What Happens When Your Dog Bites the Mailman…Who Pays?

Yes, dogs are man’s best friend, but this doesn’t mean that they are EVERY man’s best friend. Accidents happen…but what happened if your “best friend” bites the mailman? This sounds cliché of course, but don’t simply dismiss the idea that this can happen to you. Do you know who will pay the medical bills for the mailman? Do you know which of your insurance policies, if any, will cover these costs?

If you find yourself intrigued, then listen up. More than likely, you will have to file a claim with your homeowner’s insurance line if your dog happened to bite the mailman, or anyone else for that matter. Before you brush this off and think of it as ridiculous, consider this: about 25 percent of homeowner’s liability claims are due to dog bites. Not only can you be responsible for paying medical bills of the victim, you may also have to pay the costs of “pain and suffering.”

Something you should keep in mind in the cost amount of these claims. Yes, your homeowner’s insurance policy will cover liability issues, but the amount of costs it will cover only goes so far. For example, if the liability coverage on your home insurance covers up to $100,000 of costs due to liability issues, and your dog bites the mailman and his medical expenses equal $150,000, that extra $50,000 is expected to come out of your pocket. Something you can do to prevent these issues is to purchase what is called an Umbrella policy. Umbrella insurance is supplemental liability coverage that you can purchase to add to your homeowner’s insurance. Umbrella coverage takes care of liability costs that exceed the liability coverage in your home policy.

Don’t leave yourself vulnerable to such costs; make sure you are adequately covered. Those in California, Arizona, and Colorado should contact DC Insurers for a free quote on both homeowner’s and umbrella insurance policies. We have years of experience with both types of coverage and can offer you knowledgeable advice from real people. Visit our virtual insurance agency online at www.dcinsurers.com and contact us today!