Man’s best friend?

Dog bite liability

Insurances

Civil liability insuranceHomeowner insuranceRenters insuranceOther

Special insurance: dog bite liabilityAverage premium: $ 1.000 /year

When are you liable?

Because of ownership Exceptions:

Trespassing Veterinarians Felons Provocation Police/military

“one bite rule” Prevention

Most vicious dogs(responsible for the greatest number of dog bite-related fatalities from 1979 to 1998)

1. Pitbull

2. Rottweiler

3. German Shepherd

4. Husky

5. Malamute

6. Doberman

7. Chow Chow

8. Great Dane

9. Saint Bernard

10. Wolf hybrids

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

What is covered?

(future) medical treatmentMedicationsPsychological counselingLoss of earningsTorn clothing

Statistics (USA)

65 million dogsAnnual bites: 4.7 million (2%)800.000 (1/6) need medical attentionDeaths: 15-20 /yearDogs of family/friends: 77%Losses: > $ 1 billion /year$ 345 million paid by insurance

Emergency room incindents (2005)

Cause of injury IncidentsBaseball/softball 404.364

Dog bites 333.687

Playground accidents 268.810

All-terain vehicles, mopeds,… 125.136

Volleyball 97.523

Inline skating 75.994

Horseback riding 71.162

Number of dogs (+ 2%)

65 000 000

63 700 000

60000000

61000000

62000000

63000000

64000000

65000000

66000000

67000000

68000000

69000000

70000000

1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000

Number of bites (+ 33%)

4 700 000

3 500 000

3000000

3200000

3400000

3600000

3800000

4000000

4200000

4400000

4600000

4800000

1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000

Homeowner claims

33%67%

Dog bites Other

Consequences

For the owner:Loss of house, income,…

For the victim:Physical consequencesNo way to recover

For society:Society pays medical bills, disability and

unemployment benefitsBanning of certain breeds