My daughter was nipped by the neighbors mutt a few years ago. She got a nasty gash on her thigh. We merely had the owner pay for the doctors visit to get it cleaned and stitched. I could have made almost $25,000 on it if I had merely turned it into their HO insurer. DANG, I missed another payday.
A significant segment of society has been brainwashed by personal injury attorneys that any and every accident is chance to make some fast money. Difficult financial times only exacerrbate this mentality. America has evolved into a claims conscious and litigious society that constipates the legal system with un-meritorious suits.
I dunno..I mean, I heard about a guy who had part of his pecker bit of by a pit-bull and he only got $25,000
Then I heard about a dentis who had part of his (working) finger bit off too, but he got $250,000
So, what’s the industry telling us ?
A fingers’ worth more than your pecker
So why are dog owners and those who don’t own dogs charged the same on your basic homeowners’ policy?
Because those who don’t own dogs account for 1/3rd of the liability claims – brought caused by hightened levels of stress! Want a true friend? Get a dog and treat them right!
Oh, snap! Editor, Insurance Journal (if that’s who you truly are) just edumacational on your juvenile, gutteral, and ignorant backside! What you got to say to that, Wook???
Dogs may pose a problem at times but they affect your health more than you think:
Dog owners can revel in the fact that research studies report a link between dog ownership and reduced stress and improved health for their human companions. There’s nothing like the loyalty and unconditional love of a dog to balance the fast-paced, high tech nature of life today. Whatever you have to deal with, when you come home and your dog rushes to greet you with his tail wagging, the troubles of the day melt away.
It’s not always Pits that bite people. All dogs have the potential to be aggressive.
Just make sure you study their behavior and their breeders. that is what will determine how the dog will be in the future.
I agree. The child should get a settlement if the attack was unprovoked. But I must stress the CHILD should get a settlement, meaning that any money above and beyond medical bills should be put in a trust for when the child is older. The child may opt for plastic surgery as an adult to fix any permanent scarring, and the money in the trust would be perfect for that. I also must stress UNPROVOKED. If some kid keeps messing with a dog and the parents do not tell the child to stop, then don’t blame the dog when it’s insticts kick in and it bites the child. Blame the parents who did not teach their children how to act around animals or the child who chooses not to listen to their parent’s warnings.
I think in several states you can’t exclude dogs. In Virginia we couldn’t, so the company I worked for would just nonrenew for pits, rotts, mastiffs, etc.
My dog was torn up in MY yard by the dog across the road who came in my yard and attacked her. The Vet bill was over $600 and the neighbor paid for it, however, this is the third incident with the neighbors dog. How would you handle this if the neighbor refused to get rid of the dog and the county will not remove it.
Normally the county would have to do something if this is the 3rd incident. I really hate to say it as I am a dog lover, but I would warn my neighbor that next time the dog comes onto my propery may be the last. Do you have a fenced in yard? I only ask because I have 2 dogs and several others roam the neighborhood. We thought about an underground fence but got the vinyl to protect our dogs from others. Maybe even a pellet gun would work, or a high powered BB gun. I don’t want to hurt an animal but if it attacks your dog in your yard it is fair game.
Around here, the app asks if they have a dog and what breed. If the breed is “bad” then they will just pass on the risk mostly. After a claim for a dog bite, we send a letter to our insured advising that the dog needs to be removed or we will cancel their policy. Most of the time, the dog is removed – may also have something to do with the lack of ability to get insurance after a dog bite.
Thank you and yes we keep all that in mind. I love dogs and don’t want to hurt any, however, the owner does know how we feel. We live in a rural area and try to keep a good relationship with the two neighbors we have(one being my parents). We like to watch out for eachother, it’s just this neighbor has two great danes and yes you would think they are harmless, not the case. He keeps them pinned up and away from interaction with people about twice a month he brings them in the yard while he is doing yard work and what happens is when he goes in the house and turns his back these dogs become aggressive. The attacked a pony we had and killed it, they attacked our black lab and killed him. This last incident was our yellow lab, (who won’t hurt a flea). I don’t want to ever resort to a law suit, you see I am in the insurance business and I don’t want to have to go that route. Like I said earlier, he did pay for the vet bill the last time because I saw the attack take place, the first two times no one saw the attack, just the blood on the neighbors dogs and he washed them off and put them away before the authorities arrived.
