Question: Who is liable for a dog bite?
In most cases, the owner of the dog is liable for any of a victim’s injuries from a dog bite. However, there are some exceptions to this:
- If someone other than the owner of the dog is taking care of the dog and had control over it. People considered “keepers” of a dog that injures another person can also be found liable for the injuries. Keepers are often defined as those that attempt to manage, control, or care for a dog, with or without the owner’s permission. However, judges have sometimes defined “keeper” very broadly. Dog groomers at work, animal shelters, and even helpful employees taking their boss’s dog for a walk have all been interpreted as keepers at some point, and held liable. In some cases the rightful dog owner can be held liable in addition to the keeper.
- A landlord who knew about a tenant’s dangerous dog, but didn’t do anything about it. While it is rare for a landlord to be held liable for attacks by a tenant’s dog, it does happen. Most often, a landlord is held liable when they had actual knowledge that a tenant’s dog was dangerous and they could have had it removed, or when they helped care for or control the tenant’s dog.
- The owner of the dog is under the age of 18. If the dog is cared for or owned by a minor, then the minor’s parents are liable for any injuries that the dog may cause. Some states explicitly say this in their laws, while others rule that parents are liable because they can be considered “keepers”.
- The dog was on someone else’s property when the attack occurred, and the property owner knew the dog to be dangerous. If someone allows a dog to remain on their property, they may be liable for injuries caused by the dog if they could have reasonably foreseen the danger or were careless. For example, if a dog is tied up outside a store and bites someone, in addition to the dog owner, the store owner may be held liable because he could have foreseen that the dog may bite someone. However, liability in these situations is often at the discretion of whatever court they’re being tried in.
Virginia Dog Bite Lawyer Richard Serpe
A dog bite is a devastating experience, especially when the victim is a small child. Victims of dog attacks face serious physical injuries, permanent scarring, and emotional trauma. So if you were attacked or bitten by someone else’s dog you are probably trying to figure out what to do next. Contact Virginia dog bite lawyer Richard Serpe to discuss your legal options.