When initiating a newhomeowners insurancepolicy, the result can be a gamble.
Will my insurance premium be too high?
Should I worry about coverage limits?
What about homeowners insurance and dogs?
All these questions come to mind when researching insurance carriers.
And even if they dont, will they cover dog bite claims if my dog bites a neighbor?
While these questions might be new to you, they are certainly not new to insurance providers.
The total number of dog bite claims nationwide increased from 17,597 in 2022 to just over 19,000 in 2023.
But year-over-year changes dont necessarily show the full picture.
The cost of dog bite claims has seen a prominent uptick in the last decade.
From 2014 to 2023, the average cost per claim went up by 82.5%.
The Insurance Information Institute attributes that in large part to increased medical costs and larger settlements awarded to plaintiffs.
Or you may only be responsible if the dog has been violent before.
Getting nervous yet, dog owners?
Dont worry youre in good company.
Roughly 65.1 million homes in the US own a dog, according to theAmerican Pet Products Associations 20232024 survey.
Our team has compiled alist of creative waysyou can fatten your bank account this week.
This is a long list, so dont get overwhelmed.
Go ahead and start now, but be sure to bookmark this post so you could easily return later.
Well keep it updated as offers changes or expire.
Did you know that a majority of states 29 consider dog owners liable for any injuries their pet causes?
California and Florida are the top two states for the number of dog bite claims.
Is Your Dog on the Restricted Breeds List?
Some home insurance companies have a list ofrestricted dog breeds.
Breeds considered restrictedraise red flagsbecause theyre considered a higher risk of leading to high-cost insurance payouts.
(Along with trampolines, dogs are one of the bigger headaches for companies supplying homeowners insurance.)
They have determined, OK, we had more losses with this breed than that breed.'
Chow-chows and wolf dogs or wolf hybrids also appeared on more than 90% of lists.
Certain dog breeds may engender further questions.
Have you had any prior losses with your former insurance companies?'
Many home insurance companies still want to insure a potential client even if they own a breed considered risky.
They just want to determine the right amount of money to charge, Ruiz said.
To do this, an insurance provider will often take into account a dogs bite history.
Theres a lot to be said for dogs being trained, Ruiz said.
Thats the more important focus for people to look at whether they are being responsible pet owners.
How Do Different Homeowners Insurance Companies Handle Dogs?
You may be wondering what to do next.
Maybe youre already buyinginsurance to cover vet billsand you dont need any extra expenses.
When it comes to dog breeds homeowners insurance, its important to do your research.
State Farm
State Farm does not ask whatbreed of dog a homeowner owns.
They stress the importance of responsible pet ownership.
The company paid over $205 million dollars for 3,530 dog bite and injury claims in 2023.
Every dog has a unique personality, the company indicates in apast statement.
Its important to remember that even well-trained dogs can bite if they are put into the wrong situation.
A home insurance company may cover dog bites or dog injuries under the liability coverage portion.
However, that can have coverage limits.
A severe bite or injury could mean the consumer pays out of pocket if it falls over their limit.
But the company doeslook at bite history.
USAA membership isopen to most veteransand their eligible family members.
Instead, they focus on a dogs history and behavior.
However, every incident is different and exclusions may apply.
Restrictedbreeds includepit bulls, Akitas, American Staffordshire terriers, Bullmastiffs and Staffordshire bull terriers.
Pets are generally covered under the liability limits of a homeowners insurance policy.
Her work has appeared in Teen Vogue, Smithsonian Magazine and the Tampa Bay Times.
(Can you sense my millennial sarcasm there?)
You know which ones were talking about: rent, utilities, cell phone bill, insurance, groceries…