Thanks for listening!
How about when you live across the street from a stupid fat bimbo who thinks she is soooo cool because she bought a pit bull with a 27″ neck and she can barely hold the leash when she walks him in the street, specfically going out of her way to get him out when others and their children are out there to show how cooool she is? She also allows this dog to take un-picked up dumps in her front yard, everyday. She is a true idiot, a public school teacher so that should tell you something. Are their stautes that would allow one to put her down rather than the dog?
That’s funny, not to you I am sure, but the way you asked if she could be put down. I don’t understand either what makes these people tick…. I can tell you are more than frustrated. Wish I could help you.
Jaime: By relating that she is a public school teacher, here is PA, was to show just how truly stupid and entitlement minded she is. Not sure where you’re from, but here, public school teachers are generally a cross beteen fools and felons.
Dustin: I hear ya, I ask if she can be put down obviously in a facetious manner, but really, when my wife is outside walking with our two year old, do you run inside and get a beast that with one lunge could take his head off? and then continue to stand there with a grin that says I should be playing pattykake instead of teaching kids, when my wife tells her to move back with the dog, only doing so after another neighbor steps between the beast, idiot, and my son?
Florida has a dog bite statute which places absolute liability on the owner. Most of the (few) companies writing in state have in recent years added endorsements completely excluding coverage on animals. Those who live in states where the coverage is available may want to consider educating themselves and training their dogs. Which, of course, most won’t do.
OOOOHHHH, I’m scared, dog bites are 1/3 of all HO liability claims! Help me, Mommy!
That statistic fits the OTHER actuarial definition of I.B.N.R. ~ interesting but NOT RELEVENT.
Take industry data from Texas homeowners for example – it’s available for free from the TDI. Throw out the Rita losses. Over the past five years of available data, aggregate the loss costs per $100 of coverage for Wind+Hail+Lightning (EXCLUDING RITA, as I said above), Fire, Discharge+Water, Liability+MedPay, and “All Other.”
LIABILITY LOSSES REPRESENT ONLY 3.15% OF ALL HOMEOWNER LOSS COSTS FOR THOSE FIVE YEARS.
So dog bites being 1/3 of all the liability claims becomes a bu11$#it statistic, Interesting But Not Relevant, in light of the fact that liability claims are less than 1/33 of the homeowners policy loss costs.
Geeze…cat pee in your Cheerios this morning? Wife whoop up on you again?
If you live in Texas, as your post seems to indicate, you’re all too aware of the number of people that have been seriously injured by dogs (mostly pit bulls, rottweilers, bullmastiffs).
While, to you, it may be an insignificant and trivial issue, if you’ve ever been on the receiving end of a dog attack, you’d have a whole different outlook.
Let me know what insurance agency you work for, so I make sure I don’t do business with them.
How many of these claims were from people who were trespassing, breaking and entering, (and yes, if your dog bites someone robbing your house you’re still liable) or tormenting the dog in your home?
ITA that people should be held accountable the instant their dog leaves their property. BUT if you want your dog to bite you, that’s your problem. Keep it in a fence and protect the neighborhood. Or the dog should be fair game to someone with good aim.
Don’t get me wrong. I love animals and hate to hear about any dog being hurt or killed because their owner is a moron. BUT I have animals of my own and children. If either were ever injured by a dog that shouldn’t be out in public I would not hesitate to tear the dog apart AND the owner.
In most states, dog owners are not liable to trespassers who are injured by a dog. A dog owner who is legally responsible for an injury to a person or property may be responsible for reimbursing the injured person for medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering and property damage.
