Pitbulls And Homeowners Insurance
Due to the extravagant insurance claims of dog bite incidents and other dog-related damages and injuries, these companies have refused coverage to owners with certain breeds to save cost. Not all of them have super strict ban policies, and usually, decide on the coverage on a case by case basis
Dog Bite Insurance Claims
Every year, there is an alarming number of incidents of dog attacks on humans which have led to bad injuries or even fatalities, with half of these victims being children.
In 2020-2021 alone, there were 4.5 Million dog bite incidents in the U.S, 42% of those incidents were pitbull related, and out of the 408 dog bite-related fatalities, 284 or 66% fatalities were due to Pitbulls, this makes them a particularly dangerous breed, the average claim for dog bite-related incidents is ~$45000, which has to be paid by the home insurance provider, they also have to provide for other dog-related injuries and property damage.
These claims amount to approx 854 Million U.S dollars every year, to prevent these costs, many insurance providers are outright banning dog breeds that are most known to cause dog bite injuries, or other property damage, with Pitbulls being the number one perpetrator, it is natural that insurance companies aren’t very keen to insure pitbull and homeowners insurance, even then, most companies are not implementing super strict ban policies and instead opt for a more case by case basis approach, recently, insurance companies have started accepting canine behavior reports, if these tests clear the dog, the dog owner can then use them as a basis to get coverage even if their dog is in the ban list. This isn’t a compulsory practice and in states like Texas, almost all insurance providers have blanket bans or certain species, but in other states, like Vermont, it is compulsory for insurance companies to approach these problems on a case-by-case basis and accept canine behavior reports.
BSL: Breed Specific Legislation
Not only Insurance Companies, even many municipalities and states legislations, have their list of dog breeds, these lists’, known as Breed Specific Legislation (BSL), ban or restrict individual dogs based on their breed or group, without taking into consideration the individual characteristics of the dog, many dog advocates have since called BSL as unfair as there are no exceptions in place for assistance dogs, search and rescue dogs, or therapy dogs.
The Future Of Pitbulls
One thing is certain: pit bulls, the most usually banned canine breed, are severely impacted by state and local legislation, as well as limits imposed by house insurers. According to the dog activists’ analysis, an insurer’s reluctance to underwrite coverage for families with these dogs, as well as discriminatory BSL legislation, will result in their “abandonment or relinquishment to a shelter”.
According to the ASPCA, more than one and a half million dogs and cats are euthanized each year. Pit bulls account for a huge proportion of them, at least Four Hundred Thousand.
Advice For Pitbull Owners
According to dog advocacy groups, some insurers exclude particular dog types, while others allow wiggle room for pets already in the home, and still, others will just disregard the matter for wealthy clients who bring in good business. Others, such as State Farm, allow all dogs as long as they don’t have a “bite history.” The APCIA recommends contacting your homeowner’s insurance company before bringing a dog home. “You can look around for a different insurance or explore a different breed,” they recommend if you lose coverage due to your dog decision.
According to the Insurance Information Institute, both homeowners’ and renter’s insurance policies often cover dog-bite legal charges, with typical liability coverage ranging from $100,000 to $300,000. They also suggest getting a personal umbrella insurance policy, which they describe as “a crucial item to have in today’s litigious world.” These insurance provide additional coverage of up to $1 million.
A state-by-state list of “banned species” is available on PetPlace. Breed bans are not permitted in some states. Vermont, for instance, does not allow for bans on entire canine species but instead requires insurers to act on a case-by-case basis. Many other states have passed similar legislation, and home insurers must follow each state’s rules.
