Frequently Asked Questions

CLAIMS

How do I file a claim?

Please visit our CLAIM CENTER tab for information on reporting a claim.   Most of our companies have a website or toll free number for reporting claims 24 hours/7 days a week.   If you do not see your company logo listed, please email or call our agency to report your claim.

What must I do after a loss occurs to my home or other property? 

The homeowner's policy requires the owner to protect his/her property from further damage following a loss.  Generally, the cost of protecting the property from further damage is covered.  Examples of the expenses covered include: tarps, lumber, shingles, sidings, etc.  The homeowner should also begin making a list of damaged items for the insurance company and/or take pictures of the damaged property and items in need of emergency repair.  This should allow for the claim to be handled in a timely manner. 

If a tree falls from my neighbor’s yard and damages my property, does my homeowner’s policy pay or my neighbor’s policy? 

Generally, your own policy should cover the loss.  If the tree fell due to an “act of God” (i.e. wind or lightning) then the neighbor is not considered negligent or liable.   Your insurance company may be able to recover the amount it pays you for the loss and your deductible from the homeowner's insurance that your neighbor may have if the loss occurred as a result of your neighbor’s negligence. For example: the tree was rotted and the neighbor was aware of this.   This is why it is a good idea to send a certified letter to your neighbor if you notice that they have a rotted/diseased tree that needs to be removed.

Should I repair or replace damages or wait on an adjuster?

You can have a Professional make emergency repairs, but make sure you save the damaged property for the adjuster as proof of the cause of damage.  Also save samples of carpeting and such items to show type and quality.  Take photos of the damage and cover any openings in the roof or windows to prevent any further damage.  Take the necessary precautions to prevent further damage to your property after a loss.  For instance, if a tree falls through your roof, place a tarp or similar covering over the roof to prevent further damage until repairs can be made.

Is flood insurance covered by my homeowner policy?

Flood insurance normally isn’t covered under most homeowner’s policies.  If you believe that you are in a flood zone, you can purchase separate flood insurance.  This is something you should discuss with your agent.  If you do not know if you are in a flood zone, your agent can pull a flood zone determination for you.

AUTO

What are the minimum limits of liability coverage and uninsured motorist Coverage required in South Carolina?

$25,000 bodily injury per person
$50,000 bodily injury per accident
$25,000 property damage per accident 

What is the difference between collision and comprehensive coverage?

Collision coverage helps pay for damage to your vehicle that is caused by:

• Collision with another vehicle
• Collision with a stationary object, such as a tree or street sign
• A vehicle rollover

Collision coverage is normally subject to a deductible.  You may be required to have collision coverage if your vehicle is being financed or leased.

Comprehensive coverage, or Other Than Collision coverage, helps pay for loss or damage that is not caused by collision.  This includes damage caused by:

• Theft or vandalism
• Fire, flood, earthquake, hail or wind
• Falling objects, such as a rock or tree
• Glass breakage

Comprehensive coverage is normally subject to a deductible, except that there is no deductible in SC for glass breakage.  As with collision coverage, if you are leasing or financing your car, comprehensive coverage may be required.

What information and/or documents will I need to obtain a quote?

When getting a quote, it's helpful to have the following information:

• Your current auto insurance policy or declarations page (if you have one)
• Dates of Birth and Driver's license numbers for each person to be listed on your policy
• VIN or Vehicle Identification Number’s for each car to be listed on the policy
• Most insurance companies will request the social security numbers for the Named Insured and Spouse to order the insurance credit score for rating purposes. 
  

Do all homeowner policies cover wind, flood, and earthquake?

• Wind - All policies vary in coverage and exclusions. Most policies cover wind; however you may have to purchase a separate policy for wind if you live in the Wind Pool.   If you do live in the Wind Pool or a coastal county you may also have a separate higher out of pocket deductible for wind damage.
• Flood - Flood is not normally covered by a homeowner policy.   You will most likely have to purchase a separate policy for flood.   Excess Flood is also available if you have a home valued over $250,000.
• Earthquake - Some companies will include earthquake coverage if you request it.   It does have an additional premium and will probably have a separate deductible.
  

Why do I need Personal Liability coverage?

Whether you are a homeowner or renter, if someone is hurt or suffers a loss in your home you could be found personally liable. In other words, you are financially responsible for the expenses that may result to your guest/visitor.

• A guest may slip in your home, in the entryway or on the stairs. A broken leg can cost thousands of dollars in medical expenses - and even more if lost wages are involved.
• Do you have a dog? Dog bites occur all too often, and you may be responsible for pain and suffering, medical expenses, and lost wages should your dog bite someone.
• If the person injured decides to sue, can you cover the legal expenses out of pocket.

Personal liability coverage is a standard part of most home insurance policies.   You can choose to increase your liability limits if you do not have the maximum amount of coverage.   If you do have the maximum amount of liability available on your home or automobile policy, discuss a Personal Umbrella or Excess Liability policy with your agent.

How do I lower my homeowner’s insurance premium?

Most insurance companies reward customers who pay attention to safety and security and lower their risk of injury, accident, theft or other covered losses.

Here are a few of the features that can lower your home insurance premiums:

• Safer building materials (i.e. wind impact glass, shutters, and/ or roof, fire resistant building materials)
• Security systems, Gated Community, Gated Property
• Smoke alarms, Fire Extinguishers, and Dead Bolt Locks in the home

If you purchase homeowner insurance through a company that writes auto, umbrella, boat, schedule or other lines; you may qualify for a multi-line discount.

PRIVACY

Privacy Statement

"Kinghorn Insurance of Beaufort" has always been committed to ensuring the confidentiality of the information it receives. Recently, Congress enacted the Financial Services Modernization Act, which requires that certain companies, including insurance agencies, inform their customers how personal information is collected or disclosed. "Kinghorn Insurance of Beaufort" maintains physical and electronic safeguards to protect the information we acquire, including restricting access about you to employees who need to know that information to provide you with products or to provide you with benefits or services we feel would be useful to our clients. We periodically review and test our systems to assess the strength of our security precautions. The following notice is the "Kinghorn Insurance of Beaufort" Privacy Policy.

Our Privacy Policies and Practices

We do not sell client information for any reason whatsoever.
We may collect non-public personal information about you from the following sources:

• information we receive from you on application or other forms;
• information about your transactions with us; and
• information we receive from a consumer reporting agency

We will not disclose non-public personal information about you to others unless the disclosure is necessary to conduct our business and is permitted by law.

We thank you for the confidence you have placed in us and are committed to protecting your privacy and confidentiality.

Contact Kinghorn Insurance of Beaufort

If you would like to contact us, please use the following numbers and addresses:

Phone:         (843) 521-4000
Fax:             (843) 521-4004

Mailing Address:

P.O. Box 1088
Beaufort, SC 29901

Physical Address:

910 Carteret St.
Beaufort, SC 29902

Email:

info@insurancebeaufort.com

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