Anyone have the missing piece of the article? How often are claims rejected and pet owners are left to pay out of pocket because the carrier excluded their breed? If dog bites make up 1/3 of liability claims, I have to assume that companies are looking for any way possible to control costs.
It says that 50% of them happen on the ownder’s property.
Not a breakdown of how many, IF they were honest, deserved to be bitten.
It doesn’t seem to matter what that statute says. If the injured party has a good lawyer, even if they broke a window and climbed in to steal your TV they can win a judgement.
It’s important to take dog bite claims statistic into perspective.
“While dog bites are serious events for those who are bitten, the dog bite problem is not the public health crisis that the insurance industry has made it out to be. Some perspective is in order. The number of fatalities due to dog bites is very low when compared to the number of people who die from heart disease, cancer, accidents, suicide, and diabetes. Likewise, nonfatal bites are responsible for a small number of injuries when compared to other accidental, unintentional injuries. Falls (11.5 million), motor vehicle accidents (4.3 million), drugs (3.3 million), sports (2.0 million), insect bites (1.7 million), bicycle accidents (1.4 million), poisoning (.7 million), and knives (.6 million) all individually outrank dog bites (.5 million) as public health problems. [FN461] Similarly, claims paid out by homeowners’ companies for dog bites are miniscule when compared to payouts for property damage. Damage due to fire, water, wind, and theft represent much larger problems for homeowners’ insurance companies.” Larry Cunningham, The Case Against Dog Breed Discrimination by Homeowners’ Insurance Companies, 11 Conn. Ins. L.J. 1 (2004)
I fear that the insurance industry (among others) tends toward criminalizing a large population of dog owners for the shortcomings of a few while simultaneously ignoring the scientific evidence that owning dogs provides both physical and emotional health benefits.
Encouraging and rewarding responsible dog ownership practices sounds like a more effective solution for everyone.
Those dogs days would be numbered. Thats a dangerous situation that needs to be dealt with. I’d wait until the neighbor was away and the dogs would disappear.
Have we all become so numb to high costs that $350M sounds small ? It is a very alarming figure and sadly the only people paying attention are the insurance carriers and the lawyers. Blame can be spread everywhere. However, you must first leap to the assumption that all owners are smarter than their dogs. They often are the same ones that think their chldren can do no wrong either.
If insurers can identify losses from this hazard, why is it fair to charge the same premium liability load to homeowners such as myself who do not own dogs? If I own a 12′ jon boat with a 5 hp outboard I have to purchase seperate coverage. Why not make dog liability coverage optional and charge an actuarial determined rate?
Don’t know yoiur carrier, but you need to shop around. Most carriers I know will automatically include, without charge, watercraft liability for up to 50-75 hp. Therein lies your explantion as to why dogs are included…….until you turn in a bite claim.
Is Insurance industry is attempting to exclude dog bites from homeowner coverage??
This alarming trend mentioned in report/article may be eye opener for dog owners, dog bite victims, health insurance companies and society at large.
One of the issues most threatening to dog owners is the denial of insurance coverage? If the insurance industry excludes dog bites from homeowner policies and won’t sell dog owners a canine liability policy, then the homes of dog owners are at risk, along with their financial futures
Its better to buy personal liability umbrella as it is low cost and provides higher liability coverage rather than being uninsured because of the dog
Does anyone know how this works in other EMEA or other countries?
How about – because it’s too difficult or expensive to verify the presence of a dog in a house.
There’s no public database available to my knowledge to pull dog licenses. Anyways, compliance with licensing laws is pretty darn low, especially among the segments of the population who feel the need to own “dangerous” breeds and not train them. The folks who actually comply with licensing laws are less of a concern.
Sure, there’s a question on the application, but you only fill out that application once. Does anyone think to contact their homeowners insurer when they get a new pet?
That pretty much leaves paying someone to drive around to all your insured properties, ring the doorbell and listen to see if a dog barks.
Dog bite claims are a concern, but they’re not the main cost drivers of homeowners insurance. There’s enough other issues with that line that expense dollars aimed at improving it are better spent addressing other information issues first.
