Legal Question in Civil Litigation in Georgia
liability dispute over dog attack
My dog is a 60 lb. black lab mix. My next door neighbor has a 10 lb. minature pincher. The neighbors dog was standing on a small incline in the front yard barking and my dog got out and ran towards the barking pincher. The smaller dog came in my yard and the dogs met. My dog jumped on the small dog and I called my dog to me. My dog returned to me within 10 to 12 seconds. The small dog got up and ran back towards its house. About 1 hr. later my neighbor called and said they had to take their dog to the vet. because it had been badly hurt. Now two days later they are trying to get me to pay a $2,000.00 vet bill and get rid of my dog. I told them no to both and he said he was taking me to small claims court and he treatened my dog. What legal responsibility do I have to pay this vet bill? I think that is an outrageous vet bill and the dog may have to go back for more treatment. What should I do?
2 Answers from Attorneys
Re: liability dispute over dog attack
You bear responsibility for damages your pet caused since you were negligent in letting iut get loose.
Your homeowners or rental insurance, unless it has exclusions, probably provides coverage, and you should immediately stop talking to the neighbor and should have already reported it to them so they can defend the claim or pay it.
Re: liability dispute over dog attack
If the small dog came onto your property and hte fight occurred there, then you may have a defense. Most local municipalities have some knid of ordinance regarding keeping dogs under control or on a leash. It also sounds like your dog was provoked.
If you have homeowner's insurance, you shoud report this incident to them so that thye can investiagte and provide legal representaiton to you if your neighbor does file suit. if you do not notify your insurer and you proceed to defend the claim yourself, you may viod any coverage that you have.
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