When a dog becomes aggressive and attacks someone, financial liability probably isn’t your first concern. Instead, you want to get yourself or the victim away from the animal and make sure that the injuries get immediate medical treatment
It is only after you go to the emergency room and assess the extent of the damage that you realize the costs that this one bad interaction with a dog could tank your finances for the foreseeable future. If you or someone in your family got bit by someone’s dog in their house or yard, do you have the right to file a claim against their homeowner’s policy or renter’s insurance?
Dog bite attacks can fall under premises liability coverage
Both renters and homeowners, like anyone else, bear certain liabilities when people visit them. Insurance policies protect renters and owners alike from financial liability if someone gets hurt on their property.
Usually, you can file a claim against someone’s homeowner’s or renter’s insurance when a dog attacks. However, there are limitations to that right. For example, breeds known to be aggressive, including pit bull terriers, Rottweilers and German Shepherds, may be on a restricted breed list for the insurance company. If the animal’s owner didn’t tell the insurance company they had a dog or disclose its breed, the insurance company may not pay for the injuries you suffered.
If there isn’t insurance, you may have to consider a lawsuit against the animal’s owner to recoup your losses. Understanding how premises liability coverage works after a dog bite attack can help you get the compensation you need to pay for medical costs and other expenses.