Anyone know what the average insurance claim payment would be for a dog bite sustained on the sidewalk of the owner, whose unsupervised dog ran from the unfenced yard to the front sidewalk, bit an individual, and aside from a few insignificant doctor visits, incurred a puncture wound that healed normally. There will of course be a permanent scar to the upper thigh where the bite took place, and the victim endured some pain & suffering in the healing process. However, since the victim is a self-employed artist, it’s difficult to measure any loss of wages. A few hundred dollars offered by the insurance company seems rather paltry, in light of the periodic discomfort sustained through the 2-3 month healing process. Should we expect more for this negligent inconvenience, or is that about par for the course in insurance settlements? I am only looking for what would be considered fair and reasonable, as it is not my intention to get anything I am not entitled to. Would a few hundred dollar offer be fair and reasonable?
not even most people are covered in the hundred of thousands .and from past expereinces with getting attacked by a dog myself .its way worth more than a few hundred bucks.get a lawyer
1/3 of all homeowners liability claims are from dog bites? What a cool statistic.
My daughter was nipped by the neighbors mutt a few years ago. She got a nasty gash on her thigh. We merely had the owner pay for the doctors visit to get it cleaned and stitched. I could have made almost $25,000 on it if I had merely turned it into their HO insurer. DANG, I missed another payday.
So many times articles of this sort are written based on breed dynamics. This was an excellent article, good all over advise with out the hype.
Kudos
A significant segment of society has been brainwashed by personal injury attorneys that any and every accident is chance to make some fast money. Difficult financial times only exacerrbate this mentality. America has evolved into a claims conscious and litigious society that constipates the legal system with un-meritorious suits.
I dunno..I mean, I heard about a guy who had part of his pecker bit of by a pit-bull and he only got $25,000
Then I heard about a dentis who had part of his (working) finger bit off too, but he got $250,000
So, what’s the industry telling us ?
A fingers’ worth more than your pecker
So why are dog owners and those who don’t own dogs charged the same on your basic homeowners’ policy?
Better never come to my house or one of my seven rescued dachshunds will rip you apart
So why are dog owners and those who don’t own dogs charged the same on your basic homeowners’ policy?
Because those who don’t own dogs account for 1/3rd of the liability claims – brought caused by hightened levels of stress! Want a true friend? Get a dog and treat them right!
First you get rid of the attorneys, 95% of them give the rest a bad name.
Dont you deserve money if your kid has to go around with a scar on her body for the rest of her life? All because some jerk cant control his pit bull?
Oh, snap! Editor, Insurance Journal (if that’s who you truly are) just edumacational on your juvenile, gutteral, and ignorant backside! What you got to say to that, Wook???
Dogs may pose a problem at times but they affect your health more than you think:
Dog owners can revel in the fact that research studies report a link between dog ownership and reduced stress and improved health for their human companions. There’s nothing like the loyalty and unconditional love of a dog to balance the fast-paced, high tech nature of life today. Whatever you have to deal with, when you come home and your dog rushes to greet you with his tail wagging, the troubles of the day melt away.
Good Dog Panda!!
Your kid might, but not you. You don’t have to bear the scar! :)
It’s not always Pits that bite people. All dogs have the potential to be aggressive.
Just make sure you study their behavior and their breeders. that is what will determine how the dog will be in the future.
No Mike, not at all. Hopefully you were being sarcastic, yes?
No I wasnt being sarcastic, your child should get a settlement if she gets mauled by a dog and has scars.
I agree. The child should get a settlement if the attack was unprovoked. But I must stress the CHILD should get a settlement, meaning that any money above and beyond medical bills should be put in a trust for when the child is older. The child may opt for plastic surgery as an adult to fix any permanent scarring, and the money in the trust would be perfect for that. I also must stress UNPROVOKED. If some kid keeps messing with a dog and the parents do not tell the child to stop, then don’t blame the dog when it’s insticts kick in and it bites the child. Blame the parents who did not teach their children how to act around animals or the child who chooses not to listen to their parent’s warnings.
