Third Party Liability Insurance for Dogs
What's covered and what you need to do
Third Party Liability for Dogs
Dogs bring endless joy to our lives, but even the most well-behaved pets can find themselves in unexpected situations. Whether it's accidentally damaging someone's property, running into the road and causing an accident, or injuring someone or another pet, dog owners could find themselves legally responsible for the consequences.
That's where third party liability insurance for dogs comes in. In this guide, we'll explain how third party liability insurance works, what's covered, what isn't covered, and what steps you should take if an incident happens.
What Does Third Party Liability for Dogs Actually Mean?
Third party liability for dogs is designed to help cover the costs if your dog accidentally injures someone, causes someone's death, or damages another person's property and you're legally liable.
Cover can include legal fees, compensation claims and veterinary costs for injured pets. Without party liability cover, you could be personally responsible for paying these costs.
For example, a claim could arise if your dog:
- Bites, injures or causes the death of another person
- Injures or causes the death of someone's pet
- Causes a road traffic accident where your dog has run in front of a vehicle and caused damage to a vehicle and/or injury or death to a person
- Damages another person's property
The financial consequences of these incidents can be significant, which is why many pet owners consider party liability insurance an important part of their cover when insuring their dog.
How Does Third Party Liability Insurance Even Work?
If your dog causes injury, death or property damage and a claim is made against you, the incident is assessed to decide whether you're legally responsible.
If you're found liable, you may be covered for:
- Court-awarded compensation and legal costs
- Legal costs involved in defending the claim
The amount paid will be limited to the maximum benefit shown in your policy documents. It's important to check your Certificate of Insurance carefully, so you understand the limits under your policy.
Everypaw policyholders are responsible for the first £250* of any compensation or legal costs for property which has been damaged.
*The excess payable may vary depending on the age of your policy. Always check your policy documents for confirmation.
Vet Fees | £1k, £2k, £3k | £4k | £6k, £8k, £10k |
|---|---|---|---|
Dogs only | |||
Third party liability | £2,000,000 | £2,000,000 | £2,000,000 |
What’s Covered by Third Party Liability Insurance?
Third party liability Insurance covers the costs if your dog injures someone, causes someone's death, causes injury or death to someone’s pet or damages another person's property and you're legally liable.
If your dog injures somebody and you're held legally responsible, the policy can help cover compensation and legal costs.
Examples include:
- Your dog knocking over a pedestrian
- Your dog causing a cyclist to crash
- Your dog biting or scratching another person
- A dog attack which results in the death of another person
If your pet attacks and injures someone's pet and you're held legally responsible, liability cover for dogs can provide compensation and legal costs.
Examples include:
- Your dog accidentally injuring someone else's pet
- A dog attack which causes the death of someone else's pet
If your dog causes accidental damage to someone else's property, liability cover can help pay compensation.
Examples could include:
- Damaging someone else's furniture
- Damaging a neighbour's fence
- Damaging personal belongings
- Causing damage while escaping from your garden
If somebody makes a claim against you, our insurer can appoint legal representatives and cover the legal costs of defending the claim. This can be valuable if the incident leads to court proceedings.
Everypaw can provide cover if you've asked someone to look after your dog free of charge. This is subject to our policy terms and conditions.
What Happens If My Dog Damages Someone’s Property or Injures Someone?
If your dog damages someone’s property or injures someone, it's important to stay calm and act responsibly.
1. Don't admit liability
Even if your dog caused the incident, avoid admitting fault or offering payment. DO NOT admit your dog was at fault and DO NOT offer to pay any vet fees or compensation to anyone until you have spoken to us.
2. Secure your dog
Move your dog to a safe location to prevent any further incidents.
3. Make sure everyone is safe
If anyone has been injured, seek appropriate medical assistance immediately.
4. Contact us
Contact us as soon as you are aware of the injury, death, or damage being claimed against you. Even if nobody has formally made a claim yet, call us on 0344 543 1050.
