Home Insurance & Canine Liability; Why it’s Not Enough Coverage
If you share your home with a canine companion, you know that they are more than just a furry friend. Whether you have a large breed or a smaller pup, a dog can give you peace of mind. Many homeowners might credit their dog with minimizing the liability of break-ins, but there are other liabilities such as knocking someone over or a simple scratch. Some home insurance policies include animal liability, but it is often insufficient coverage. If you’re wondering why you need canine liability insurance, consider these reasons why putting a dog bite on your home insurance is a bad idea.
Coverage Limits May Be Low
When it comes to Canine Liability Insurance, one of the most important considerations is the coverage limit of your policy. Coverage that’s included in your home insurance policy — if there is any at all – may have a sublimit of only $25,000 or less. If a dog bite occurs on your property, think of the potential costs of medical bills and potential litigation. According to the Insurance Information Institute, this amounts to $50,425 on average. Your home insurance may not cover these costs.
Coverage Should Be Comprehensive
The coverage a homeowners policy provides may not cover situations where your dog leaves the premises, causes property damage to 3rd parties or injures another animal. You need a Canine Liability policy to be sure you are truly protected.
Certain Breeds May Be Restricted
If your home insurance policy includes coverage for Canine Liability, it’s important to check the fine print for any breed restrictions. If you have a dog that falls into a restricted breed category, your liability could be voided. Should you choose to not tell an insurance company that you have dogs in your home you could find yourself without coverage when you need it the most.
A Claim Could Spike Your Insurance Rates
Regardless of what breed your dog may be, any dog can act defensively if it feels threatened. If you rely solely on the coverage in a home insurance policy and you happen to file a dog bite claim, you’ll likely find your home insurance cancelled. If you are lucky and you are not cancelled, then you can expect your premium to rise.
About www.dogbitequote.com
At Dean Insurance Agency, we’ve been providing protection to dog owners since 2012, with more than 10,000 policies issued. Our underwriting criteria and years of experience providing this coverage enables us to offer competitive and fair policy premiums with broad coverage including off premises liability. Our policies are available in every state except Alaska & Kentucky. The quote is free and there is NO obligation to purchase!