When a dog causes injury to another dog, the negligent owner of the dog has breached their duty of care. This means that they are responsible for the dog's injuries and any other resulting damage. To receive compensation for expenses related to a dog attack, the owner of the injured dog must prove that the attack occurred because its owner was negligent. The law presumes that dog owners have a legal “duty of care” to prevent their dogs from harming other animals.
To establish negligence, you must prove that the owner breached that duty and that the breach caused your dog to suffer harm. Washington law says dog owners are responsible for any injury their dog causes to another person through a dog bite. While the law may be clear about a dog biting another person, things become a little less straightforward when a dog bites another dog. In this case, an analysis of the specific facts of each case will often be needed to determine which owner is responsible.
From a legal point of view, dogs and cats are personal property. Unfortunately, the liability does not extend to the mental or emotional distress that a dog owner suffers due to the injury or death of their pet. The State of California classifies dogs as an owner's personal property.Therefore, the owner of an injured dog can sue according to a theory of liability for property damage. Interference with property must be “intentional”.
This means that, as the owner of the injured animal, you must prove that the other owner became aware of the dog's vicious tendencies. The owner sued for the value of the pet, as well as for inflicting emotional distress and mental trauma.This means that a dog owner who has been injured in a dog fight can file a claim with the other owner's insurance. Victims may also be harmed for intentionally inflicting emotional distress. While most states have a one-bite rule when it comes to dog attacks, they also have a common law against dog owner negligence.
The more witnesses he has to support his claim that the dog had violent tendencies, the stronger his claim will become.If the dog does not have substantial financial value, your best option may be to file a lawsuit in small claims court if the attack was the result of negligent handling or if the attacking dog has a history of previous attacks. Except in these special circumstances, value is limited to fair market value when a dog bites another dog.Most animals are territorial and when they feel that a dog or person is violating their personal space, they can attack. Sometimes aggressive dogs can attack other dogs, or even people, causing serious injuries and incurring costly medical bills.That said, if your dog bites another dog, it's probably your responsibility to pay for all damages. Fortunately, like other types of dog bite injuries, pet owners can seek compensation when their pets are injured in an attack or fight.
If there is time, take out any paper you can find and ask witnesses to write down what they saw, especially focusing on which dog started the attack. You need to know your rights and obligations, what you will need to prove that the other dog owner is responsible, and how to seek compensation from them.If your pet did not require emergency treatment immediately after the attack, there are some useful tips for caring for your pet and those who handle it. But if you leave that same 12-pound Pom loose to run in a dog park, and she goes after a Rottweiler on a leash, a quick snap from the big dog and it's all over.
