Abilene Insurance Companies Still Covering Animal Bites
By: Gina Benitez and Stetson Samuel
Updated: May 23, 2012
Liability payouts for dog bites have risen across the nation, causing some insurance companies to rewrite their policies. Many of them are cutting out coverage to dog bites all together.
That trend hasn't picked up at most Abilene insurance offices. The liability payouts were due mostly to increased medical costs, not necessarily the increase in bites.
CBS in Abilene represents a number of national insurance agencies. Those agencies have not changed their polices.
"It's always possible that companies will copycat what other carriers are doing however we represent some of the largest companies in the nation and i really don't expect that they will do that. " Judy Lewis CBS Insurance
Lewis thinks companies may start to tighten up in the underwriting policies, but not fully follow suit.
According to the city, there have been reports of animal bites so far this year and quite a few in years past.
In 2011, Abilene saw 252 bites, up from 2010 where there were 222 bites. In 2012, there have been 124 recorded animal bites.
That trend hasn't picked up at most Abilene insurance offices. The liability payouts were due mostly to increased medical costs, not necessarily the increase in bites.
CBS in Abilene represents a number of national insurance agencies. Those agencies have not changed their polices.
"It's always possible that companies will copycat what other carriers are doing however we represent some of the largest companies in the nation and i really don't expect that they will do that. " Judy Lewis CBS Insurance
Lewis thinks companies may start to tighten up in the underwriting policies, but not fully follow suit.
According to the city, there have been reports of animal bites so far this year and quite a few in years past.
In 2011, Abilene saw 252 bites, up from 2010 where there were 222 bites. In 2012, there have been 124 recorded animal bites.
