Insurance claims for
dog bites are at an all time high in our state.
According to
newly-released numbers from the Insurance Information Institute, companies paid $9.1 million for dog bite
injuries to other dogs, as well as people.
While some dogs are
less likely to bite than others insurance companies say never assume your dog
will never bite.
"More than half
of all dog bites occur to small children," explained Kenton Brine of the
Northwest Insurance Council.
Small kids are the
most common dog bite victims because children can't always tell when it's not
okay to play or pet. Seniors are also vulnerable.
Other common dog bite
situation include accidents outside the home where people are walking their dog
and the animal either injures another dog or a person.
Delivery people and
strangers approaching the home are also common dog bite victims. In fact, online shopping is linked to a huge spike in dog attacks against postal and
package delivery workers.
If you take your dog
to a dog park, that's another top situation under which dog bites occur.
"The average
claim, according to the data is about 33 thousand dollars," said Brine.
As part of Dog Bite Prevention Week, insurance companies say if you have a dog,
make sure it's properly trained and socialized.
Get your dog spayed or
neutered, so it's less likely to bite.
And if your dog is
inclined to be aggressive, overly protective, or is easily frightened, make
sure you have adequate liability coverage on your homeowners or renters
insurance.
"A lot of people
may be under insured," said Brine. "And if you have a very serious
claim, it could cost more than your coverage provides for. Then it becomes your
personal responsibility to pay for that."
According to the
insurance industry, dog bites account for a third of all liability claims
against homeowners policies.
While most policies
provide $100,000 to $300,000 in liability coverage, dog bite claims often
include extensive surgeries, and legal fees.
Dog owners should also
be aware that with certain dog breeds, insurance won't cover dog bite claims at
all.
Source: komonews.com
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