Articles Tagged with San Diego dog bite lawyer

Dog bites in Oceanside can result in serious and deadly injuries, and wounds can be particularly severe when children are bitten. While nobody wants to think about a family dog biting a child and causing a severe or even fatal injury, many dog bite incidents involve family pets, and the animal attacks are unexpected. According to a recent study published in The Journal of Pediatrics, dog bite incidents affecting children have “surged” during the COVID-19 pandemic, resulting in hospital visits and serious injuries while families are grappling with other health concerns and risks. We want to say more about the study and recent dog bite incidents impacting younger kids in Oceanside and throughout Southern California. 

Sheltering at Home Has Meant More Time With Family Pets

Unfortunately, although sheltering at home can have some health benefits since children and adults are at less risk of being exposed to the coronavirus, in-home injury risks rise. When families have one or more dogs in the house, the more time a child spends at home, the higher the possibility of a dog bite case. And just as families engaging in social distancing practices are trying to remain at home while experiencing significant anxiety, family pets are also experiencing higher stress levels. All of that tension in a household can be risky. According to the new study, adults and children alike are experiencing higher levels of stress due to the COVID-19 emergency, and “canine companions can be particularly susceptible to these stresses.” 

Insurance companies often make assumptions about certain dog breeds and dog bites when it comes to policies for homeowners’ insurance. Should everyone—from homeowners to pedestrians to outdoor employees—have the same concerns about particular dog breeds or mixes? According to a recent article in Bankrate.com, companies that specialize in dog liability insurance just may be onto something new in terms of dog bite injuries and statistics.

7962055618_8271e8f12f

Are Some Dogs Riskier Than Others?

In San Diego, Einhorn Insurance, a company that specializes in dog liability insurance, recently put together a list of dog breeds that are “most often deemed dangerous by insurance companies.” However, Einhorn emphasizes that “it doesn’t agree with these opinions” and seeks to help homeowners and dog owners who are responsible.

Insurance Policies and Dog-Inflicted Damage

How often do severe dog bite injuries occur?  According to a recent article in Bloomberg Businessweek, dog bite claims are on the rise across the country.  To be sure, data collected by the Insurance Information Institute showed that insurance claims related to animal attack injuries rose by nearly six percent last year, for a total of 17,359 claims.  This figure set a new record established back in 2003.

Across the country last year, aAmerican-Pit-Bull-Terrierverage dog bite insurance claims resulted in payments of about $28,000.  That is up by nearly 45 percent over the last ten years.  And to give this figure another spin, dog bite claims account for more than 33 percent of “all homeowners insurance liability-claim dollars paid out in 2013.”

More Dog Bite Claims in California Than Any Other State

Have you ever been attacked by a dog? According to an article in the Los Angeles Times, California sees more dog bite claims than any other state in the U.S. In fact, in 2013 alone, California insurance companies received a total of 1,919 claims for dog bite injuries that ended up costing them $64.7 million. Based on data collected by the Insurance Information Institute and State Farm in a recent report, that’s the highest cost of claims in America.

Puppies
And dog bite insurance claims are on the rise everywhere. Across the country, insurance companies ended up paying out a total of $484 million for dog bite injury claims in 2013, and the total number of claims actually rose by 5.5 percent from 2012. According to the article, “encounters with Fido account for more than one-third of liability costs for homeowners insurance.” A spokesperson for the Insurance Information Institute indicated that the average claim cost has risen “more than 45 percent in the last decade.”

Contact Information