While waiting for Hurricane Irma to arrive in Valdosta, Bryan and Steve discusses the pest control industry’s top general liability claims involving animals.
Welcome to the Arthropodcast where we share pest control industry related topics, essentially providing you with your pest control info on the go. I’m Steve Jackson and with me is my friend Bryan Baird. Our set-up is a little confusing. One of us sounds like he’s from Georgia, but the other actually lives there. My wife is in the military, so we move from state to state, country to country.
Bryan, how’s Valdosta this time of the year?
Last week, I promised I’d cover a new study that talked about termite siblings and the early early stages of colony development, but I’m going to postpone covering it. There are a few things that I need help with, so I’d like to bring in one of the scientists responsible for the study. This might take a little while, the study was conducted in FL and we all know what happening there.
The AGCS, which is a global insurance company, analyzed more than 1,800 animal-related liability insurance claims that occurred between 2011 and 2016.
The top cause of such claims was deer incidents (58%, or 1,090 claims) which largely involve collisions with vehicles, which caused losses on average in excess of ($4,225) over this period. In many locations in the US, such accidents are a major concern that may lead to vehicle debilitation, property damage, bodily injuries or even passenger deaths. The peak period is during the rutting season, usually in October and November.
Bed bug bites/infestation (21%, or 397 total claims) was the second top cause of animal-related liability claims according to the AGCS study,
The number of bed bug incidents is on the rise.
Bedbug Registry, the nationwide database of bed bug reports and complaints, reports bed bug sightings in New York hotels alone jumped more than 44% between 2014 and 2015.
While bed bugs are found year-round, infestations and incidents peak during the warmer months of the year – April to August.
In third place, we have insect bites/infestation (8%, or 147 claims) at third place. I would assume that includes stings.
You can’t control deer jumping out in front of your truck, but you can do something about protecting yourself and company from bite claims if you take the time to draft good solid contracts. And take care of customers, try to do right by them… within reason.
Dog-related incidents – ranging from bites to mauling – (6%, or 114 claims) was the fourth highest cause of animal-related liability claims,
Surprisingly, cattle claims were next – caused by charging, bumping and other accidents (4%, or 82 claims).
Other unusual animal-related liability claims include a hotel guest whose room was invaded by a flying squirrel, another whose hearing aid and slippers were chewed and destroyed by a rodent and at least two people who were attacked by aggressive peacocks.
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