I agree with you completely Gwen.
I think in several states you can’t exclude dogs. In Virginia we couldn’t, so the company I worked for would just nonrenew for pits, rotts, mastiffs, etc.
My dog was torn up in MY yard by the dog across the road who came in my yard and attacked her. The Vet bill was over $600 and the neighbor paid for it, however, this is the third incident with the neighbors dog. How would you handle this if the neighbor refused to get rid of the dog and the county will not remove it.
Normally the county would have to do something if this is the 3rd incident. I really hate to say it as I am a dog lover, but I would warn my neighbor that next time the dog comes onto my propery may be the last. Do you have a fenced in yard? I only ask because I have 2 dogs and several others roam the neighborhood. We thought about an underground fence but got the vinyl to protect our dogs from others. Maybe even a pellet gun would work, or a high powered BB gun. I don’t want to hurt an animal but if it attacks your dog in your yard it is fair game.
Around here, the app asks if they have a dog and what breed. If the breed is “bad” then they will just pass on the risk mostly. After a claim for a dog bite, we send a letter to our insured advising that the dog needs to be removed or we will cancel their policy. Most of the time, the dog is removed – may also have something to do with the lack of ability to get insurance after a dog bite.
Thank you and yes we keep all that in mind. I love dogs and don’t want to hurt any, however, the owner does know how we feel. We live in a rural area and try to keep a good relationship with the two neighbors we have(one being my parents). We like to watch out for eachother, it’s just this neighbor has two great danes and yes you would think they are harmless, not the case. He keeps them pinned up and away from interaction with people about twice a month he brings them in the yard while he is doing yard work and what happens is when he goes in the house and turns his back these dogs become aggressive. The attacked a pony we had and killed it, they attacked our black lab and killed him. This last incident was our yellow lab, (who won’t hurt a flea). I don’t want to ever resort to a law suit, you see I am in the insurance business and I don’t want to have to go that route. Like I said earlier, he did pay for the vet bill the last time because I saw the attack take place, the first two times no one saw the attack, just the blood on the neighbors dogs and he washed them off and put them away before the authorities arrived.
Thanks for listening!
How about when you live across the street from a stupid fat bimbo who thinks she is soooo cool because she bought a pit bull with a 27″ neck and she can barely hold the leash when she walks him in the street, specfically going out of her way to get him out when others and their children are out there to show how cooool she is? She also allows this dog to take un-picked up dumps in her front yard, everyday. She is a true idiot, a public school teacher so that should tell you something. Are their stautes that would allow one to put her down rather than the dog?
What does being a public school teacher have to do with anything?
That’s funny, not to you I am sure, but the way you asked if she could be put down. I don’t understand either what makes these people tick…. I can tell you are more than frustrated. Wish I could help you.
Jaime: By relating that she is a public school teacher, here is PA, was to show just how truly stupid and entitlement minded she is. Not sure where you’re from, but here, public school teachers are generally a cross beteen fools and felons.
Dustin: I hear ya, I ask if she can be put down obviously in a facetious manner, but really, when my wife is outside walking with our two year old, do you run inside and get a beast that with one lunge could take his head off? and then continue to stand there with a grin that says I should be playing pattykake instead of teaching kids, when my wife tells her to move back with the dog, only doing so after another neighbor steps between the beast, idiot, and my son?
I am with you on this and I do understand.
Florida has a dog bite statute which places absolute liability on the owner. Most of the (few) companies writing in state have in recent years added endorsements completely excluding coverage on animals. Those who live in states where the coverage is available may want to consider educating themselves and training their dogs. Which, of course, most won’t do.
OOOOHHHH, I’m scared, dog bites are 1/3 of all HO liability claims! Help me, Mommy!
That statistic fits the OTHER actuarial definition of I.B.N.R. ~ interesting but NOT RELEVENT.
Take industry data from Texas homeowners for example – it’s available for free from the TDI. Throw out the Rita losses. Over the past five years of available data, aggregate the loss costs per $100 of coverage for Wind+Hail+Lightning (EXCLUDING RITA, as I said above), Fire, Discharge+Water, Liability+MedPay, and “All Other.”
