The insurer disburses payment (less deductible) to begin immediate repairs.
5. Supplemental Payouts: If hidden damage is uncovered during reconstruction, our Pratt team coordinates supplemental approvals from the carrier.

Partially. Standard homeowners insurance (HO-3 and HO-5 forms) covers severe wind, hail, tornado damage, and fallen trees. However, standard policies strictly exclude damage caused by earthquakes, earth movement, and flood waters. Flood protection requires a dedicated NFIP policy, and earthquake endorsements must be scheduled separately.

Condo association master policies only protect the building's exterior shell, roofs, and shared common elements (hallways, elevators). Unit interiors, flooring, cabinetry, appliances, personal belongings, and liability remain entirely unprotected. A personal HO-6 condominium policy covers your interior improvements, contents, and loss assessment liability.