Dog Liability insurance???

[Lilie]

You know, we should get a price break for having big dogs. Statistically, people with large dogs aren't robbed as often as those with out a dog at all.

[selzer]

I agree with that.

[smyke]

Originally Posted by selzer

So if you own a GSD, and did not disclose it to the insurance company, and lightning strikes your house, and it ends up burning to the ground, the insurance company can say they will not cover the damage because you own a dog??

not sure where you got this from but it was already answered by someone else.

dont shoot the messenger! question was asked so I answered.

Trust me, I dont agree with it either, but insurance rates/policies are based on statistics and there is tangible data to support their reasoning. whether we like it or not.

When insurance companies "frown upon" stuff it doesnt mean jack ****. as long as you did not withhold information and they wrote/issued the policy they would not be able to deny your claim no matter how hard they try.

I dont know how K9 officers get their coverage in Mass. I would imagine that the PD has some kind of policy in place for that.
In CT you have options and luckily not every company discriminates against GSDs, heck I have never even seen Malinois on those lists (they must have missed it).

[smyke]

Originally Posted by Lilie

You know, we should get a price break for having big dogs. Statistically, people with large dogs aren't robbed as often as those with out a dog at all.

true, but its very difficult (nearly impossible really) for an insurance company to fight the dog bite liability claim and that $300K that Jason mentioned will be right out the window. so at $180 a year thats a pretty big loss, wouldnt you say?
its a lot more money than the PS3 that the burglar would steal.

[selzer]

The incredulity was not aimed at the messenger but at the message/insurance companies.

No one is shooting anything around here.

[smyke]

I know it wasn't, selzer. no worries.

[jasonGSD01]

Originally Posted by smyke

true, but its very difficult (nearly impossible really) for an insurance company to fight the dog bite liability claim and that $300K that Jason mentioned will be right out the window. so at $180 a year thats a pretty big loss, wouldnt you say?
its a lot more money than the PS3 that the burglar would steal.

Sorry but can you explain this alittle more? I am kind of confused.

[smyke]

I am already off the clock. LOL
with any claim, insurance companies will always try to find the way out of the jam (ie. not to pay it if they dont have to). with dog bite liability there is pretty much no explanation that it could have been the claimant's (person that got bitten) fault (compared to automobile accident for example), especially if it was a child. therefore lawyers know that they can easily go after the maximum liability on the policy ($300K in your case) and that they will get it. insurance company will not spend extra money on lawyers in a case they cannot win. so they will just pay up and close the case.

In some instances they will sue you for more than your limit but its more complicated and most people would rather get what they can quick and not drag it out for years.

here are some statistics for you: dog bite stats

[selzer]

I think that companies prefer to settle a dog bite claim than to fight it. So if a yayhoo climbed your fence so they could play Schutzhund with your dog, and got bitten, and they sued, the company would just settle out of court instead of forcing the "victim" (perpetrator) to prove his case in court in front of a jury.

Not sure why this is. Maybe because juries were awarding criminals all kinds of freaky claims, like the dude that went into the house under construction to steal tools and fell down the steps and broe his leg and sued because there was no railing put up. He won.

I guess grusome polaroids of dog bites coupled with pictures of fierce GSDs or Pit Bulls, do not go over well with juries regardless to what idiots are doing.

So, there is a major hit on your insurance. Bad, bad, bad.

Currently, I am so fearful of homeowner's insurance claims that when the ice caused the sunroom to leak, I just had it fixed, and when the tree fell on my front door taking down my power pole, I had to replace the pole, and the power box and just paid for it myself. Once you make a claim they cancel you. So unless the house burns down to the ground, I am not making a claim unless there is absolutely no way around it.

[selzer]

So where do you live? I could sure use a lucrative dog bite???