Dog Bites:1/3 of insurance claim payouts
 

With claims like that I could see insurance cos charging higher rates for those of us who have dogs

Just one more way to bleed us to freakin' death!!! Generating Revenue!!!! I think they already do charge more for some specific breeds...ones that score high on the "Biting or Just Plain Vicious" scale....they have a list of the top 5-7 breeds that are responsible for the majority of bites and those people that own those breeds, pay more for insurance.

Well I also wonder if it was biting people they knew or biting strangers? You know like someone getting in your yard when they are not suppose too? :thumbdown. Geee I came to rob you but since your dog bit me I'll just sue you instead.

I read about this in the New York Times. It said while incidents have remained about the same for the past ten years, the amount of the claims has gone up...blame that on the cost of healthcare in the States.

Personally, I think ALL dog owners (not just those that are homeowners) should be required to have an insurance policy/bond on their dog for such events. I know there are cities that require it for breeds deemed "dangerous" and some countries require it as part of the dog licensing process.

I had a doctor tell me many years ago, as an RN, never buy professional insurance, because if you do anything that a patient is going to sue you for, your employer will pay out the claim....and then if you were actually negligent, the State Board and your employer will deal with you. BUT ONCE JOHN Q CITIZEN REALIZES YOU CARRY INSURANCE, THEY WILL SUE THE SOCKS OFF YOU, WHETHER THEY BELIEVE YOU ARE GUILTY OR NOT, AND INSURANCE COMPANIES PAY IT OUT BECAUSE IT IS CHEAPER TO PAY IT OFF AND SHUT THEM UP, THAN TO FIGHT IT!!! I have listened to that doctor...malpractice insurance is very high.....thank God, I have never been sued, nor any employer I had was ever sued because of something I had anything to do with.....I think the same thing with insurance companies requiring all dog owners to have coverage. I do NOT agree it is the cost of health care in the US....I think it is people that may be barely making ends meet, get attacked by a dog, and the FIRST thing they do is LAWYER UP.....and go after the deep pockets! My dogs do not bite, they are never out in public, and I should not be required to carry insurance on my dogs! I have home owners that will cover a minimal amount if some idiot climbs into my yard and gets savaged by a 5 lb Yorkie....that is all they will get...if it was a one million dollar policy, that is what they would go after....if all they get is 1500.00, that is more than they deserve.....but I dont think it is right for greedy people to establish their retirement plan on what they can get from people that are NOT responsible for some stupid action THEY made that resulted in them getting bit! If you own a vicious dog, and it runs the streets attacking people and kids out in public, you need to open up your pocket book....YOU OWE those people big time. But if you crawl over my 8 foot fence, and get mauled by my vicious dog, drag your bloody dumb a$$ back over that fence and be thankful you escaped with your life....and dont be looking for a jackpot payoff to compensate you for your stupidity. I SHOULD NOT BE "REQUIRED" TO PAY FOR YOUR STUPIDITY!

Amen Sister!

Much to my chagrin, I was listening to one of those talk show programs, that had a legal "expert" on. The subjecto of discussion, was homeowners liablitity and dog bites/attack.

According to this lawyer, the law is clear and has been applied clearly and unequivocably, for dog bites/attacks, occuring in the home, as a result of stranger intrusion into your home. Robbers et al. That person has no legal claim against you for injuries incurred during the course of their home invasion.

How-ever a grayer area is the backyard even if gated and fenced in, and well front yards too for that matter; although here no-one fences in the front yard.

If an intruder "breaks into" your backyard, and your guard dog happens to be out there, and the intruder gets "bitten", the law seems a bit wishy washey with respect to if the intruder has a legal claim against you the home/dog owner. I did not hear why that was. It is yet another thing on my list to find out why. Seems to me, that backyard is as much my property as my home is, and I should think I have a reasonable expectation of private enjoyment of my backyard.

Sigh, why is life so complicated?

It does seem that more and more laws give the crook the breaks!

I assumed the large majority of the claims related to bites from dogs that got loose and left their property.

I wonder why these things can't be capped off at someone getting their medical bills paid AFTER their insurance pays their part, and a set rate per day they are out of work to make up for lost wages and maybe a small percentage on top of that. Getting bitten by a dog should not make ANYONE a millionaire! Also I think if the person bitten was doing something criminal then NOTHING should be paid out. Like if they were breaking into your house or on your property, then it's 100% their fault.

My parents dog Cody a rescue mix Shepard/lab/??? with issues got out of the backyard while my dad was taking out the leaves. He bit the postal worker. There was no blood, no bite mark, but he did graze her knee and leave a scratch. She sued for $25,000 and received $5,000. This was the only claim my parents made on their policy during the 40 years that they paid out premiums to their homeowners insurance company. Their insurance was cancelled after the payment and my parents (88yrs/89yrs) are now unable to get homeowners insurance except through the Massachusetts General fund and are unable to get any coverage for dog Bites even through a separate company or rider. They were told they only way to get private homeowners insurance again is to euthanize the dog or get rid of it. While I agree it was my Dad's fault for leaving the gate open it still is a sad situation.

That's pretty common. Once you have a dog that has bitten once, you will be hard pressed to find an insurance company that will insure you--unless you either get rid of the dog, or sign a waiver with them stating that you will be 100% financially responsible if the dog does it again.
I don't think you should be owed SQUAT if you are breaking into someone's home or trespassing and are bitten! I can't really see how that would every hold up in court. I know that laws differ from state to state and here you have NO claim to anything if that happens.