Is Homeowner’s Insurance Required to Cover Dog Bite Related Personal Injuries in the State of Florida?

In the State of Florida, dog are present in virtually every neighborhood. Dog ownership is both a great job and an important responsibility. In the State of Florida, a dog owner is strictly liable when the dog bites another person. While there are some exceptions to this general law and rule, the dog owner is typically liable for the dog bite related injuries in the State of Florida. When a person is bit by a dog, there is often a question or issue as to insurance question. As a Florida Child Injury Lawyer, the following question is often asked:

The simple answer to this question is "No". Of course, there is more to the question and answer as stated. First, if there is dog bite related coverage under the homeowner's insurance policy, then the insurance carrier should provide compensation for the dog bite victim; however, many insurance policies in the State of Florida either do not cover dog bite related injuries or there is an exception or exemption in the Florida homeowner's insurance policy for dog bite related injuries.

There is no Statewide requirement in Florida that a dog owner carry liability, homeowner's, or renter's insurance that provide coverage for dog bite related injuries. While there are minimum insurance requirements for automobile owners in the State of Florida, there is no correponding requirement for insurance for dog owners in the State of Florida. In fact, some counties do not even require any registration or tagging of dogs as a requirement of dog ownership.

When an adult or child is bit by a dog, there are often many challenges including those related to medical care, medical bills, insurance, and, yes, the legal rights of the dog bite victim. The book - The ABCs of Child Injury - Legal Rights of the Injured Child - What Every Parent Should Know - has chapters on Dog Bite Injuries, Automobile Accidents, Day Care Center Injuries, School Injuries, and other topics. You can get this book for free at The ABCs of Child Injury.