For one reason or the other, you may decide not to take the legal route when dealing with the aftermath of a dog bite. Common reasons include not wanting to rock the boat if the dog owner is a close friend or neighbor, not wanting the other party to face economic hardship, or not wanting to come off as a hostile and unfriendly person in your neighborhood. In such cases, you may think of insurance and try to find ways you can get a payout to reimburse you for things like hospital bills as well as lost wages.
Homeowner’s Insurance
Homeowner’s insurance is usually the go-to type of insurance for these kinds of injuries. According to statistics, coverage tends to run from $100,000 to $300,000. That being said, insurance companies usually have clauses in their agreements which rule out certain types of dog bites such as those inflicted by pit bulls and rottweilers, and don’t include things like getting bitten by a dog through a car window.
In addition, Homeowner’s insurance companies are known for lowballing bite victims by taking advantage of their desperation at the time of their dog bites. This behavior is not only deplorable, it is also unacceptable. Insurance companies usually have one thing in mind: to make as much money as possible by keeping payouts low, and in some cases, denying claims completely.
Personal Umbrella Insurance
Another type of insurance that can be used for your payout is a personal umbrella insurance policy. This usually covers anything that may have been missed or is on top of homeowner’s insurance such as the dog itself.
Dog Owner Insurance
Dog owner insurance is yet another option, particularly if the dog owner thought ahead and took a policy out on account of the vicious breed he or she may have. However, it’s not uncommon for these types of policies to have strict limits such as limiting coverage to only dog bites that occurred within the dog owner’s property. Lastly, if the dog has a history of aggression or bit someone else in the past, there’s a chance that the insurance company may reject your claim.
Don’t Brawl With Insurance Companies After a Dog Bite
Fighting with insurance companies is the last thing you should do after being bitten by a dog. This is something that we as a law firm do for our clients. We know the tricks these companies play to get you to invalidate your claims, and can go up against their lawyers as well as delay tactics. If you’ve suffered a dog bite, you deserve expert representation. Please call us today on 877-561-3004 for your free and confidential consultation. Thanks, and we look forward to hearing from you.