It’s the end of the year. Your clock winds down. Your calls slow. Meanwhile, your liability exposure soars. As the year ends, hidden risks accumulate: festive gatherings, travel schedules and project deadlines can drag you into lawsuits you never saw coming. That’s where Smith Insurance Agency of West Virginia, serving Kingwood, WV, steps in. Let’s get your umbrella coverage battle-ready.

Why an Umbrella Policy Matters More at Year’s End

Your primary home, auto, and business policies each carry limits. Once they’re maxed out, your umbrella steps up. But policies written in January rarely account for December’s piling risks. Gifts, bonus checks, temporary rentals, and extra guests all increase your net worth and your exposure. The wrong coverage gap here can turn a fender bender or a slip into a brutal judgment.

What To Check Right Now

• Coverage limits: Are they still high enough to reflect your assets this year?
• Underlying policy gaps: Does your umbrella policy kick in only after your auto or homeowners policy pays? If that policy excludes certain claims, your umbrella may reject them, too.
• Excluded activities: Some umbrella policies have hidden exclusions, such as events, business use, or rented property.
• Defense costs: Does your umbrella cover legal fees before or after your base limit is exhausted?

At Smith Insurance Agency of West Virginia in Kingwood, WV, we stress test your past year’s incidents, forecast possible claims, and calibrate your umbrella to match your current exposure.

Life Events That Demand Immediate Review

• You bought property, investments, or new vehicles
• You hosted events, parties, or rental use
• You took on side gigs or business ventures
• Your child became a driver, or a parent moved in
• You upgraded your electronics, artwork, or assets

Each of these shifts your risk scale and may push your existing umbrella into insufficiency.

How We Help You Fortify Before Midnight

We’ll run a liability snapshot of your assets, usage, and prior claims. We’ll compare them against your coverage layers. When needed, we suggest increases, riders, or cleanups to ambiguous clauses. We don’t just sell; we advise you so your umbrella doesn’t leak.

Don’t let liability sweep in as the year closes. Call Smith Insurance Agency of West Virginia to secure your shield before midnight.