How liable can an owner be for his own dog’s misbehavior?

Most people admit the fact that dogs bite. According to statistics of 2005, there are more people who suffer more from dog bites. For insurers, it is estimated in $321.6 billion. Dog bite claims rose sharply in those recent years that resulted in 15% of liability claims paid under homeowners insurance policies.

Dog bites bring many injuries to people and stress. From now on, the strict law was enacting against dog biting and the dog that will bite a person, the owner of that dog will get penalized. Adults can get away with minor injuries but unfortunately there are many kids that die from dog bites annually.

Many dogs can be so vicious; that they unfortunately may lose control and start attacking anyone they see. So each owner has its own responsibility over his dog to keep it tied up in case it is so vicious and causes injuries to people. 

Some states agreed on a proposal that an owner is liable for any injury caused by his dog since he is responsible and owner of his dog. People who got injured have rights to claim liability coverage from an owner regardless if he did not even know that his dog was vicious. Dog attacks can end up in injuries and deaths.

There were some extraordinary cases where an owner had to be sentenced to prison for cruel misbehavior of his dog resulting in death of another person. Owners of dogs should know that they can also be accused by their dog’s murder. Owners did not do that but they should have taken special precaution to keep their vicious dogs away from the public place. Usually dog bites can result because of the carelessness of owners. Law is aware of that and that’s why it is on the side of the injurer.

There are insurance policies, like homeowners and renters that pay for dog bites. Liability coverage can cover up to $300,000. If the injuries exceed the amount of liability coverage, then an owner is responsible to pay the rest. He will be also reliable for those legal expenses in case an injurer will file his/her claim against an owner in the court of law.

That’s why homeowners with dogs try getting an insurance that would provide coverage to an injurer and pay all the needed expenses if it is required so. As with nonstandard drivers who put themselves at risk on the roads by making small violations, homeowners who own the dog that bit someone at least, has to pay high premiums to their insurance companies.

An insurance company such as State Farm is glad to insure all dogs except those vicious dogs that bring injuries among people. It does not matter whether an owner knew or did not know about his dog’s viciousness, most of the time an owner will be automatically liable for any injury caused to a person.