Guides

Who pays for a dog bite

Nearly everything published about homeowners insurance and dog bites is written for the dog's owner, because policyholders are the insurer's customer. These pages are written for the person who was bitten.

• Your neighbour's dog bit you. Do you have to sue your neighbour?
  In most cases the claim runs against a homeowners or renters liability policy, not against the neighbour personally. What that actually means in practice.
• How to make a claim against someone else's homeowners insurance
  The mechanics of a third-party liability claim after a dog bite: who to contact, what a claim number is, and what the adjuster is for.
• The dog's owner has no insurance. What now?
  What to check before concluding there is no coverage: renters policies, landlord liability, umbrella policies, and breed exclusions.

Last reviewed August 2026