Dog bites worry US home insurers
The US Insurance Information Institute has reported that dog bites now account for more than one-third of all homeowners’ insurance liability claims, costing $412 million in 2009, the total having risen 8.7% on a year earlier.
Figures from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention show that more than 4.7 million people in the US are being bitten by dogs annually, resulting in an estimated 800,000 injuries requiring medical attention.
With over 50% of the bites occurring on the dog owner’s property, the issue is a major source of concern for insurers, with the average cost of a claim having escalated to $24,840.
According to the Institute, many states have now passed laws with stiff penalties for owners of dogs that cause serious injuries or deaths.
In about one-third of states, owners are “strictly liable” for their dogs’ behavior, while in the rest of the country they are liable only if they knew or should have known their dogs had a propensity to bite (known as the “one free bite” principle).
Category: Home Insurance News, Insurance News
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