5. Take photographs
Photographs of injuries, damage and the scene can help support any future investigation.
6. Exchanging of details
DO NOT give anybody information or help them claim against you, unless you have received confirmation from us to do so.
7. Keep all correspondence
If you receive letters, emails or legal documents relating to the incident, forward them to us straight away.
You need to bear in mind that the exact liability cover available can vary between insurers.
What Do I Do If Another Dog Attacks Me, My Pet or Damages My Property?
If another dog injures you, your pet or damages your property, there are several steps you should take.
What do I do if I’m injured by another dog?
Third party liability cover is not intended to provide cover directly for you. If you’re injured by someone’s dog, it will be your responsibility to claim against the third party for compensation.
If you are injured, remain calm and present, the following guidelines may be helpful:
- Seek medical attention if required
- Record details of your injuries
- Gather witness information
- Take photographs where possible
- Secure the third party’s information and prompt them to contact their insurer and discuss liability
- Seek legal representation if required
What do I do if my pet’s injured?
Your first priority should always be your pet's welfare. Always try to remain as calm as possible.
- Secure your pet and make sure they're safe
- Contact a vet immediately, especially if they’re seriously injured
- Collect any witness details and photographs
- Keep copies of all vet bills and treatment records
- Contact us as soon as possible
What do I do if my property’s damaged?
- Photograph the damage
- Keep repair estimates and receipts
- Contact us as soon as possible
What Isn’t Covered by Third Party Liability Insurance?
As with all insurance products, some situations won't be covered under third party liability insurance.
Common incidents that aren’t covered by third party liability can include:
Claims involving you, a family member or people living in your household will not be covered.
It also won't cover claims from people that were looking after your dog with your permission, or people that work for you.
Liability insurance is designed to cover damage caused to other people's property, not your own belongings.
It also won't cover damage claims from people that were looking after your dog with your permission, or people that work for you.
The policy won't cover property damage that's in your care, custody or control.
Claims connected to your business activities, employment or professional work are excluded.
Bear in mind that while it is common to take your dog to work, they won't be covered for third party liability while they are at work with you.
Dogs that live or are kept on a property licensed for the sale of alcohol will not be covered for third party liability.
Insurance won't cover criminal fines, penalties or court-imposed punishments. We won’t cover any fines or penalties imposed on you relating to criminal proceedings. This includes any amount a court requires you to pay to punish you or to try to stop the same circumstances that led to the incident happening again or because you have caused someone distress, embarrassment or humiliation.
Cover is restricted to incidents that happen in the UK, Channel Islands and Isle of Man. You will not be covered for third party liability while away on holiday outside of these areas.
Everypaw won't cover claims if your dog has accidentally injured or caused the death of another person or damaged someone else's property and we discover that when you bought or renewed the policy you failed to tell us that your dog had previously shown any aggressive behaviour towards another person or animal.
Third party liability cover does exclude certain dog breeds and dogs that fall under legislation relating to dangerous dogs. We don't provide cover for any dog that must be registered under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 and/or the Dogs (Muzzling) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1991, or any American Bulldog, American Indian Dog, American Pit Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, American Bully, Bandog, Boerboel, Bully Kutta, Canary Dog, Cane Corso, Czechoslovakian Wolfdog, Dingo, Dogo Argentino, Dogue Brasileiro, Fila Brasileiro, Gull Dong, Husky Wolf Hybrid, Irish Staffordshire Blue Bull Terrier, Irish Staffordshire Bull Terrier, Japanese Tosa, Pit Bull Terrier, Saarlooswolfhond, Tosa, Tosa Inu, Wolf Hybrid, Wolfdog, XL Bully, or any dog crossbred with any of these breeds.
We do insure the following breeds and crossbreeds, but we don't provide third party Lliability cover for them:
Akita, Cirneco dell'Etna, Dogue de Bordeaux, Japanese Akita, Korean Jindo, Mexican Hairless, Neapolitan Mastiff, Northern Inuit/Eskimo Dog, Portuguese Podengo, Seguguio Italiano, Shar Pei and Utonagan.
