Liability Insurance Seattle, WA

What Should I Know About Dog Bite Insurance Claims?

Liability Insurance Seattle, WAAccording to the Insurance Information Institute, homeowner insures paid over $796.8 million as a result of 17,802 dog bite claims in 2019. We would like to briefly go over what happens if your dog were to bite someone and of course, how to prevent a dog bite claim.

What Would Happen If My Dog Bit Someone?

Homeowners’ or renter’s insurance policy includes liability coverage which will likely cover you for the damages. Keep in mind, some insurance carriers do not offer liability coverage for specific dog breeds. They also may offer some, but limit the amount of coverage available. Talk to your agent about what breeds may not be covered. If you are not covered, you would have to pay out of pocket for the damages caused by your dog. If your insurance provides coverage it is likely your insurance premium will increase at renewal or you could even be dropped from your insurance carrier.

How to Lower Your Risk for a Dog Bite Claim

Don’t ever assume your dog won’t bite someone.

You can have the sweetest dog on the planet, but you still can’t make the assumption that your dog won’t bite. Watching your dog’s behavior around strangers or even family and friends is crucial. Never leave your dog alone with children who might cause the dog to nip if harassed or injured.

If you adopt a pet, do your research

What should you know about your breed’s common behavior? Ask several questions with the adoption agency. Have they noticed specific behaviors you should be aware of? Understanding what triggers your dog’s aggression or what makes them uncomfortable can save you from a dog bite claim down the road.

Know The Signs Your Dog May Be Uncomfortable, Anxious or Aggressive

Dog bites are common in these scenarios. Dogs may react to such things as taking away their food or a toy or even touching them while eating.

  1. Aggressive
  • Stiff tail, intense stare, growling, hair up on back.
  1. Uncomfortable/anxious
  • Pulled back ears, tucked tail, no eye contact, lowered head or body

Get some training

Whether you are a dog owner or someone who doesn’t own a dog, being around a dog with good behavior is ideal. Obedience training can benefit any dog.

Socialize Your Dog

When your dog is around other dogs and people, it can help them work through any anxieties they may feel.

Be Extra Aware Around Children

This goes back to our number one answer, don’t assume your dog will never bite. If your dog is around children they aren’t familiar with, watch for signs of your dog being uncomfortable.

Get Your Pet Spayed or Neutered

This can help with a dog’s aggression.

Being a dog owner can bring so much happiness into your life. Use these tips to worry less about your dog biting a loved one or a stranger. For questions about your home or renters insurance policy and what coverages are available for dogs, contact us! We can go over your current policy or even find you a different insurance carrier who may be a more ideal fit for pet ownership.

How to Update your Home — Without Spending Thousands

line of paint cans
It doesn’t take a massive remodel, or a big budget, to make your house feel a little more like home to you. Inside or out, small improvements can make a significant difference — and whether you’re handy or not, you can handle most of them yourself.
Don’t believe it? Just check out our list of ideas below, from various home-improvement sites and authorities such as “This Old House.” And some of them won’t even cost you a thing aside from time and effort.
Inside
  • Paint something, anything: Whether you want a new color, or just a fresh coat, new paint can work wonders inside your home — and don’t think you have to limit yourself to the walls! You can paint your kitchen’s backsplash for a new look, or even old vinyl flooring to make it look like stone tile.
  • Dress up your old furniture: That couch has seen better days, but instead of taking it to the dump, give it new life with a slipcover — or have the whole thing reupholstered. You’ll be surprised at the difference it makes.
  • Change up your rugs: Area rugs are a great way to add color throughout your home. Replace old ones with new colors and patterns, or put a few down in new places. You could even buy extras in different styles and swap them out regularly for a fresh look.
  • Light things up: Installing LED lighting strips under your cabinets isn’t expensive, and they provide more than light — they can give your kitchen a polished, upscale feel. Another option: Replace lamps (or even just lamp shades) or overhead lighting to change the look of a room dramatically.
  • Switch out those switch covers: Have basic or cheap-looking covers surrounding light switches and power outlets? This is one of the easiest updates you can make — new covers will give you a real bang for your buck in terms of visual impact.
  • Don’t spend a thing: For a truly different feel, rearrange the furniture in a room; it’s free and effective. And if you’ve got clutter around the house (and who doesn’t?), simply putting things away can make a big difference.
Outside
  • More paint, please: No, you don’t have to paint your entire exterior to have an impact. You can touch up trim, paint or stain fences and decks, and for maximum impact, repaint your doors! A bright new look for your front door can really make things pop.
  • Add plants: No room for a garden? Don’t want to dig up the yard? No problem! Adding container plants on your porch or deck is a great way to enhance your home’s appearance. They don’t cost much and can be swapped out easily, too.
  • Go by the numbers: When’s the last time you looked at your house numbers? If they’re worn or dated, this is an easy and inexpensive fix.
  • Knock knock: A fancy (or even not-so-fancy) door-knocker can really dress up your front door. An updated doorbell can be a nice touch, too.
Tackling just one or two of these easy updates likely will leave you wondering why you waited so long! And most of them can be done for well under $100 — but we won’t tell your guests if you don’t.

