Dog Owners Buying Liability Insurance?
Regular readers of our site know that all dog owners are responsible for any damage caused by their pets. If you’re bitten by someone else’s dog, you have the right to make a claim for fair compensation. As such, there’s a growing trend in the insurance industry: liability insurance policies specifically written to cover expenses caused by the bite of a K-9.
The idea for liability insurance to cover dog bites is an interesting one. The Insurance Information Institute tells us that, in 2014, the average liability claim for an injury related to a dog bit was $32,072.
There are some typical homeowners and renters insurance policies already in place that include liability protection to cover dogs. Among those that do, there are variables involved, such as breed of dog, that determine amount of coverage offered.
The San Diego Connection
In the USA Today story, a representative from Einhorn Insurance Agency in San Diego is quoted as offering canine liability in their portfolio. The limits in their policies range from $15,000 to more than $1 million. Speaking with the reporter, Dori Einhorn shared an incident in which an elderly woman was scratched by a dog’s nail. She wound up with a bacterial infection and was stuck with medical expenses of more than $80,000.
Our Take on Dog Insurance
As you can see, animal bites can cause serious and expensive medical situations. Because of that, we’ve no problem at all with people taking the necessary steps to ensure that they are covered financially should their pet bite someone.
Animal bites – particularly those involving dogs – happen often. The Center for Disease Control tells us about 4.5 million people are bitten by dogs annually in the U.S. Not surprisingly, dog bites are the most common trigger for rabies in humans.
If you or someone you know has been bitten by an animal owned by someone else, we’d welcome the opportunity to talk with you about seeking compensation. Contact the Gilleon Law Firm, APC today at (619) 702-8623 for a free consultation.
