Dog walking insurance provides liability protection for dog walkers in the event that services result in accidents, injuries, legal fees, and other financial expenses. Recent statistics suggest that there are approximately 4.7 million dog bites every year with 800,000 people seeking medical attention. Invest in quality dog walking insurance to keep your business and employees protected from professional and general liability.
Coverwallet began its journey in New York City in 2015 operating under the
Aon Insurance banner. At Coverwallet, you can access everything you need to
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Hiscox is fully aware and trained in the unique risks a business can face.
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Accidents and unexpected events can happen when you run a business. You may be walking your dog and the dog bites another person, or perhaps the dog gets sick under your care and requires medical attention from a vet.
Dog walking insurance can help you protect your business against legal defense costs, claims of negligence and errors, third-party property damage, and third-party bodily injury.
Who needs dog walking insurance?
Dog walking insurance is not mandatory however, dog walkers who run their own business or employ others to work for them, can benefit from dog walking insurance to help protect against the financial losses, risks, and liability of their business.
What insurance do dog walkers need?
When taking out dog walking insurance, it’s important to consider different types of coverage and policies to adequately cover your business for losses. The most common types of coverage are:
General liability: General liability insurance can help cover you for basic risks and a range of accidents that can happen while you are walking a dog or if you are on someone else’s property. It can help pay for medical payments, property damage, legal fees, and judgments. For instance, if accidental harm is caused to a client or pedestrian, or the dog gets injured while on a walk, legal action can be bought against you where you need to hire a lawyer to defend yourself.
Professional liability: Professional liability insurance helps to protect your business against claims of negligence, errors, and omissions where your services result in a financial loss for the client. Coverage can include professional negligence, legal defense costs, and legal judgments. For instance, as a dog walker, if you provide professional dog training services or animal care guidance that has a negative financial impact on your client, you could be liable to pay for damages.
Typically, you can purchase professional liability insurance as a standalone policy or as a combined bundle with general liability coverage.
Workers’ compensation insurance: If your business hires employees, you should consider workers’ compensation insurance to help pay for medical care or loss of income due to a workplace injury. It can help cover your business from financial losses due to an accident. In many states, it is a mandatory requirement after you hire your first employee.
Coverage for dog walking insurance will cover businesses when faced with allegations of negligence, third-party property damage, and third-party bodily harm resulting in a lawsuit. Typically, policies will include:
Legal defense: If your dog injures itself while on a walk, the client may hold you responsible and seek legal action. Dog walking insurance can help cover legal defense costs if you get sued.
Property damage: If you accidentally cause damage in your client’s home or the dog causes damage to someone else’s property while you are on a walk, you can be covered for the damage caused.
Bodily injury: If your dog bites another person while out for a walk or causes harm to a passer-by, with dog walking insurance you can be covered for medical expenses owed to the third party.
Errors and omissions: Included with professional liability insurance, you are protected against claims of negligence and errors that lead to a financial loss for your client.
Depending on your insurance policy, there are likely to be certain exclusions. Common exclusions for general liability insurance can include tools and equipment used in your business, professional mistakes, and workplace injuries.
For professional liability insurance, common exclusions include false advertising, employee injuries, intentional wrongdoing, illegal activity, and property damage.
What are the limits of dog walking insurance?
Like all insurance policies, there will be limits to the coverage your policy will provide. The aggregate limit is the maximum amount an insurance company will pay out in one year for any number of claims. For instance, if your policy has an aggregate limit of $500,000, and you’ve made two claims of $250,000 each, any additional claims during that policy period will not be covered.
The per occurrence limit is the maximum amount that you will be covered for a claim during the term of your policy. It’s important to know the limits when choosing your dog walking insurance policy, as any additional claims will result in out-of-pocket expenses for your business.
How much does dog walking insurance cost?
The cost of dog walking insurance can vary depending on the coverage type you take out. General liability insurance can range from $5 to $27 per month and increase to $9 to $51 per month with professional liability insurance included.
Your premium can depend on:
Coverage limits: The more extensive your coverage limits, the higher your premium.
Size of your business: With more employees, you are likely to require more extensive coverage as the likelihood that an incident can occur increases.
Location: In a busy urban area, you can have more accidents due to a larger population and more vehicles on the road that can potentially cause an accident while walking your dog.
How to choose the best dog walking insurance?
It’s important to understand the terms and conditions before purchasing a dog walking insurance policy. Before you select a plan, here is what to look for:
Consider services provided: If you’re offering dog training, pet sitting, and dog grooming services in addition to dog walking services you may need more extensive coverage such as professional liability insurance.
Additional insurance coverage: If you own or drive a vehicle for your business, you should consider commercial auto insurance to cover you for medical expenses and collision repairs.
