Yes, renters insurance will generally cover dog bites. However, you should still review the precise terms of your policy. Some renters insurance policies have important limitations on what they cover. There will also typically be a policy limit. This is the maximum amount of money the insurance company will pay after a dog bite. Review your policy closely.
Renters insurance covers dog bites
The general rule is that renters insurance covers damage or injuries caused by your dog. It is a type of liability insurance. If your dog causes harm, the policy protects you by paying the victim for their losses up to the policy’s limits.
The liability coverage of your renters insurance policy is often divided into:
- bodily injury liability, and
- property damage liability.
The bodily injury provision covers personal injuries caused by your dog, including those caused by a dog bite. The property damage provision covers situations where your pet damages or destroys someone else’s personal property, such as by digging up a garden or chewing a fence.
There may be limitations
Some renters insurance policies have strict limitations on what they cover. The 2 most common limitations are:
- restrictions on what dog breeds are covered, and
- limitations on coverage based on where the bite occurred.
The dog bite lawyers at our law firm have found that these limitations are more common and severe in inexpensive renters insurance policies.
Dog breeds
Lots of renters insurance companies have breed exclusions. These are outright refusals to cover dogs of a certain breed. Other companies may offer coverage for these breeds, but only at a higher rate. The insurance provider State Farm has a reputation as being pet-friendly, and typically only considers a dog’s bite history.
The most common breeds to be excluded from coverage, or to increase the premium for coverage, are:
- Pit bulls,
- Rottweilers,
- Mastiffs,
- Great Danes,
- Akitas,
- German Shepherds,
- Doberman Pinschers,
- Siberian Huskies,
- Staffordshire Terriers,
- American Bulldogs,
- Chow Chows, and
- Presa Canarios.
Insurance companies justify these exclusions by claiming that these breeds are dangerous and more likely to bite someone.
Some states have passed laws that forbid these breed restrictions. Among these states are:
Bites outside the apartment
Some renters insurance policies only cover bites that happen in certain areas. Some exceptionally strict policies only cover bites that happen inside the apartment or rental property.
Our personal injury lawyers have handled dog bite cases that were not covered by renters insurance because the bite happened:
- in a dog park,
- on a sidewalk away from the rental property,
- on the grounds of the apartment building, but outside, and
- inside the apartment building, but in a common area away from the apartment.
Review your renters insurance policy closely to make sure you are covered.
If you are getting renters insurance, compare different policies and get the coverage you want.
Policy limits in pet liability insurance
Renters insurance, like other types of liability insurance, will have a policy limit. This is the amount of loss that the insurance company will cover. Once the coverage limit has been hit, you will be held personally liable for whatever still has to be paid.
The higher the liability limit, the more coverage you will have. This is important if your dog bites someone and causes severe injuries.
You generally want a policy limit that will easily cover an average dog bite case. According to the Insurance Information Institute (III):
“In 2023, the average cost per claim for injuries caused by a dog bite was $58,545”[3]
No pet liability coverage for pet owners
Renters insurance typically provides liability coverage for all of the members of your household. Because you, as the pet owner, are held liable for damages caused by your dog, this means your renters insurance does not cover dog bites that you or another household member suffers. You would pay for your losses out of your own pocket or through your health insurance.
Renters insurance coverage versus pet insurance
Renters insurance is different than pet insurance.
Renters insurance is a form of liability insurance, or “third party” insurance. It covers losses suffered by others through your negligence, including your negligent dog care.
Pet insurance is a type of “first party” insurance. It is basically a health insurance policy for your pet. It covers your medical expenses if your pet:
- gets sick,
- gets hurt, like if they get bitten by another dog or hit by a car, or
- needs preventative care at the vet.
Compared to homeowners’ insurance
Renters insurance is similar to homeowner’s insurance. Both have liability provisions that cover dog bites.
However, homeowner’s insurance will generally cover dog bites that happen off your property. This is more generous than renters insurance, which may be limited to bites that only happen inside the apartment. You should still check your homeowner’s insurance policy to make sure that this is the case, though.
Obviously, homeowner’s insurance is only available to you if you own the property.
How to add a pet to a renters insurance policy
Generally, you can just call your renters insurance company. An insurance agent will ask some questions about the dog, particularly about:
- the dog’s breed, and
- whether it has bitten anyone in the past.
There may also be a way to add a pet to your policy online or through the insurer’s phone app.
If the insurance company refuses to cover the dog, you can get an animal liability policy from another company. You can also get an umbrella insurance policy. An umbrella policy is personal liability coverage that protects you from insurance claims for damages done through your negligence, no matter how it happened. This would also cover a dog attack or other losses that your pet causes.
It may make your premium go up
Renters insurance with pet liability coverage may be more expensive than a policy without it. However, this is not always the case: Some renters insurance companies use policies that include pet liability in the base coverage. If this is the case, then adding a dog would not increase the premium at all, unless you wanted additional coverage like a higher policy limit.
How much your renters policy premium would go up depends on numerous factors, including:
- where you live,
- the breed of dog,
- your dog’s age,
- your dog’s bite history,
- the policy limit, and
- the deductible.
If the pet insurance policy covers an exotic pet, the premium may go up significantly depending on the type of pet.
How to file a claim
If you have been bitten by a dog, suffered significant injuries, and the dog’s owner has renters insurance, you can file a dog bite claim against the insurer. The insurance company should have a clear liability claims process. After following the instructions for making a claim, an insurance adjuster will review your case. If you are covered by the policy and it is clear that the dog owner is liable, an initial settlement offer will be made.
You should consult with a personal injury attorney, especially if your injuries are severe and your medical costs are high. The initial settlement offer is often far below what you are entitled to receive.
You may struggle to succeed on a claim if:
- you treated the injuries on your own and so do not have medical bills,
- the costs of your treatment are under the policy’s deductible, or
- you provoked the dog.
If the dog owner has no insurance, you will have to look elsewhere to get compensated for your losses.
Legal Citations:
[1] New York Senate Bill 4254 (2021-2022).
[2] Nevada Senate Bill 103 (2021).
[3] Insurance Information Institute, “Spotlight on: Dog bite liability,” (April 8, 2024).
