What If the Dog Owner Has No Insurance — Am I Out of Luck?

When the dog owner appears uninsured, most victims assume the case is dead. Often it’s not — there’s typically more coverage available than the owner even knows about.

The Short Answer

Not necessarily. Many dog owners THINK they have no coverage but actually do — most homeowner’s and renter’s policies cover dog bites by default. Beyond that: even truly uninsured owners can be sued personally, and Michigan judgments can be collected over time through wage garnishment, asset liens, and bank account levies. Your own insurance policies may also provide partial coverage. The case is harder when there’s no insurance, but “out of luck” is rarely the right conclusion.

Video coming soon — Solomon Radner answers this question

The Detailed Answer

Discovering the dog owner has no insurance is one of the most discouraging moments in a dog bite case. Victims often give up at this point — but they shouldn’t, because the assumption of uninsured is wrong more often than it’s right, and even when correct, several recovery paths remain.

Step 1: Verify insurance status (it’s usually there)

Most dog owners don’t know what their homeowner’s insurance actually covers. They tell you “I don’t have insurance for this” because they’ve never thought about dog bite coverage. In reality:

Most homeowner’s policies include $100,000-$300,000 in personal liability coverage
Dog bites are explicitly covered under most standard policies
Renter’s insurance (HO-4) also typically includes liability coverage
Some umbrella policies provide additional coverage beyond the primary policy

An attorney can subpoena the dog owner’s insurance information if necessary. Don’t accept the owner’s word that there’s no coverage — verify it.

Step 2: Check insurance breed and dog exclusions

If the policy exists but doesn’t cover the specific dog (due to breed exclusions or prior bite history), you’re in different territory. The owner remains personally liable, but the insurance carrier won’t pay. This is when personal pursuit becomes the main path.

Step 3: Personal pursuit of the owner

If insurance truly is unavailable, you can still sue and recover from the owner personally. Michigan judgments are enforceable for 10 years (renewable). Collection options include:

Wage garnishment
Bank account levies
Property liens (including against the home)
Asset seizure in some cases

For middle-class dog owners who own homes or hold steady jobs, personal pursuit often yields meaningful recovery — sometimes over years.

Step 4: Your own coverage

Some Michigan victims have coverage paths in their own policies:

Your own homeowner’s/renter’s policy may have Medical Payments coverage ($1,000-$5,000 typical)
Health insurance handles the bulk of medical costs (subrogation may apply later)
Disability insurance covers lost wages if you can’t work

What This Means for Your Case

“No insurance” is not the end of your case. It changes the path forward and may reduce the case value somewhat (collection from a person is slower than from an insurer), but Michigan victims with no available insurance frequently still recover meaningful amounts. Get the case evaluated before giving up. See our detailed guide on what to do when the dog owner has no insurance.

Bitten by a dog in Michigan? Call 1-800-LAWSUIT or request a free case review. No fee unless we win.