Vent thread

Pit bulls may pose costly insurance issues
There’s no question that dogs can cause expensive problems. More than one-third of home insurance liability claim payouts in 2016 involved dog-related injuries, and the average settlement for dog bite claims was over $33,230, according to the Insurance Information Institute.

Opponents of dog-breed discrimination point to the fact that any dog, not just a pit bull, is capable of biting if threatened. But your insurer may still see too much risk, fearing that a single pit bull attack could lead to especially costly injuries due to the breed’s size and strength.

How insurance companies restrict pit bull owners
Certain companies, such as Esurance, won’t sell you coverage if you report owning a pit bull. In some cases, insurers will sell you a policy but stipulate that claims involving your dog won’t be covered.

Others may be willing to insure homes with pit bulls but at a higher cost. The exact price increase is hard to pinpoint because every company has its own approach to selling insurance to dog owners.

Note, however, that in Michigan and Pennsylvania insurers aren’t allowed to deny or cancel liability coverage, which pays for others’ injuries caused by your dog, solely based on breed.