Homeowner’s and renter’s insurance policies provide two main kinds of protection for the policyholder. They have certain property protection in case there is a fire, a robbery or some kind of natural disaster. They also have liability protection in case something happens to someone else at their house.
A dog bite attack can occur at any residence where someone has a canine companion. If you or a member of your family recently suffered injuries caused by a vicious dog, can you depend on the homeowner’s policy of the animal’s owner to cover your losses?
Homeowner’s insurance should help protect you
In theory, the dog owner’s homeowner’s or renter’s insurance policy will apply to the injuries you suffered in a dog bite attack. However, for the insurance company to cover you, they need to know that the dog was present in the home.
If the animal’s owner did not tell their insurance company about their pet or if they lied about the breed, your claim may run into issues. Owners lie about their animal’s presence or breed because their insurance company will not cover the animal or will charge more money for a certain breed. When the company doesn’t know about the dog, it’s quite difficult to make a claim for the injuries you or your family members suffered because of that animal.
Other times, the homeowner’s policy may not have enough liability coverage, leaving you with unpaid medical bills or weeks’ worth of lost wages that insurance will not reimburse you for. In scenarios without insurance coverage or with inadequate coverage, the victims of vicious dogs may need to take civil action.
Learning more about homeowner’s insurance and the right to file a lawsuit in the civil courts can help you respond to a serious personal injury.
