Dog Bite Liability Insurance in California

Dog owners in California should consider getting dog bite insurance liability coverage for any injuries their dog could cause. You could be held liable under the state of California’s strict liability rules regardless of whether your dog bit someone in the past, or whether your dog is generally friendly. Even the smallest dogs can cause scarring from a bite.

How much insurance for a dog bite should an owner have? You should have at least $100,000 for liability with $1,000 set aside for medical payments. It’s preferable that you have at least $300,000 in liability coverage plus $5,000 for medical payments. Note the average dog bite claim in California is just over $50,000.

Dog owners should have one or multiple policies under your homeowners, renters or pet liability insurance. An umbrella policy is usually another inexpensive way to obtain insurance for dog bites.

Follow these general guidelines to getting insurance for dog bites:

1. Have a dog insurance policy if you don’t have homeowners or renters insurance.
2. If your renters or homeowners insurance won’t cover dog accidents, consider an umbrella policy that covers dog bites and other injuries.
3. If you don’t have an umbrella policy, consider canine liability insurance.
4. If your homeowners or renters insurance policy covers dog accidents, but liability coverage isn’t enough, supplement it with an umbrella policy or dog bite liability insurance.

Review your policy with your insurance company carefully, as some exclude specific dog breeds from covering bites, especially breeds thought to be more vicious. If your dog belongs to an excluded breed, bite injuries won’t be covered by your insurance

Below, we’ve listed some providers of dog liability insurance in California. Always shop around for the best liability insurance for your dog and needs. In offering this public information, our attorneys are not endorsing the companies shared below.

Dean Insurance Agency

Formerly known as the Federation of Insured Dog Owners, or FIDO, this company is licensed to provide canine liability coverage for dog injuries and property damage in every state except Alaska and Kentucky. Every breed is included as each dog is underwritten individually. The coverage applies whenever your dog bites, scratches, scares or knocks somebody over, even off your premises.

Policy limits range from $25,000 to $300,000.

Einhorn Insurance Agency

Einhorn Insurance offers a general liability policy for dog liability insurance. This insurance company claims that dog breeds normally excluded on other policies are included on theirs. They underwrite dogs on a case-by-case basis.

Einhorn Insurance also works with landlords to offer tenants insurance for their dogs. They cover rescue and foster dogs as well.

Lester Kalmanson Agency

Lester Kalmanson Agency offers canine liability insurance for all breeds to individual dog owners. They also have experience insuring commercial dogs in entertainment and law enforcement, and have options for landlords and homeowners associations.

XINSURANCE

XINSURANCE offers dog bite insurance and general animal liability insurance for other accidents. They cover all dog breeds including those with a dangerous reputation. They share that they have comprehensive insurance options and cover service, therapy and work dogs.

Trupanion

Trupanion is a provider of pet insurance that offers a wide range of reimbursements for medical issues. They have a Pet Owner Assistance Package which includes third-party property damage liability coverage.