Did you know that you can be held liable if your dog bites someone?  It’s true.  Dog owners are often sued because of their pets’ behavior.  In fact, each state has its own law concerning owner responsibility for dog bites.  The level of liability ranges from “Strict Liability,” in which you are automatically held liable regardless of the circumstances, to a “One Bite Rule,” where owners may get a break for their dog’s first offense.    
 
In the insurance world, the Personal Liability limit on your Home or Renters policy will defend you against claims of bodily injury from dog bites.  Because of this loss exposure, insurance companies ask about the breed of dog in your home and often will exclude coverage based on the breed’s reputation.    
 
What are the Dog Owner Liability laws in your state?  Here’s a handy reference guide to the Dog Bite Liability laws in each state (thanks to the Independent Agents & Brokers of America).
 
If you have questions, simply reply to this email or contact us.

​​​Due to the impact of COVID-19, the US Postal Service is experiencing unprecedented volume increases and limited employee availability. As a result, important insurance documents, including bills and payments by check could be delayed. Mail delays have resulted in the cancellation or non-renewal of insurance policies for non-payment. This can happen because bills are not being delivered in a timely manner and vice versa for the payments. Most of the time insurance agency are willing to work with clients to address the late payment resulting from the mail delays. Below are a few steps you are able to take to protect yourself.
 

1. Know when your payments are due: It would be best to call your insurance agent as soon as possible if you have not received your bill or not sure when your payment is due or how much you are obligated to pay. Also find out when your payments are due, how much you must pay, and where/how payments can be made. Please make sure that when you make that phone call that you keep a record of the date and time you made the call, the information you were/are given, and the name of the person you spoke with. 
   
   
2. Sign up for electronic notices and billing if your insurance agency allows it: Get in contact with your insurer to see if you can sign up for an online receipt of notices and bills so you do not have to wait on the mail. Some insurance agencies will be able to provide both a paper and online notices and bills if you ask them to.
   
   
3. Pay online, by phone or in person if available: Many insurance agency and agencies have many electronic payment methods available to you. They may be able to accept they payments by credit cards or debit cards over the phone or their website or and app if they have one. Please remember to never give out your personal information, including policy information or financial information with someone who calls you! If you were able to make an electronic payment, make sure that your write down confirmation numbers, print your receipts or take a screen shot of the payment confirmation as evidence of your payment.
   
   
4. Consider setting up automatic payments from your bank account: If you are one to pay your insurance by recurring payments, it would be best if you were able to talk to your bank and insurance agency about how to set up automatic payments from your bank account. Some places don’t have this option, but it would be worth a phone call to see if it is a possibility.  
   
   
5. Make sure you have proof of payment/mailing: If none of the options above work for you and you must use the U.S. Postal Services to make payments, allow additional time in mailing and protect yourself by using the priority mail service or by obtaining proof of mailing (i.e., a receipt). Proof of mailing costs around $1.50. If you need more information about certificates of mail can be found here: https://faq.usps.com/s/article/Certificate-of-Mailing-The-Basics.