Does your home insurance cover dog bites?

Make sure your homeowners policy
covers canine liability.

It's an unfortunate reality, but dog bites are far more common – and costly – than most people realize. If your homeowners insurance policy doesn’t cover it, even a minor dog bite could cost you thousands of dollars in medical bills.

Sixty-eight percent of U.S. households, or 83.3 million homes, own a pet, according to a 2013/2014 survey from by the American Pet Products Association.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, dogs bite about 4.7 million people every year (half of which are children), adding up to more than $400 million in medical costs. Meanwhile, The average cost per claim nationally has risen more than 45 percent in the last decade (2003-2013).

The nonprofit Insurance Information Institute says the cost of dog-bite claims jumped 53 percent from 2003 to 2011. Dog-bite claims accounted for more than one-third of all homeowners insurance liability claims in 2013 – equaling almost half a million dollars in damages.

Read more about dog bite liability here: http://www.iii.org/issue-update/dog-bite-liability

Are you covered?

If you own a dog, it's essential to find out whether your homeowner’s policy covers canine liability — even if you have a small dog that seems harmless. Most homeowners policies do cover injuries resulting from dog bites. However, check your liability limit - it may not begin to cover the legal fees and additional medical costs associated with a bad bite. Dog owners may want to consider umbrella insurance coverage to give extra liability protection above and beyond the limits on a typical policy.

Some homeowners and renters policies may omit coverage for dogs altogether. Check with your broker to make sure you're covered. If not, your broker can advise you as to what  additional coverage you need.

Dog ownership tips

To reduce the chances of your dog biting someone, the Insurance Information Institute offers these seven tips:

1. Consult with a professional, such as a veterinarian, animal behaviorist or breeder, to learn about suitable breeds of dogs for your household and neighborhood.

2. Spend time with a dog before buying or adopting it. Use caution when bringing a dog into a home with an infant or toddler.

3. Have your dog spayed or neutered. Studies show that dogs are three times more likely to bite if they are not “fixed.”

4. Socialize your dog so it knows how to act around people and animals.

5. Teach children to refrain from disturbing a dog that is eating or sleeping.

6. Play non-aggressive games with your dog, such as fetch. Playing aggressive games like tug-of-war can encourage inappropriate behavior.

7. Never approach a strange dog and always avoid eye contact with a dog that appears threatening