Condominium insurance is unique. Your condo insurance policy covers your personal property and liability, as well as any additions, alterations and improvements you make to your unit that are your responsibility based on the condo association agreement.

Optional loss assessment coverage is also available to protect you against certain assessments that may be levied by the association. You would be compensated for additional living expenses incurred should you need to vacate your condo after a covered loss. Let Lallis & Higgins Insurance help you find the right amount of coverage to suit your insurance needs. Contact us today.

Massachusetts– What you need to know about condo insurance

Condo insurance provides coverage for your personal property and much more. For a few more dollars, you can elect to carry Full Value Personal Property which ensures that you are reimbursed full replacement value without regard for depreciation after a covered loss.

If you have upgraded cabinets or put in hardwood floors, condo building item coverage protects these investments. Be sure to consult your HOA agreement to determine what the Association policy covers and what you are responsible for. If common areas are damaged, your condo association may levy assessments against all the owners to pay the deductible on their association policy.

Various limits of loss assessment coverage are available. Be sure to consult the HOA agreement to determine the potential for such assessments. Lallis & Higgins Insurance can help you determine your coverage needs to make sure you’re properly covered. Contact us.

Protect yourself and your guests

Your condo insurance policy protects you and your family members against bodily injury and property damage liability claims and any litigation that may result subject to the limits you select. In addition, you can select medical payments coverage which will pay for medical expenses incurred by a visitor who is injured at your residence regardless of fault. Various limits are available.

Extra coverage doesn’t have to cost a lot

Many people supplement their condo insurance coverage with personal umbrella liability insurance for broader protection. If you have special valuable items such as jewelry, art, antiques or collectibles, ask about our Valuable Articles option which provides broader coverage and no deductible in the event of a covered loss.

Find unique insurance that is right for your condo

Contact Lallis & Higgins Insurance to identify the best combination of coverage, value, and price for you. We can help make sure your condo insurance continually meets your needs. Contact us.

Equip your home with smoke alarms and other tools that can help you gain precious seconds in a fire.

Fire Safety Equipment:

Smoke Alarms

If you have a fire, smoke alarms can cut nearly in half your risk of dying in a fire. Smoke alarms sense abnormal amounts of smoke or invisible combustion gases in the air. They can detect both smoldering and flaming fires.

In new homes: The National Fire Alarm Code (NFPA 72) requires hard-wired, interconnected smoke alarms with battery back-up on every level of the home, outside each sleeping area, and inside each bedroom. Alarms must be wired together so that if one sounds, they all sound.

In existing homes: If smoke alarms are not already in place, at a minimum install them on every level of the home and outside each sleeping area. If a fire occurs inside a bedroom, dangerous gases can cause heavier sleep. For the best protection, install interconnected smoke alarms in each bedroom and throughout the home. When one sounds, they all sound.

To prevent nuisance alarms, vacuum cobwebs and dust from your smoke alarms monthly. Never disable a smoke alarm, even if you experience nuisance alarms while cooking or showering. Instead, use the alarm’s “hush” button. If nuisance alarms are a persistent problem, look for a different type of smoke alarm and ensure they are installed in correct areas in the home.

Use the test button to test your smoke alarms at least monthly. The test feature tests all electronic functions and is safer than testing with a controlled fire (matches, lighters, cigarettes).

If the manufacturer's instructions permit the use of an aerosol smoke product for testing the smoke alarm, choose one that has been examined and tested by a third-party product testing laboratory, and use it in accordance with the product instructions.

If you have battery-powered smoke alarms, replace the batteries at least once a year. Some agencies recommend that you replace batteries when the time changes from standard to daylight savings each spring and then back again in the fall. "Change your clock, change your batteries." Replacing batteries this often will not hurt, but fresh batteries typically last at least a year, so more frequent replacement is not necessary unless the smoke alarm begins to chirp.

If your local area does not observe daylight savings time, pick an easy-to-remember anniversary, such as your birthday or a national holiday, as the day to change the batteries each year.

Replace the batteries in your carbon monoxide (CO) alarms at the same time you replace your smoke alarm batteries.

Replace your smoke alarms every 10 years. This is the recommendation of the National Fire Protection Association and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. Smoke alarms become less sensitive over time.

Be sure to install smoke alarms in areas where pets are and in other buildings that house animals where humans can hear them.

