Insurance companies that insure Massachusetts homeowners have quietly been reducing, if not altogether eliminating insurance coverage previously available to dog owners. The trend began several years ago when a number of homeowner's insurance companies began "black-listing" certain breeds they labeled as "highly dangerous", including Pit Bulls, Doberman Pinschers, American Bull Dogs, and other breeds believed to be more dangerous to humans than other breeds. More recently, however, owners of breeds not listed as "dangerous" have discovered that their homeowners' insurance policies provided a substantially lower limit of coverage for claims asserted against them when their dog did cause injury. Unfortunately, discovering low (or no) limits of coverage after your dog causes injury to another person, can be almost as painful for the dog's owner as it can for the dog's victim.
In Massachusetts, the owner of a dog who bites or otherwise causes injury to another person is considered "strictly liable" for the injuries caused by their dog. The only defense available to the dog owner arises when the victim of the dog attack was shown to have been "teasing or tormenting" the dog at the time the attack occurred. In the absence of evidence of teasing or tormenting by the victim, if your dog bites - you pay! And in some cases, you pay big!
Even a person who does not legally own a dog, but is deemed a temporary "keeper" may be held liable under Massachusettsts' so-called "dog bite law".
If you are the owner of a dog, or you "keep" a dog owned by another person, be sure to speak with your homeowner's insurance company or insurance agent to confirm whether you indeed have coverage for dog-related claims, and exactly how much coverage is available to you "per claim". If the amount of dog-related coverage is lower than the limits of coverage available to you for other categories of claims, be sure to ask your insurance company or agent whether you can purchase higher limits for dog-related liability. If not, consider moving to an insurance company that can provide you with higher insurance limits.
Parker Scheer attorneys have significant experience representing adults and children seriously injured by dogs. If you or someone you know has been the victim of a dog-related injury, contact us seven days a week at 866-414-0400. There is never a charge to discuss your case. [Read More]
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