Dog bite claims are so common that theyve risen again last year and cost almost 700 million per year now. But it depends on a few things.
It S Not The Breed It S The Dog Bite State Farm
In 2019 the average cost for a dog bite insurance claim was 44760.
How much is dog bite insurance. However dog bites rack up plenty of insurance claims each year and much more than youd expect. That means the amount of dog bite insurance you have depends on the liability coverage included in your homeowners insurance policy. Insurance for Dog Bites As stated previously various insurance companies can play a role in the ability to sue another person.
Dog bites are one of the most common reasons for injury claims filed against homeowners insurance policiesHeres where we walk you through how a dog bite victim named James negotiates a fair injury settlement from the dog owners insurance company. Stats from Insurance Information Institute III and State Farm Insurers paid out 797 million in liability claims related to dog bites and other dog-related injuries in 2019. Small breed dog Yorkie.
The coverage ranges from 100000 to 300000. Based on these factors policies can range anywhere from as little as 75 to more than 1000 per year. Because the average payout for a dog-related claim is over 35000 policy limits are often inadequate.
Your policy will reimburse you on the level you choose between 25000 and 300000. Following are some cases to give you a better idea of how drastically these amounts can vary. Dogs with a history of biting can also be insured through pet liability insurance also called animal liability insurance or dog owner liability insurance which is a seperate policy that covers even dangerous dog breeds in the event that they injure another dog or person.
Youll need to review your specific policy to be extra super-duper sure youre covered though. Typically this will be between 100000 and 500000. You may be able to purchase pet liability insurance as a standalone policy or a rider through your insurance company.
Even if your family pet is well behaved and has no history of biting others before sometimes the unthinkable happens and suddenly you. 36816 88224 per year. In 2010 a police officer in Wisconsin was bitten while training a police dog and awarded 39000 in an insurance settlement.
Homeowners and renters insurance policies typically cover dog bite liability legal expenses up to the liability limits typically 100000 to 300000. Not all dog attack cases will have severe injuries or equate to large monetary damages. Medium breed dog Beagle.
If the policy provides some benefits for animal bites but limits the recovery to 5000 by way of example 5000 is all you can collect from that policy regardless of how high your losses were. 39864 95520 per year. The coverage will protect you against medical or legal expenses related to your dog injuring a person either by a bite scratch or causing a fall.
Additionally the coverage extends to other animals your dog may have injured. Dog owners umbrella liability policy. All sample plans are annual amounts based on an unlimited annual limit 250 annual deductible and 90 reimbursement for a two-year-old pet.
Large breed dog Labrador Retriever. 23976 57456 per year. Making sure your homeowners insurance covers dog bites Dog-related injuries are typically covered under the personal liability portion of a homeowners or renters insurance policy.
Homeowners and rental insurance can pay anywhere between 100000 to 300000 as their limit while various health insurance options can. It may also be covered under a section of your policy called medical payments although this part of your policy has a low maximum usually around 5K. While some people will receive hundreds of thousands of dollars dog bite others will receive next to nothing even if the injuries are nearly identical.
Yes dog bite insurance is a regular part of your homeowners coverage. If the claim exceeds the limit the dog owner is responsible for all damages above that amount. Given the average dog bite claim is 36000 and the highest state average is 59000 the 100000 in coverage should be enough although many claims can exceed the 100000 of your personal liability leaving you financially responsible for the remaining settlement.
Homeowners insurance that covers dog bite liability tends to limit coverage somewhere between 100000-300000. How Much Can I Sue for a Dog Bite. This is part of your liability coverage which protects you from lawsuits and covers damages for household mishaps.
A dog owner is held responsible sometimes called strictly liable for injuries caused by their dog but it is their homeowners insurance policy that will actually pay for your medical costs or emergency room visit. Dog bite cases vary widely though the average settlement amount is 26000.
