A member asked
almost 9 years ago
If I have to go to the doctor because a dog bit me, can I send the medical bill to the owner?
I was walking down the street and a yapping dog came outing bit my ankle quite badly and I had to get stitches and a tetanus shot. Can I send my medical bill to be paid by the owner of the dog?
Researchers at LawAdvisor
Hi there. Whether you can get the dog owner to pay you medical bill will depend on whether you have a claim for compensation under public liability law. Based on the information provided, it seems that you may have a legal claim against the dog owner for negligence.
Whether you have a legal claim against the dog owner will depend on many factors, particularly relating to the circumstances surrounding the incident. You would essentially need to prove:
(a) that the dog owner owed you a duty of care;
(b) that the dog owner breached that duty of care (e.g. by failing to keep the dog on a leash); and
(c) as a result, you were injured and suffered loss as a result of the dog bite.
If a successful claim can be made, it is likely that the dog owner would have to compensate you for any loss you have suffered. The amount of compensation you would be entitled to depends on things such as the seriousness of the injury, your age, any ongoing health problems caused by the dog bite, and any out-of-pocket expenses (such as your medical bills).
There are some limits that may apply to your potential claim against the dog owner. For example, under public liability law, you are generally required to commence a legal action within three years of the date of the incident.
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