Do you have a teen driver, a swimming pool or hot tub, or a vacation home or rental property? Do you snow ski or water ski? If you answered ‘yes’ to any of these questions – or if you or someone on your insurance policy is exposed to other potentially risky situations while driving or at home – you may want to consider a personal umbrella policy.

Personal umbrella coverage is an extra policy that offers significant protection against liability claims or lawsuits for serious personal injury.

“A PUP provides an extra layer of security beyond the coverage limits of your auto or homeowners policy, and kicks in when the existing liability limits of your policy are met,” said Gene Castiglioni, with AAA South Jersey.

For example, if your homeowners insurance policy has a $500,000 liability limit, but a catastrophic accident occurs and you are responsible for $1 million in property damage, legal fees and medical bills, a PUP can cover the remaining $500,000.

Consider a PUP if you:

• Have a young driver on your auto policy: teens are statistically the riskiest drivers on the road, with a crash rate three times that of drivers age 20 and older.
• Own a swimming pool or hot tub: pools with slides or diving boards can also significantly increase your risk of an accident.
• Participate in recreational sports or operate recreational vehicles: water sports, snow skiing, and boating can all increase the likelihood of an accident for which you may be liable. Owning watercraft, a recreational vehicle, or a motorcycle can also increase your risk.
• Own rental property: if you own a vacation home or other rental property, consider a PUP to protect yourself and your assets.

To purchase a AAA PUP you must have both your auto and home insurance policies with AAA – and there may be other restrictions. A PUP offers a lot of coverage at an affordable rate. For more information, call your AAA insurance agent or insurance customer service, or visit your local branch to discuss your insurance needs.