You know your pit bull wouldn’t hurt a fly. After all, it hides from the neighbor’s cat. But your homeowners insurance company may be tougher to convince.
Unfortunately, even if the dog you are hoping to adopt is very tame, pit bulls are considered by most insurance companies to be an aggressive breed. An attack by a pit bull can have devastating consequences; and for this reason, many insurance companies specifically exclude liability coverage for pit bulls and other aggressive breeds such as German Shepherds, Rottweilers and Siberian Huskies. In other cases, insurance companies may include pet liability coverage for these breeds, but at a cost.
This is a situation where working with your agent can really help. Your agent can help you review your current policy to see if there are any exclusions for certain breeds of dogs and can help you determine how much your rates will increase—if at all—in the event that you do adopt the dog. This might be a good time to let your agent shop around to see if you can secure a policy that meets your coverage needs at an even better rate. Remember, you must notify your insurance company about your pet ownership in order to ensure that you are covered for pet liability. Do not lie about the dog’s breed, as that can result not only in an unpaid claim, but it can also make it hard for you to get coverage in the future.
If you want to keep the homeowners policy you currently have, but it excludes pit bull liability coverage, you still have options. Your agent can help you find and secure a competitively priced canine liability insurance policy. This type of policy will include coverage for dog bites and other pet-related injuries, property damage liability, medical bills, vet bills, income compensation for injured parties and attorney’s fees. You may also want to speak with your agent about increasing your liability protection through an umbrella policy.
Call us for a quote on your insurance or with any questions you have about coverage for your furry friends.
AZ Insurance Team 480-535-5709 https://www.azinsuranceteam.com/contact
*All policies are a little different and this may not be applicable to your insurance policy, talk to your agent to see what your policy covers.