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There are many things you can do to limit your liability as a dog owner

Dog owners in Iowa don’t realize the liability they put on themselves when they get a dog. There are more than 4.7 million dog bite cases each year. If your dog were to attack or bite someone, then you are liable as the owner of the dog, there are very limited exceptions, like if the person was trespassing. If you fail to have insurance and your dog bites someone, it could end up costing you thousands. Insuring your dog may not be as simple as it seems depending on what kind of dog you have. Insurance companies have stopped insuring certain breeds of dogs. Examples include:
• Pit bull
• Doberman
• Rottweiler
• Akita
• Chows
• Wolf Hybrid
These breeds are not necessarily “bad” dogs, but they have been known to attack more often than other breeds, making them a high risk dog to own and insure. Also, if you do have insurance and your dog bites, your insurance company will most likely demand that you pay a higher premium or might even remove your dog from the policy, because there is now a higher risk of your dog attacking again.

There are certain things you can do to limit your liability as a dog owner, for example, before you even decide what kind of dog you are going to get, you should do some research on the breed you are interested in to determine what kind of breed will fit in with your family. If you fail to tell your homeowner’s insurer that you have a dog you are taking a huge risk, because you may not be covered under your insurance policy if your dog bites someone. In 2007, the average cost of a dog bite claim was $24,511. Can you afford to not be insured?

A lot of people argue that a dog’s behavior reflects upon how it was raised and taken care of by its owner. You should do everything you can for your dog to make sure it understands what kind of behavior is acceptable and what is not. This can be done through training, it may take time, but in the long run it will protect you and your family. Having your dog spayed or neutered also helps reduce the chance of your dog biting someone. If your dog seems to repeatedly snap or aggressively chase after people there might be a real problem, most likely it’s not just being protective, but needs some sort of training whether it’s done by you or with the help of a trainer.

If you take precautions such as never leaving your dog alone with a small child or a stranger you can save yourself thousands of dollars and prevent an accident. You should also use a leash when taking your dog for a walk; chances are you will see quite a few people and even other dogs while you are walking. Having your dog on a leash will help prevent a bite as well. It is a wise idea to take the time and money and invest in putting a fence in your yard to keep your dog away from neighbors or passerby’s when you are not around.

If you or someone you know has been bitten by a dog our attorneys at Walker, Billingsley & Bair are here to help answer your questions. If you would like to learn more about your dog bite claim we are offering a new FREE Book that reveals: ? 3 Ways to Avoid an Attack ? 8 Things to do if Bitten or Attacked ? 6 Things to Know Before Talking to the Insurance Adjuster or Hiring an Attorney and much, much more. To learn how to avoid a dog bite or costly mistakes Call Now (800)-707-2552, ext. 813 (Recorded Consumer Awareness Message) or go to www.DogBiteBook.com.

Why offer a Free Book? For more than 11 years Iowa Injury Attorney Corey Walker has represented hundreds of injured Iowans throughout the state (including Des Moines, Newton, Iowa City, Cedar Rapids, Davenport, Council Bluffs, Waterloo, etc.) He has seen too many people make mistakes before they had the “right” information resulting in them losing thousands of dollars. Whether you or a loved one have been bitten by a dog or are just around dogs this book is available to you. Finally, you can learn about dog bites in the comfort of your own home with no risk or obligation.