It sells services such as travel insurance, property damage protection and an insurance product for home deposits.

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Generally, you claim a casualty loss for property damage not covered by insurance or reimbursement in the year the disaster occurs.

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Take "reasonable" steps to protect your property from additional damage, says Insurance Information Institute, a trade group.

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The next time you drive and are tempted to top the posted limit, ask yourself if the risk of tickets, increased insurance premiums, property damage, or injuring or killing another person is worth arriving at your destination just a few minutes sooner.

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If you have damage to your property, deal with your insurance company first.

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Flood coverage isn't part of regular homeowners-insurance policies, which cover property damage from such things as fallen trees, wind and fires.

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The plaintiffs in the case charged the Stanford Fire Insurance Company with failing to adequately reimburse property damage claims.

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Be prepared to give your agent or insurance company representative a detailed description of the damage to your property.

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As well as making sure that you take precautions to try to avoid frozen or burst pipes it also makes sense to make sure that your insurance policy covers burst and frozen pipes, and any subsequent damage to your property, while it is empty.

BBC: Fergus Muirhead