Ask the insurance pros. They’ll verify the truth that dog owners are hesitant to believe: dog bites really are more commonplace than you may believe. Dog bites and related injuries and damages, in fact, were the reason for beyond $600 million insurance payouts in 2016.

Obviously, any homeowner with a dog should let his or her insurance provider know of the pet’s existence.

Bear in mind that in the event of a minor dog incident – like a car accident where there are negligible damages – it may make sense to pay out of pocket for medical treatment instead of contacting your insurance company. Nonetheless, if it involves breaching the terms on your policy, there may be a problem with that:

• Should your dog bite another party following an incident that went unreported, you might find yourself with a denied claim
  
  
• Should you pay out of pocket for a related injury, the victim may sue you further on in time when it is too late to file a claim to receive vital legal fee and medical bill compensation.  

Insurance experts cite the figure of $33,000 as the approximate average amount paid to homeowners in response to a related dog bite claim. If you are left without insurance help, that figure could be even greater so it’s best to get professional advice on how to react following any dog related damage from an independent insurance agent who is experienced in all types of scenarios and associated circumstances.

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Summary: Help - my dog bit a passerby! Do I forward the info to my insurance provider?