What happens if our pets are injured in a car accident? Whose auto insurance company pays to treat their injuries? The answer would usually depend on the cause of the accident.
Riding in cars can be dangerous for pets and can be very distracting to the driver. Our pets ride without the benefit of seat belts, thus increasing the danger for them. If someone crashes into you and causes injuries to your pet, you're entitled to make a "third-party claim" with their auto insurance company for your pet's medical bills. That's because their liability car insurance policy must put you "back where you were" before the accident.
If you are at-fault in a car accident in which your pet is injured, you will need to check your car insurance policy for exclusions. If you crash into another car, collision insurance pays for the repairs to your own vehicle. But you may also have an exclusion on your collision insurance coverage for damage to personal property that you are transporting such as your pet. If your car insurance policy has exclusions like that, are won't have a valid claim. However, auto insurance coverage may vary depending on the car insurance company, so be sure to thoroughly check your policy.
What if someone comes to visit you and your dog goes to lie down under their car. Then, unknowingly, the visitor backs over your pet. Your visitor will be liable for your dog’s injuries but not under the bodily injury section of his car insurance policy. Bodily injury pays out for injuries sustained by any "one person" in an accident. Since your pet doesn't qualify as a person, he is not covered by this portion of the car insurance policy.
However, your pet qualifies as your "personal property," and you have the right to be "put back where you were" before the accident. You'd have the right to make a claim on your visitor's car insurance policy for your dog's medical bills, just as you would have the right to make a claim if the driver backed over your lawnmower.
Pets are part of the family, and the death of a beloved dog or cat can lead to extreme grief. However, state laws do not recognize the loss of personal property as valid claims for "loss of companionship" compensation, unlike the loss of a spouse. In the unlikely event your pet is killed in an accident, you can likely make a claim only for the "market value" of your pet.
Therefore, it is important to be safe when traveling with pets in your car. Check with your car insurance company to determine if your pet is covered by your car insurance policy.
Riding in cars can be dangerous for pets and can be very distracting to the driver. Our pets ride without the benefit of seat belts, thus increasing the danger for them. If someone crashes into you and causes injuries to your pet, you're entitled to make a "third-party claim" with their auto insurance company for your pet's medical bills. That's because their liability car insurance policy must put you "back where you were" before the accident.
If you are at-fault in a car accident in which your pet is injured, you will need to check your car insurance policy for exclusions. If you crash into another car, collision insurance pays for the repairs to your own vehicle. But you may also have an exclusion on your collision insurance coverage for damage to personal property that you are transporting such as your pet. If your car insurance policy has exclusions like that, are won't have a valid claim. However, auto insurance coverage may vary depending on the car insurance company, so be sure to thoroughly check your policy.
What if someone comes to visit you and your dog goes to lie down under their car. Then, unknowingly, the visitor backs over your pet. Your visitor will be liable for your dog’s injuries but not under the bodily injury section of his car insurance policy. Bodily injury pays out for injuries sustained by any "one person" in an accident. Since your pet doesn't qualify as a person, he is not covered by this portion of the car insurance policy.
However, your pet qualifies as your "personal property," and you have the right to be "put back where you were" before the accident. You'd have the right to make a claim on your visitor's car insurance policy for your dog's medical bills, just as you would have the right to make a claim if the driver backed over your lawnmower.
Pets are part of the family, and the death of a beloved dog or cat can lead to extreme grief. However, state laws do not recognize the loss of personal property as valid claims for "loss of companionship" compensation, unlike the loss of a spouse. In the unlikely event your pet is killed in an accident, you can likely make a claim only for the "market value" of your pet.
Therefore, it is important to be safe when traveling with pets in your car. Check with your car insurance company to determine if your pet is covered by your car insurance policy.
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