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?
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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?
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?