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Dog Bite Resource Center

Insurance Industry Breed Bans

As the evidence and statistics mount pertaining to dangerous dogs and dog attacks, insurance carriers are coming down on dog owners. The two most popular tactics being used by the insurance industry is the banning of sales of policies to owner of certain dog breeds and/or excluding dog bites and other dog inflicted injuries from insurance coverage.

Some insurance companies include comprehensive lists of dogs that will void coverage or even policy sales, such as this one from AAA:

Pit Bulls & Rottweilers (No full bred or mix) Akita - including Japanese and Akita Inu Bernese - including Mountain Dog, Berner Sennenhund and Bernese Cattle Dog Canary Dogs - including Perro de Presa Canario Chow Chow Doberman Husky - including American, Eskimo and Greenland (Siberian is OK) Karelian Bear Dog Rhodesian Ridgeback Russo-European Laika - including Russian Laika and Karelian Bear Laika Any breed of guard dog trained to attack Wolf Hybrids The foregoing applies to both purebred and mixed breed dogs.

The insurance industry has seen payouts of up to $400 Million a year for dog bites and attacks, accounting for one third of all homeowner liability claims. (2005 statistics). Upon the realization that dog bites and dog attacks were a growing problem, especially among certain breeds of dogs, the insurance industry stepped in and put the breed bans in place.

Regardless if you are a homeowner or a renter, insurance is required and you are required to disclose your pet ownerships. Some insurance agencies will charge higher premiums to those who own certain breeds of dogs, but mostly they will either refuse to sell you a policy or exclude your dog and any injuries it causes from your policy coverage. This means that in the event that your dog does bite or attack someone, you will have to pay everything “out-of-pocket”.

The recent changes throughout the insurance industry has put a great deal of stress on homeowners and renters who own dogs that are deemed of a dangerous breed”.

• Dog owners who do not have insurance for dog bites can lose their homes, their assets and their income as a result of a single dog bite incident, unless they are insured for it. Although many, many dog bites do not result in serious injury, the sad fact is that a significant number cause devastating scars and disfigurement.
• Dog bite victims certainly deserve to receive payment for their serious losses, but if dog owners are not insured and do not have assets or income, then there is no way that the victim can recover.
• Society always pays the price of uncompensated, uninsured losses because the community ends up paying the medical bills, the state pays disability and unemployment benefits, and welfare pays the rest. This might result in the government taking action that might not be in the best interest of dog owners, namely banning certain breeds of dogs, or making it illegal to not have dog bite insurance.

Dog Owner Liability Insurance

As a result of the insurance industry putting breed bans in place, several new insurance agencies have formed. These new insurance agencies are in the business of offering Dog Owner Liability Insurance (sometimes referred to as canine liability coverage).

What It Covers:

• The cost of injuries to third parties caused by a dog bite or attack.
• Bites and attacks that occur on the insurance owner’s property.
• Some policies cover property damage incurred by they dog.
• Policies usually come with a maximum benefit dollar amount. (The insurance carrier will only pay up to a certain dollar amount every year.)

What It Does Not Cover:

• Legal actions, suits or procedures. The dog owner is still liable to the legal system. You can still be fined or jailed by the county or state and the insurance carrier does not cover these charges.

Factors That Determine Eligibility:

• Whether or not your dog has a history of biting, attacking or aggressive behavior.
• Whether or not your dog holds any certificates in obedience training.
• Whether or not your male dog is neutered, as this tends to curb aggression.
• Whether or not your property is fenced and secure.
• Whether or not the dog is leashed or confined when outside, reducing the ability for the dog to come into contact with others.

In the event that your dog has been deemed vicious or dangerous, your Dog Liability Insurance can be suspended or cancelled completely.

If you have been injured by a dog bite or dog attack it is your right to hold the dangerous dog owner responsible for your injuries. Whether or not they have any liability insurance for their dog does not affect your rights to seek monetary compensation for your medical bills. Call John Bisnar – California dog bite lawyer – today for your free consultation.

HOLDING WRONGDOERS ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE DAMAGES THEY CAUSE SINCE 1978

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Bisnar | Chase 2006-2008 - Super Lawyers is a listing of outstanding lawyers from more than 60 practice areas who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. Bisnar | Chase has received this award for three consecutive years.

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