At Cary-Wheeler & Associates Inc., we help Richmond, VA residents better understand their home insurance options. For example, we can give you the insight that you need to grasp better whether your pets are covered and what kind of high-quality protection you may receive.
Pet Damage: Are You Covered?
When your pet damages your home due to inappropriate behaviors (such as cats scratching the walls or dogs tearing up carpets), your homeowner’s insurance policy usually will not cover the repairs. This type of damage is considered an assumed risk of owning a pet and does not get covered.
That said, if your dog does damage somebody else’s property when they are visiting you (such as a dog breaking someone’s expensive items when jumping on them as a greeting), your liability coverage may help out. That will depend on your exact policy, though, so make sure that you check this fact.
Pet Bites: Will You Be Protected?
Liability coverage on your homeowner’s policy should protect you if your dog or cat bites someone and seriously injures them. Your policy will pay up to its limit, which will vary based on your policy. And if you have an umbrella insurance option, that will kick in to pay the extra amount of the lawsuit.
Not every pet owner will need an additional liability policy, though, as bites are usually quite rare. That said, if you own multiple dogs and know that they have bitten people in the past, it might be worth seriously considering this additional policy to ensure that you don’t end up experiencing complications.
Learn More About This Coverage
If you need high-quality home insurance in Richmond, VA, please contact us at Cary-Wheeler & Associates Inc. to learn more. We’ll help you understand your pet policy choices and give you the insight that you need to manage this concern smoothly and efficiently.