Claim default coverage animal owner liability: Comprehensive protection against insolvent perpetrators
13 May 2025
3
Minutes
Katrin Straub
Managing Director at nextsure
Your pet is injured by another, but the owner cannot cover the damages? The claims failure coverage in the pet owner's liability insurance steps in and protects you from six-figure costs. Find out how this important component works and why it is indispensable for every pet owner.
The topic in brief and concise terms
The claim default coverage under pet owner liability insurance comes into play if a party responsible for injuring your animal is unable to pay.
Prerequisites usually include a known damaging party, a legally binding title, and an unsuccessful enforcement attempt.
Pay attention to high coverage amounts, low or no minimum damage thresholds, and the inclusion of damage caused by persons incapable of committing a delict.
Understanding Default Cover: Your Financial Lifeline
Claims deficit coverage is an additional component of your dog liability insurance or horse liability insurance. It comes into play if you or your animal are harmed by another person's animal. If the owner of the causing animal cannot pay, your insurance will step in. This protects you from financial ruin, as veterinary costs can quickly reach four or five figures. Many pet owners underestimate this risk, with over 4.7 million uninsured or underinsured individuals in Germany. The claims deficit coverage fills a critical gap in insurance protection. This clearly highlights the importance of this coverage.
Practical examples: When loss coverage in animal owner liability insurance specifically helps
Imagine your dog is bitten by another dog while on a walk and requires surgery costing 3,000 Euros. The owner of the other dog has no pet owner's liability insurance and is personally insolvent. Without claims settlement coverage, you would be left with these costs. With this protection, your insurance covers the costs upon presentation of an enforceable title. Another example: your horse is injured in the pasture by a foreign horse, treatment costs 5,000 Euros. Here too, the claims settlement coverage pays if the other horse owner cannot pay. Such cases are not uncommon and can affect any pet owner. The coverage amounts often reach up to several million Euros. These examples show how quickly a financial shortfall can arise without appropriate protection.
Important conditions for claims
For your insurance to provide claims settlement coverage, several conditions usually need to be met. These are crucial for your claim:
The perpetrator must be known by name. Anonymous perpetrators are usually not covered.
There must be a legally binding title against the perpetrator (e.g., a court judgment or a notarised acknowledgment of debt). This officially confirms your claim.
An attempt at compulsory enforcement against the perpetrator must have proven unsuccessful. Often an enforcement record from the bailiff is required.
The damage must exceed a possibly agreed minimum level. This can be, for example, 500 or 2,500 Euros.
No other insurance (e.g., an animal health insurance of the perpetrator) covers the damage.
The damage must be reported to your own insurer promptly and truthfully.
The exact conditions can vary depending on the insurer and policy. Therefore, checking the terms of your liability and legal insurance is essential.
Scope of coverage and exclusions: What is typically covered?
The claims default coverage typically covers personal, property, and sometimes financial damages caused to you by third parties. In the claims default coverage for pet owner liability, these are typically veterinary costs for your injured animal. Compensation for pain and suffering for you as the owner might also be included if, for instance, you get injured while trying to separate the animals. The coverage amount often corresponds to the general insurance sum of your pet owner liability, which can be several million euros. Some policies even cover damages caused by children incapable of tort or their animals. Look for policies with no or low minimum damage thresholds for optimal protection. However, there are also exclusions you should be aware of.
Typical exclusions of the claims default coverage
Not every damage claim is covered by the claims default coverage. Common exclusions are:
Damages caused by the injurer in the course of a professional or commercial activity.
Damages intentionally caused by the injurer (although some premium policies may cover this).
Damages related to war, civil unrest, or natural disasters like earthquakes.
Pure financial losses, unless explicitly included in the policy.
Legal pursuit costs, unless active legal protection is part of the claims default coverage.
Damages for which another insurance (for example, your own home contents insurance in case of property damage in the home) would be primarily responsible for coverage.
These exclusions highlight the importance of carefully reviewing the contract details before you take out a special insurance.
