Auto Insurance And Dog Bites: What You Need To Know

If your dog bites someone, you may be wondering if your auto insurance policy will cover the costs. While auto insurance typically covers vehicle-related incidents, dog bites may be covered under certain circumstances. In general, dog bite injuries fall under the liability or medical payments coverage in your insurance policy, whether it be homeowners, renters, or auto insurance. Let's take a closer look at how auto insurance may apply in the event of a dog bite incident.

Dog bites in a car

Homeowners Insurance Coverage:

Homeowners insurance policies often include personal liability coverage and medical payments coverage, which can provide protection in the event of a dog bite. Personal liability coverage can pay for injuries and potential lawsuit costs if you are found liable for the dog's actions. Medical payments coverage can help cover necessary medical expenses for injuries that occur on your property or, in some cases, away from your home. However, it's important to check with your specific insurance provider, as some companies may have exclusions or restrictions for dog bites that occur in a car.

Automobile Insurance Coverage:

Even if your homeowners insurance policy does not cover a dog bite that occurs in your car, your automobile insurance policy may provide coverage. In certain situations, automobile insurance will cover animal bites that take place inside the vehicle. For example, if a dog bites someone while it is in the back of your pickup truck, your auto insurance policy may apply to the incident. This coverage can be especially relevant if the dog is considered to be in your care or custody during transportation.

Insurance Company Disputes:

In cases where both homeowners insurance and automobile insurance policies could potentially apply, there may be disputes between the insurance companies involved. In such cases, it is essential to seek legal advice from a lawyer who can handle these procedural issues. The injured party is typically not involved in these disputes, as it is a matter for the insurance companies to resolve among themselves.

Breed-Specific Restrictions:

It is important to note that certain dog breeds may be excluded from coverage or considered restricted by insurance companies. Breeds commonly restricted or excluded include Pit Bulls, Rottweilers, Doberman Pinschers, and German Shepherds, among others. These restrictions can vary by state, as some states have passed laws prohibiting insurers from denying coverage based solely on the breed of the dog. It is crucial to review your insurance policy and understand any breed-specific restrictions that may be in place.

Preventative Measures:

To minimize the risk of dog bites in a car, it is important to take preventative measures. This includes keeping your dog restrained while in the vehicle, such as in a crate or secured with a seatbelt harness. Additionally, it is essential to supervise your dog and ensure it does not become agitated or anxious during car rides. If your dog has a history of aggression or discomfort, you may also consider using a muzzle as an extra precaution.

Home insurance breed restrictions

Owning a dog can have a significant impact on your home insurance. While some providers, such as State Farm, no longer ask about the breed of your dog, others have an unofficial list of restricted breeds. These lists vary by company and state, but some of the most commonly restricted breeds include:

• Pit bulls
• Rottweilers
• German shepherds
• Chows
• Dobermans
• Wolf hybrids
• Akitas
• Presa Canarios
• Staffordshire terriers

If your dog is on the restricted breed list of your insurance company, they may increase your rates, exclude liability coverage for any damage your dog causes, decline to offer you a new policy, or cancel your existing policy.

If your insurance company won't cover your dog, you have several options. You can shop around for a new insurance company that will cover your dog, try to get an exception from your current company, or have your dog excluded from coverage. You can also consider purchasing a separate canine liability policy or an umbrella liability policy that covers dog bites.

Dog bites and umbrella insurance

Dog bites can be distressing for all involved, and as a dog owner, you may be held liable for injuries caused by your dog. This is where umbrella insurance can help.

Umbrella insurance is a type of insurance policy that provides extra protection beyond the limits of your other insurance policies, such as homeowners or auto insurance. It is designed to give you additional coverage during liability claims and protect your assets against things like libel and slander lawsuits.

Yes, umbrella insurance does cover dog bites. If your dog bites someone and you are sued, umbrella insurance will help cover your legal fees and any damages you may be ordered to pay. This is especially useful if the claim exceeds the personal liability or medical payments coverage limits in your homeowners insurance policy, as you will be responsible for any remaining expenses.