LIABILITY LOSSES REPRESENT ONLY 3.15% OF ALL HOMEOWNER LOSS COSTS FOR THOSE FIVE YEARS.
So dog bites being 1/3 of all the liability claims becomes a bu11$#it statistic, Interesting But Not Relevant, in light of the fact that liability claims are less than 1/33 of the homeowners policy loss costs.
Geeze…cat pee in your Cheerios this morning? Wife whoop up on you again?
If you live in Texas, as your post seems to indicate, you’re all too aware of the number of people that have been seriously injured by dogs (mostly pit bulls, rottweilers, bullmastiffs).
While, to you, it may be an insignificant and trivial issue, if you’ve ever been on the receiving end of a dog attack, you’d have a whole different outlook.
Let me know what insurance agency you work for, so I make sure I don’t do business with them.
How many of these claims were from people who were trespassing, breaking and entering, (and yes, if your dog bites someone robbing your house you’re still liable) or tormenting the dog in your home?
ITA that people should be held accountable the instant their dog leaves their property. BUT if you want your dog to bite you, that’s your problem. Keep it in a fence and protect the neighborhood. Or the dog should be fair game to someone with good aim.
Don’t get me wrong. I love animals and hate to hear about any dog being hurt or killed because their owner is a moron. BUT I have animals of my own and children. If either were ever injured by a dog that shouldn’t be out in public I would not hesitate to tear the dog apart AND the owner.
One can only hope and pray for that solution Reagan. That’s for the great response Gwen.
Dawn – if you read the article in its entirety you would have answered your own question(s). not being rude or anything.
In most states, dog owners are not liable to trespassers who are injured by a dog. A dog owner who is legally responsible for an injury to a person or property may be responsible for reimbursing the injured person for medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering and property damage.
Anyone have the missing piece of the article? How often are claims rejected and pet owners are left to pay out of pocket because the carrier excluded their breed? If dog bites make up 1/3 of liability claims, I have to assume that companies are looking for any way possible to control costs.
It says that 50% of them happen on the ownder’s property.
Not a breakdown of how many, IF they were honest, deserved to be bitten.
It doesn’t seem to matter what that statute says. If the injured party has a good lawyer, even if they broke a window and climbed in to steal your TV they can win a judgement.
It’s important to take dog bite claims statistic into perspective.
“While dog bites are serious events for those who are bitten, the dog bite problem is not the public health crisis that the insurance industry has made it out to be. Some perspective is in order. The number of fatalities due to dog bites is very low when compared to the number of people who die from heart disease, cancer, accidents, suicide, and diabetes. Likewise, nonfatal bites are responsible for a small number of injuries when compared to other accidental, unintentional injuries. Falls (11.5 million), motor vehicle accidents (4.3 million), drugs (3.3 million), sports (2.0 million), insect bites (1.7 million), bicycle accidents (1.4 million), poisoning (.7 million), and knives (.6 million) all individually outrank dog bites (.5 million) as public health problems. [FN461] Similarly, claims paid out by homeowners’ companies for dog bites are miniscule when compared to payouts for property damage. Damage due to fire, water, wind, and theft represent much larger problems for homeowners’ insurance companies.” Larry Cunningham, The Case Against Dog Breed Discrimination by Homeowners’ Insurance Companies, 11 Conn. Ins. L.J. 1 (2004)
I fear that the insurance industry (among others) tends toward criminalizing a large population of dog owners for the shortcomings of a few while simultaneously ignoring the scientific evidence that owning dogs provides both physical and emotional health benefits.
Encouraging and rewarding responsible dog ownership practices sounds like a more effective solution for everyone.
Anyone know what the law is in New York State?
Anyone know the law in New York State?
Yea, I do, why?
I was doing an informal study of the level of knowledge of participants providing feedback in random Insurance Journal articles.
No need to be actually informative and respond substantively.
