Sparks Insurance, Inc.

Archive for June 25th, 2010

In the last year, we have experienced Revised Minimum Uninsured Motorist limits,and Mandatory Insurance Laws., These mandates include increased limits, stacking of policy limits, mandatory coverages and more.,

These mandates have affected your insurance costs., Sparks Insurance is here to help you understand these changes and review your auto insurance coverages to make sure they comply with WI Laws.,, See below for link to get to your state representative to discuss your concerns.,

Here are some brief details of some of the law changes:

1. Increase in Minimum Liability Limits., The law requires the limit for Bodily Injury Liability to be $50,000 for each person and $100,000 for each occurrence, plus a minimum limit for Property Damage at $15,000 per occurrence.

2. Increase in Minimum Medical Payments., The minimum amount of Medical Payments has been increased from $1,000 to $10,000., The insurance company is required to provide at lease $10,000 of Medical Payments coverage on every auto and motorcycle liability policy unless you reject this coverage entirely.

3. Increase in Minimum Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist Coverages Limits and can NOT be rejected., WI Laws require the Uninsured Motorists Bodily Insurance Coverage minimum limits to,,be $100,000 for each person and $300,000 per accident.

4. Umbrella Coverage requirements., The law requires Excess Uninsured and Underinsured Motorists Bodily Injury Coverage to be included, unless rejected in writing.

5. June 1st Mandatory Auto Insurance. Fines can be substantial if you are caught without verification of insurance coverage., Be prepared with an auto ID card from your insurance company in each vehicle.

If you wish to express your concerns or discuss the laws with your elected representative, you can fine your legislator by visiting www.legis.state.wi.us, then click on ‘Who Represents Me” or your can call (608) 266-9960 during business hours.,

Call Sparks Insurance, Kenosha, WI at (262) 697-9600 for a few review of your auto insurance for compliance with the Wisconsin Auto Insurance Laws.

What do YOU really need?   This has always been a concern for an Owner/Operator.  All Owner/Operators leased to a Motor Carrier need to review their lease (contract) with an attorney or other legal professional.  We are finding many leases containing ‘Hold-Harmless” or Indemnity clauses in favor of the motor carrier; NOT, you, the Owner/Operator.

 The insurance section(s) may denote the need for NTL-Bobtail, but further in the lease/contract there maybe language that makes you the Owner/ Operator responsible for MORE than just the NTL-Bobtail exposures.  Such as the ‘deductible’ for cargo or property damage you cause or even much more. 

 We caution you that should a large loss occur, you could be personally included in a lawsuit and the NTL would not be able to protect or defend you beyond the scope of the NTL-Bobtail policy.

Should you have such a “Hold Harmless” clause or language in your lease/contract, we do recommend that you obtain primary/truckers auto liability and possibly cargo too.  With proper endorsements coverage would go beyond the NTL-Bobtail limitations. 

 You will not need the NTL-Bobtail policy also, and the Trucking (primary-truckers auto) policy, if “you”, the insured, are an individual or a corporation & you, the corporate officer, are the driver for your corporation which owns the vehicle(s).  The need for cargo coverage will depend on the lease/contract terms.

Call Sparks Insurance, Kenosha, 262/ 697-9600 to learn more or go to  weinsuretrucks.com  for more info on their products.