Many people in Texas consider their pets to be members of their family. Unfortunately, this can make it hard for some pet owners to understand just how dangerous or violent their dogs might be. Many fail to take necessary precautions to protect other people from their animals, and it might make owners even more resistant to taking responsibility for catastrophic injuries caused by their dog biting someone.
Depending on where the dog bite attack occurred, an owner's insurance might cover the cost of compensation. Many dog bites occur on the owner's property and are usually covered by homeowner's insurance. In 2012, over 16,500 homeowners across the United States made insurance claims for dog bites. These claims usually pay out compensation for the victim's related injuries, including both physical and emotional trauma.
Dog bites that occur off of a person's property are usually handled differently, and whether a specific incident is covered will depend on the specific insurance policy. However, most homeowners' insurance policies do not cover dog bites that occur in a car or through the open window of a motor vehicle. In some cases, a dog owner's automobile insurance might cover the compensation.
Dogs might be cute and meaningful companions for many Texas residents, but they still have the capacity to cause tremendous amounts of physical damage. Dog bite victims often require intense medical care for catastrophic injuries, and many go on to deal with disfigurement and long-term pain and suffering. If a dog owner does not have any type of insurance, or his or her insurance policies do not cover dog bites, victims can still seek related compensation through a carefully pursued legal claim.
Source: FindLaw, "Animal Bites: Who Pays Damages?", Accessed on Nov. 13, 2017