Fire Extinguishers

Consider having one or more working fire extinguishers in your home. An extinguisher rated “A-B-C” is recommended for home use. Many fire extinguisher models are designed for one-time use and cannot be recharged.

Get training from the fire department or a fire extinguisher manufacturer. Fire extinguishers from various manufacturers operate in different ways and there is no time to read directions during an emergency. Only adults should handle and use extinguishers.

Install extinguishers high on the wall, near an exit, and away from heat sources. Extinguishers should be easily accessible to adults trained to use them, and kept away from children's curious hands. Heat may make the contents less effective or cause the extinguisher to lose its charge more quickly.

If you try to use a fire extinguisher on a fire and the fire does not immediately die down, drop the extinguisher and get out. Most portable extinguishers empty in 8 seconds.

Look at your fire extinguisher to ensure that it is properly charged. Fire extinguishers will not work properly if they are not properly charged. Use the gauge or test button to check that there is proper pressure. Follow the manufacturer's instructions for replacing or recharging fire extinguishers. If the unit is low on pressure, damaged, or corroded, replace it or have it professionally serviced.

Before you begin to fight a fire with a fire extinguisher, be sure that:

• Everyone has left or is leaving the home.
• The fire department has been called.
• The fire is small and not spreading.
• Your back is to an exit you can use quickly.
• There is not much smoke in the room.

Carbon Monoxide Alarms

Install carbon monoxide alarms to alert your family to this invisible, odorless, colorless gas before it’s too late. Carbon monoxide is created when fuels (such as gasoline, wood, coal, natural gas, propane, oil, and methane) burn incompletely. Even a small amount of carbon monoxide can poison or kill a person if it is breathed in over a long period of time – such as overnight while sleeping.

Install carbon monoxide alarms in central locations on every level of your home and outside sleeping areas.

If the carbon monoxide alarm sounds, move quickly to a fresh air location outdoors or by an open window or door.

Never use a generator, grill, camp stove or other gasoline, propane, natural gas or charcoal-burning devices inside a home, garage, basement, crawlspace or any partially enclosed area.

For more information, or for a review of your home owners insurance, contact Lallis & Higgins Insurance.

RedCross.org

As "Life Insurance Month" draws to a close, we thought we would answer a question that we get all the time: “Do I need Life Insurance?”

Life insurance can fill a wide variety of needs including covering the finite years of a mortgage and protecting the interests of a special-needs child who will need financial support after you’re gone.

In fact, although, 70% of Americans consider life insurance a necessity for themselves, 41% have no life insurance at all.

Here’s a guide to who needs life insurance and what kind of policy likely works best in each situation.

Breadwinner

Life insurance can provide “income replacement” so that your family can continue to pay everyday expenses.

Term life insurance can cover your working years.

Stay-at-home parent

Life insurance would cover the cost of paying for services the parent does for “free,” such as child care.

Term life can cover the years your kids are young.

Divorced parent

A policy could cover the support payments that a divorced parent makes.

Term life can cover the years of support payments.

Parent of a special-needs child

Life insurance can make sure the child will have financial support no matter when a parent dies.

Permanent life insurance provides a payout no matter when you die.

Homeowners with a mortgage

A policy can cover mortgage payments, so your family doesn’t have to move if you die.

Term life insurance can match the years of a mortgage.

Someone with co-signed debt (such as student loans or credit cards)

Life insurance could cover the cost of the debt.

Term life can be timed to end with the debt payments.

High net worth individual

Life insurance can provide funds for heirs to pay estate or inheritance taxes.

Permanent life insurance is best for those with estate tax concerns.

Someone who wants to provide an inheritance

If you don't have a lot of wealth, life insurance can provide a small inheritance to heirs.

Permanent life insurance will pay money for the inheritance, no matter when you die.

Business owner

Life insurance can pay off business debts if you die, help heirs to the business pay off estate taxes, or fund a buy-sell agreement that allows a business partner to buy out your share.

Term life or permanent life, depending on the issue to be solved.

Investor who has maxed out other retirement plans

Life insurance with a cash value component can provide a supplemental source of retirement savings.

Permanent life insurance, which builds cash value that you can access.

People concerned about paying for their own funerals.

Small life insurance policies can pay for your funeral and final expenses.