Expert Depth: Legal Foundations and Recent Judgments
The legal basis for claims for damages is primarily found in the Civil Code (BGB), particularly Section 833 BGB regarding animal owner's liability. This section states that the animal owner is liable for damages caused by their animal – and this liability is irrespective of fault. Claims default coverage is a contractual agreement with your insurer and not a statutory obligation. Courts consistently confirm the necessity of a legally binding title and a failed enforcement attempt as a prerequisite for claims default coverage. A ruling by the Coburg Regional Court (Case No. 13 O 150/11) highlighted the liability of a dog owner, even when there was no direct biting attack, but rather a person was frightened by a barking dog and fell, causing costs of 6,500 euros. Our expert tip: Always meticulously document the circumstances of the damage and witness statements. This greatly facilitates the later assertion of your claims. A precise understanding of the legal situation is of great importance for animal owners, as our article Muss ein Hund versichert sein? explains.
Distinction from personal liability and other insurances
Liability insurance with claims coverage is also available in personal liability insurance. However, for damages caused by animals, the specific claims coverage for pet owner liability is responsible. Your personal liability insurance typically does not cover damages caused by dogs or horses; for this, pet owner liability insurance is essential. A pet health insurance plan, on the other hand, covers veterinary costs for your own animal, regardless of whether a third party is at fault. It can be a sensible addition but does not replace claims coverage, as this can also cover other damages (e.g., compensation for pain and suffering for you) and applies when someone else should pay but cannot. It is important to coordinate various insurances for comprehensive protection. More information on why you need liability insurance can be found in our blog. Understanding the differences will help you choose the right policies for your situation.
nextsure Expertise: Your partner for tailored protection
As a digital insurance portal, it is our mission at nextsure to offer you tailored and easy-to-understand insurance solutions. The claim shortfall coverage for pet owner liability is a prime example of how important specialized protection can be. We help you find the plan that best suits you and your pet, paying close attention to all relevant details such as coverage amounts, minimum claim amounts, and any possible exclusions. Our experts know the pitfalls and understand what is essential to ensure you are not left in the lurch in the event of an incident. Benefit from our expertise and a fully digitized consultancy. We analyse your individual situation and show you how you can optimally secure yourself and your four-legged friend, even when the dog liability insurance doesn't pay. Contact us for an individual risk analysis.
Request an individual risk analysis now: Have your insurance situation reviewed for free and receive specific optimisation suggestions.
More useful links
Wikipedia offers comprehensive information about pet owner's liability insurance in Germany.
On Gesetze im Internet, you can find the exact wording of paragraph 833 of the German Civil Code (BGB) regarding liability for damages caused by animals.
FAQ
Warum ist eine Forderungsausfalldeckung für Tierhalter so wichtig?
Sie schützt Sie vor hohen finanziellen Belastungen, wenn Ihr Tier durch ein anderes Tier geschädigt wird und der verantwortliche Halter nicht für den Schaden aufkommen kann. Die Zahl der nicht oder unzureichend versicherten Personen ist beträchtlich.
Welche Voraussetzungen müssen erfüllt sein, damit die Forderungsausfalldeckung leistet?
Typischerweise müssen der Schädiger bekannt sein, ein rechtskräftiger Schuldtitel gegen ihn vorliegen und ein Zwangsvollstreckungsversuch erfolglos geblieben sein. Oft gibt es auch eine Mindestschadenhöhe.
Deckt die Forderungsausfalldeckung auch Schäden ab, die im Ausland passieren?
Das hängt vom jeweiligen Tarif ab. Gute Tarife bieten auch Schutz bei Schäden im Ausland. Prüfen Sie dies in Ihren Versicherungsbedingungen.
Gibt es eine Mindestschadenhöhe bei der Forderungsausfalldeckung?
Ja, viele Tarife sehen eine Mindestschadenhöhe vor, beispielsweise 2.500 Euro. Es gibt aber auch Tarife ohne oder mit geringerer Mindestschadenhöhe.
Was ist der Unterschied zur normalen Leistung der Tierhalterhaftpflicht?
Die normale Tierhalterhaftpflicht zahlt, wenn Ihr Tier einen Schaden bei Dritten verursacht. Die Forderungsausfalldeckung zahlt, wenn Ihnen oder Ihrem Tier ein Schaden durch Dritte (deren Tiere) zugefügt wird und diese Dritten nicht zahlen können.
Sind Schäden durch vorsätzliches Handeln des Schädigers auch abgedeckt?
In Basistarifen sind vorsätzlich herbeigeführte Schäden oft ausgeschlossen. Einige Premium-Tarife können jedoch auch hier leisten.
