Homeowners Insurance and Dog Bites Off Property: What You Need to Know

Most homeowners insurance policies cover dog bites that occur on the policyholder's property, but the extent of the coverage varies.

Typically, you'll need to have a minimum liability limit of $100,000 to $300,000 to be adequately protected in case of a dog bite incident.

If your dog bites someone off your property, you'll be personally responsible for any damages or medical expenses incurred.

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Homeowners insurance generally covers dog bites under personal liability coverage, paying for medical expenses and legal costs associated with the incident.

Some insurance companies may deny coverage or increase a dog owner's premiums if their dog has a history of biting or aggression or is a breed that they consider high-risk.

Certain factors are at play when it comes to insurance coverage for dog bites, including the breed of the dog and its history.

Insurance companies may charge more for owners of breeds such as pit bulls and Rottweilers, or not offer insurance to dog owners at all.

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Dog owners may be required to sign liability waivers for dog bites or take classes aimed at modifying their dog's behavior to qualify for coverage.

In some states, insurers are prohibited from declining coverage based on the breed of the dog, but an experienced personal injury lawyer can explain the laws in your state and how they apply to your claim.

The average cost per claim nationally has risen 82.5 percent from 2014 to 2023, due to increased medical costs as well as the size of settlements, judgments, and jury awards given to plaintiffs.

Here are some states with the highest average cost per claim in 2023:

Homeowners insurance protects you from financial losses due to unforeseen damages or accidental injuries within your property.

It typically covers damage caused by fires or severe weather, theft, and personal injuries incurred on the property.

Personal liability coverage in homeowners insurance protects you when you or a family member cause or contribute to injuries or damage to someone else.

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Property owners are required to take all reasonable actions to prevent guests from injuries due to hazardous features on their property.

Dog owners must ensure that they properly contain or leash their dogs to protect others from injuries if the dog should attack.

Homeowners insurance policies may have limits, exclusions, and other rules that can complicate the ability of a claimant to receive compensation after a dog has injured them.

If a dog bites you, a dog owner might have two types of homeowners insurance coverage to access to obtain compensation.

Here's a breakdown of the two types of coverage:

An experienced personal injury lawyer can determine the insurance policies available to compensate your claim, including the homeowners’ policy held by the dog’s owner, as well as any insurance coverage you have.

State legislation plays a significant role in determining liability for dog bites. In 29 states, dog owners are automatically liable for injuries their pets cause, with some exceptions.

Some states have specific laws that prohibit insurers from canceling or denying coverage to owners of particular dog breeds. Pennsylvania and Michigan are two states that have such laws.

If you live in a state with no laws regulating dog bites, you might be wondering what happens in case of an incident. In four states—Arkansas, Kansas, Mississippi, and North Dakota—there are no laws for dog bites.

Here's a breakdown of the types of laws that impose liability on dog owners:

Medical payments coverage for dog bites usually comes into play for minor injuries, providing no-fault insurance that depends on what happened, not why it happened or who did what. This coverage typically has lower limits than liability insurance, ranging from $1,000 to $5,000.

Liability insurance, on the other hand, is designed to cover injuries to people outside of your household, so if your dog bites you or your child, your homeowners policy won't pay the resulting medical expenses. You'd need to turn to health insurance coverage instead.

In cases where you're found to be at fault for a dog bite, your insurer will generally pay the victim's medical bills plus any legal expenses, up to the limits of your policy, which can be between $100,000 and $500,000.

Additional reading: House Insurance Public Liability

Medical payments coverage is a no-fault insurance that pays for medical bills regardless of who's at fault.

You can typically choose a limit between $1,000 and $5,000 for medical payments coverage.

This coverage is usually used for smaller medical bills, such as those from a few stitches after a dog bite.

Liability insurance is more suitable for serious injuries, but in minor cases, medical payments coverage kicks in.

In those less serious cases, your homeowners insurance medical payments coverage will help pay for medical bills.

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Can I get dog bite insurance? Technically, there's no such thing as dog bite insurance, but dog bites are rolled into personal liability insurance.

Liability insurance usually covers injuries to others by dogs, and the amount you have depends on the liability coverage you've chosen for your homeowners insurance policy. This is typically between $100,000 and $500,000.

If you set your dog on someone or encourage the dog to bite someone, you won't be covered. Your homeowners policy also won't cover dog bites in a business setting, unless you have business insurance.

Liability insurance covers injuries to people outside of your household, so if your dog bites you or your child, your homeowners policy won't pay the resulting medical expenses.

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Dog-Specific Regulations play a crucial role in determining liability for dog bites off property.

Some jurisdictions have breed-specific legislation, which restricts or bans certain breeds deemed more aggressive, such as Pit Bulls and Rottweilers.

Homeowners may be held liable for dog bites even if they weren't present at the time of the incident, but they may be able to claim some protection under the "one-bite rule".

This rule holds that a dog owner is not responsible for the first bite, but subsequent bites may be considered a sign of the dog's aggressive nature.

In many states, dog owners are required to take certain precautions, such as keeping their dogs on a leash or in a fenced area.

Liability for dog bites can also depend on the dog's past behavior, with repeat offenders more likely to be considered a risk.

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As a landlord, you may be held responsible for dog bites on your property, even if you didn't own the dog. Generally, laws hold dog owners responsible, but you can be included in lawsuits if they don't have enough liability insurance.

Landlords can be sued if they knew about a dangerous dog on the premises but didn't take action to confine or remove it. This is why it's essential to require your tenants to buy renters liability insurance to protect themselves financially.

To reduce the risk of injury, make sure gates and fences are secure and put up warning signs if you learn that one of your tenants has an aggressive dog. Depending on the lease terms, you may even be able to evict the tenant.