Does Renters Insurance Cover Dog Bites?

Yes, dog bites are covered by renters insurance. If you're a tenant with a dog, we recommend getting renters insurance because it often covers dog bites and other damages your canine may cause.

Dog breeds excluded from renters insurance coverage

Most dog breeds are covered by personal liability protection under renters insurance. However, several dog breeds are excluded by insurers, which means they will not pay for any injuries or damages caused by that dog. Renters insurance companies will not cover the following dog breeds because the risk of a claim is too high to insure.

Breeds commonly excluded from liability coverage

*Dog breeds are listed in no particular order.

According to their American Kennel Club profiles, the majority of the dogs listed above are medium or large breeds with "confident" and "loyal" personalities. While some may be feared or thought to be more aggressive than others, this is not true for many, including the Siberian Husky. Regardless of a dog's temperament, their size and strength undoubtedly influence the amount of harm they can cause — even if unintentionally. As a result, the frequency and severity of renters insurance claims are likely to be affected.

If you buy an excluded dog breed or if your dog (regardless of breed) bites or attacks someone, do not lie about it or fail to notify your renters insurance company. If Fido causes injuries or damages, your failure as a policyholder may be grounds for a claim denial. A company may even decide not to renew or cancel your policy.

Renters insurance is typically inexpensive, but a cancellation can be especially damaging because it is recorded in a database and other insurance companies will be aware of it in the future, potentially leading to higher rates. To avoid this situation, simply shop around for a comparable-priced policy that does not exclude your dog breed — you should never go without renters insurance.

Filing an insurance claim for a dog bite

A personal liability claim for a dog bite should be handled in the same way as any other renters insurance liability claim, whether for an apartment or a single-family home. A policyholder should notify their renters insurance company as soon as someone is bitten and injured. What happens next is determined by the injured person's medical bills or property damage claims.

A dog owner is unlikely to have to file a claim if the injured person did not have to go to the hospital and bandaged a minor injury themselves. In fact, depending on their deductible, they may be unable to file one at all. However, if the person bitten by the policyholder's dog requires hospitalization for stitches, reconstructive plastic surgery, or other medical attention, the cost will almost certainly justify a liability claim.

In that case, the bite victim's insurance company may work directly with the policyholder's insurance company or sue the dog owner. Whatever situation a dog owner finds himself or herself in, renters insurance personal liability protection will cover the costs up to the policy's limit.

Dog bite statistics

According to a 2015-2016 survey by the American Pet Products Association, there are approximately 77.8 million dogs owned as pets in the United States, and they result in a surprising number of bites. Every year, approximately 4.5 million people are bitten in the United States, with approximately 885,000 requiring medical attention, half of whom are children, and many resulting in liability insurance claims.

A 2015 study conducted in collaboration by the Insurance Information Institute and State Farm discovered that one-third of all homeowners insurance liability dollars paid out were related to dog bites, totaling more than $750 million. According to the study, while the number of dog bite claims decreased by 7.2 percent from 2014 to 2015, the average cost per claim increased by 16 percent, to $37,214. Between 2003 and 2015, the average cost increased by 94 percent.

Although no data on renters insurance liability claims was available, national data on homeowners insurance liability claims is likely to provide some indication of what it might be like. The average cost of a claim for a renter and a homeowner is likely to be very similar.

Are other pets covered?

Select dog breeds aren't the only animals excluded from renters insurance's personal liability coverage. Exotic, farm, or saddle animals are also excluded from almost all renters insurance liability coverage, regardless of a company's dog breed restrictions. These animals include anything with hooves, reptiles, primates, and birds.