Homeowners can be sued for a dog bite and attack if the dog belonged to the homeowner, the homeowner was taking care of the dog or, in some cases, if the dog was on the homeowners property. Our first step with these cases is to find out if the homeowners insurance policy covers dog bite injuries and, if so, how much the coverage is.
Most homeowners insurance policies cover personal injury and wrongful death caused by a dog if the owner is legally responsible. This means the insurance company is liable to pay money for damages up to the policy limit. You can contact our lawyers regarding your dog bite claim in Minnesota, and we can obtain a copy of the homeowner’s insurance policy to find out how much money may be available.
You can contact our dog bite attorneys by calling 1-888-377-8900. Our offices are in Minneapolis, MN, and we represent clients throughout the state.
Some Dog Breeds Not Covered by Insurance
Some insurance companies are excluding bites by certain breeds from coverage. In these cases, our lawyers need to find alternative sources for payment of the dog bite claim.
The breeds not covered may include the following:
- Alaskan Malamute;
- Akita;
- Boerbel;
- Chow Chow;
- Doberman Pinscher;
- English Bull Terrier;
- German Shepherd;
- Kyiapso;
- Mastiff, American Bondogge Mastiff, Neapolitan Mastiff;
- Pit Bull breeds, including American Staffordshire Terrier, American Pit Bull Terrier and Staffordshire Bull Terrier;
- Presa Canario (Dogo Canario, Canary Dog, Peroo Basto, Verdino);
- Rottweiler;
- Siberian Husky;
- Wolf Hybrid; and
- any dog that is a mix of an ineligible dog breed.
Compensation for Dog Bite
If you or a loved one has been bitten by a dog, you may be able to obtain compensation for:
- medical expenses (including needed reconstruction);
- future medical treatments;
- psychological counseling;
- broken glasses;
- loss of earnings;
- pain and suffering; and
- disfigurement.
In most Minnesota, you can also recover compensation even if the dog never bit anyone before. The “one bite” rule no longer applies. Formerly, dogs were not considered dangerous until they had bitten a second time.