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My dog bit someone, who’s covered? Am I legally liable for the bite or is the victim himself covered under his own policy of insurance?
The first step is to identify which type of policy might be involved (there may be more than one). The next step is to review the actual language of the policy. There are two standard forms of homeowners insurance. You have to read your policy or retain an attorney to read it with you and tell you what it means. Your insurance agent or broker might also be able to tell you the broad strokes of the policy, but his job is to sell it, not study it; the policy was written by an attorney and requires the knowledge of an attorney to interpret it and apply it to any given situation.
Oh my gosh ... my dog bit someone!
Respond right away and restrain or confine your dog immediately. Help the victim in any way you possible can. This may involve calling 911 or driving them to the emergency room. Once you have taken care of the bite victim, you might have to contact the police to report the dog bite. You should then call your home insurance company, especially if there are medical costs involved. Be sure to cooperate with your insurance company. The claims adjuster will no doubt want to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident.
Take steps to make sure a similar incident doesn't happen. That might mean building a fence around your yard or sending your dog to obedience school. When all else fails, a certified animal trainer may help.
Are there actual ways to improve my chances of getting and keeping homeowner and renter's insurance once my dog bit someone? Enroll your dog in obedience classes and work on helping the dog earn a diploma and also get the Canine Good Citizen certification.
If you have a male dog consider neutering. You can significantly reduce dominance problems and some other types of aggression.
Make sure your dog gets lots of exercise.
Keep you dogs on leash or in a fenced area when outside. That will keep dogs from running after animals and people.
I saw some do's and don't about pestering dogs somewhere ... does anyone have it?
Don't disturb dogs while sleeping or eating. Don't bother mother dogs who are with their puppies. Don't tease or yell around dogs. Don't get close to unfamiliar dogs or chained dogs. Don't send nervous or fearful signals to your dog- For example, if you are nervous, that can make your dog nervous. If you are not confident around strangers, do not
walk your dog near strangers.
PS: Here are some companies that pet owners report are dog-friendly and tend not to discriminate by breed:
State Farm, Travelers, Liberty Mutual, United Services Automobile Association, Erie, Fireman's Fund, Kemper, Chubb Group, Allstate and Safeco Corp. Most these companies sell insurance in Los Angeles, San Diego, San Jose, Oakland, about any town in California ... of any descent size.
Tips For Avoiding A Dog Attack
by Les Heizler
Not to blame the victim here but a simple reason a dog may bite someone is that the person misread the dog's intentions. Often it is a person's reaction to the dog that incites aggressive behavior. This is partly because dogs have poor eyesight as they come very close to assess anything.
A fast moving object in a dog's own backyard would likely incite a bark or growl from the dog. This is the way a dog instills fear into his perceived foes-by barking or growing. So when a dog encounters a fast moving object or something-someone unknown, the dog is "wired" to send out this inherent behavior. They react in part this way because dogs are well known for defending their territory and they will quite often treat you the same on the street or dog park as if you were to walk up to their front door. If you do anything provocative to them, some will just bark, some will threaten but not bite, and some will attack.
The Warning Signs
The dog you encountered upon may be curious and just want to know who is this new person? Once they have had the opportunity to meet you, they may never bother you again. Many dog experts maintain dogs actually have no idea that you are even a different species! His canine instincts enables him to interpret both your voice tones and body language.
The dog may be friendly, want to bark and run after you, pretending to hunt you, but have no intention of harming you. The dog is just playing around. Even so the dog may be defending what they perceive as their territory so it is important to be able to communicate to the dog a non-aggressive posture. Making direct eye contact for a prolonged period of time ....
