I like to consider myself as a good neighbor. I tell my kids to keep it down when they are hanging on the patio later in the evening. I lend an egg or a cup of sugar if needed. I pick up the newspaper sitting in the driveway on the other side of the street so as not to accumulate and announce to passersby that no one is at home. My kids fed and walked the dogs a neighbor when they are away for a day or two on a weekend or holiday. It was a great way for them to earn a little extra cash when they were too young to "real" jobs.
But because of my work in the claims, the last neighborhood business gives me a break. What if one of these dogs was cut to a child on one of these walks? And if the little woman walking in our neighborhood every day was frightened by a dog barking and fell trying to get out?
You may be wondering why I am afraid. In many areas, dog bite (and even "dog fright") incidents can result in significant jury verdicts. There are still some places where you and Fido get a "free bite", which means that if the dog has never shown hostile behavior toward humans and has never bitten in the past, you can not be responsible for the first incident involving this dog. However, in other areas, certain types of dogs are labeled as "dangerous" and just have a dangerous race, could lead to a liability even when the dog is on a leash, and sometimes even when the dog is in his own backyard. In one case, the dog in question was closed in his own backyard and the injured party on the other side of the fence!
homeowners policies provide liability coverage for claims involving animals, but it is important to realize the coverage may be limited or excluded by endorsement. Knowing that we had a few incidents on the block with dogs get a little out of hand, I can only worry that I may have neighbors who might not have liability insurance for injury or property damage caused by their animals of company. If this is the case, who is responsible for the animal when it is involved in a bite incident or fright might find the injured party looking to them for payment.
was because dog walking and dog-sitting are preferred jobs for school-age children, parents need to be sure that the dog owner involved has adequate cover in the event of incident. If this seems to be an easy summer job could turn into a legal nightmare for all concerned. Meanwhile, it is always a good idea to consult dog safety tips with your children.
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