Permanent life, such as final expense insurance.

For more information on Life Insurance, contact Lallis & Higgins Insurance.

nerdwallet.com

While it looks like Hurricane Jose will miss most of New England, there may still be tropical storm-type wind gusts and several inches of rain in some areas. Southern New England could see conditions similar to nor'easters that we regularly experience along the coast. Lallis & Higgins Insurance recommend continuing to monitor your local forecast as the storm moves north.

The Atlantic Hurricane Season will continue for another six weeks so New Englanders should continue to be prepared in case another storm heads our way. Even moderate wind and rainfall can cause significant damage so prepare your home before severe weather hits:

• Remove any items in your yard that could potentially be picked up by strong winds, including lawn furniture, grills and trash cans
• Trim or remove any damaged or hanging tree branches from your property that could fall onto your home
• Secure any loose gutters and seal your roof
• Park your car in a garage or on higher ground and avoid parking under trees

If you do experience damage from Jose we encourage you to report your claim as soon as possible. Contact Lallis & Higgins Insurance.

Bunker Hill

Being a responsible adult means making sure loved ones who depend on you are financially safeguarded if you unexpectedly leave them behind. The way you provide that protection is with life insurance.

But three out of 10 Americans don’t feel they have enough life insurance coverage.

Twenty-somethings won’t buy life insurance because they feel invincible. At the other end of the spectrum, folks 50 or older have a hard time buying coverage, either because it’s become more expensive or they have a hard time qualifying, medically.

The real “sweet spot” for buying coverage is in your 30s or 40s, when you qualify for good rates.

However, a New York Life survey found that the gap between the life insurance Americans have and the coverage they need increased 11 percent in six years.

Is your life insurance lacking? Probably, and here are seven reasons why.

While health insurance is a common employee benefit, it’s not unusual to get life insurance at work, too.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that three-quarters of full-time civilian workers are offered life insurance by their employers. The overwhelming majority of them take advantage of the benefit.

However, that work coverage usually isn’t adequate.

Most employers give employees coverage equal to one to two times their annual salaries. While this might be enough for someone who is single with no dependents, if you have a mortgage, young children or a nonworking spouse, you’ll need more than that.

A common rule of thumb is that life insurance should provide seven to 10 times the insured person’s annual salary.

But that’s just a starting point. From there, you need to get a full financial picture so you can dial in the right amount of coverage.

There are a variety of factors, including a client’s income, assets, liabilities and — perhaps most difficult to predict — plans for the future, such as for having additional children, or for retirement.

If you think you can’t afford life insurance, you might be wrong. A study found that 80 percent of consumers have the wrong idea about what life insurance costs. Millennials, for example, believe life insurance policies are more than three times more expensive than they actually are.

In fact, premiums for life insurance are typically lower than for other forms of insurance and are often less expensive than monthly bills for cable or cellphones.

A large majority of term policies written have premiums of under $100 per month, and for some people it’s even possible to buy adequate coverage for under $50 a month.

Of course, the prices do vary based on age, gender and health factors.

Like just about any financial product, life insurance comes with some jargon. But it’s all fairly straightforward.

Broadly speaking, there are two types of life insurance:

1. Permanent, which is meant to cover your entire life.
2. Term, which lasts for a limited number of years.

Most people will end up buying term life insurance because the monthly premiums are substantially less.

Think of it like renting a house versus buying a house. With term insurance, you are covered for a set amount of time, much like if you were renting. After your term ends, you are no longer covered.

Permanent life insurance, on the other hand, is for those with a lifelong need for insurance. Like buying a house, as long as you continue to pay the mortgage (or the policy premiums, in the case of life insurance), the home, or policy, is yours.

Deciding which product is right for you can present some challenges, but a reputable professional should be able to walk you through the details. While it’s easy to put off buying life insurance, the longer you wait, the more you’ll spend.

Up until age 40, coverage only goes up by a little bit every year. Once you hit 40, the increases become more noticeable, and by 50 they become even more pronounced.

A 20-year term policy with a $250,000 death benefit might cost $13 a month for a healthy man who’s 25. But that same policy purchased by a healthy man who’s 50 would cost $43 dollars a month.

The older you are, the more expensive the premiums. Think about it this way: It is highly unlikely that a person would be healthier at age 40, 50 or 60 than they were at age 30.

