Does Homeowners Insurance Cover Dog Bites?

When you’ve been injured in a dog attack, or if you are a pet owner whose dog recently bit someone, you might be wondering whether or not your homeowners insurance policy will take effect and cover some of your losses. The good answer is that it does! Homeowners insurance pays out millions of dollars in dog bite claims across the United States every year.

The details of how your homeowners insurance will be affected after your dog bit someone is an often-complicated area due to the strict liability laws in Massachusetts. Read on to learn more about how dog attacks and homeowners insurance policies work.

Massachusetts and Strict Liability for Dog Bites

Dog owners in Massachusetts are nearly always held accountable for the actions of their pet due to the state’s strict liability laws. Essentially, this means that the owner of the dog will be found responsible for the damages their pet inflicted regardless of whether or not the dog had a predisposition for aggression or violent behavior in the past.

The only cases where a dog owner is not liable is if the person injured was trespassing on their property at the time of the attack, or if the injured person was provoking the dog to act aggressively by teasing, taunting, or abusing the dog in some way.

How a Dog Bite Affects Your Homeowners Insurance

Your homeowners insurance policy should cover a dog bite. Your insurance will then be able to compensate you for lost wages, medical expenses, and any property damage the dog might have caused.

However, some homeowners insurance policies will exclude coverage for certain breeds of dog. This could include rottweilers, terriers, pitbulls, and a variety of other dogs. There is no law against the insurance company allowing these exclusions.

It is critical that you report your dog breed to your homeowners insurance policy when you first decide to make that purchase, as failure to do so can result in the nullification of your premium.

Get Help from a Boston Dog Bite Lawyer

If you were injured in a canine attack and you need help securing compensation you’re entitled to from the insurance company and the dog’s owner, schedule your free consultation with a qualified Boston dog bite lawyer at Joel H. Schwartz, PC. You can do so by filling out the quick contact form at the bottom of this page or by giving our office a call at 1-800-660-2270.