Claims involving your dog worrying or chasing farm animals (livestock) will not be covered.
Our third party liability won't apply if you are already insured under any other home contents or liability policy, unless the cover provided by that policy has already been used up. You must tell us about any other insurances you have so that we can contact the other insurer to agree which insurer will handle your third party liability claim and what our liability will be to pay any compensation, costs and fees.
Why Dog Third Party Liability is Important
Third party liability Insurance comes as standard in dog insurance policies to provide valuable protection for dog owners. It helps cover compensation and legal costs if you’re held legally responsible for injury, death or property damage caused by your dog.
Most dogs will never cause a serious incident. However, even friendly pets can react unexpectedly when frightened, startled or excited. A dog could escape through an open gate, run into the road, knock someone over or accidentally damage valuable property.
Without party liability insurance, the financial consequences could be substantial to you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Third Party Liability Insurance for Dogs isn't a legal requirement in the UK.
However, under UK law, dog owners can be held legally responsible if their dog injures someone or causes damage to another person's property.
Even if your dog has never shown any signs of aggression, accidents can happen. That's why many people choose pet insurance policies that include liability cover.
Everypaw includes third party liability with our dog insurance policies unless the breed or previous behaviour excludes it.
Bear in mind, not all pet insurance policies include third party liability Insurance. Some providers may not include it at all while others may offer it as an optional extra.
It's important to remember that cover levels, exclusions and the maximum benefit can vary between insurers.
When comparing third party liability pet insurance, consider:
- The maximum benefit available
- Any excess payable
- Exclusions relating to dog breeds
- Territorial restrictions
- Legal defence costs included
- Whether compensation and legal costs are covered
Only dogs with third party liability insurance can benefit from the cover.
You can find out if Third Party Liability is covered by checking your Certificate of Insurance.
Please note that this cover only applies to dogs.
Typically, Third Party Liability coverage varies from £1 million to £3 million. Please refer to your Certificate of Insurance for the coverage limit under your policy.
Please call us on 0344 543 1050. We'll give you with all the information and advice you need to submit your third party liability claim.
Yes, an excess will be applied to third party liability claims. You’re responsible for paying the first £250 of any costs or compensation awarded. Please be aware that the cost is subject to change, and the excess may be different on some older policies.
You'll find the amount on your Certificate of Insurance.
No, the policy won't provide cover for property belonging to you, your spouse, civil partner, partner who you currently live with, children, parents or other relatives who normally live with you.
It also won't cover claims for property damage from people who were looking after your dog with your permission, or people who work for you.
No, we won't cover any claim if your dog was worrying, chasing, injuring or causing the death of farm animals (livestock).
No, our policies don't provide cover for legal fees relating to criminal court proceedings. The cover is designed to provide cover for third party claims against you.
Your cover may vary depending on your policy, and the age of your pet. If you submit a vet fees claim we would be able to review your claim.
DO NOT respond to the letter. Call us immediately on 0344 543 1050 and forward a copy of the letter to us.
Call us on 0344 543 1050. DO NOT make or offer to make payments to anyone unless you've received written confirmation from us to do so.
No. Once we review the claim, we'll arrange legal representation if needed.
All our third party liability claims are handled by our partner Davies Group Limited. All the information, letters and claim forms we collate is referred to them. Once a claim is opened, Davies will investigate and handle your claim.
After a third party liability claim for an incident involving your dog, we may decide not to continue to cover your dog for third party liability when you renew your policy.
If we do decide this, we'll let you know in writing and change the price you pay after we've removed third party liability from your cover.
Where can I get a quote for dog liability insurance?
With Everypaw, we automatically add your dog’s liability insurance cover in your quote. Though there are some dog breeds we're unable to cover for third party liability, we believe it’s important for our customers and their dogs to be as best protected as possible. That’s why we include it as standard with our dog insurance policies.
