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Curtis Miller Insurance Agency

1800 Blizzard Drive
Parkersburg, WV 26101

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Life insurance FAQs

At Curtis Miller Insurance in Parkersburg, WV, we help our customers find the right type and amount of life insurance to provide for their families. Our agency was founded in 1962, and we have the experience you need and require. 

What is the difference between whole life and term life?

Both of these types of life insurance have a death benefit, but that is about all they have in common. Whole life insurance is just that—life insurance for your whole life. It earns dividends, and you can borrow from it if the need arises. Term life insurance has a term, usually 20 years when it is in effect. Ultimately, it goes away, and there is no cash value. 

Can I have more than one beneficiary?

The choice of beneficiary is completely up to you. You can choose anyone you want, and more than one person is OK. You will be asked to assign each beneficiary a percentage of the benefit. 

Can I buy life insurance without a physical?

Yes, you can buy life insurance without a physical, but probably not a large amount, and it will be more expensive than if you get a physical. 

How much life insurance do I need?

There is no one answer to this question. Each person or family has different needs and requirements. You have to consider your personal financial situation when determining what amount of life insurance you need: your income, your number of family members, the age of your dependents, and how much of their support you want to provide. If you have a mortgage, that needs to be taken into account. 

Contact our Parkersburg, WV office to discuss your life insurance coverage. Our agents at Curtis Miller Insurance will be there for you. 

Live In a High Risk Area? Three Reasons to Get Flood Insurance

Why You Should Consider Flood Insurance in Parkersburg, WV

Do you reside in a flood-prone area? Even if you’re not, unexpected flash floods can cause significant damage to your home. Standard homeowners’ insurance policies often don’t cover floods. Curtis Miller Insurance can help fill this gap with a comprehensive flood insurance policy. If you’re still indecisive, here are a few reasons to consider flood insurance.

Financial Protection Against Flood Damage

Floods can lead to immense damage to your home and personal belongings, leading to costly repairs or replacements. Flood insurance safeguards you from these out-of-pocket expenses, offering significant financial protection during such unfortunate events.

Speedier Recovery After a Flood

Repairing a home after flood damage can be time-consuming, particularly if you need to accumulate funds over time for the restoration process. Flood insurance can expedite your recovery by offering prompt financial assistance for repairs, allowing you to restore normalcy quickly.

Mandatory for Certain Mortgages

If you’re looking to buy a home in a designated Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA), your mortgage lender may require you to obtain flood insurance. Having this coverage could be a determining factor in securing your preferred home loan.

Peace of Mind

Regardless of where you live, floods could occur unexpectedly due to severe weather changes, dam failures, or even new construction disrupting water runoff patterns. Flood insurance gives you peace of mind, knowing that even if the worst happens, you’re financially secure.

Secure Your Home with Curtis Miller Insurance

Investing in flood insurance is a wise decision for homeowners, especially those living in flood-prone areas. Reach out to Curtis Miller Insurance today to learn more about how we can tailor a flood insurance policy that fulfills your specific needs.

What are the most important kinds of commercial insurance in Parkersburg, WV?

Every small business is different. Your Parkersburg, WV business is unique and has different needs from other companies. The one thing all businesses have in common is the need for protection. Curtis Miller Insurance can help you assess your risks and liabilities so you have the protection you need.

The Main Kinds of Commercial Insurance

There are some kinds of insurance no business should do without. Even though there is no legal requirement to carry these protections, failure to carry these protections could mean disaster for your business.

General Liability Insurance

Every business should have a good general liability policy. If someone is injured on the property or due to your products or services, your business could be subject to a large lawsuit. Liability insurance doesn’t just offer financial protection; your insurance company will represent you during the claim.

Property/Rental Insurance

You need to protect your business assets directly. Property and rental insurance will cover damages to your building, equipment, inventory, and other items at the company.

You can combine these policies in a Business Owners Policy (BOP) for convenience and to save money.

Other Kinds of Commercial Insurance

There are several other kinds of insurance you may need, depending on what your business does, including:

  • Workers compensation insurance, if your company has employees
  • Commercial auto insurance
  • Cyber insurance, in case of data breaches or cyberattacks
  • Professional liability insurance
  • Commercial umbrella insurance

Contact Curtis Miller Insurance for More Information

Every Parkersburg, WV, small business is vulnerable to risks, but you can reduce your exposure with the proper protection. If you have any questions about commercial insurance or would like to discuss your policy, please contact Curtis Miller Insurance today.

Do You Need Commercial Insurance For Your Home Business?

The US is a country of business. Many small businesses in the United States are home-based. Whether you have a business that you run from home or not, you should protect it. Commercial insurance is one of the best and most efficient means of protection. However, there is one question: Should you have business insurance as a home-based business owner?