But that doesn’t mean you should buy coverage just because you’re young. The key is for young people to lock in coverage when they need it. Protecting the home and family are often the key drivers behind a life insurance purchase.

Homeowners often need coverage to spare family members from the financial burden.

This could mean making sure there’s enough coverage to pay off the mortgage, even if the survivors ultimately decide not to use the money for that purpose.

But while life insurance protection for the home may be seen as optional, providing for children is a different story.

For parents, the need is much greater and less debatable. If a parent passes away, their children still need food, clothing and shelter. If the deceased parent’s income was also the funding source for college saving, replacing this should be considered, as well.

Even a parent who’s not the family breadwinner should consider life insurance.

Replacing the care a stay-at-home parent provides can be expensive, and life insurance can be a great source of these funds if the unexpected happens. Life insurance is designed, in part, to cover debts you leave behind. Should that include student loans, so they won’t fall to your survivors? That depends on your lender.

If you have a federal student loan, that debt is dischargeable when you die. So a surviving family member can request to have that loan discharged. The key is that the debt is dischargeable, not automatically discharged. That is an important distinction.

Private lenders are another matter.

While one company’s policy may be to automatically discharge the debt, another company might assign it to a surviving spouse, parent or co-signer. Worse, the loan contract might include an acceleration clause that brings the entire balance due at death.

Insuring against those outcomes is relatively easy and inexpensive. You need to factor your student loan into your liabilities when determining how much life insurance you need.

Nobody likes to think about aging and mortality, but as we advance into adulthood it’s time to face reality.

Sometimes, getting someone in their 20s or 30s to talk about life insurance is like trying to hold onto a fish — they squirm the whole time. No one wants to talk about life insurance or dying.

Younger clients tend to put off purchasing life insurance because they see it as optional — something they might not need just yet, or something that might not be worth the cost. Steele has a word for that logic: immature.

Life insurance isn’t supposed to be about you. It’s about taking care of your responsibilities and your loved ones. You’re not a kid anymore. Your parents aren’t going to take care of this for you. You need to accept the responsibility as an adult and take care of your loved ones because no one else in the world will.”

September is Life Insurance month, make sure you're covered. Contact Lallis & Higgins Insurance.

bankrate.com

If a flood swamps your home, will insurance cover the damage?

That depends on the value of your home, the amount of water damage and whether you have a flood insurance policy.

Regular home insurance doesn’t cover flooding. You’ll need a policy offered through the government’s National Flood Insurance Program — but note that those top out at $350,000 in coverage for your home and its contents. For higher amounts, you may need supplemental coverage to protect your savings from taking a hit.

People tend to associate floods with a total loss, but the average flood claim for U.S. homeowners is about $39,000, according to the flood insurance program.

Here are six other persistent myths about flood insurance — and the truths you need to know.

1. To get a policy, you must live in a flood plain

Not true. If you live in a flood plain, your mortgage company will likely require you to buy flood insurance. But you can purchase it even if you don’t live within a flood zone.

Almost anybody can get flood insurance who wants flood insurance. In fact, 1 in 4 flood claims is for a home not in a flood plain.

The price through the federal flood insurance program is based on standardized rates and depends on the home’s value and whether or not it’s in a flood plain.

The average price for flood insurance is about $660 annually. Your insurance broker can help you buy a policy and may accept payment by credit card.

2. Flood insurance is just for high-risk areas

All homeowners — even those who do not live in designated flood plains — weigh the dangers and their options and seriously consider buying flood insurance.

3. Flood insurance covers everything

Not necessarily. When it comes to the physical structure of your house, federal flood insurance policies top out at $250,000. If you have a $300,000 house that’s a total loss because of a flood, the most you can recoup through the program is $250,000 to cover the structure itself.

For your personal possessions, the cap is $100,000 under the federal program.

If you already have insurance through the federal program, then you can buy “excess flood insurance” through a private carrier that would cover claims above the national limits. In essence, it’s a flood policy with a $250,000 deductible.

Note that flood insurance doesn’t cover living expenses if you have to relocate while your home is being repaired.

