{"id":1753,"date":"2013-02-07T00:17:50","date_gmt":"2013-02-07T00:17:50","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.animalhealthfoundation.net\/blog\/?p=1753"},"modified":"2013-02-07T00:17:50","modified_gmt":"2013-02-07T00:17:50","slug":"driving-with-a-dog-in-the-car-heres-what-to-know","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.animalhealthfoundation.org\/blog\/2013\/02\/driving-with-a-dog-in-the-car-heres-what-to-know\/","title":{"rendered":"Driving with a dog in the car? Here’s what to know"},"content":{"rendered":"

If owners take their pet along for a car ride, experts recommend properly restraining pets and purchasing veterinary medical insurance for animals who may be injured in a car accident. Some 56% of dog owners in an AAA survey reported they brought their dog in the car at least monthly within the previous year. Many automobile insurance companies offer coverage for pets injured in vehicles, but prices and coverage vary, so owners should do their homework, experts say<\/em><\/strong>. Fox Business\/CarInsurance.com<\/a> (1\/31)<\/p>\n

Americans shared their homes with 377.4 million animals in 2011, according to\u00a0 the American Pet Products Association survey.<\/p>\n

Cats were the most popular pet, at 86.4 million, and dogs came in a close\u00a0 second with 78.2 million.<\/p>\n

But while a car ride with a cat is an exercise in tension, a dog goes along\u00a0 for the fun of it. A recent AAA survey found that 56% of dog owners had driven\u00a0 with companions at least once a month over the past year.<\/p>\n

Unfortunately, most people are driving dangerously when Fido is riding\u00a0 shotgun. 65% admitted engaging in distracting activities such as petting their\u00a0 dog (52%) and using their hands to restrict the dog’s movement when braking\u00a0 (23%).<\/p>\n

Despite knowing better — 83% agree that driving with an unrestrained dog is\u00a0 dangerous — only 16% use a restraining device.<\/p>\n

The danger of an unrestrained pet is very real. According to Jennifer\u00a0 Huebner-Davidson, AAA National Traffic Safety program manager, an unrestrained\u00a0 10-pound dog in a crash at 50 mph will exert roughly 500 pounds of force, while\u00a0 an unrestrained 80-pound dog in a crash at only 30 mph will exert approximately\u00a0 2,400 pounds of force.<\/p>\n

Adam Fell of Veterinary Pet Insurance<\/a>\"\"\u00a0 says the most common types of injuries suffered by pets in car accidents are\u00a0 bruises and lacerations, chest and head trauma, major wounds, fractures and\u00a0 ruptured organs. All of these require extensive — and expensive — medical\u00a0 care.<\/p>\n

So is my pet covered?<\/strong><\/p>\n

If the accident was your fault, your vet bills are your own problem, says\u00a0 Penny Gusner, consumer analyst at CarInsurance.com. A pet is considered personal\u00a0 property, and collision and comprehensive typically cover damage only to the\u00a0 vehicle.<\/p>\n

On the other hand, if the other driver was at fault, you can make a claim\u00a0 against their property damage liability\u00a0 coverage<\/a>\"\".\u00a0 The bills for your car and the bills for your pet would come out of the same pot\u00a0 of money, so if the at-fault driver’s limits aren’t high enough to pay\u00a0 everything, you would still be on the hook.<\/p>\n

Fortunately, a number of car insurers value your pet like a member of the\u00a0 family and include some coverage on their collision policies.<\/p>\n

Progressive was the first insurer to add pet coverage back in 2007. Other\u00a0 insurers have jumped on the bandwagon, but availability varies by insurer and by\u00a0 state.<\/p>\n

Here is a quick rundown of the major insurers that will cover your pet in\u00a0 an accident:<\/strong><\/p>\n