Can home insurance companies completely deny you because you have a dog that attacked someone at one point?
I'm going to try to keep this short.. just know that, this is for my dog and I'm trying to save him… he's a 10 year old Akita.
A year ago, our family dog bit someone. They sued for an insane amount of money, but it wasn't our fault completely, so our home insurance and their health insurance settled out of court for a lot less. Still, the settlement was expensive, and our home insurance didn't like covering a 6-digit figure claim because of the dog so they dropped us.
Since then, all home insurance companies don't want to cover us, "even if we don't have a dog", this information is by my father who doesn't like the dog already.
There is only one house insurance that will cover us, according to my father, but they will only cover us if we don't have a dog, and even then they will charge 4 times as much.
I'm not old enough to completely understand how insurance and claims and contracts work, but I'm just trying to save my dog, because my father is going to put him to sleep by the end of this month. I just need a good starting point or phone numbers that could maybe discredit what my father has been saying, or anything that could help. We live in Southern California. Apparently Akitas are listed as vicious, but at the age of 10, he's old enough to be mellow, but still too young to put to sleep. Any help would be appreciated.
Thank you all very much for the quick responses, although not the greatest news :-\
I guess I've just heard from others that insurance companies can offer a liability waiver, sort of like car insurance companies do. In that way, owners and insurance companies agree that the animal will not be covered.
He's a nice dog, we refuse to put him to sleep, worst case scenario is that he will live with someone else. Thank you all again.
Sorry but yes they can justifiably deny coverage to you due to the previous bite. He now has a ''history". He's also considered one of the ''potentially dangerous breeds'' by most insurance companies, so he now has two strikes against him. I know not fair I suffer the same problem with my pit/chow mix.
I have heard that insurance companies won't cover people with certain breeds of dogs due to the liability.
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Yes they can, not only if the dog bit someone but if you own a certain breed of dog such as a pitbull.
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Sorry but yes they can justifiably deny coverage to you due to the previous bite. He now has a ''history". He's also considered one of the ''potentially dangerous breeds'' by most insurance companies, so he now has two strikes against him. I know not fair I suffer the same problem with my pit/chow mix.
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You will have that with any of the so called dangerous breed or any dog that has bitten. Sorry it sucks but they can do it
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Yep. Same as they have the right to discriminate against certain breeds, they feel if you have had a dog who bit someone, you're going to have another dog who's going to bite someone. Nobody ever said they were smart, just greedy. It may also have something to do with the fact that he was an Akita, too. They are discriminated against as well by homeowner's insurance.
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Unfortunately, that's a reality of life in the insurance business. You're okay until you get a claim to be paid out and then they never want to cover you again. It's a percentages game. And all claims are filed, so when you have one with a company everybody knows about it and you're on that black list. At best, you'll probably have to get rid of the dog, but then they figure you'll probably just get another one.
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Today’s Pet — Rats ‘n Snakes ‘n Sugar Gliders too
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An insurance company can refuse coverage for a number of reasons. Your family has a pretty big claim someone had to pay so it will be hard to find good, affordable insurance. Your dad should find an insurance broker, the services are free and they deal with a lot of different companies.
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I also live in souther california and yes this is true. Akitas are known to be visious and most insurance will not allow them on the policy.
I dont know your solution but your family will reach one.
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