New law in Arizona may allow insured dogs to walk off-leash

New legislation has been proposed in Arizona that would allow pet owners to walk their dogs off the leash assuming that those animals are adequately insured. Lawmakers in the state are debating whether or not to let people who have insured their pets forgo the current leash laws and homeowner association rules because the coverage will pay for any injuries that could occur as a result of the behavior. Senator Lori Klein (R-Anthem) created the proposed legislation that would negate the current county ordinances that say that dogs on public…

Read More

Is your dog’s breed to aggressive to be covered by your homeowners’ insurance?

For many years, dog owners and insurance companies have been battling it out over claims because some insurers maintain a restricted list of breeds that will not be covered by homeowners’ insurance due to a perception of their tendencies toward aggression. Since it is technically possible for a dog of any breed to bite hard enough to lead to an injury, legislation in many states includes a specific definition of what constitutes a dangerous dog, and regulations for maintaining that animal. This has made it possible for a dog to…

Read More

Organizers of American running of the bulls are heavy on thrill seekers but light on liability insurance

An American version of the running of the bulls, which was modeled after the famous Pamplona, Spain tradition, is expected to draw hundreds of participants, while also bringing about millions of dollars in insurance protection. Though each of the runners taking part in the quarter-mile run from dozens of rodeo bulls weighing approximately 1,500 pounds each, will be required to sign a solid and exceptionally comprehensive liability waiver, there have been several additional insurance policies taken out to protect the organizers from any form of liability that they can imagine.…

Read More

Animal liability takes a bite out of the insurance industry

Almost one thousand Americans are treated in emergency rooms every day as a result of dog bites. Estimates show that in 2009 insurance companies paid out a total of 412 million dollars in claims for dog bites. In a survey recently conducted by State Farm, they reveal the states with the highest amount of claims for dog bites. Topping the list was California. According to the State Farm survey, California rated the highest in dog bite claims filed. Last year, California had 369 claims filed on insurance because of dog…

Read More

Animal liability coverage going away on some homeowner’s policies

If you’re thinking about buying a home, or changing insurance providers, make sure you read the fine print. There are several insurance companies that are excluding coverage for your canine companions. They will no longer cover property damage caused by your dog, and they won’t pay for any medical costs should someone get bit.  Insurers and underwriters are watching the numbers, and the numbers are telling them they are paying out well over 400 million dollars a year on dog bite incidents. Hospital emergency rooms see over 365 thousand people…

Read More