4. My homeowners policy covers floods

Unfortunately, a lot of folks may be under the impression that their standard homeowners policy might cover flood damage. But the standard policy doesn’t. The typical home insurance policy doesn’t cover earthquakes or floods. So a homeowner wanting coverage for either of those disasters will need to pick up separate, specific coverage against those types of disasters.

If you want flood insurance, it pays to think ahead. There is a 30-day waiting period between when you buy the coverage and when it kicks in. When a hurricane is bearing down on your area, it’s too late to get a flood policy.

5. Water damage is water damage

When it comes to your insurance, not all water damage is the same.

If there’s a storm and your roof comes off and water comes through, that would be covered under your homeowners policy. Versus a flood situation where the riverbank overflows and you look out of the front of your house and you need a boat to get from point A to point B.

Most consumers have a pretty good understanding of how to draw the line between storm damage and flood damage.

Some homeowners policies offer an optional water-backup endorsement that covers damage from water backing up into your home from causes such as a broken sump pump.

6. Flood maps don’t change

Flood plains (and flood plain maps) change and evolve. Just because you weren’t in a flood plain when you bought your home a few years ago doesn’t mean you’re not in one now.

There are a couple of ways you can find out about your flood risks.

FloodSmart.gov: This site will allow you to put in your address and see if it’s in a flood plain, and give you information on risks, premiums and agents. But use it as one tool, not the final word on whether your home is in a flood plain.

Your insurance agent. When it comes to researching whether your home is in a flood plain, you definitely want someone knowledgeable to research the question for you. And, you might want to get a second opinion from a different agent.

Insurance agents have different levels of sophistication with regard to this product. You get a different answer sometimes. So call an insurance broker who can make a couple of checks to make sure you’re protecting yourself.

For more information on flood insurance, contact Lallis & Higgins Insurance.

bankrate.com

Consumers generally think they benefit when they buy insurance direct but is it true?

We’ve asked people what matters to them when buying insurance, and in turn our panel used those criteria to evaluate the differences between buying insurance via a broker and buying direct online.

Why do consumers hate the middle man?

Primarily, customers perceive any middle man as an unnecessary third party, and conventional wisdom dictates that this means additional cost and possibly mistakes. Advertising by insurers to ‘go direct’ has compounded this feeling.

What is important to consumers?

In order of importance, these are the things people said matter to them:

• Cost.
• Ease.
• Speed.
• Peace of mind that everything is covered.
• Security of personal data.

So let’s now analyze these items and let our panel judge how each performs when insurance is bought directly or when via an insurance broker.

1. Cost

Contrary to popular consumer belief we found that insurance broker pricing was actually better than direct insurance pricing.

The reason for this seems to be principally due to insurers providing different rates to brokers, in order that premiums are lower. Why would insurers provide special broker pricing? Simple: because the risk is lower for the insurer. Brokers are professionally trained to choose the right policy for their customers, and not to under insure, therefore avoiding unnecessary claims while maintaining the correct premium income.

‘Cutting out the middle man’ it seems, does not save money this time. On the contrary!

2. Ease

Many of the consumers in our test case were surprised here. At least half began our test with the impression that buying policies directly would be the easiest option for them. After trying both, almost all had changed their mind.

While the online experience usually proved more pleasant than the phone, most insurance agencies or brokers offered an online service, and were far, far more pro-active after they received the initial quote request from the consumer, often answering queries by personal email or call and helping to reassure customers with a human service. Furthermore, most direct services completely fell down when queries or changes were required that were less common, particularly later in the policy life cycle. Brokers really shone through here.

3. Speed

The results here were quite evenly balanced. In the case of the time taken to generate initial quotation figures, direct services (online) were consistently very quick, while some brokers answered quote requests by personal follow up.

The difference however was somewhat reversed when it came to mid-term changes, documentation requests and one off queries. The direct services often fell back to large call centers whose staff had little or no real insurance knowledge. In this areas brokers were more efficient, making suggestions our consumers found highly useful, saving them lots of time.

On balance, the speed at which quotes were produced by the direct services was not significant to our consumers when compared to the speed and efficiency with which brokers generally managed their policies throughout the policy life cycle.

4. Peace of mind that everything is covered

We saw few surprises here. Insurance Brokers were largely far more efficient at cross checking policies than consumers, and also very good at educating their customers, explaining what types of cover were available and answering queries.

Direct processes were better than in the past but put too much focus on the consumer to do this work himself/herself to be able to compete with the level of service provided by brokers.

