Read our answers to Frequently Asked Questions from our customers related to insurance, with a specific focus on the services provided by Murphy Insurance Agency. Whether you’re wondering about the right time to update your coverage, seeking guidance on navigating auto accidents or contemplating the benefits of business, financial, or life insurance, we’ve got you covered.
Dive into this page to discover the answers you seek and learn what sets Murphy Insurance apart in the insurance industry. Our goal is to provide clarity and assist you in making informed decisions about your insurance needs.
Our goal is to provide clarity and assist you in making informed decisions about your insurance needs.
General FAQ
When is it time to update my coverage?
What do I need to know in case of an auto accident?
If my car gets hit and I don’t have collision coverage, can Murphy Insurance help?
Business Insurance FAQ
How can Murphy Insurance help my small business be more competitive?
What do you mean by risk management?
Does Murphy Insurance specialize in one type of business insurance?
Life Insurance
Do I need a life insurance policy?
How much life insurance do I need?
How often should I review my life insurance needs?
Why have I been hearing so much about long-term care insurance?
Murphy Insurance Agency
What makes Murphy Insurance different from other insurance agents and providers?
General
When is it time to update my coverage?
Insurance protects the things important to your personal and business life against the unexpected. So, anytime you have significant events or changes in your life, it’s time to think about reviewing and updating your coverage. Here are some examples:
- 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
- Making home improvements
- Approaching retirement
- Purchasing jewelry, antiques, computer equipment, or other expensive items
- Starting a new business
- Increasing your workforce, especially if you exceed ten full-time employees (or the equivalent).
- Increasing seasonal 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 soon. We will help you evaluate your insurance and financial needs and provide solutions.
What do I need to know in case of an auto accident?
- 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.
- Don’t move an injured person unless they’re in immediate danger.
- Don’t move your vehicle unless it impedes traffic. Doing so alters the scene and could negatively impact a claim.
- Don’t leave the scene of an accident, even if you can do so. Wait for the police to arrive, as they provide an objective witness to the event, and wait for them to say it’s okay to go. If you leave because the other driver says it’s alright, 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.
- Don’t blame the accident on anyone, including yourself. Give your full description of the accident only to the investigating police officer.
- Exchange information with the other driver. Immediately note the license plate number, color, and model of other involved vehicles just in case someone refuses to give you insurance information.
- 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.
If my car gets hit and I don’t have collision coverage, can Murphy Insurance help?
Yes. This is called a “third-party” claim. While other agents may provide some general advice, they won’t help process the paperwork unless you have collision coverage. At Murphy Insurance, we recognize that paying for collision coverage on an older vehicle may not make financial sense. We 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 another person hits your car and they are found to be at fault. At Murphy Insurance, we’re glad to help by providing guidance and helping you process the paperwork regardless of whether or not you have collision coverage. Our Client Support professionals are ready to assist you if you have a claim situation. Please note: This assumes that the situation isn’t a hit-and-run and that you can obtain the third party’s insurance information.
Business Insurance
How can Murphy Insurance help my small business be more competitive?
We’ll certainly do more than sell you a business 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 examining how your business approaches and manages risk, and then we’ll develop a risk management plan just for your business.
What do you mean by risk management?
It means identifying the factors that pose a financial or property risk for your business and determining 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.
Does Murphy Insurance specialize in one type of business insurance?
We serve a large and diverse business community, so we offer hundreds of insurance products to meet 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.
Life Insurance
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 a replacement for income lost by a family wage earner.
- It can help pay for services provided by a family member who usually works at home.
How much life insurance do I need?
Since the goal is generally to provide for loved ones over time, a common rule is that each provider in the household should have at least ten times their annual salary or 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.
How often should I review my life insurance needs?
As your life changes, your needs do, too. A standard recommendation is to review life insurance protection at least every five years or sooner if you have a major life event such as a marriage, divorce, a new child, a home purchase, a new job, starting a business, or retirement.
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 ages, long-term care (including nursing home and in-home care) has become costly for many families. Sadly, without long-term care insurance, families can lose their homes, savings, and other assets as they struggle to pay the costs. These situations can be avoided by planning and considering options to help pay for care.
Murphy Insurance Agency
What makes Murphy Insurance different from other insurance agents and providers?
- 87 years in Business. We’ve got the experience and knowledge to assist you.
- We are an Independent and Family-Owned Agency. We have a tradition of taking care of clients and the flexibility to serve you. Independence means we’ve got options and aren’t beholden to any particular insurance company.
- We have Insured 17,000+ Vehicles. Regarding auto insurance, we’ve got lots of experience helping people protect their assets and future.
- We Represent 25 Insurance Companies and can access over 100 others for other insurance solutions, meaning you have more options. Direct writers only offer their products. This is also true of “captive agents” and smaller independent agents representing only one carrier. Of the approximately 1800 independent agents in Massachusetts that write auto insurance, 55% represent only one auto insurance company.
- We have 70 professionals on Staff. Certainly, you’ll develop relationships with particular trusted professionals who work with you. But, unlike smaller agencies, you’ll have the additional support of a complete team of professionals, many of whom work behind the scenes to take care of you and find the best solutions to protect all that’s important to you.
- We have 7 Office Locations. Convenience. We’re located in various 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.
- We use a “Whole Life” Approach. Some providers focus only on the one policy you’re discussing. We strive always to take a big-picture approach to help determine whether individual policies work together to protect your whole life. This approach enables you to eliminate insurance gaps that could be costly if a loss occurs.
- We offer a 24-Hour Claim Service. If you have a claims emergency that can’t wait until regular office hours and requires immediate support, you’ll be glad to know that you can reach a representative 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
- Bilingual professionals are Available. 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 professionals who can assist you.
- We offer Registry Courier Service and Electronic Vehicle Registration (EVR). We’ll go to the registry for you so 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 in many cases, we can register a vehicle, and you can walk out with your plate or new registration if you need it today and want to avoid going to the motor vehicle registry yourself.
- Murphy 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
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. Contact Us at 800 222 8711. You can also report a claim online. We will help you sort out the situation, gather information, and submit your claim immediately. We’ll continue to work with you, providing support in sometimes traumatic situations until your claim is resolved.
Explore More Resources from Murphy Insurance
Read Our Blog
Resources
Helpful Links
Insurance Myths
