How does civil liability for dogs work, and what are its uses?

 A pet can cause physical or material damage. Since you are responsible for your dog, you may have to pay for the repair of the damage it has caused. This is why liability insurance that takes your dog into account is not a luxury. Find out why it is useful and how this type of coverage works.

Are you responsible for your dog when it causes damage?

Article 1242 of the Civil Code states that you are liable for damages you cause, but also for damages caused by people for whom you are responsible (your children, for example) and things in your care. This includes dogs.

Article 1243 reinforces this liability: "The owner of an animal, or the person who uses it, while it is in his use, is responsible for the damage that the animal has caused, whether the animal was in his care, or whether it was lost or escaped." This means that even if your dog caused damage while he escaped from the house, you remain responsible for him.

The owner is automatically liable for damage caused by his pet without the need to prove any fault. The purpose of this provision is to protect victims and to force owners to monitor and control their pets. Damage can affect people, animals, or property. This could be a bite, but also the breakage of an object, or even a traffic accident caused by the dog.

The only element that mitigates liability is the fault of the victim himself, but this is difficult to prove.

Please note: if your dog is being looked after by a professional or is in a veterinary clinic, then the person responsible for looking after him is responsible.

Similarly, if you have your pet looked after by a friend or neighbor, even for free, it is the latter's liability insurance that will apply in the event of an incident involving a third party. This is a case of "transfer of custody.". On the other hand, the friend or neighbor will not be covered by their insurance if your dog causes them damage. The transfer does not take place if your friend or neighbor comes to your home to feed your pet in your absence.

The consequences are financial: the owner may then be ordered to pay for repairs or damages for physical or moral harm. He may also have to pay for legal proceedings to try to defend himself.

Do all liability insurance policies cover damage caused by our pets?

Most multi-risk home insurance policies cover damage caused by dogs, as they include liability insurance. They cover damage to third parties and damage caused to the owner and their family members. However, this cover may be limited or exclude certain animals, including categorized or unidentified dogs. Sometimes, it is the context (certain competitions, for example) that is excluded. It is always prudent to report the presence of your animal in your home to your insurer to ensure that it is insured. Sometimes, an additional premium may be requested.

It is advisable to check your contract or contact your insurance. If your pet is not covered, there are extended warranties or specific contracts with most insurers. This allows you to find the guarantee that exactly matches your needs, depending on your dog and the context in which you want to be protected.

What is dog liability insurance?

Dog liability insurance is independent of home insurance. It will cover the costs to be paid to repair the damage caused by the animal: third-party medical expenses, repairs, compensation, etc. It offers a certain peace of mind. Unlike other insurances, it is specific to the damage that the dog can cause. It therefore does not take into account the health costs of the dog itself or any other expenses. In this specific case, you need animal health insurance.

To subscribe to civil liability insurance, you generally have to fill out a questionnaire in which you specify the breed of your four-legged friend, its age, its size, etc.

This guarantee only works in a private context. If your dog injures a third party in the context of a professional or commercial activity, you must be covered by professional civil liability insurance. Similarly, for hunters, it is the hunting contract that covers the loss if it occurs during a hunting trip. Finally, when the event takes place during a sporting activity, it is the guarantee of the sports license that comes into play.

Category 1 and 2 dogs (attack, guard, and defense dogs and similar dogs) require civil liability insurance, as they are generally excluded from multi-risk home insurance. This has been mandatory since the law of 6 January 1999 on so-called dangerous dogs.

What happens if my dog causes damage?

In the event of a loss, you must report the loss within 5 days, providing details, specifying the circumstances, and adding the contact details of the victims.

The insurer usually sends an expert to assess the damage. This helps determine the amount of compensation to be paid to the victims. Then, the insurer pays a sum of money to the injured person according to the terms of the contract. Payment deadlines vary from one company to another. Sometimes, a deductible is deducted. If there is disagreement on the terms of reimbursement, you can contact a mediator or even take legal action.

Please note: If your dog causes harm to you or a member of your family, liability insurance will not apply.

How do I choose the best insurance?

Depending on your needs, you will have to compare offers. Either you go through an online comparator or you compare the different options, costs, deductibles, coverage limits, and exclusions yourself. You must be sure that the offer meets your specific needs, adapts to the context in which you want to be covered, to the breed of your dog, and to your budget. Do not hesitate to ask other owners for their opinion or to search for it on the Internet. It is always useful to know if the customer service is as good after signing the contract as before. Knowing if the insurance is quick in paying compensation is also very useful in making a choice.

Although it can be tedious, it is important to read all the clauses of the contract to be sure that you are well covered. Check the exclusions and the amount of the deductibles; this will avoid unpleasant surprises.

How to avoid incidents?

To prevent your dog from running away from home to get into trouble, the best thing to do is to secure your garden. Also consider neutering your pet, as it will be less adventurous when mating season arrives (in spring).

If you adopt him young, make sure he is well socialized and educated. Your dog must discover all kinds of people, vehicles, situations, and noises so as not to stress out and risk biting out of fear. When a dog is well socialized and well educated, he is less likely to cause accidents.
In addition, you should not leave your dog unsupervised in a place where he can escape on his own. If he is not perfectly comfortable with being recalled, walk him on a leash and, if he is categorized, with a muzzle.

Finally, learn to recognize the signs of stress. A fearful animal is more unpredictable. If you know how to decode your dog's non-verbal language, you will be able to intervene more quickly and prevent incidents.

Civil liability insurance for a dog offers you peace of mind by protecting you from the financial and legal consequences if your dog causes damage to a person, an animal, or the property of others. It deserves to be chosen carefully to meet your needs and the context in which your dog is likely to cause an incident. It is all the more useful if your animal is categorized. However, we always hope that it will not be necessary to activate it, and for this, it is advisable to put in place as many preventive measures as possible.