The really good Direct services centered around only covering the low risk policies, and leaving any consumer with non-standard requirements high and dry.

5. Security of personal data

This was a difficult one to test, and fell largely to our technical team. We did however take into account how consumers felt about their data security after using the various services.

On the phone, brokers, being far better equipped to deal with specific insurance questions and used to a human discussion, gave people a stronger feeling that they were in safe hands. The process of securing personal data was much the same as with direct, but the trust conveyed by brokers was better.

Summary of Results- So who won? Broker or Direct?

Cost. [Broker]
Ease. [Broker!]
Speed. [Broker, though people admitted they were heavily biased due to point 2.]
Peace of mind that everything is covered. [Broker]
Security of personal data. [Broker]

Conclusion

We set out in this article to test the general perception by consumers that ‘going direct is better’, for the benefit of consumers and brokers on the whole. While we didn’t test every website and every class of insurance, the results with our test users were conclusive.

While conventional wisdom dictates that the middle man offers little to the discussion and always has his price, in the complex world of insurance, perhaps things are not so simple, and after doing some research at RiskHeads….

Our recommendation to all would be to trust your broker, let him shop for you, and you will likely reap dividend, while living an easy life!

For an insurance quote or to review your policy, contact Lallis & Higgins Insurance in Weymouth, MA.

riskheads.org

College is expensive enough without finding out too late that an accident or theft isn’t covered under your current policies. So, as you get your children ready to head off to school in the fall, there’s one vital “to-do” to add to your list (other than writing that tuition check): a review of your insurance coverage.

It's important to keep in mind that policy language varies from state to state, and there are never "one-size-fits-all" situations, but below is a general guide. If you have questions, or want to go over your insurance needs, don’t hesitate to contact us!

HOMEOWNERS (may vary by state and individual policy)

• Coverage of personal property: Most homeowners policies provide 10 percent of Coverage C (Personal Property) for property owned by an insured that is at a residence other than the insured’s. For example, if the contents of a policyholder’s home are insured for $100,000, a student’s property up to $10,000 would be covered if living in a dormitory – provided the damage is caused by a covered peril and the student meets the definition of an insured.
• For apartments or houses off-campus, the same coverage generally applies. Certain items, such as jewelry or expensive electronics, may require special coverage, or a “rider.” Renters insurance is strongly recommended if a particular policy does not cover a student’s personal property.
• Liability coverage: There usually is an exclusion for damage to property rented to an insured, so generally damage to a dorm room or apartment would not be covered.
• Ensuring adequate coverage: Contact us to get specific answers and information about your coverages. Also, it’s a great idea to create an inventory of the items your student is taking to school, as is keeping photos of and receipts for the items.
• Renters insurance: If your student’s needs can't be met under your current policy, don't forget renters insurance. Landlords’ policies generally only cover the structure, not the possessions of renters.

AUTO (may vary by state)

• Coverage without a car at school: If your student will continue to drive while at home on school breaks, they should continue to be listed on your auto policy. If they are attending school more than 100 miles from home, and are not taking a vehicle with them, the policy may qualify for a distant-student discount.
• Coverage with a car at school: In most instances, a car registered to parents and listed on their policy will be covered if used by a listed student away at school. But you should make sure that your insurance carrier writes coverage in the college’s state and location. And note that a change to the principal location of the vehicle could result in a change in premium.
• Driving a friend’s car at school: Students generally would be covered while driving a friend’s car if the students are listed on their parents’ policy and do not have regular use of the vehicle. The coverage would likely be secondary in this case, as the carrier for the friend’s vehicle likely would be the primary coverage.
• Coverage discounts: In addition to the possible distant-student discount mentioned above, students may qualify for a good-student discount. To qualify, most insurance carriers require that a student must be enrolled in at least four courses per term as a full-time student at an accredited college or university and meet certain academic qualifications. Also, drivers under the age of 21 who complete a driver education course may be eligible for a policy discount.

Going away to school is an exciting time for both students and their parents. Making sure you’ve got the right insurance coverage can help you protect your assets as you invest in your child’s future. We’re happy to discuss your coverage and options — just give Lallis & Higgins Insurance a call or stop by!