The type of your business dictates what insurance you should get. For example, if you own a spa salon, your insurance will differ from a home-based accountant’s business coverage. 

Depending on your business type, your coverage protects you against fire, vandalism, property loss, and other risky things. It is also essential to have liability protection. It will help when your guest gets injured while visiting your business location. Your home business also provides liability protection, but it is usually insufficient. 

You may also have employees who work for your business. If you hire people to work for your business, you must ensure you have workers’ compensation insurance. Special coverage offers medical benefits and wage replacement if something happens to an employee at the workplace and they cannot work. 

Curtis Miller Insurance – Reliable And Trustworthy Insurance Company in West Virginia

Are you thinking about starting a home-based business? Or are you already running one? At Curtis Miller Insurance, we are ready to provide you with all the necessary information about business insurance for home-based businesses and help you find a perfect plan. We are happy to be able to help people in Parkersburg, WV, and nearby areas. 

Classic Car Insurance for Exotic and Foreign Vehicles

For residents of Parkersburg, WV, our team of insurance professionals at Curtis Miller Insurance is happy to help you navigate classic car insurance. Even if you don’t have what you would consider a classic car, you may have a vehicle that qualifies for this type of coverage. Although you’ll have to look at your specific classic car coverage terms to see what kinds of cars they cover, there are some general rules for what sorts of automobiles fall under classic car coverage.

What Is Classic Car Insurance?

Classic car insurance refers to a type of coverage that differs from regular auto insurance policies in some ways while being similar to others. Essentially, if you have a vehicle like an antique car that you don’t drive as your primary vehicle, it’ll probably be possible to get it covered under this kind of policy. Some of the common things this policy covers include liability and covering a certain amount of replacing the car if it’s stolen. 

Does Classic Car Insurance Cover Exotic or Foreign Cars?

While every policy is unique, some may cover exotic and foreign vehicles. You’ll have to speak with one of our professional insurance agents to see if your specific car would qualify for this type of coverage. Still, many exotic cars and luxury vehicles like foreign cars qualify for this coverage as long as they aren’t used as the primary vehicle and meet other conditions.

Contact Curtis Miller Insurance

To be sure of what classic car insurance covers for exotic and foreign cars, it’s best to review your policy. If you don’t already have a policy, we can help! For more information about our classic car policies in Parkersburg, WV, call our team at Curtis Miller Insurance today!

Navigating Flood Insurance in Parkersburg, WV

Regarding flood insurance in Parkersburg, WV, Curtis Miller Insurance is your go-to company for all your most crucial needs. The importance of safeguarding your most pivotal investments cannot be overstated. That’s why this guide is here to help you learn more about how to navigate these policies and find the one that is best for your needs.

Isn’t Flood Insurance Included With My Homeowner’s Policy?

Whether you have obtained a homeowner’s insurance policy or you already have renters’ insurance, there is no guarantee that flood insurance will be included. It is not going to be part of the equation in the majority of instances. Everyone’s risk variables are different, and a policy must be chosen to reflect their specific reality.

When Should a Policy Be Purchased?

As soon as possible. In the state of West Virginia, various waiting periods will need to take place. The homeowner must move as quickly as possible to obtain a policy. Be sure to speak with an insurance representative before making any decisions so that you are fully aware of any potential waiting periods.

What Variables Will Affect My Policy?

Before recommending a specific policy, Curtis Miller Insurance agents will walk each client through the necessary variables. The flood map is the first piece of information that factors in the equation, and from there, the specific geographic factors that affect each property are taken into account. Counties with a higher flooding occurrence are discussed in depth so the client is fully prepared to make the correct decision.

Do you have any additional concerns about a potential flood insurance policy in Parkersburg, WV? If so, please schedule a helpful consultant with Curtis Miller Insurance. Our team of professionals is more than happy to help!

What’s the difference between commercial insurance and commercial vehicle insurance?

Business owners regularly assume risk. However, most control their risk with insurance to meet their legal and contractual obligations and fit their comfort level in accepting exposure. One risk some businesses fail to protect against is commercial vehicle insurance, incorrectly relying on their personal insurance coverage. To avoid this and other commercial insurance mistakes, allow our Curtis Miller Insurance team, serving Parkersburg, WV, to create a commercial vehicle insurance plan to meet your business’s needs.

Commercial Versus Commercial Vehicle Insurance

Small businesses come in many shapes and sizes, and their insurance needs vary based on the business type, the number of employees, and whether motor vehicles are used in the business. Business owners generally recognize that operating a business brings risks, so they acquire Workers’ Compensation, General Liability, Commercial Property, and similar coverages.

