Does Insurance Cover Dog Bites and Dog Attacks?
July 16, 2019 | Dog Bites
If you are bitten in a dog bite attack, most of the time, the dog owner’s homeowners’ insurance will cover your damages from the accident, but some policies don’t include coverage for dog bites. If you are unsure if a dog owners’ insurance will cover your dog bite damages, or if someone was bitten on your property, and you want to know more about what types of insurance cover dog bites and attacks, an experienced lawyer can assess the potential of your case and offer personalized legal advice for your situation.
What Types of Insurance Cover Dog Bites and Dog Attacks?
Dog bites often cause financial, mental, and emotional distress for both the victim and the dog’s negligent owner in a dog bite attack. While there are some instances where the liable party might want to pay out of pocket for damages instead of filing a claim against their homeowner’s insurance, most of the time, animal bite damages are usually paid out by the following types of insurance:
- Homeowners/renters insurance – most of the time, homeowners’ insurance covers injuries suffered in dog bite attacks. While dog bites that occur on a homeowners’ property are typically covered, coverage is reduced or not offered at all for attacks that happen away from a person’s property
- Car insurance – if a dog bite attack occurs in a person’s car, or on top of a vehicle, in some situations, car insurance might cover the cost of damages from the accident
- Animal insurance – if a dog has bitten someone in the past, or a person’s homeowners or renters insurance doesn’t cover damages caused in dog bite attacks, animal insurance covers most dog bite injuries and financial damages
Every dog bite attack is different, just like all insurance policies differ significantly. While one insurance company’s liability insurance might cover dog bite injuries, another may not. Additionally, the requirements for what is accepted and what’s not accepted as a valid claim (on the owner’s property, off the owner’s property, etc.) varies from insurance company to company, which might make you ask, “when will my insurance company not cover my dog bite claim?”
When Will Insurance Not Cover Dog Bite Injuries?
Owning an animal is a big responsibility and not something that should be taken lightly. If you own a dog or another type of animal, it’s essential to comb through your renter’s or homeowner’s insurance and make sure that dog bite attacks are covered, and if so, what the policy limits are for liability coverage. If you don’t have renters or homeowners insurance, it’s essential to have animal insurance in case your animal causes harm to another person, animal, or someone else’s personal property. In some instances, a person’s car insurance might cover a dog bite or dog attack incident that occurred in or on top of the vehicle, but every insurance company and policy are different.
If you are injured in a dog bite attack and choose to pursue a claim against the dog’s owner, it’s essential to have adequate knowledge of your state’s dog bite laws and statute. Even if a person’s insurance policy might cover dog bite injuries, the state’s laws might not allow for the victim to recover compensation for their harm and losses or include restrictions on what type of damages the person can claim and how much they are eligible to recover. Additionally, some policies exclude coverage for certain dog breeds, such as Pit Bulls and Rottweilers. For this reason, if you suffer injuries in a dog attack, and are unsure if the liable party’s insurance cover dog bites, it’s essential to immediately consult a lawyer and get experienced legal representation for your dog bite case.
Speak With a Dog Bite Lawyer Today
In 2018 alone, homeowners’ insurance paid out $675 million in damages for liability claims related to dog bites and dog attacks. If you or someone you love has suffered dog bite injuries or dog attack-related injuries, it’s essential to hire a Dog Bite Lawyer in St. Louis to defend your case and fight for the most compensation for your injuries and financial damages. Recovering a high settlement for a dog bite case requires aggressive negotiation, and experience with pushing back against the other party to demand the results you want for your case; an experienced lawyer specializes in this, can alleviate the stress of the situation, and ensure that your case’s best interests are protected at all times.
Christopher Dixon and the St. Louis Dog Bite Lawyers at the Dixon Injury Firm specialize in fighting for the rights of dog bite victims and will do everything in their power to recover compensation for your injuries. Whether it’s negotiating with the other party’s insurer or bringing a compelling suit against the negligent party, the Dixon Injury Firm is ready to help. Christopher Dixon has earned recognition as a “Top 100 Trial Lawyer” from the National Trial Lawyers Association and has repeatedly been awarded the status of “Rising Star” by Super Lawyers.
Choosing Chris Dixon and the St. Louis Dog Bite Lawyers at the Dixon Injury Firm can increase the odds of recovering compensation for your dog bite injuries and ensures that you and your family are taken care of during this challenging time. If you are ready to consult our Dog Bite Lawyers in St. Louis about your dog attack case, call (314) 208-2808 or contact the Dixon Injury Firm today to schedule a free consultation.