A dog bite or attack could leave you with both physical and psychological injuries that affect your quality of life. Whether a dog bites you in the face and leaves you disfigured or bites your hand and causes blood loss and tendon damage, it could be years before you fully recover from the consequences of a vicious animal attack.
Insurance can help those dealing with the consequences of a dog bite or attack, but not in all circumstances. A stray dog that attacks you in public who’s owner you cannot locate will leave you at the mercy of your own health insurance company in most cases. Even if you are bitten on someone else’s property by their dog, their insurance company may not cover your losses.
Are all dog attacks covered under homeowner’s insurance?
The presumption that an insurance company will cover you is natural if you get hurt in someone else’s home. They should have renter’s insurance or homeowner’s insurance that protects them from liability. While that would be true if you fell down the stairs, a dog bite can be a bit more complicated than that.
Since certain breeds, like pit bulls, Rottweilers and German Shepherds, are commonly associated with dog bites, insurance companies may decline to cover them. The owner may need to buy a different policy or pay for extra coverage if they want the company to protect them from liability related to their pets.
If the dog that attacked you is a restricted breed and there is not covered under an insurance policy, you may have to consider pursuing a personal injury claim against the dog’s owner.