Social Media Preheader Home Page Get a Quote Refer A Friend Schedule an Appointment Claims Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Instagram Youtube
  • Home
  • Get A Quote
    • Annuities
    • AutomobileImage of right arrow
      • Auto Insurance Quote
      • Mexico Travel Insurance Quote
    • Bonds
    • Business & CommercialImage of right arrow
      • Builders Risk
      • Business Owners (BOP) Quote Form
      • Commercial Auto Insurance Quote
      • General Liability Quote Form
      • Liquor Liability Quote Form
      • Workers Compensation Quote
    • Dental
    • Farm
    • Flood
    • HealthImage of right arrow
      • Disability Insurance Quote
      • Health Insurance Quote
      • Long Term Care Insurance Quote
    • HomeownersImage of right arrow
      • Homeowner Flood Quote Form
      • Homeowners Insurance Quote
      • Manufactured Home Quote
    • LifeImage of right arrow
      • Life Insurance Quote
      • Term Life Insurance Quote
    • Motorcycle
    • Recreational Vehicle
    • Renters
    • Trucking
    • Vision
    • Watercraft & Boat
    • Windstrom
  • Customer Service
    • AutomobileImage of right arrow
      • Add Driver to Existing Auto Policy
      • Add Vehicle to Existing Auto Policy
      • Remove Driver from Existing Auto Policy
      • Remove Vehicle from Existing Auto Policy
      • Request Declaration and Coverages Page for Auto Policy
      • Request ID Card for Auto Policy
      • Send Declaration and Coverages Information to Lien Holder
    • Business & CommercialImage of right arrow
      • Add Driver to Existing Commercial Auto Policy
      • Add Vehicle to Existing Commercial Auto Policy
      • Remove Driver from Existing Commercial Auto Policy
      • Remove Vehicle from Existing Commercial Auto Policy
      • Request Declaration and Coverages Page for Commercial Auto Policy
      • Request General Liability Certificate of Insurance
      • Request ID Card for Commercial Auto Policy
    • Flood
    • Health
    • HomeownersImage of right arrow
      • Request Declaration and Coverages for Existing Homeowners Insurance Coverage
      • Request Evidence of Insurance
    • Life
    • MotorcycleImage of right arrow
      • Add Driver to Existing Motorcycle Policy
      • Add Motorcycle to Existing Policy
      • Remove Driver from Existing Motorcycle Policy
      • Remove Motorcycle from Existing Policy
      • Request Declaration and Coverages Page for Motorcycle Policy
      • Request ID Card for Motorcycle Policy
    • Other
    • Recreational VehicleImage of right arrow
      • Add Driver to Existing Recreational Vehicle Policy
      • Add Recreational Vehicle to Existing Policy
      • Remove Driver from Existing Recreational Vehicle Policy
      • Remove Recreational Vehicle from Existing Policy
      • Request Declaration and Coverages Page for Recreational Vehicle Policy
      • Request ID Card for Recreational Vehicle Policy
    • Renters
    • Watercraft & BoatImage of right arrow
      • Add Watercraft to Existing Policy
      • Request Declaration and Coverages Page for Watercraft Policy
      • Request ID Card for Watercraft Policy
    • Windstorm
  • Blog
  • Make A Payment
  • Resources
    • Secure File Area
    • Refer a Friend
    • Important Links
    • Calculators
    • Free Reports
    • Insurance Glossary
    • News Center
  • About Us
    • About Parkway Insurance Group, Inc.
    • Location Map
    • Employee Directory
    • Customer Testimonials
    • Privacy Policy
    • Community Outreach
  • Contact
    • Contact Us
    • Join Our Newsletter
Postheader Auto Insurance Home Insurance Business Insurance Life & Health Insurance
Home > Blog > 3 Things Dog Owners Need to Know About Homeowners Insurance
FRIDAY, MARCH 24, 2017

3 Things Dog Owners Need to Know About Homeowners Insurance

Up to 47% of American households have a dog, and for insurance companies, these households represent a risk. In 2013, homeowners insurance policies paid out some $483 million in dog bite liability claims.

Obviously, insurance companies would rather not be shelling out hundreds of millions of dollars over dog bites. But what are they doing to cut costs and how does this affect dog owners?

Homeowners insurance protects homeowners from liability claims. In the case of dog owners, this means your policy could cover the costs if your furry friend harms someone.

