Legal Question in Personal Injury in New Jersey

Dog bite, is it ok to call and offer to pay medical cost?

or am I opening myself up for other potential liability. My dog got loose and snipped at 13 year old girl. I wanted to call and offer to pay for medical bills, my dog is not agressive, so I am supprised that he nipped her.


Asked on 11/01/04, 2:00 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys

Adam L. Rothenberg Levinson Axelrod, P.C.

Re: Dog bite, is it ok to call and offer to pay medical cost?

I am a personal injury attoreny and many claims arise becuase people are unwilling to take the slightest responsiblity. An offer to pay a bill is NOT capble of being used as evidence in NJ. Thus, the only real potential is to preclude a claim. On the other hand, do not express responsiblity. Offer your concern and to cover out of pocket expernses. You should report this to your insurance in case there is a claim, because some policies will disclaim ocverage on failure to report timely.

Be advised, the dog bite statute is a strict liability statute. Your dog bites someone and that person is where they should be, then it is your liability.

For your sake and the person's, maybe it is just a scratch and no scar, thus no real damages.

Thanks for the inquiry. This response does not constitute a legal realtionship between the parties.

Read more
Answered on 11/01/04, 5:42 pm


Related Questions & Answers

More Personal Injury Law and Tort Law questions and answers in New Jersey