Many businesses also acquire a form of commercial insurance targeted at vehicles:

  • Owned by the company or driven for work purposes
  • That transport goods, tools, or people for work

Small business owners and those operating passenger vehicles only sometimes fail to acquire commercial vehicle insurance, believing their personal insurance policies adequately cover their personal vehicles when used for business purposes. However, only commercial vehicle policies provide that coverage.

If you use your personal vehicle for business purposes, you should acquire commercial vehicle insurance to fully protect yourself and your business. Don’t learn after the fact that your personal policy does not provide adequate protection.

Working with Curtis Miller Insurance

Curtis Miller Insurance proudly serves Parkersburg, WV’s personal and business communities. Our experience with commercial insurance ensures your policies will protect your business and livelihood. Drop by or call us today to review your commercial insurance needs and options.

Why does someone need home insurance in West Virginia?

Being a homeowner in the Parkersburg, WV area has remained a great investment for many people. For those who live in this part of the state, having the right insurance for their home is also very important and beneficial. Someone who lives in this part of West Virginia will need this type of insurance for various reasons. 

Protect Dwelling

A great reason to have a home insurance plan in this part of West Virginia is to cover your dwelling. The repair cost can be a lot if your home is ever damaged due to a fire, vandalism, or bad weather. Fortunately, if you can get insurance for the property, it will offer the support needed to cover such repairs. This can prove to be a significant financial protection. 

Comply with Insurance Obligations

It is also important that you get a home insurance plan to meet any insurance obligations. It is common for someone in West Virginia to take out a mortgage or live in a home association. In either of these situations, you will need to have insurance in place. When you get coverage here, you can meet such requirements moving forward. 

It will always be vital that you get proper insurance when purchasing a home in the Parkersburg, WV area. When you are going to buy a house and are looking for insurance, it would be a great idea to call our team with Curtis Miller Insurance. When you work with our team at Curtis Miller Insurance, you will get the support you need to build an ideal policy that meets your needs and adequately covers your home. 

Why Teens In West Virginia Need Driver’s Education

The friendly and helpful agents at Curtis Miller Insurance know that many teens in Parkersburg, WV are getting ready to get their driver’s licenses and enter the world. Here’s why it’s a good idea for teens to opt into driver’s education and what benefits there are to gain. 

Teens Are More At Risk For Accidents 

Unfortunately, teens are at a higher risk of getting into a motor vehicle accident than more experienced adult drivers due to their lack of experience and frequent risk-taking behavior. But going through a driver’s ed course can help teens learn how to drive safely and maintain their vehicles to reduce the risk of getting into a collision. 

Driver’s Education Builds Confidence 

Driver’s ed classes cover a wide range of driving behaviors and laws of the road so graduates are well-prepared to operate their motor vehicles safely and effectively. Teens get one-on-one instruction behind the wheel to become comfortable when controlling a car. 

Not only will students know what to do, they’ll have the confidence to do it – something teens who haven’t taken a driver’s education may struggle to gain. 

Educated Teens Get Fewer Tickets 

Teens who have gone through a driver’s education course also get fewer tickets for traffic infractions like speeding and are even less likely to be arrested for drinking and driving. Classes help teens understand the real dangers of things like texting and driving, as well as the legal consequences of getting a ticket. 

Many teens without driver’s ed don’t learn about these important laws and consequences until too late.   

Driver’s ed for your teen can also lower your cost of auto insurance in Parkersburg, WV. Find out more by contacting Curtis Miller Insurance today. 

Is Commercial Insurance Required for Your West Virginia Business?

The agents at Curtis Miller Insurance serving the Parkersburg, WV area know that if you are a business owner in West Virginia, you may wonder whether commercial insurance is mandatory for your company or small business. While West Virginia doesn’t have a specific law that requires all businesses to carry commercial insurance, it’s still highly recommended and, in many cases, necessary.

Remember that all drivers in West Virginia must have at least a liability auto insurance policy to drive on public roads legally. This includes any vehicles that are driven for your business or owned by your company.

Workers’ compensation also falls under commercial insurance, so you may want a workers’ compensation policy if you have employees working for you.

What Does Commercial Insurance Cover?

If your business suffers a fire, an act of vandalism, or a natural disaster and your products are damaged or destroyed; commercial insurance will come in handy. It can help you replace lost items so that you can continue your business and make a living. Commercial insurance can also help protect you if someone files a lawsuit against you if they fall or are injured at your company. Commercial insurance also covers stolen items, which often happens if you own a store or other retail establishment.

Regarding commercial insurance, it is better to be safe than sorry. This means that you should not wait until some catastrophe happens that affects your business and your livelihood to find out you should have had a commercial insurance policy in the first place.

Contact Curtis Miller Insurance

To create the best commercial insurance policy for you and your business, contact the trustworthy and experienced commercial insurance agents at Curtis Miller Insurance serving the Parkersburg, WV area today to get your policy started!

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