Things may easily get out of hand if your generally docile pet bites a neighbor, acquaintance, or even a stranger at the dog park. Even after the first shock has passed and first aid has been given, the effects of a major dog attack may be felt for years to come, particularly if you are responsible for the costs of medical treatment or legal representation.

Most of the time, dog bites are covered by home insurance, which may assist in reducing the financial effect your dog's activities have on others. If someone is hurt due to your carelessness, the liability coverage included in your homeowner's insurance policy will pay for their medical expenses. This may happen if the injured party falls on your damaged walkway or is attacked by a dog in your care. According to research by the Insurance Information Institute and State Farm, the typical claim for dog bites and other accidents caused by dogs was around $49,000 in 2021.

Dog Bite Insurance

Your renters or homeowners insurance does not cover dog bites in any specific way. Instead, dog bites are covered by a person's liability insurance, with a few notable exclusions, such as hospital costs, as will be discussed further below. This implies that if a dog in your care bites someone else and the court finds that you are accountable for the attack, your insurance company will normally cover the victim's medical and legal expenditures, according to the limits of your policy.

The attack doesn't need to take place in your house either. Even though it's termed "homeowners insurance," the protection of your house is not the primary focus here. True protection comes from insurance against your legal liabilities. Dog bites determined to have been caused by the victim themselves are often covered in practically any place they occur.

The liability coverage contained in your home insurance policy will determine the amount of dog bite insurance you have available to you. In most cases, the amount will be between $200,000 and $600,000.

Several circumstances in which your insurance provider may not pay for injuries caused by dog bites. You will not be covered if you intentionally cause your dog to bite someone or urge your dog to harm someone else. If your dog bites someone while at your place of business, such as at the dog grooming salon you run out of your garage, your homeowner's insurance policy will not cover the medical expenses, but your business insurance policy would.

In addition, liability insurance is intended to cover accidents sustained by others, not members of your family. If you or one of your children were to get bitten by your golden retriever, your homeowner's insurance coverage would not cover the associated medical costs.

There are several instances where an insurance provider would refuse to cover animal-related liability claims unless the policyholder has expressly added this provision. Whether you have a pet, you should check with your insurance provider to see if your four-legged buddy is covered.

Dog Bites Medical Payments

Even if the incident is very small, liability insurance is critical if your dog causes major bodily harm to another person. If a neighbor is bitten and has to go to the hospital to get a few stitches, it's possible that they won't be interested in getting every last penny they can get out of you, particularly if it was an accident or if it was their fault.

Your home insurance's medical payments coverage will kick into work in the event of an injury that is not life-threatening. This kind of insurance is known as "no-fault," implying that coverage is determined by the events that had place rather than by who was at blame or why they occurred. The coverage for medical payments is often available at lower dollar quantities than liability insurance and may be used to pay for more affordable medical expenses.

Homeowners Insurance Breed Restrictions

Certain insurers will cover your house and dog bites regardless of breed of dog you have, but there are other insurers who won't do that. These breed limitations may make it more difficult to get homeowner's insurance, particularly if you are the owner of a dog classified as a hazardous breed by the American Veterinary Medical Association.

Even though the word "pit bull" may refer to a wide variety of mixed-breed canines, pit bulls are often included on these lists. Doberman pinschers, Rottweilers, German shepherds, Siberian huskies, and wolf hybrids are other types of dogs that are often excluded from coverage by homeowners insurance providers.

Your location may play a role in determining whether or not an insurance provider will cover your dog. Certain jurisdictions, including New York and Pennsylvania, have implemented legislation that makes it illegal for home insurance companies to reject coverage claims on the basis of the breed of dog the policyholder owns.