Maybe. Whether car insurance covers pets in a car accident depends on a few factors including:

Your Insurance Company

Some auto insurance companies do not cover injuries to pets as part of any of their auto insurance policies. Other companies offer the coverage, but only in certain states. And then there are companies that provide the coverage automatically, at no additional cost, with their full coverage or collision policies.

The companies that do provide coverage for pets injured in auto accidents vary in the amount of damages they will pay. The range of damages most will pay is between $500 and $2000.

The Specific Policy

Even if you have auto insurance with a company that does offer coverage for pets injured in auto accidents, you should read your policy carefully and ask your agent to confirm your coverage.

Your particular policy might not provide pet injury coverage. For example, an insurance company might only offer pet insurance if you have full coverage.

Note: You should also check whether the policy covers animals other than dogs and cats. It might not cover reptiles or birds that suffer injury in accidents. 

Who Was At Fault

Some auto insurance policies will only pay damages for injuries to your pet if you were not at fault in the accident.

If you were at fault, you may be responsible for the vet bills out of pocket.

What if my car insurance does not cover my pet? 

If your auto insurance policy does not cover the injuries to your pet, do not give up. If another driver was at fault for your accident, you might be able to recover compensation for your pet’s injuries from that party.

However, it is important to note that you would have to recover compensation under that person’s property damage policy as pets are property under the law.

You can also use your pet’s health insurance to cover the damages while you wait for your claim to finalize.

Is there anything else I need to know?

Even if the other driver’s policy does end up covering your pet’s injuries, you can expect the insurance adjuster to blame you for the injuries, especially if you did not take the proper steps to ensure your pet was safe and restrained in the car.

While this does not mean it will be impossible to recover compensation, it will likely make it much more difficult, especially if you try to file your claim without the help of a Fort Lauderdale car accident lawyer.

How can I get help recovering compensation?

If your pet has been injured in an auto accident, you need to carefully read your insurance policy to see if it provides coverage. These policies will likely be confusing and require an in-depth knowledge of insurance law to understand.

The team at Montero Law Center knows the tricks insurers pull to confuse their policyholders. We will evaluate your policy and claim to determine if the insurance company should pay for the damages suffered by your pet.

If you can hold another party liable for the injuries, we will navigate that process for you and ensure you get the compensation you and your pet deserve.

Call us today at 954-767-6500 to schedule a free consultation.