Insurance coverage Pets Hurt in Crashes

 

Wednesday, Jun 24,2009, 10:03:35 AM   Click:

By Bob Stiles, Tribune-Review, Greensburg, Pa.

June 23 - Auto insurance is underway dogs.

And cats.

At least three major insurance companies now offer coverage for pets injured or killed in vehicle accidents and one passenger, according to the Insurance Information Institute. The coverage ranges from $ 500 to $ 1,000.

Progressive, the nation's fourth-largest insurer with 10.4 million policies, was the first to provide coverage, from 2007, the company says spokesperson Miriam DEITCH.

"If your dog or cat is injured in an accident, we will pay your vet bills up to $ 1,000," she says.

Farmers Insurance, with over 10 million auto customers in 20 states, including Pennsylvania, and self-insurance policy, with 4.6 million policyholders in 25 states, covering animals poorly in crashes .

Deitch said the progressive coverage of the animal, which was increased by $ 500 to $ 1,000 this year and includes a $ 1,000 death benefit, the standard is the collision. It applies in all states except North Carolina and New Hampshire, for legal reasons.

"We know what our customers love their dogs and cats," Deitch said. "We believe the same."

There are nearly 200 million licensed drivers across the country, according to the Federal Highway Administration. In 2006, there were 72 million dogs in the United States and 82 million cats, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association.

"This is a real niche market," said Loretta Worters of the Insurance Institute of New York. "People love their pets, so for some of these companies is a new problem to solve. "

She said pet hotels are rising, so more dogs and cats are on their way to the ride.

The animal serves as a cover for others as an incentive to retain or attract customers to competition in the insurance market.

Brian Miller, 28, a graphic designer who works in downtown Pittsburgh, said it intends to amend its car insurance Progressive, until he heard a commercial on the cover of the animal.

"This is what has kept me ... to be a loyal customer to them," said the resident of New Castle.

Miller said he likes to know his 3-year-old Sheltie has coverage.

"It gives us peace of mind that if something happens, they will be there to resolve this situation with our pet," he said.

Adam Goldfarb of the Humane Society of the United States $ 1000 probably does not cover an entire veterinary bill, but he still welcomed the coverage.

"I think it'sa good thing what they do ... and recognizing that pets are part of the family and need protection, too," he says.

Worters said companies that offer pet insurance in general or not pay the owner of the animal was at fault in the accident.

"One thing to keep in mind you do not have coverage if you drop the collision coverage on your auto insurance," she says. "Some reduction of coverage, after several years of 'money. If you drop the collision, there will be no coverage. "

Farmers Insurance provides coverage up to $ 600 for transporting passengers or animals injured or killed in a vehicle accident, the company said spokesman Jerry Davis.

"He came by our customers in terms of research," Davis said. "It's something they wanted, and to us it was common sense."

Farmers estimate that over half of its policyholders own dogs or cats.

Other major insurers, such as all-state and country do not offer coverage for pets directly. But the industry said people whose animals have been injured in a vehicle accident may file a claim under the property damage of their policy.

What is considered legitimate property varies from one company to the State to another and depends on the circumstances of the accident.

"We do not (supply cover) for the moment," said All-State spokesman Tracey King, she added, but this could change.

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