Reposted with permission from the original author, Safeco Insurance®.

Top image by Flickr user Phil Roeder used under Creative Commons Attribution-Sharealike 2.0 license. Image cropped and modified from original.

7 Facts About Teachers That Might Surprise You

teacher standing in front of a classroom

“What really makes a teacher is love … for it is love that transforms the social duty of the educator into the higher consciousness of a mission.”
Almost everyone has a story about a teacher who inspired them—the one who made learning fun, ignited a passion for a specific topic, or even pushed students hard to soar beyond expectations.
Those are the teachers we remember; their legacies live on in the professional and personal achievements of those who passed through their classrooms. And they can still inspire, long after the last class.
In honor of Teacher Appreciation Week, we thought it would be fun to share a few interesting things we’ve learned about teachers and their dedication—because as any good teacher will tell you, learning is a lifelong journey.
  1. There are more than 3 million teachers in the U.S. Public schools have a total of about 3.2 million full-time equivalent teachers, according to federal statistics. Sounds like a lot, until you consider that there are approximately 51 million K-12 students to teach
  2. The vast majority of teachers are women. The fact that many teachers are women probably isn’t a surprise, but the percentage might be larger than you think: It’s nearly 77%. And more than 54% of principals are women, too.
  3. They probably work more than you realize—and not only in the classroom. We’re all envious of the summer vacations most teachers get, but according to surveys, teachers work an average of 50 hours a week. And they might not have a summer vacation at all: About 30% of them have second jobs.
  4. When they’re not teaching, many teachers are taking classes of their own. Nearly 60% of teachers have a postgraduate degree—in order to advance their careers, additional education usually is required. And unlike training in the corporate world, this is done on the teachers’ own time (and often on their own dime).
  5. They spend their own money in the classroom. When teachers don’t have enough supplies, or they want to provide their students with more, almost all of them (94%) dig into their own pockets. The average cost for teacher-funded supplies? About $500 annually. That’s not pocket change, especially when you consider that teacher salaries average about $55,000 nationally.
  6. Frequently, that support goes way beyond school supplies. More than 65% of teachers in one survey said they had paid for food or covered the cost of field trips for students in need. And 33% have purchased coats, gloves, or other winter clothing for kids in their classes. Clearly, they’re dedicated to more than just education—they want to ensure the well-being of their students.
  7. The best gift isn’t a red apple. Despite the classic image of an apple on the desk at the front of the room, teachers say there are better ways to show your appreciation. Try a gift card for a coffee shop, or to an office-supply store to help with their classroom expenses. If you’re one of the 88% of people who say a teacher has had a significant positive impact on your life, though, the most meaningful thing of all might simply be a heartfelt note saying, “Thank you for doing what you do.”

Reposted with permission from the original author, Safeco Insurance®.

Top image by Unsplash user NeONBRAND used under Creative Commons Attribution-Sharealike 2.0 license. Image cropped and modified from original.