Dealing with Insurance After a Dog Bite
Attorney Colin Scott fights for maximum compensation for dog bite victims
A dog bite can result in physical injuries and emotional distress, not to mention the medical bills and other expenses that follow. If you’ve been injured by a dog bite, you might wonder how insurance can help cover the damages.
An experienced Vancouver dog bite lawyer at The Scott Law Firm, PLLC can help you understand your legal rights and options for seeking compensation. Attorney Colin Scott understands how challenging and frustrating dog bite cases can be, especially when they involve a young child (one of the most common, and vulnerable, classes of individuals who are bitten dogs every year, along with the elderly and mail carriers).
How do I file an insurance claim for a dog bite?
Filing a personal injury claim for a dog bite depends on whether there is insurance of some kind to provide coverage for the loss. If you’re the victim of a dog bite or attack, understanding the process of making a claim can help avoid delays in processing such claims. Note that before making a claim with insurance, it is recommended that you first consult with an experienced personal injury attorney in your area who handles dog bite claims.
Document the incident
Take photos of any injuries (not only in the beginning but also during various stages of the healing process). Photos of the scene and offending dog may also be helpful. You should also know where the attack occurred, including the address, if available. The names and contact information for any witnesses who are present should also be obtained. You may also wish to contact your local Animal Control and report the attack – since they may perform their own internal investigation and provide the results to you (which sometimes will identify whether the dog’s owner has insurance to provide coverage for the attack).
Seek medical attention
For serious injuries, call 911 and get medical attention immediately. Even if the injury seems minor, it is important that you promptly see a healthcare provider. Dog bites can easily become infected and cause serious harm. Medical records will also play an important role during the insurance claim process. You want to document your injuries, not just in the beginning but throughout the healing process, and the insurance company will need these details to assess injuries and determine how much they are willing to pay out on the claim.
Notify the dog owner
If you’re the victim and you do not wish to hire a lawyer, inform the dog owner about the incident. Otherwise, it is recommended that you consult with a personal injury attorney who handles dog bite claims and have them get in touch with the dog’s owner.
Contact the dog owner’s insurance provider
Again, if you hire a personal injury attorney to represent you who handles dog bite cases, your attorney will take care of this step. If you do not have an attorney and do not wish to hire one, then you will need to contact the dog owner’s insurance provider and attempt to handle the claim on your own, which is seldom advisable.
Follow up with insurance and provide updates
After you hire an attorney, they will be in touch with the insurance provider and track the progress of your injuries and medical treatment. Your attorney may also be able to determine how much insurance coverage is available to compensate you for your losses (although this does not necessarily mean that is what your claim is worth).
Whose insurance covers dog bites?
When a dog bite occurs, the owner’s insurance is typically responsible for the victim’s expenses, but it’s important to understand how various insurance policies work.
Dog owner’s insurance
The dog owner may have homeowner’s insurance or renter’s insurance that provides coverage for the attack. Such coverage, if available, may be used to pay for damages related to the attack such as medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, etc.
Your health insurance
If you have private health insurance, your attorney may advise you to submit all bills through your own insurance. This is important for several reasons that are not discussed at length here, but you may wish to discuss with an experienced personal injury lawyer who is familiar with, and regularly handles, dog bite cases.
Uninsured dog owners
If the dog owner lacks insurance, you may still be able to pursue legal action against them, but the likelihood of them paying any judgment obtained is probably less than if there is insurance available. In this case, consulting with an attorney to explore other compensation options, such as suing the dog owner directly and seeking to recover their personal assets, may be necessary.
Does homeowner’s insurance cover a dog bite?
The answer is “maybe.” In many cases, home insurance – also called homeowner’s insurance – will cover dog bites or attacks, but you should consult with an experienced personal injury lawyer to help determine this. For example, there may be breed-specific exclusions in some policies where insurance companies refuse to cover certain breeds considered dangerous. Or there may not be any such exclusions. It really depends on the insurance policy and what it says, which varies from case to case.
In addition to the policy language, which should be reviewed together with an experienced personal injury lawyer, there is also a document referred to as the “declarations page” that will describe how much insurance money is available for the various types of coverages included on the policy. Many homeowner’s policies carry a minimum of $100,000 or $300,000 in liability coverage (and sometimes more) that may be available when the home owner’s dog attacks or bites someone.
If you do need to file a claim through homeowner’s insurance, be prepared to provide thorough documentation of the incident. Attorney Colin Scott can help you gather these documents. He knows how to leverage them, and can help build a strong case on your behalf.
Does renter’s insurance cover dog bites?
Maybe. Renter’s insurance may cover dog bites and attacks in a manner similar to homeowner’s insurance. However, not all renter’s insurance policies provide coverage for this type of loss. Therefore, you should consult with an attorney in your area who is experienced in handling dog bite insurance claims. Your attorney may also be able to identify the amount of coverage available on the renter’s policy. Your attorney can also review the policy and determine whether any restrictions or exclusions may apply.
Get the compensation you deserve after a dog bite in Vancouver
If you or a loved one has suffered a dog bite injury, attorney Colin Scott is ready to guide you through the legal process. He can help with dealing with insurance companies and ensure that you’re treated fairly. His goal is to help you get the maximum compensation you deserve.
At the Scott Law Firm, we work on a contingency fee basis. This means you don’t pay unless we win and recover money on your behalf. We are committed to making sure you have the best representation, and we offer free consultations to discuss your case and answer any questions you may have.
To find out how attorney Colin Scott can help you, contact us today to set up a free consultation. Our law firm serves clients in Vancouver and throughout Southwest Washington.