What happens to me if my dog attacks someone resulting in a broken bone?

Question

I am reading all the rules and regulations about a dog attack in my state because I want to buy a pit bull and want to be safe. All the sites I have read that are about what you can be sued for or held liable for and what defenses an owner can use only mention dog bites. Well a pit bull is a strong dog, what if it were to jump onto someone and result in a broken arm or leg or any bone. Do the same bite rules apply? Am I as the owner defended if my dog was provoked the same way they apply for bites?

Edwin K. Niles · Answer

In CA, a dog owner is strictly liable for any injury from his dog. Better get plenty of insurance coverage.

Andrew Velonis · Answer

Yes, the same rules apply.

Stephen Lombardi · Answer

Yes the same rules apply. You have a duty to control your animal.

Wayne Wimer · Answer

Not enough detail to answer your question. The answer depends upon where the "jump" takes place, i.e. in a place where the injured person is a trespasser, or in the public square, or on your business property and the like.

Ronald A. Steinberg · Answer

If a dog injures someone in an unprovoked attack, the dog owner is responsible.  Getting a pit bull, in my opinion, is asking for trouble.  They are known for being aggressive, which means there is a strong likelihood of them attacking without provocation.  Even if your insurance company covers the first dog bite, they will dump you after that, and so you would have no coverage when the second attack occurs.

Georges Shers · Answer

The law should be the same whether it is a bite or broken bone. You also need be aware that some insurance companies have an approved list of dogs and may not included pit bulls under their coverage or may cancel your insurance policy or that of the apartment owner. Pit bulls are dangerous and a trier of fact is not likely in any future incident to give you the benefit of the doubt if you are alleging the dog was provoked.

James Eugene Hasser · Answer

You are liable if your dog has known vicious propensities and bites someone. He gets one free bite and then you are on notice of his vicious propensity in Alabama. Good luck.

James Kelaher · Answer

In Florida, we have a statute that says if you own a dog, and the dog injures someone, the owner is strictly liable. The only defenses are posting a sign that says "warning- bad dog" or if the dog is provoked by the bitten person.

William Andrews · Answer

In Utah, the law is clear that if your dog attacks and injures a person, you are liable.

John Brennan · Answer

The best thing for you to do is to buy a homeowners or renters policy with very high limits that allows claims for domestic animal attack liability, and, I think, consider a different breed as you do not seen to think you will be able to control a pit bull.

Paul Whitfield · Answer

Your are responsible for your dog. If you buy a vicious dog, expect him to act accordingly. You may be sued, bite, break or explosions, if he hurts someone you will likely be sued.

David Stoddard · Answer

Liability for a dog attack is the same, regardless of whether it is for the dog jumping on someone, or biting.

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What happens to me if my dog attacks someone resulting in a broken bone?

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