Q: my neighbors unleased dog caused injury. are they responsible for my medical bills?
As I was taking my 85 lb dog for a walk, my neighbors aggressive dog came running at us, lunging, growling and trying to bite. The owner just stood there doing nothing. We are in florida, with leash laws. My dog who was leashed, went crazy, and was trying to get to the other dog, who kept coming at us. In attempt to keep my dog from getting and hurting the other dog, my dog came down off his hind legs, scratching me with his nails. this resulted in a 4" long 1 inch wide gash that required 17 stitches. The wound then became infected which resulted in visit to ER, then wound specialist. I am now out over $3,000 as i had no health insurance. Is my neighbor responsible for my medical bills. Two days after this episode, the dog was again off leash, came after me again, and bit me in my foot.
A: Yes, it appears that they are responsible. You might also want to notify animal control.
A: If the dog owner violated a law, and the violation led to an injury, you can prove that the dog the owner may be negligent as a matter of law. Seek legal counsel for detailed information.
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