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Insurance for the Dog Owner

Colorado Personal Injury Attorneys

Dog Breeds That Raise a Red Flag for Insurance Companies

Among dog breeds that insurance carriers may be hesitant to cover are:

  • Pit bulls
  • Pit bull mixes
  • Doberman pinschers
  • Akitas
  • Chow-chows
  • English bulldogs
  • Rottweilers
  • Wolf hybrids

Source: Los Angeles Times

If your household is one of the more than 43 million nationwide that owns a dog, it is important to make sure that you have insurance coverage for dog bites or attacks. Even if you don’t think your dog is likely to bite someone, unforeseen circumstances can cause animals to react strongly. There’s no need to jeopardize your home, your other assets, or your financial well-being when insurance is available.

Colorado personal injury attorneys at the Law Firm of Jeremy Rosenthal can confirm that dog owners who are unprepared for the unexpected may be risking the assets they’ve worked hard to earn. Our lawyers are experienced handling cases in which individuals have suffered serious injuries because of dog bites. Even though relatives or friends are often the unwitting recipients of dog bites, you as the owner are likely to be liable. And to preserve valued relationships, you’ll want to be ready with insurance coverage if the unanticipated does happen.

Typically, dog owners are able to include coverage for dog bites or other injuries that might be inflicted by their pets in their homeowner policies. Dog owners who rent should check their renter’s policies for similar coverage. Some sources recommend at least $100,000 in personal liability, while others encourage the addition of umbrella policies that add as much as $1 million in coverage. Consult your insurance agent or attorney for knowledgeable advice on the levels of coverage appropriate in your situation.

There are other types of insurance that could be called upon to pay for dog-bite claims. For instance, if you dog should bite someone while they are a passenger in your car, your auto insurance policy might cover the incident. Or, if you’ve decided to take your dog to work only to have it injure one of your employees, business insurance coverage could apply.

Just as some insurance companies will no longer write policies for homeowners in states plagued by hurricanes, some carriers are becoming more hesitant to insure dog owners, or at least those who own breeds that are known for tendencies toward aggressive behavior. It is wise to review any policies you already have to confirm that you are covered for any injuries that your dog may cause.

If you are among the 4 million-plus people who are bitten by a dog each year, you may need the skilled guidance that the Denver personal injury attorneys at the Law Firm of Jeremy Rosenthal can provide. Our firm knows that homeowner and other insurance policies often make available compensation to help those who have been injured recover money to help pay for medical care and other expenses caused by dog-bite injuries. At the Law Firm of Jeremy Rosenthal, you’ll find the legal know-how you need to make sense of liability laws and complicated insurance-policy terminology. If you or someone you care about has been harmed by a dog, call our Colorado dog bite injury lawyers at (303) 825-2223 and ask for a free consultation to learn about your rights.

Contact our Denver Colorado Personal Injury Law Firm at 303-825-2223

DenverCOInjuryAttorney.com

Jeremy Rosenthal