Dog bites can lead to a variety of different losses. Sometimes, dogs attack young children and can cause permanent disfiguring wounds. Aggressive dogs can also cause serious injuries ranging from scars and lacerations to broken bones in adults.
Dog bite attacks can cause property damage in addition to injuries. The injured individual may require time off of work to recover after a dog bite incident, leading to lost wages. Parents may also need time away from work to provide support for an injured child after a dog bite attack. Those affected by a dog bite incident may expect to pursue compensation from the dog’s owner.
Can the animal’s breed have any impact on compensation rights after an injurious incident?
Breed restrictions can complicate claims
Many insurance companies have internal rules that reflect dog bite statistics. Some insurance companies enforce breed restrictions. They either refuse to underwrite policies for property owners or renters who own specific breeds or they charge substantially more to cover those who own breeds associated with greater bite risk.
Both the overall likelihood of a bite and the severity of bite attacks can vary from one breed to the next, which is why insurance companies sometimes consider an animal’s breed when deciding whether to issue a policy and how much to charge for coverage. Those who own certain breeds have become familiar with these rules and may try to circumvent them.
Often, those who own restricted breeds may try to skirt rules that could limit their eligibility for coverage by claiming that they have a mixed-breed dog. For example, they may claim to have a Labrador mix when they own a dog that very clearly looks like a pitbull or a Rottweiler. Both of those breeds are often among the restricted breeds insurance companies do not cover because of their association with particularly severe and costly dog bite incidents.
If the animal’s owner did not disclose its presence to the insurance company or if they lied about its breed, their misrepresentation could affect an injured person’s eligibility for compensation. Insurance companies can deny claims based on policyholders providing inaccurate information.
However, even if insurance does not cover the dog bite incident, the animal’s owner may still be liable. The people affected by the incident may need to file a personal injury lawsuit to obtain compensation from the animal’s owner.
People affected by dog bite incidents may need help communicating with insurance companies or navigating the civil courts, and that’s okay. Understanding the impact breed can have on compensation claims can help people more effectively pursue economic justice.