Can Dog Bites Be Covered Under Homeowners Insurance?
If you are a dog owner in Washington State and are concerned about protecting yourself from liability in dog bite cases or dog attacks that occur on your property, you need to take a closer look at your Homeowners Insurance policy. In Washington State, dog bite victims can sue dog owners under the state’s “strict liability statute.”
This law states that dog owners are liable for injuries caused by their pets – whether it is on their property, another person’s property or on public property. Unless your dog bites a burglar or an assailant, you may be held liable.
If you are a dog owner, do not make assumptions about coverage. Be sure to read exclusions to your policy as well as the section on liability and medical payments. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC), nearly 5 million Americans are victims of dog bites. Also, dog attacks can cause serious damage and high medical bills, easily running into hundreds of thousands of dollars if the victim needs cosmetic surgery. As a dog owner, you need to make sure that your policy includes adequate medical payment coverage as well. It is recommended that you have medical limits of at least $100,000 per incident. Dog owners are not the only ones who may be held liable for a dog bite. Parents of minors who own dogs, dog walkers or dog sitters may also be held responsible in the event of an attack.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a Washington dog attack, please contact the experienced Washington personal injury attorneys with The Bernard Law Group at 1-800-418-8282 or info@bernardlawgroup.com for a FREE comprehensive and confidential consultation and case evaluation. We can also send you our FREE informational brochure about dog bite cases, which has useful information to help you understand your legal rights and options as a victim. Get in touch with Kirk Bernard and his skilled legal team today.
