Your Pet And The Law
By: lar
What can I do if my dog bites my neighbor? If your dog bites your neighbor, it depends on the
circumstances; however, for the most part, you are responsible and the neighbor can file a
strict liability charge against you, which means you are responsible to pay for the damage
caused, including but not limited to medical expenses, psychological expenses, and other
expenses, such as court costs and so forth.
Strict Liability cases are next to impossible to get out of, but if your neighbor holds any
responsibility, then it is possible you may have an excuse with the courts. In other words,
if your neighbor walks freely up to the pet that is tied properly on a chain knowing the
animal is aggressive, then you might have a chance in a courtroom.
Strict Liability is often “automatic responsibility.” In this particular liability case, the
plaintiff (accuser) rarely has to prove beyond doubt that the animal caused the harm. Thus,
if you have an aggressive pet, it is wise to have third party pet insurance to cover your
grounds in the event your pet attacks another individual.
The best legal advice you will get is to have third party liability coverage, coupled with
following strict rules, such as keeping the pet in a pen or on a chain, and never allowing
him/her to run free. You may also want to check the laws in your state, since some states
have laws against particularly aggressive pets, such as Bull Dogs, Pit Bulls, German
Shepherds and so forth. Finally, third party travel pet insurance is also great to have,
since if you travel frequently with your pet, and that pet causes damage or harm to
someone, you are liable–and will be responsible for paying for any bills associated with
an incident.
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