This is the second segment of our comprehensive blog series on equine insurance. Our first segment covered insurance options providing various coverages for equine mortality, injury, and loss of use. This second segment will be covering private horse owner equine liability insurance. Private horse owner insurance covers you when or if your horse were to cause bodily injury or property damage. Horses are large animals that can be unpredictable and often come into contact with persons other than their owners, so it is important to consider private horse owner equine liability insurance. At CW Equine Law, we understand how complex equine insurance can be and have all the information you need to decide if private horse owner equine liability insurance is right for you.
What is Private Owner Equine Liability Insurance?
Private equine owner liability insurance protects you against claims filed against you if your horse causes bodily injury or property damage, on and off your premises. Your horse must be for personal use to qualify for this type of liability insurance and cannot be involved in any activities bringing in revenue. Typically, private equine insurance covers up to $1 million in liability coverages but can vary depending on the insurance plan.
Applications of Private Owner Equine Liability Insurance
Lending your horse to your friend may not seem like a big deal, until someone gets hurt and you are hit with a personal injury or property damage claim. What about if your horse gets loose near a road and injures a motorist, pedestrian, or cyclist? There are many instances where even when best courses of care and safety are untaken, accidents still happen. Horse owners are encouraged to find liability insurance policies that properly suit the activities they undertake with their horses and that consider the location where their horses reside. Many equine owners assume their homeowner’s liability insurance covers them against injuries or damages their horses caused, but this is not always the case. Due to the complexities of equine insurance policies, guidance from an experienced equine attorney will ensure your horse is fully protected.
Examples of incidents typically covered by private horse owner equine liability insurance include:
- A horse escaping the property and causing an auto collision.
- A horse kicking someone and causing life-threatening injuries.
- A horse causing damage when traveling or while stabled on someone else’s property.
- A horse injuring a child who entered onto the property the horse is lcoated.
How to Choose the Right Liability Policy for You
Choosing the right policy can be daunting because there are many factors to consider in equine laws and policies, such as location, premium costs, coverage limitations, horse usage(s), and more. Remember, private horse owners’ equine liability insurance is best suited for horses used for recreational purposes. To ensure your horse is fully protected and you are selecting the right type of coverage, consult an equine attorney with any questions or concerns you may have about the policy and its exclusions and limitations. In our upcoming third and final segment of this equine insurance blog series, we will cover liability coverage for commercial uses of horses.
Consulting Clayborne & Wagner for Equine Insurance Policies and Coverage Disputes
It only takes a second for an accident to happen with your horse. When it does, you want to ensure that you have the safety and security to cover the damages. At Clayborne and Wagner’s Equine Law Division, our team of experienced equine attorneys knows the ins and outs of equine law and liability and is here to support you. Guidance from our qualified equine attorneys will provide the clarification and legal advice you need to feel confident in your equine insurance policy. Contact us today and receive a free 30-minute consultation for all your equine insurance questions and needs.