BEST DOGS FOR HOME INSURANCE

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I received information from Travelers Insurance today about dogs.  They say that the top five dogs to own (for insurance purposes) are:

• Shih Tzu
• Poodle
• Dachshund
• Bulldog
• Boxer

Here are some additional dog facts:

An American has a one in fifty change of being bitten by a dog each year.
Approx. 800,000 dog bite victims (1 in every 6) require medical attention annually in the US.
Industry-wide, over 1/3 of homeowners's liability claims come from dog bites
The average cost of a dog bite claim was $24,461 in 2008

Your insurance agent should remember to ask about dogs or pets in the household and review your insurance company's list of ineligible breeds in their eligibility guidelines.

You can read more about risk management with dogs in a previous posting, TAKE STEPS TO PREVENT DOG BITES.

EXERCISE CAUTION WITH YOUR ATV

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Over 16 million Americans enjoy the experience of operating an all-terrain vehicle (ATV). Unfortunately, approximately 600 people die each year and nearly 122,000 are injured each year due to ATV accidents. Injuries and accidents are particularly common for children under age 16. If you own an ATV or operate one, you should advise your insurance agent accordingly to verify that you have proper liability and physical damage coverage in place. In addition, the following safety tips should be followed.

• Children should be allowed to operate only age-appropriate or "youth" ATVs.  Most youth ATV-related deaths and injuries occur while operating "adult" ATVs.  No child under age 6 should ever be allowed to ride or operate an ATV.
  
• Most ATVs are designed for only one person, so children should not take on passengers or be passengers on their parents' ATV.
  
• ATVs should not be driven on paved roads. Because of how they are designed, ATVs are difficult to control on paved roads. Collisions with other vehicles on the road can prove fatal.
  
• ATV operators should never drive an ATV without a helmet. Wearing a certified motorcycle helmet can dramatically decrease the chances of a head injury while operating the ATV.
  
• All operators should complete a "hands on" ATV training course.  A single class is estimated to be equal to one year of experience. Reputable ATV dealers often provide these classes free of charge to their customers.

HELPING TEENAGE DRIVERS

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There are several things that parents can do to help keep their teenagers safe behind the wheel. We'd like to highlight a few of them.

• Coach your Son or Daughter. You should "coach" your teenage driver. Talk openly and frankly with him or her in order to determine his or her attitude about being behind the wheel. Work with your teen to set ground rules, such as the number of people allowed in the car, where the car may be taken, and curfew.
• Utilize Emergency Road Service. If you do not belong to a motor club, you should consider joining one that provides 24-hour emergency road service. That way, your teenager may call for help at any time if they need gas, need a jump-start, are locked out, or need a tire changed. You can also arrange with the motor club to provide service for your teen if they are in a friend's car.
• Have an Open Discussion about Driving under the Influence. While no one wants to think about the possibility of their teenager drinking and driving--or being in a car with an impaired friend at the wheel--we need to be realistic. History has shown that teenagers will experiment with alcohol. You should make it clear to your teen that driving after drinking is not acceptable. However, if they ever do drink, or are in a car with someone else who is impaired, make it clear to your teen that he or she can call you at any time of the day or night and that you will come to get them--no questions asked.

Two other effective, though more costly, things that can be done are:

1. Install a "Governor." Many vehicles--school buses and certain types of delivery vehicles are good examples--have a "governor" installed in them that restricts the amount of fuel that can be injected, thus preventing the vehicle from being driven over a certain speed. A governor in your teen's car may help keep him or her within the speed limits.
2. Install a Global Positioning System (GPS) in your car. You can program it to let you know where your teenager is driving at any time. With the GPS, you can set a radius of operation and the GPS will notify you if your teen has taken the car outside of that radius. It can even alert you when the speed limit is being exceeded. Finally, a GPS can notify you if the car is being kept out past an agreed upon curfew. We realize that this may seem like a rather extreme measure. Use of a GPS may best serve those parents who have a reason to mistrust their teenager.

When your son or daughter gets a driver's license, come into our office so we can review such options with both of you. It is important for you--and your son or daughter--to remember that, yes, your auto insurance rates will go up, but they will come down after a couple years of driving experience. However, the rates will really go up if your teenager has tickets or gets into accidents.

TAKE STEPS TO PREVENT DOG BITES

Did you know that dog bites cause nearly 800,000 injuries requiring immediate medical care in the United States each year? This statistic is based on a study conducted by the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control. If your dog bites someone, you can be held legally liable. (Fortunately, this loss is normally covered by your homeowners policy.) However, there are steps you can take to reduce or prevent dog bites, including the following.

1. Carefully consider dog breeds prior to selecting a pet. Some breeds have worse reputations than others, and a veterinarian can help you decide which breeds might best fit your lifestyle. Note that some insurers will not insure you for homeowners insurance if you have a breed that is viewed as more dangerous than others, such as a Pit Bull.
2. Spay or neuter the animal as this often decreases the aggressive tendencies of dogs.
3. Seek a veterinarian’s advice quickly if your dog becomes aggressive.
4. Socialize your dog from an early age to encourage appropriate behavior.
5. Never leave dogs alone with small children.
6. Avoid aggressive games with puppies and dogs, such as tug-of-war.
7. Do not place your dog in situations where he or she can be teased or feel threatened.
8. Train your dog to obey commands.
   

There is one other loss exposure concerning dogs you should consider. You may face liability claims if your dog gets out into the road and causes or contributes to an auto accident. Homeowners can be sued for violation of leash ordinances by allowing their dog to “run at large.” Use a well-maintained and sturdy fence or other safeguards to reduce this exposure.