Sadly no matter how careful you are, you can't prevent all possible incidents from taking place on your property. Even worse, sometimes they're not even your fault. So what happens if your neighbor’s dog bites a stranger on your property? Who’s responsible for this mess, anyway?

Fortunately a Kentucky independent insurance agent can help you answer this question and get you set up with the right homeowners insurance to protect you from this scenario and many others. To begin with, here’s a breakdown of how your coverage would protect you in this case.

Who’s Responsible If a Neighbor’s Dog Bites a Stranger on My Property in Kentucky?

It's the dog's owner that would be responsible, said insurance expert Paul Martin. It doesn't matter whose property the dog was on when it bit the stranger, it's always the owner of the dog that assumes the fault.

Therefore, it would be your neighbor's responsibility to go through their Kentucky homeowners insurance to cover related costs. Your neighbor might have to defend themselves in a lawsuit or pay medical costs if the stranger got injured by their dog.

Which Insurance Policy Would Cover the Dog Bite?

Your neighbor's homeowners insurance would kick in to cover them after a dog bite incident. But you could even choose to file a claim through your own homeowners insurance if it was just a minor incident that didn't lead to an injury.

The stranger might mistakenly take the incident out on you and press charges. In that case, your homeowners insurance policy would pay to defend you in court, though you'd likely not be found guilty for the incident. Your Kentucky independent insurance agent can explain further.

Could My Neighbor's Dog Not Be Covered by Their Insurance?

It's possible your neighbor's insurance wouldn't cover a dog bite incident, especially if their dog was of a restricted breed. Some breeds are notoriously excluded from coverage by homeowners insurance companies because they're stereotypically aggressive or violent. Check out the chart below to see more.

America’s most dangerous dog breeds

Pit bulls, Rottweilers, and German Shepherds are often not covered by homeowners insurance because they're some of the most commonly dangerous breeds in the US. Pit bulls were responsible for 284 fatal attacks on humans in the observed period, while Rottweilers were responsible for 45 attacks, and German Shepherds for 20 attacks.

It's critical to find out if your homeowners insurance will cover your dog's breed. If not, you might end up paying out of pocket for any accidents like this one. 

If They Had Coverage, How Would My Neighbor's Insurance Protect Them?

Assuming their policy covered their specific dog's breed, your neighbor's homeowners insurance would provide protection for them in two major forms after an incident like this:

• Legal defense: Your neighbor's policy would pay to defend them in court if the stranger sued them for the dog bite by paying for attorney fees and more.
• Medical costs: Your neighbor's policy could also reimburse them for medical payments to the stranger to treat their injuries caused by the dog bite.

Keep in mind that your Kentucky homeowners insurance could also protect you in this scenario, even though it wasn't your fault. Speak with your Kentucky independent insurance agent for more details.

What If I'm Held Responsible for Bites by My Neighbor’s Dog?

Really the blame should never fall on you for a bite caused by your neighbor's dog. But still, a disgruntled stranger who just got bitten on your property might mistakenly place the blame on you, and even sue you. Thankfully you'd be covered by your own homeowners insurance policy.

The stranger could even be held responsible for the attack if they were behaving in an enticing manner towards the dog that provoked aggression. So, it might actually not even be your neighbor's responsibility, or yours, at all.

Here’s How a Kentucky Independent Insurance Agent Can Help

Independent insurance agents are fully equipped to protect homeowners against commonly faced disasters. Kentucky independent insurance agents shop multiple carriers to find providers who specialize in homeowners insurance. 

They can deliver quotes from a number of different sources and help you walk through them all to find the best blend of coverage and cost.