Homeowners insurance will cover the cost of medical and legal expenses if your dog injures someone or damages their property. Dog-related liability claims cost homeowners around $49,000 on average in 2021, which is almost double the average cost of standard, non-dog-related liability claims. [1]
As claim expenses increase over time, some insurers are writing policies that exclude certain breeds from coverage, like pit bulls and Rottweilers. They may even outright refuse to cover you based on your dog’s breed. However, animal activist groups are pushing legislation that forbids or limits breed discrimination — Illinois, Nevada, and New York have all passed such legislation.
How does homeowners insurance cover dogs?
A standard homeowners insurance policy offers coverage for injuries caused by most dogs under the personal liability and medical payments to others parts of your policy.
Personal liability coverage
If someone was bitten by your dog and they file a lawsuit against you for damages, the personal liability part of your policy will cover expenses related to the incident, including:
Your legal counsel
Plaintiff’s legal expense
Reward if the plaintiff wins the suit
Costs if your dog destroys someone else’s valuable property
Medical payments to others coverage
If your dog bites someone and they choose not to sue, they may still need medical treatment. That’s where your medical payments to others coverage comes into play. Coverage limits typically start at $1,000 and max out at $10,000.