A recent change in Farmers Insurance coverage may come as a surprise to many dog owners in California – the insurance company is no longer providing liability coverage for dog bite claims involving pit bulls, rottweilers or wolf hybrids. If you have suffered injuries in a dog bite accident in Oklahoma City, or elsewhere in …
A recent change in Farmers Insurance coverage may come as a surprise to many dog owners in California – the insurance company is no longer providing liability coverage for dog bite claims involving pit bulls, rottweilers or wolf hybrids. If you have suffered injuries in a dog bite accident in Oklahoma City, or elsewhere in Oklahoma, your first course of action, after seeking medical attention, should be to enlist the help of our qualified attorneys at Oklahoma Legal Center. One of the most important steps in filing a dog bite claim and pursuing compensation for your injuries and medical expenses is determining liability. With the help of our reputable lawyers, you can hold the dog owner liable for your dog bite injuries and related costs, even if the dog owner is no longer covered by his or her homeowner’s insurance.
Three Most Dangerous Dog Breeds
While some Farmers Insurance carriers are outraged by these policy changes, claiming that the insurance company is discriminating against them and their dogs, the chief communications officer for Farmers, Erin Freeman, argued that the company is not canceling policies. Instead, since mid-January, Farmers agents have been requiring customers to sign an exclusion waiver of liability for dog bite accidents. Without the signature, the Farmers Insurance policy will not be renewed. “[Pit bulls, rottweilers and wolf hybrids] accounted for 25% of dog bite claims,” Freeman said in a statement,” In addition, these breeds cause more harm when they attack than any other breed.” According to Freeman, Farmers is one of the last insurance companies to make this policy change.
Homeowner Liability Claims for Dog Bites
The Insurance Information Institute estimates that up to one-third of homeowner liability claims are for dog attacks. Furthermore, dog-bite claims paid out by all insurance companies in 2011 totaled a whopping $92.7 million for 2,400 claims in California alone, which explains why insurance companies are anxious to make policy changes excluding coverage for these particular claims. In addition, a recent list compiled by Forbes names pit bulls and rottweilers as the two riskiest dogs to own when it comes to dog attacks. While any dog can be involved in a dog bite accident at any time, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) names pit bulls, rottweilers and wolf hybrids in its list of the top ten most dangerous dog breeds.
Consult Our Knowledgeable Attorneys Today
According to the CDC, roughly 4.5 million Americans are attacked by dangerous dogs every year, and in 60% of these dog bite cases, the victim is a child. If you have sustained serious injuries in a dog bite accident in Oklahoma, or if you lost a loved one in a fatal dog attack, consult our reputable lawyers at Oklahoma Legal Center today. Our law firm is located in Oklahoma City, and our attorneys have extensive experience protecting the legal rights of dog bite victims throughout the state. With our lawyers on your side, you can pursue the financial compensation you deserve for your injuries and medical bills, and protect yourself and your family from further harm.