Dogs are widely considered man’s best friend, but did you know that they’re also a significant source of insurance claims, especially for homeowners? In 2016 alone in The U.S, dog bites and other dog-related injuries accounted for more than one-third of all homeowners liability claims, costing more than $600 million, which is roughly R8.1 billion, according to the Insurance Information Institute (I.I.I.).

Did you know that a dog knocking over a child can become an issue? And if a dog knocks an elderly to the floor or even a cyclist and such persons suffer from fractures or blunt force trauma injuries, owners are liable. This kind of claim fall under the category of “other” dog-related injuries. This category also includes Post Office worker attacks, as many postmen become the victim of an attack when delivering post to a dog owner’s residence. Nowadays, you can find coverage for almost anything including cyber crime.

Keep in mind that a dog isn’t born dangerous, but rather become dangerous when they’ve been neglected, bred badly, mistreated or if their humans don’t train them well…

In South Africa, there is very little information about nationwide payouts when it comes to dog bite claims, but in the I.I.I’s analysis of homeowner’s insurance dada in the U.S, they found that the number of dog bite claims in America increased to 18,123 in 2016 — an 18 percent increase from the pervious year, and the average cost paid out for dog bite claims in 2016 was $33,230, about R45,000. While it’s hard to say these states are necessary to us South African’s, but according to Steve, one of Durban’s dog behaviourist, this amount seems quite common in the KZN region. Can you imagine your dog giving you R45,000 bill?

Remember that even if you think you have a friendly and docile dog, it could act out when they’re frightened or when defending their puppies, owners or food. Preventing your dog from biting anyone in the first place is the best way to protect yourself from liability. This also makes you a responsible pet owner, and no one wants to be that irresponsible neighbour. Keep in mind that a dog isn’t born dangerous, but rather become dangerous when they’ve been neglected, bred badly, mistreated or if their humans don’t train them well, says dog behaviourist Bernice Jaffe.

Now that we understand the the importance of being a good owner, next week we’ll share a few tips on how to prevent a dog from biting. It’s the least we can do as responsible Durban brokers. 😉

Don’t hesitate to contact us on 0317651080 if you have any questions regarding liability insurance or homeowner insurance.