“As much as we love our pets, dogs are unpredictable and can act aggressively with seemingly no warning and despite the fact that they have been our family pets for years,” says Linley Jones, president of the Georgia Trial Lawyers Association and founding partner of the Linley Jones Firm in Atlanta.

How big is the problem?

Every year, dogs bite about 4.5 million people in the United States, and 885,000 of those people require medical attention. About half are children.

“Dog bite claims are a huge source of liability claims against homeowners, if not the No. 1 source of claims,” says Dr. William Warfel, professor of insurance and risk management at Indiana University’s Scott College of Business.

In 2013, these claims accounted for one-third of all paid homeowners insurance liability claims dollars, according to the Insurance Information Institute.

The costs associated with a dog bite can be extensive—potentially encompassing emergency room treatment, reconstructive surgery and even emotional therapy. In 2013, the average cost per claim was $27,862. That number has risen considerably over the last 10 years, from $19,162 in 2003.

Do you own a restricted breed?

Insurance companies mitigate their risks in two ways: by raising costs for those who pose the biggest risk, or by denying coverage altogether. This has largely meant enacting breed-specific policies targeting certain dog breeds that insurance companies believe are implicated in more than their share of dog bite claims. For owners of these breeds, such as pit bulls, Rottweilers and Dobermans, insurance can be costly or difficult to obtain.

Understandably, many pet owners and advocacy groups believe these policies unfairly discriminate against responsible pet owners and their well-trained dogs. For them, insurance companies should be more focused on preventing dog bites from all dogs rather than just those designated, perhaps erroneously, as more dangerous.

Laura Hagen, deputy director of advocacy for the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, says, “The MSPCA’s adoption centers see directly the impacts of insurance company policies targeting specific breeds of dogs, either because dogs are surrendered when a homeowner cannot secure a policy or when adopters do not consider those breeds prohibited by their insurance company.”

Not all insurance companies discriminate against entire breeds. Some judge pets on a case-by-case basis, looking at the animal’s history and proclivity to aggressive behavior.

Read More: Source

Posted 7:25 PM

Tags: home, dog, insurance
Share |


No Comments


Post a Comment
Required
Required (Not Displayed)
Required


All comments are moderated and stripped of HTML.

NOTICE: This blog and website are made available by the publisher for educational and informational purposes only. It is not be used as a substitute for competent insurance, legal, or tax advice from a licensed professional in your state. By using this blog site you understand that there is no broker client relationship between you and the blog and website publisher.
Blog Archive
  • 2022
  • 2017
  • 2016

  • insurance(68)
  • tips(29)
  • home(20)
  • auto(19)
  • safety(17)
  • life(16)
  • homeowner(11)
  • holiday(8)
  • car(7)
  • house(7)
  • homeowners(6)
  • flood(6)
  • rates(5)
  • family(4)
  • claims(4)
  • health(4)
  • business(3)
  • money(3)
  • long-term(3)
  • mistakes(3)
  • halloween(3)
  • new year(2)
  • disability(2)
  • commercial(2)
  • accident(2)
  • april(2)
  • thanksgiving(2)
  • claim(2)
  • save(2)
  • long-term care(2)
  • value(2)
  • dog(2)
  • funny(2)
  • women(1)
  • labor day(1)
  • permanent(1)
  • college(1)
  • financial(1)
  • retirement(1)
  • texas(1)
  • valentine(1)
  • traffic(1)
  • inventory(1)
  • refresher(1)
  • employee(1)
  • 4th of july(1)
  • school(1)
  • child(1)
  • teen(1)
  • student(1)

View Mobile Version
Fill out the form below or call/email us at
(281) 558-1991 | info@parkwayinsurancegroup.com


Who We Are >
We are a leading provider in insurance and services in the insurance industry. Priding ourselves on providing the best customer experience possible while also giving you the lowest rates. We have relationships with dozens of insurance companies, allowing you to get the right price with the right service.

Read More
Read Our Blog >
ASI Lloyd's
Progressive
Mercury
UPC Insurance
American General
Blue Cross Blue Shield
Universal American
Customer Testimonials >

Read More
 
  Who We Are
Insurance Carriers
Meet Our Staff
Customer Testimonials
  Auto Insurance
Life Insurance
Home Insurance
Health Insurance
Business Insurance
Other Insurance
  955 Dairy Ashford Rd. Ste 203 
Houston, Texas  77079
P: (281) 558-1991 | F: 281-558-1998
info@parkwayinsurancegroup.com
 
©Parkway Insurance, All Rights Reserved - Terms & Privacy Policy Powered by Insurance Website Builder