• Who pays for my legal defense costs if I am sued? 
• Will filing a claim on my Homeowners policy cause my rates to go up? 
• If a tree falls on my house from my neighbor's yard, who pays for the damage? 
• I have a dog that bit someone once. Will that affect my chances of getting homeowners insurance? 
• How much liability coverage do I need? 

• How can I lower my car insurance premium? 
• What can I do to protect myself from uninsured drivers? 
• Should I expect my premium to rise if I report an accident to my insurance company in which I was not found at fault? 

In the unfortunate event that you are sued, your homeowners policy will not only cover the cost of your legal defense, but your insurance company will also provide the legal counsel.

In most cases, once an insurer reviews your loss history and finds none, one claim shouldn't affect your rates. If the claim exposes some greater risk on your property, however, such as owning a trampoline or new swimming pool, then you may face a rate increase.

Generally the insurance responsibility lies on whoever’s property is damaged. In other words, if a tree falls on your home, no matter where the tree came from, your insurance company should pay for your repairs. An exception would be if the damage occurred as a result of negligence; for instance if the tree was dead before it fell and you had proof that your neighbor knew the tree was dead. Under these circumstances, the damage becomes your neighbor's liability. As a general rule, you should file the claim with your company and let them sort it out.

While having a dog with a history of biting doesn't automatically disqualify you from getting a homeowners policy, it can make it more difficult and more expensive. You might end up having to get a policy that excludes coverage for anything your dog does.

A basic premise would be to purchase enough liability insurance to protect all of your assets.

There are a number of things you can do to lower your car insurance premium. They include asking for discounts on your current policy, taking a defensive driver course, holding multiple policies with the same company and raising your deductibles. 

Purchasing Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist (UM/UIM) coverage can protect you against uninsured drivers or underinsured drivers if your UM/UIM limits are higher than those being carried by the person that hit you. In many states, UM coverage is required by law. 

It is unlikely you would see a premium increase solely because you were in accident in which another person was at fault. However, you may receive a premium increase if that accident was one of several you have had throughout the year or in recent years.