British pet owners without adequate pet insurance are at risk of having to face big legal bills if their dogs cause accidents or property damage.
And with almost half of Britons saying they will not hesitate to take legal action when injured by someone else's dog, this is a worrying state of affairs.
Pet insurance provider MORE TH>N estimates that over 500,000 dog owners are at risk because 83 per cent go without pet insurance that will cover costs in case of legal action being taken against them.
"Unlike cats which are seen as being free spirits, dogs are legally the owner’s responsibility," noted David Pitt, head of insurance at MORE TH>N.
"Therefore a court could decide the owner is responsible if their dog causes any accident or injury – ranging from a car accident to biting the postman! In today’s litigious society this can be a real issue, which is why we have now doubled our Third Party Liability cover," he said.
The pet insurance provider doubled the third party liability cover it offers from £1 million to £2 million.
Mr Pitt said that even though this seems like a lot of money, pet owners should realise how "extremely expensive" legal fees could be.
This third party claim cover includes cover for costs & expenses in defending a claim against the dog owner in court, as well as representation by either a solicitor or barrister at any inquest. A fully qualified in-house legal team will also provide extensive legal advice and expertise.
Pet insurance should cover legal bills
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Pet insurance should cover legal bills
Mon, 01 Aug 2005
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