Dog bite liability

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there are approximately 4.7 million dog bites per year. These bites cost the property/casualty insurance industry roughly $317.2 million in 2005.

Homeowners and renters insurance policies typically cover dog bite liability. The following tips can help reduce the chances of your dog biting someone:

1. Have your dog spayed or neutered. These procedures will greatly reduce the likelihood that the dog will bite.
2. Socialize your dog so that it knows how to act with other people and animals.
3. Play non-aggressive games with your dog such as "go fetch." Playing aggressive games like "tug-of-war" can encourage inappropriate behavior.
4. Avoid exposing your dog to situations in which you are unsure what the dog’s response will be.

Insurers may charge more for certain breeds of dogs. The following breeds or types of dog were responsible for the greatest number of dog bite-related fatalities over the 20-year period from 1979 to 1998, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ( http://www.cdc.gov ). The breeds are listed in declining order of fatalities:

• "Pit Bull"
• Rottweiler
• German Shepherd Dog
• "Husky"
• Malamute
• Doberman Pinscher
• Chow Chow
• Great Dane
• Saint Bernard

Lightning Safety

Damage caused by lightning, such as fire, is covered by standard homeowners and business insurance policies. Some home and business insurance policies provide coverage for power surges that are the direct result of lightning striking a home or business. There is also coverage for lightning damage under the comprehensive portion of an auto insurance policy. With the explosion in the number and value of consumer electronics in homes, such as flat screen TVs, home entertainment centers, multiple computers, gaming systems and other expensive devices, it is more important than ever to take precautions.

Preventing losses
The I.I.I. offers the following tips to protect homes and businesses against power surges and lightning strikes:

1. Install a lightning protection system. A lightning protection system supplies structural protection by providing a specified path on which lightning can travel. When a building is equipped with a lightning protection system, the destructive power of the lightning strike is directed safely into the ground, leaving the structure and its contents undamaged. The system includes a lightning rod or air terminals at the top of the house that can be disguised to look like a weather vane and wires to carry the current down to grounding rods at the bottom of the house. According to the Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS), the lightning protection system needs to be securely anchored to the roof; otherwise it may whip around in a storm and damage the building. So make sure to have a licensed electrician install your lightning rod and protection system.
2. Use surge protectors. Today’s sensitive electronic equipment is particularly vulnerable to lightning. To assure the highest level of protection, UL-listed surge arrestors should be installed on electrical service panels. Installations typically include surge arrestors for the main electric panel, as well as incoming phone, cable, satellite and data lines. Surge arrestors protect against damaging electrical surges that can enter a structure via power transmission lines. By filtering and dissipating the harmful surges, arrestors prevent electrical fires and protect against electrical discharges that can damage a building's electrical system, computers, appliances and other systems. UL-listed transient voltage surge suppressors can also be installed to protect specific pieces of electronic equipment. Keep in mind that power strips offer little protection from electrical power surges.
3. Unplug expensive electronic equipment. As an added precaution, unplug expensive electronic equipment such as TVs, computers and the like if you know a storm is approaching.

HOMEOWNERS TIPS

HOMEOWNERS TIPS

• Lightning Safety
• Dog bite liability
• Surviving severe cold weather
• Grilling safety
• Home security
• Lawnmower safety
• Pool safety
• Protecting your house from mold
• Protecting your bike from theft
• Remodeling your home
• Winter weather preparation