Homeowner's Insurance Recommendations and "bad dogs"

[twingles]

As far as dogs go, there is a "one bite rule" - you get a free pass for your dog until he bites someone - after that you will most likely get dropped and you won't be able to get insurance anywhere else.

There is a legal reason for this - once your dog bites someone, you KNOW he is a risk - he's probably going to do it again (speaking generally here, not about YOUR dog in particular) - therefore, it's automatic that if he bites someone again, the victim can collect money from your liability insurer. They don't have to prove anything, and you do not have any defense (ie, the dog was provoked). I believe it is called "negligence per se" - that such a condition exists that any reasonable person would know that someone will get hurt - similar to the "attractive nuisance" thing with a swimming pool.

Hope that helps!

[twingles]

P.S. State Farm is still writing on Long Island, but not within a certain distance of ANY body of water, and it's a static distance - it doesn't matter if you are right on the beach or up on a bluff - if you are within "x" distance you won't get a policy. I believe it's 1000 feet but don't hold me to that.

[jpg71]

Originally Posted by twingles

P.S. State Farm is still writing on Long Island, but not within a certain distance of ANY body of water, and it's a static distance - it doesn't matter if you are right on the beach or up on a bluff - if you are within "x" distance you won't get a policy. I believe it's 1000 feet but don't hold me to that.

Good point, my property is about 5000 ft from the sound so perhaps that is why I was able to get them to cover me.

[totallyfrazzled]

I believe State Farm's redzone (minimum distance) is 2500 feet from the water. At least it was last year when we were canvassing all the insurance companies for their guidelines.

State Farm was the one writing the "closest to water"; most other companies are using either a 1- or 2-mile minimum. But I think State Farm has a cap on the home value they will accept if it is that close (they don't want to insure expensive homes that close to the water).

I think Liberty Mutual will write a policy if it's at least 1 mile (instead of 2 miles which is their normal redzone now) from the water IF the replacement value of the house comes to less than 500K. But if it's more than 500K they won't write anything closer than 2 miles.

[max641]

Thanks to everyone for their comments. State Farm is writing very selectively but I think they're going to write for me.