Why Are Pets Household Liabilities?

Of course, pets are docile, loving and loyal; but, at the end of the day, they are still animals, and they still have plenty of wild instincts. No matter how domesticated they are, they still could both damage your home and, even worse, harm someone. In these worst-case scenarios, you might wonder if your homeowners insurance policy will cover the recovery costs.  

Generally, homeowners insurance will not cover damage your pet does to your own home. However, if your pet harms someone else, then you might be able to file a claim on your policy to compensate them. Still, you will only be able to do so if you have pet bite liability insurance. 

Pet Bite Liability Insurance 

Everyone loves their pets, but you probably also know that you have to train your pet in order to teach them the proper habits and discipline. All the same, even with unlimited training, a pet that is scared, mad or simply overly excited or curious could wind up hurting someone. This isn’t an indicator that your pet is a bad pet, but it does mean that you will be responsible for paying for the costs resulting from the injury, whether it’s a Band Aid® or a trip to the emergency room. 

When your pet bites you, then you have to pay your own medical bills. After all, you probably knew that your pet might bite you when you got it. However, if your pet bites someone else, such as a neighbor or friend, then the injury will also be your fault (legally, it definitely wasn’t the pet’s). Therefore, this person might sue you to cover their medical bills, lost income and other financial challenges arising from this injury. 

At this point, pet liability insurance can come in handy. Like the rest of your homeowners liability coverage, this benefit can help you get the money to compensate a third party if your pet causes them bodily injuries. Many home insurers understand that even the best-behaved pets can cause damage. They include this coverage to help you in these instances. 

Technical Aspects of Coverage 

When putting together your pet liability insurance, you will have to do your research. Your home insurance agent will gladly help you do so. 

Keep in mind, pet bite liability insurance usually does not cover damage to property damage done by the pet (either to your own belongings or someone else’s). Additionally, some policies exclude certain breeds, often termed aggressive breeds, from coverage. Policies will not cover exotic pets. You can determine if breed exclusions apply by checking your policy documents. 

Plus, even if you have pet liability insurance, this is no excuse for you to neglect training your pet, teaching them proper discipline and keeping both them and guests comfortable in the presence of each other. That way, you’ll create a much higher level of personal security for yourself, and reduce your household liabilities overall.