An accidental bite, part 2

[Bailey's driver]

Some time ago I posted the story of a letter carrier who stuck her fingers into the mail slot in my door. She had a letter under her fingers so, from Corgi height it looked just like the mail always does. Bailey had been grabbing the mail for months. This was a new carrier. He bit right through one of her fingers.

The mail slot is now screwed shut. There is a mailbox on the outside of the house. Bailey loves people. If that woman had walked in the door and shoved her hand in his face he would be happy to see her. He already likes the other letter carriers, and they like him. It is impossible for this to happen again there is no mail slot.
One cannot open a door and get in without looking like a person to a dog.

Today my homeowners insurance was canceled due to unaceptable risk, dog with history of biting. I may have to go into a state risk pool. Banks don't hold mortgages of uninsured homes.

Everyone with a dog and a working mail slot is a higher risk than I am now that my mail slot is screwed closed.

I think I might bite the insurance man's finger.

[woogiebear]

Which finger are you going for? I'll get the next one over!

[Michael Romanos]

This is a classic case of a simple matter with a simple innocent explanation, getting completely out of hand (excuse the pun).

Insurance does not work that way in New Zealand even though we have some American owned insurance companies.

Perhaps you should take the case to the World Court or a similar international body. You could engage a law student ( at no cost or very little cost ie expenses only) to act for you and the student can treat the case as an exercise in gaining experience. If nothing else, this is a breech of human rights.

[Bailey's driver]

Originally Posted by Michael Romanos

This is a classic case of a simple matter with a simple innocent explanation, getting completely out of hand (excuse the pun).

Insurance does not work that way in New Zealand even though we have some American owned insurance companies.

Perhaps you should take the case to the World Court or a similar international body. You could engage a law student ( at no cost or very little cost ie expenses only) to act for you and the student can treat the case as an exercise in gaining experience. If nothing else, this is a breech of human rights.

I like puns.

Good suggestion. Thanks.

I have a good insurance expert working on it today. This morning his knowledege of the business was very impressive. I learned a couple of new things already.

This is not the final answer by any means, but at the moment the worst case scenario looks like I will still be able to have expensive insurance. My under $400 annual fee would go to over $1,000 and I would be insured for everything except dog bites. At least that' enough to satisfy the bank (I think).

I pay around $30 a month now. That would rise to about $83 a month if it was exactly $1000 a year. Not good, but my friend is going try and sell my policy to a company that will be less. There is a claim put in to my insurance company. It is not settled, at the moment I don't know for how much or from who. It could be the letter carrier or the Post Office. As time goes on I will learn more.

Grrr.

[Michael Romanos]

I am insured up to the hilt and my combined insurances ( two cars, house contents, property) amount to $1600 annually - and I pay on receipt of annual bills which fall due at different times of the year. Medical insurance is not necessary in NZ because there is still very strong Government (public) medical services available to all. But of course we do have private medical providers. WE don't need insurance cover in NZ for things like dog bites because we have another Government scheme for all which provides for free medical expenses due to accidents - and dog bites come under the umbrella of accidents. I currently have a sore knee (when I run) from past ligament and cartliage damage ( thanks to my rugby days) and the Government will take care of any medical expenses including GP and Specialists and physio visits, x-rays and any hospitalisation and operation and loss of income ( up to a max).

[Bailey's driver]

Originally Posted by Michael Romanos

I am insured up to the hilt and my combined insurances ( two cars, house contents, property) amount to $1600 annually - and I pay on receipt of annual bills which fall due at different times of the year. Medical insurance is not necessary in NZ because there is still very strong Government (public) medical services available to all. But of course we do have private medical providers. WE don't need insurance cover in NZ for things like dog bites because we have another Government scheme for all which provides for free medical expenses due to accidents - and dog bites come under the umbrella of accidents. I currently have a sore knee (when I run) from past ligament and cartliage damage ( thanks to my rugby days) and the Government will take care of any medical expenses including GP and Specialists and physio visits, x-rays and any hospitalisation and operation and loss of income ( up to a max).

Wow! Very different. It sounds great. Even some loss of income coverage.
If I add in my car insurance I pay about the same as you do. But about another $180 for medical insurance which does not cover a whole lot. The woman who was bit must have some medical insurance working for the post office here. I wish I knew what the claim was to my insurance company. It could be her insurance company looking for mine to pay for their loss.

And now I may have to pay another $600 or $800 a year and not be covered for another dog bite.

[Michael Romanos]

I wouldn't worry about the dog bite thing. What are the chances of any Corgi you ever have biting anyone human and of any dog biting you. Not likely to happen unless you are a mail deliverer! Mind you having just said that it is possible that some scumbag could provoke Bailey and other dogs you may have into the dog defending himself and then bring the weight of the law down upon you. You'll just have to sell up apart from your super special bike and shift to NZ. We already have one American living in NZ who is claiming refugee status, saying that if he is deported back to the USA, the FBI or CIA are unjustifiably out to get him and that he has already been subject to torture spread over 14 months by one of these law enforcers.

[Bailey's driver]

Originally Posted by Michael Romanos

I wouldn't worry about the dog bite thing. What are the chances of any Corgi you ever have biting anyone human and of any dog biting you. Not likely to happen unless you are a mail deliverer! Mind you having just said that it is possible that some scumbag could provoke Bailey and other dog you may have into the dog defending himself and then bring the weight of the law down upon you. You'll just have to sell up apart from your super special bike and shift to NZ. We already have one American living in NZ who is claiming refugee status, saying that if he is deported back to the USA, the FBI or CIA are unjustifiably out to get him and that he has already been subject to torture spread over 14 months by one of these law enforcers.

You're right ,it's extremely unlikely that he could be even forced to bite a person. Not impossible, but close. If it ever does happen, you get to see Bailey in person ! And you get to try Bailey's three wheel bike with Taylor.