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Are My Pet Medical Bills Covered in a Car Wreck?
December 9th, 2008
For many of us, our dogs and cats are part of the family. They have a place on our couch at night, a corner of our room to sleep in and of course a spot in the family car for outings and adventures. But when we search for car insurance online, do we think about our furry friends when requesting car insurance quotes? Some of us do, yes. But it slips most of our minds.
So, if the pet is injured, will their medical costs be covered by our car insurance company? The best answer we can give is, maybe. It depends on who was at-fault in the accident, and the amount of car insurance coverage secured by the drivers.
In most cases, the pet's injuries will only be covered if the accident was not your fault. The other driver's liability coverage should cover the medical costs of you and your pet. If the other driver does not have insurance, which is illegal in nearly all states, then you have the option of suing him/her for damages. Either way, the good news is, yes, you will be able to recoup the medical costs for your injured pet.
Now if you are the driver at fault, things get a little trickier. When you were shopping for car insurance quotes, did you stipulate you wanted your pets to be covered in your policy? If not, then review your policy with your agent and see if it is covered under another section. If you have comprehensive coverage, the chances are very good. Sometimes it may even be covered under collision coverage. Why? Because a pet can be considered "property" and therefore if the pet is hurt, it could be classified as "property damage."
There are some insurance companies that offer Pet Protection. Search for car insurance online, and you can find these companies, and request car insurance quotes to see if you can afford their rates. In the meantime, here are some tips and pointers to keep your pet safe while traveling:
• Do not let dogs hang their heads out the windows. While they may love the air rushing through their fur, it is very dangerous. They can get foreign articles in their eyes, or even worse they could slam their head into an oncoming object or vehicle. It also increases the risk of the dog falling out of the car or jumping out of the car.
• Put your pet in a carrier for travel. The hard plastic carriers will protect the animal if you are in an accident.
• Use a seatbelt. There are many pet-specific seatbelts now sold at pet stores that fit all vehicle makes and models.
• Don't let the animal on your lap while driving. Not only does it increase the dog's risk of injury, but you have less control over the wheel if you need to maneuver to avoid an accident.
Use these tips to help protect your furry friend, but also check for car insurance online and get some car insurance quotes from companies that offer pet coverage. And if they don't offer specific pet coverage, see what other parts of their policies would cover such an event.
