Pit Bull Prejudice: Why You Need Pet Liability Insurance
| December 12, 2014
Is Your Dog the Subject of Prejudice?
Do people cross the road to avoid your canine companion? Do insurance agents hem and haw when it comes to bite liability coverage? If the answer is “Yes,” then chances are you own a bully breed dog. The trouble is that this (unjustified) prejudice runs more than fur deep and could cost you money.
Many cities and states have a legal requirement for dog owners to have liability insurance for their pet. Why does this matter? If your dog injures someone (accidentally or otherwise), you are liable for covering that person’s medical, surgical, and legal bills, plus any loss of earnings. With over 4.7 million dog bites occurring annually in the US, it’s not hard to understand why state laws require dog owners to make financial provisions to cover those costs.
Once upon a time you could be reasonably confident your homeowner’s insurance policy covered the liability if your dog injured someone, but times have changed. Many carriers now make a point of excluding certain breeds, typically bully breeds, which could leave you in the doghouse and financially liable if there is an unfortunate incident.
Survey Says…Most Dog Owners May Not Have Adequate Coverage
A survey by TrustedChoice.com found that nearly two-thirds of dog owners were unaware that it is usually necessary to tell your insurance company if you own a bully breed. Only one in five of our respondents had acted correctly and done this, which means that four-fifths of respondents may have invalid insurance policies.
Your bully may be the softest creature on the planet, he allows kittens to play on his back and licks away children’s tears, but in the eyes of the law (because of breed prejudice) none of that matters. If your dog knocks over a visitor in the rush to give the visitor a kiss and that person sustains an injury and sues you, the first question your insurance company will ask is “What breed is the dog?” If you haven’t declared his true identity, the company may be within their rights not to honor the claim.
But even when you do the right thing and tell an insurer at the outset that your dog is a bully breed, things may not go smoothly. Some insurers may refuse to take on breeds with a reputation for aggression or else may hike up their premiums.
So should you play truth or dare with dog bite liability coverage? No.
Withholding vital information will end with your tail between your legs. While you may believe you are covered, in the event of a claim your policy may become invalid and you may have no financial protection. Read Full Article