Dog Bite Liability: Why Your Home Insurance Agent Needs To Know If You Adopt A Dog

For most homeowners, getting a dog is an exciting experience that's about growing their family. What many don't think about is that the addition of a dog to their home also affects their homeowner's insurance. Here's a look at some of the things that you need to understand about why you should call your homeowner's insurance agent when you adopt a dog. 

You Are Legally Liable For A Dog Bite

If you adopt a dog, you take on the legal liability for that dog in the event that it should bite someone. Even dogs with no aggressive history can bite if they feel threatened, and a dog bite injury can prove costly, not to mention any pain and suffering you might be held responsible for if the victim takes it to court.

In fact, insurance companies see large numbers of dog bite liability claims every single year. Your insurance coverage can help with the medical costs as well as any additional liability amount that may be awarded in court, within the liability limits of your policy.

The Breed May Matter

In some cases, the breed of dog that you adopt may be a factor with your insurance company. Many states allow insurance companies to restrict or deny coverage for homeowners who have dog breeds with an aggressive history, including breeds like Chow Chow, Pit Bull, and Rottweiler. You may find that you have to shop around for coverage with a breed like this.

Additional Liability Coverage Can Be Beneficial

Especially when you own a larger dog, the risk of a bite causing costly injury becomes significant. You need to be sure that you have adequate coverage for a situation like this. That's why many dog owners opt to invest in a liability umbrella policy that provides them with general liability coverage with liability limits in the millions of dollars depending on what's selected. Your homeowner's insurance agent can help you explore your liability umbrella policy options as well to help ensure that you have sufficient coverage for the risk of your dog.

Adding a dog to your family can be a fun and rewarding experience, but it can also be a costly one if something should go wrong. Make sure that you and your family are financially protected in the event of any kind of incident with your new dog by talking with your homeowner's insurance agent about the breed you have adopted and the coverage that's right for your family.

Reach out to an insurance agency like LH Griffith and Company to learn more.