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FAQs / frequently asked questions

general

business insurance

financial insurance

Murphy Insurance Agency

 

When is it time to update my coverage?

Insurance is really about protecting the things important to your life, both personal and business, against the unexpected. So, anytime you have significant events or changes in your life, it's time to think about your reviewing and updating your coverage. Here are some examples:

Personal

  • A change in marital status
  • A new baby
  • New drivers in your household
  • Kids going away to college
  • A new job or starting a home business
  • Changes in your income
  • Paying off a car loan
  • Buying a home
  • Moving to a new apartment
  • Home improvements
  • Approaching retirement
  • Purchasing jewelry, antiques, computer equipment or other expensive items

Business

  • Starting a new business
  • Increase your workforce especially if you exceed 10 full-time employees (or the equivalent of).
  • Seasonal increases in inventory
  • Loss of employees to other companies.
  • Expansion plans - equipment, vehicles or physical plant
  • Business owner approaching retirement

Please contact us if you have recently experienced any of these events or anticipate them in the near future.  We are glad to help to you evaluate your insurance and financial needs, and provide solutions.

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What do I need to know in case of an auto accident?
  1. Most importantly, stay calm. Getting upset, or worse yelling and screaming, solves nothing. Even if the other person isn’t calm, you should remain calm.
  2. Don't move an injured person -- unless they're in immediate danger.
  3. Don't move your vehicle unless it impedes traffic. This alters the scene and could have negative impacts on a claim.
  4. Don’t leave the scene of an accident even if you are capable of doing so. Wait for the police to arrive as they provide an objective witness to the event, and wait for them to say its okay to go. If you leave because the other driver says its okay that won’t protect you if they later file for injuries. If you leave, they may not and you could be accused of a hit and run. Keep in mind that some injuries don’t show up immediately. 
  5. Don't blame the accident on anyone -- including yourself. Give your full description of the accident only to the investigating police officer.
  6. Exchange information with the other driver. Immediately note the license plate number of other involved vehicles, color and model just in case someone refused to give you insurance information.
  7. Contact our office immediately – don’t assume we’ll find out another way. It’s always better to hear from you or someone you designate to call us.

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If my car gets hit and I don't have collision coverage, can Murphy Insurance help with my claim?

Yes. This is called a “third party” claim. While other agents may provide some general advice, they generally won't help in processing the paperwork unless you have collision coverage. 

At Murphy Insurance, we recognize that it may not make financial sense to pay for collision coverage on an older vehicle, and respect the decision to eliminate coverage to repair or replace your vehicle if you are responsible for an accident.  However, you can still make a claim if your car is hit by another person and they are found to be at fault. 

At Murphy Insurance, we're glad to help not only by providing guidance, but also helping you process the paperwork regardless of whether or not you have collision coverage. If you have a claim situation, our Client Support Associates are ready to assist you. 

Please note:  This assumes that the situation isn't a hit and run and that you are able to obtain the insurance information of the third party.

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How can Murphy Insurance help my small business be more competitive?

We'll certainly do more than just sell you an insurance plan. We'll advise you on how to use insurance wisely to meet your financial and business goals. We begin by sitting together and looking at how your business approaches and manages risk, then we'll develop a risk management plan just for your business.

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What do you mean by risk management?

It means identifying the factors that are a financial or property risk for your business, then figuring out the best way to navigate those risks. Succeeding in business is all about managing risk. Insurance is one component of a risk management strategy -- but it is not the only solution.

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Does Murphy Insurance specialize in one type of business insurance?

We serve a large and diverse business community. Therefore, we offer literally hundreds of insurance products to serve the needs of all our clients. Because of our size, we can choose among insurance companies to help our clients find just the right coverage -- whether this means one policy from one company, or a variety of policies from specialized providers.

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Why have I been hearing so much about long-term care insurance?

