Dog Bite Claims Cost Approximately $50,000
Homeowners around the world adopted new pets during the COVID-19 pandemic. U.S. households now include almost 85 million resident dogs. Despite the increased number of dogs as pets, homeowner claims related to dog bite injuries dropped almost 5% from the previous year. At the same time, the overall cost of dog bite claims rose from $796.8 million to a record high $853.7 million.
How Much Is a Dog Lawsuit?
Dogs bite more than 4.5 million people (mostly children) annually. Costs of dog-related injuries have been rising for years resulting from higher costs of medical treatments and larger judgments, settlements, and jury awards for plaintiffs. The average dog bite case settles for approximately $50,000, but this total is increasing every year. Between 2003 and 2020, the national per-claim average skyrocketed by 162%. In addition to pet bites, owners are responsible for damages from dogs knocking people over, which can also result in costly injuries. The CDC reports that one in five victims of dog attacks require medical attention for injuries including MRSA, nerve damage, and sometimes even death.
How Much Does Insurance Cover For Dog Bite?
In most states, the pet owner is liable for injuries caused by their animal. Dog bites may be covered by homeowners’ and renters’ insurance policies, up to liability limits that depend greatly on the home itself. Mobile home policies will usually only cover up to $25,000 for the loss. The traditional limit for liability coverage ranges from $25,000 to $300,000.
What Are Dog Breed Exclusions?
A current hot topic in animal rights’ circles is the policy of some insurers to exclude dog breeds statistically branded as high risk. For this reason, some companies won’t issue policies to the owners of certain breeds. Others require a signed waiver with a canine liability exclusion clause that eliminates the insurance coverage. In a situation where a dog has a history of biting, the insurer may deny the coverage, charge an elevated premium, or non renew the policy.
What Are the Benefits of Dog Bite Insurance?
To avoid dealing with breed exclusions or being caught with less than adequate coverage, many pet owners turn to dog bite liability insurance to protect their friends, neighbors, and family members. A benefit to this type of umbrella policy is the broad liability provided, filling in the gaps in other insurance policies. Dog liability insurance generally covers damage to third party persons or property, including medical costs, lawsuit expenses, and settlements. They also cover injuries occurring off-property, which is where most dog bite issues happen.
About Dog Bite Quote
At Dean Insurance Agency, we’ve been providing protection to dog owners since 2012, with more than 10,000 policies issued. Our underwriting criteria and years of experience providing this coverage enables us to offer competitive and fair policy premiums. Our policies are available in every state except Alaska & Kentucky. The quote is free and there is NO obligation to purchase!