Roughly 4.7 million people are bitten by dogs each year according to the Center for Disease Control. Because of the staggering demand on homeowners insurance, a growing number of states and municipalities pass laws that do everything from create dangerous dog registries to outright banning of certain dog breeds. Legislators are trying to determine how those laws can be enforced without impinging on the rights of dog owners.
In the meantime, when a dog has attacked someone, there are certain legal rights to which that person is entitled. Whether or not the damages are covered by the pet owner’s homeowners insurance is another issue.