Baltimore Personal Injury Lawyers: Homeowners Insurance and Dog Bites

In 2014, Maryland lawmakers elected to do away with laws that impose different liability standards on dog owners based on what breed of dog they own. The decision was supported by animal welfare groups and safety advocates who say the new law provides more balanced protection for victims of dog bites and the owners of dogs. However, many homeowners’ insurance companies continue to deny coverage to households with certain breeds of dogs. Sadly, this can leave dog bite victims at risk of not being able to recover adequate compensation for medical bills, lost wages or permanent disfigurement and scarring. In 2013, dog bite claims accounted for more than one third of all homeowners’ insurance liability claims, costing insurance companies approximately $490 million. The average payout for dog bite claims is roughly $30,000, but actual costs can be much higher. In a 2011 case, a Washington State Superior Court jury awarded a woman attacked by two neighborhood pit bulls $2.2 million for
http://www.lthlaw.com/baltimore-personal-injury-lawyers-homeowners-insurance-and-dog-bites/