Legal Question in Civil Litigation in Virginia
dog biting dog
A friend came over to my house to visit me with her dog. In the
process of getting the dogs acquainted, my dog apparently nipped
my friend's dog. When my friend got home she noticed dried blood
on the dog's coat. She took the dog to the vet 5 days later since
her dog was licking and irritating the wound. The dog needed 7
stitches and cost $350 in vet bills. Am I liable for these costs?
What other costs could I be liable for?
2 Answers from Attorneys
Re: dog biting dog
It is hard to say. Probably not unless friend actually sued
you and there was a trial. There are a lot of reasons why
the incident may have occurred. If there is nothing you
did in terms of negligence then you are not liable. Your friend would have
to prove that you breached your duty of care to his or her dog to
prove liability. On the other hand, you might consider offering to
help as a gesture of kindness and friendship.
Re: dog biting dog
It really is a dog-eat-dog world out there.
Yes, if the dog's owner were to take you to small claims court you could be held liable for the vet bills if the court found you were negligent. This is not your worst problem.
Your worst problem is, if your dog should bite a HUMAN in the future, the present incident might serve as proof that you knew you had a vicious dog, and it might significantly up the stakes in THAT lawsuit to include the possibility of punitive damages. Dog-bites-human cases don't require proof of negligence. And don't call your insurance company even to ask about dog bite risk-related questions, or they will cancel you, just like that.
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