Solar Eclipse FOMO (Fear of Missing Out) is real and on the rise as the day of totality draws near, so here’s our guide to make sure you don’t miss your chance to see it in Boston.

Last seen in North America in 1979, a total solar eclipse occurs when the moon’s orbit aligns with earth and the sun perfectly to completely block out the sun, and causes daylight to darken for a brief moment. However, as historic as the eclipse may be, it’s more than stepping outside and looking up. NASA and other experts emphasize the importance of wearing protective eyewear (not sunglasses) while looking at the eclipse, because while the sun is dark, it still emits harmful light to the naked eye that could result in permanent vision loss.

Monday’s eclipse will be viewable all across North America, and the weather on Monday afternoon looks like it should be staying clear, with peak viewing of the phenomenon happening between 1:30 p.m. and 4 .p.m. Even though Boston won’t be in the path of total darkness, several places around the Hub offer public viewing parties to watch the partial view. A few locations will also provide the necessary glasses in case you didn’t get yours in time, they were all sold out, or you got counterfeit glasses from Amazon.

Boston Public Library: Three city branches plan on hosting viewings, and the Central Library at Copley will have activities and a live stream of the path in its courtyard. One of the more popular eclipse events, the library tweeted out that their public supply of glasses is already gone, and the rest will be at the event:

BostonPublicLibrary @BPLBoston
Due to popularity, we are out of eclipse glasses. Some locations have events 8/21, & space is 1st-come, 1st-serve
10:00 AM - Aug 14, 2017

Free, 2 p.m., Boston Central Library, 700 Boylston St.

MIT Kresge Oval: Part of the Department of Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences at MIT, this event is free and will take place at the Kresge Oval, outside the MIT Student Center. Unlike the sold-out viewing party at the MIT Haystack Observatory, this event is free to for anyone who drops by, and glasses and specially filter telescopes to view the eclipse will be provided.

Free, 1:30 p.m., MIT Kresge Oval, 77 Mass. Ave.

Northeastern University: Held on the Centennial Common, the physics department of Northeastern will provide viewing cards instead of glasses, and a livestream in case of inclement weather.

Free, 1:30 p.m., Northeastern Centennial Common, 30 Leon St.

Boston Harbor Islands: See the eclipse from one of the nearby islands with a ranger and be a part of “citizen science” by documenting changes in air temperature. The glasses are free with every sign up, and the boat lands at 11:30 a.m. to be sure you arrive at the island with plenty of time.

Free with registration, 11:30 a.m., National Park Service & Boston Harbor Now, Spectacle Island

If you can’t make these events, the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astro-Physics has developed a free app for the eclipse for both iOS and Android to help you out. Eclipse 2017 has a viewing guide, information on the deeper science behind the eclipse, solar research from the foundation, and a livestream of the event.

bostonmagazine.com

In today’s economy, everyone is pinching pennies. So why worry about umbrella coverage? Shouldn’t a home and auto policy leave you adequately covered?

Unfortunately, we live in a world of lawsuits. Large damages can be awarded, be extremely expensive and have long-term financial impact. Those lawsuits can come from unlikely sources, such as our furry friends.

Take Herschel for instance. Herschel is a much-loved, rather timid labradoodle who enjoys taking naps on the driveway while his owner mows the lawn.

Herschel watched from eight feet away as his neighbor, a 39 year old man, showed off his rollerblading skills to his kids. The man wiped out on the sidewalk in front of Herschel’s house and broke his leg. He required surgery, costing around $35,000 in medical costs and $18,000 in lost wages.

Fair or not, the man brought a lawsuit against Herschel’s owner, suing for $220,000 in damages. He alleged that Herschel had caused the accident by getting in his way, despite multiple witnesses to the contrary.

But Herschel’s owner was lucky--a jury vindicated Herschel. However, lawsuits such as these can easily exceed the limits on a homeowner’s policy, leaving the insured responsible for the remainder. An umbrella policy would prevent that, giving you an extra $1 million to $5 million in coverage.

Our furry friends can put your assets at risk in other ways as well. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 4.7 million people are bitten by dogs each year, with half of those occurring on the owner’s property. Dog bites, according to the Insurance Information Institute, account for about a third of all homeowner’s insurance claims, which only cover limited damages.

Protect what you love. Call Lallis & Higgins Insurance to talk about your umbrella options.