A $1 million umbrella insurance policy typically costs around $150 to $300 per year, with each additional $1 million costing about $50 to $75 more. The cost will depend on factors such as your location, the number of cars and homes you own, and the size of your family.

Other Benefits of Umbrella Insurance

In addition to covering dog bites, umbrella insurance can provide coverage for a range of other situations, including:

• Malicious prosecution
• Personal psychological harm and mental anguish
• Legal defence costs for covered losses
• Liabilities when travelling overseas
• Accusations of libel, slander, and character defamation

Exclusions to Umbrella Insurance

It is important to note that umbrella insurance does not cover everything. For example, it does not extend to your business, and you will need separate commercial coverage for that. Additionally, liabilities arising from certain vehicles like jet skis and all-terrain vehicles are usually excluded and will require their own coverage.

Important Considerations for Dog Owners

If you own a dog, it is crucial to review your insurance policies to ensure you have adequate coverage in the event of a dog bite incident. Some insurance companies may refuse to cover specific breeds of dogs that are considered potentially dangerous, such as Rottweilers or Pit Bulls. It is also essential to disclose any previous attacks by your dog, as failure to do so could result in a lack of coverage.

In summary, umbrella insurance can provide valuable protection for dog owners by covering dog bite incidents that exceed the limits of their homeowners insurance. It offers peace of mind and helps ensure that you are not left financially burdened in the event of a lawsuit.

Dog bites and renters insurance

If you're renting a property and your dog bites someone, you may be covered by renters insurance. Renters insurance policies cover personal injury cases that occur on rented private property. These policies are similar to homeowners insurance policies, except the policyholder does not own the home. In these situations, the renter would use this policy to cover property damage or medical attention the dog bite victim needed.

Renters insurance typically covers dog bite liability legal expenses, up to the liability limits (usually $100,000 to $300,000). If the claim exceeds the limit, the dog owner is responsible for all damages above that amount.

Some insurance companies will not insure renters who own certain breeds of dogs categorized as dangerous, such as pit bulls, Rottweilers, and Doberman Pinschers. Other companies decide on a case-by-case basis, evaluating the individual dog's history of aggression rather than its breed.

It's important to note that renters insurance may not cover dog bites to members of the same household as the dog. Additionally, some policies may limit coverage for dog bites that occur away from the rental property. Therefore, it's crucial to carefully review the terms of your renters insurance policy to understand your specific coverage.

In some cases, landlords may also be held liable in a dog bite case. If they were aware that their tenant's dog was dangerous and failed to take appropriate action, they could be included in a personal injury lawsuit. To protect themselves, landlords may require tenants to obtain renters liability insurance, ensuring they have their own coverage in the event of a dog bite incident.

Dog bites and landlord responsibility

Landlords may worry about being held accountable for a tenant's dog biting someone, but it is very rare for them to be found liable in such cases. However, there are certain situations in which a landlord can be held responsible for injuries caused by a tenant's dog.

Firstly, it is important to note that a landlord's responsibility for dog bites depends on the laws of their state. For example, in California, a dog owner is strictly liable for their dog's bite, regardless of whether it was the first time the dog bit someone or what the other person was doing at the time. In other states, factors such as whether the victim was trespassing or whether the dog owner was aware of the dog's dangerous propensities will be considered.

Generally, a landlord will only be held liable for a tenant's dog biting someone if they knew the dog was dangerous and could have had it removed, or if they "harbored" or "kept" the dog—that is, if they cared for or had some control over the dog. For example, if a landlord takes on the role of walking and feeding the dog, they may be considered to have a caregiving role and thus be liable.

Additionally, a landlord may be held liable if they were aware or should have been aware that the dog was dangerous. This could include situations where the dog had a history of vicious behaviour or biting people, and the landlord was made aware of this through text messages, written complaints from neighbours, or personal experience.

It is worth noting that a landlord could potentially be held liable for dog attack injuries that occur outside of their property, especially if it is established that they were harbouring the animal.

If a landlord is found financially liable for a tenant's dog biting someone, their building owner's liability insurance may cover the loss.

Frequently asked questions