Dog Liability Insurance for Homeowners
Picture this scenario: Your dog is in your fenced backyard while you’re out for an hour or so. A couple of strangers come to your house, mistakenly thinking that’s where a party is being held. They ring the doorbell and when there is no answer, they decide to go around the back, unlock the fence, and enter the yard. The dog is threatened by the trespassers and bites one of them who is a child. They end up suing for medical expenses that run $15,000. Even if you win in court, your attorney fees will be in the thousands.
Will your Homeowners insurance cover these medical expenses, including defending a dog bite lawsuit and any settlements? Maybe. Some Homeowners policies do not include any animal liability while some may exclude certain breeds. There is also a concern that a Homeowners policy may not provide Off-Premises coverage when you have your dog away from your home.
Once your dog has injured someone in the past, Homeowners insurers may raise your insurance premium, exclude the dog in your coverage, or not offer a renewal.
According to the American Animal Hospital Association, Pit Bulls are responsible for 22.5% of bites across all studies. Mixed breeds were a close second at 21.2%, and German Shepherds were involved in 17.8% of bite incidents. Data also shows that children are most at risk from dog bites. According to the CDC, children between the ages of 5 and 9 suffer the majority of bites.
Canine Liability Insurance for Homeowners
If your dog has a history of biting, our online quote system will ask additional questions to learn more about the incident(s) before providing coverage. Our Canine Liability policy will cover occurrences away from your house, including at a dog park or work.
If you use your dog in your line of work, and it is considered “involved” or “integral” to your work, you’ll be covered with our Canine Liability policy.
Canine Liability insurance covers injuries and property damage caused by your dog if it bites, scratches, scares, or causes a person to fall. This policy also covers injuries to other domestic animals caused by your dog. It covers medical bills, veterinary fees, legal fees, and settlements up to the policy amount.
You have several policy limit options from which to choose:
$25,000, $50,000, $100,000, and $300,000. There is no deductible.
Vet bills can be costly and could result in a lawsuit to recover monetary compensation for damages.