Dog Bites
 
     It has been reported by the Centers for Disease Control that approximately 4.7 million people are bitten by dogs each year. Personal injury claims arising from these types of incidents are normally covered by a homeowner's or renter's insurance policy.

     Laws governing when a dog owner is liable for the actions of his or
her dog vary from state to state. Many states have a strict liability law that holds the owner liable without fault. All that needs to be proven, assuming the dog was not provoked, is that the dog attacked and the victim was injured.    Other states have higher standards, or thresholds,
before the dog owner can become liable. In these states, the courts will
determine if the owner had prior knowledge of the animal's vicious
propensities. In these cases, knowledge of the dog's previous behavior is important. In some states, certain breeds of dogs are assumed to have aggressive tendencies. Where a locality has a leash law, if a dog attacks while not on a leash, a victim will have a very strong case against the owner.