People are discovering that long-term care insurance can help pay for extended care without exhausting personal finances. As the general population gets older, long-term care (including nursing home and in-home care) has become a costly necessity for many families. Sadly, without long-term care insurance, families can find their homes, savings, and other assets in jeopardy as they struggle to pay the costs.  By planning ahead and considering options to help pay for care, these situations can be avoided.

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Do I need a life insurance policy?

Almost everyone can benefit from life insurance. It is the best way to ensure that your survivors remain financially secure. Life insurance serves several purposes.

  • It can provide mortgage protection -- ensuring that your family would not need to give up their home.
  • It serves as replacement for income lost by a family wage earner.
  • It can help pay for services provided by a family member who usually works in the home.

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How much life insurance do I need?

Since the goal is generally to provide for loved ones over a period of time, a common rule is that each provider in the household should have at least ten times their annual salary or annual contribution value. Any outstanding mortgage balance or other large debts should also be considered in your calculation; however, this amount should be in addition to the amount purchased to provide income protection.

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How often should I review my life insurance needs?

As your life changes, your needs do, too. A common recommendation is that you should review life insurance protection at least every 5 years or sooner if a major life event such as marriage, divorce, a new child, home purchase, new job, starting a business or retirement.

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What makes Murphy Insurance different from other insurance agents and providers?
  • 85 years in business. We’ve got the experience and knowledge to assist you.
  • Independent and family-owned agency. A tradition of taking care of clients and the flexibility to serve you. Independence means we’ve got options and aren’t beholding to any particular insurance company.
  • 17,000+ cars insured for our clients. When it comes to auto insurance, we’ve got lots of experience helping people protect their assets and future.
  • 25 insurance companies we represent plus over 100 others we can access for other insurance solutions.  Meaning more options for you. Direct writers only offer you their products. This is also true of “captive agents” and smaller independent agents, who represent only one carrier. Of the approx. 1800 independent agents in Massachusetts that write auto insurance, 55% represent only one auto insurance company.   
  • 70 associates on staff. Certainly, you’ll develop relationships with certain trusted associates, who work with you. But, unlike smaller agencies, you’ll have the additional support of a complete team of professionals many who work behind the scenes to take care of you and find the best solutions to protect all that’s important to you. 
  • 7 office locations. Convenience. We’re located in a variety of locations to serve you. While one of our offices may be the most convenient, there are other offices to assist you if necessary, which could come in handy as you travel to work or on other errands.
  • “Whole life” approach. Some providers focus only on the one policy you’re discussing at the moment. We strive to always take a big picture approach so that we are helping to determine that inpidual policies work together to protect your whole life. This approach helps you to eliminate insurance gaps that could be costly if a loss occurs.
  • Insurance made simple. We focus on making insurance simple for you by:
    • Listening to what you need
    • Using simple language – not insurance speak
    • Having our experts do the research for you and compare options
    • Being there when you need us
    • Helping you have peace of mind
  • 24-hour claim service. You’ll be glad to know that you can reach a representative 24 hours a day, 7 days a week if you have a claims emergency that can’t wait until regular office hours and requires immediate support.
  • Bilingual Associates. Falam português. Hablamos español. If you or a family member speaks Portuguese or Spanish and feels more comfortable doing business in that language, we have associates who can assist you.
  • Registry Service and Electronic Vehicle Registration (EVR). We’ll go to the registry for you so that you don’t have to make a special trip and take time out of your day. Our Hudson office is also equipped with EVR so that in many cases we can register a vehicle and you walk out with your plate or new registration if you need it today and want to avoid going to the registry of motor vehicles yourself. 

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How will Murphy Insurance work with me if I have a claim?

Our team of claims professionals is ready to assist you with an accident or other claim situation. If you have a claim emergency after office hours, you can reach us 24-hours a day. Call us at 800 222 8711. You can also report a claim on-line. We will help you sort out the situation, gather information and submit your claim as quickly as possible. We'll continue to work with you providing support in sometimes traumatic situations until your claim is resolved.

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