OK man, whatever floats your boat.
No, I don’t think you automatically deserve money. I think the dog should be put down, and the kids medical bills should be payed. Thats all.
If the child is mauled…ie…badly bitten, multiple bites, scaring in visible places, then maybe the child deserves a settlement…but a bite…probably not.
Those dogs days would be numbered. Thats a dangerous situation that needs to be dealt with. I’d wait until the neighbor was away and the dogs would disappear.
and insurance companies are courting Hispanics, this increase was a predictible event.
Dog bites should be excluded.
Have we all become so numb to high costs that $350M sounds small ? It is a very alarming figure and sadly the only people paying attention are the insurance carriers and the lawyers. Blame can be spread everywhere. However, you must first leap to the assumption that all owners are smarter than their dogs. They often are the same ones that think their chldren can do no wrong either.
For crying out loud, what makes an insurance professional refer to a public school teacher in this manner?
If insurers can identify losses from this hazard, why is it fair to charge the same premium liability load to homeowners such as myself who do not own dogs? If I own a 12′ jon boat with a 5 hp outboard I have to purchase seperate coverage. Why not make dog liability coverage optional and charge an actuarial determined rate?
Hey Boonedoggle,
“Because…”
And that’s the best answer you’re going to get from the industry.
Don’t know yoiur carrier, but you need to shop around. Most carriers I know will automatically include, without charge, watercraft liability for up to 50-75 hp. Therein lies your explantion as to why dogs are included…….until you turn in a bite claim.
Is Insurance industry is attempting to exclude dog bites from homeowner coverage??
This alarming trend mentioned in report/article may be eye opener for dog owners, dog bite victims, health insurance companies and society at large.
One of the issues most threatening to dog owners is the denial of insurance coverage? If the insurance industry excludes dog bites from homeowner policies and won’t sell dog owners a canine liability policy, then the homes of dog owners are at risk, along with their financial futures
Its better to buy personal liability umbrella as it is low cost and provides higher liability coverage rather than being uninsured because of the dog
Does anyone know how this works in other EMEA or other countries?
I think the original poster of that comment is the true idiot.
How about – because it’s too difficult or expensive to verify the presence of a dog in a house.
There’s no public database available to my knowledge to pull dog licenses. Anyways, compliance with licensing laws is pretty darn low, especially among the segments of the population who feel the need to own “dangerous” breeds and not train them. The folks who actually comply with licensing laws are less of a concern.
Sure, there’s a question on the application, but you only fill out that application once. Does anyone think to contact their homeowners insurer when they get a new pet?
That pretty much leaves paying someone to drive around to all your insured properties, ring the doorbell and listen to see if a dog barks.
Dog bite claims are a concern, but they’re not the main cost drivers of homeowners insurance. There’s enough other issues with that line that expense dollars aimed at improving it are better spent addressing other information issues first.
You can view a free 20 minute video on preventing dog bites on my website. http://www.firstclassdogtraning.com
made an error writing my webpage on the earlier comment. Below is the correct one.
http://www.firstclassdogtraining.com
Anyone know what the average insurance claim payment would be for a dog bite sustained on the sidewalk of the owner, whose unsupervised dog ran from the unfenced yard to the front sidewalk, bit an individual, and aside from a few insignificant doctor visits, incurred a puncture wound that healed normally. There will of course be a permanent scar to the upper thigh where the bite took place, and the victim endured some pain & suffering in the healing process. However, since the victim is a self-employed artist, it’s difficult to measure any loss of wages. A few hundred dollars offered by the insurance company seems rather paltry, in light of the periodic discomfort sustained through the 2-3 month healing process. Should we expect more for this negligent inconvenience, or is that about par for the course in insurance settlements? I am only looking for what would be considered fair and reasonable, as it is not my intention to get anything I am not entitled to. Would a few hundred dollar offer be fair and reasonable?
not even most people are covered in the hundred of thousands .and from past expereinces with getting attacked by a dog myself .its way worth more than a few hundred bucks.get a lawyer