Louisville, KY asked in Animal / Dog Law and Personal Injury for Kentucky

Q: If my dog bites a kid while they are both in my yard can I get in trouble?

1 Lawyer Answer
David Alan Wolf
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Answered

A: It appears that Kentucky is a strict liability dog bite state as follows:

(4) Any owner whose dog is found to have caused damage to a person, livestock, or other property shall be responsible for that damage.

This means that a dog owner can be liable for a dog bite to a child or adult even if the dog had not been vicious before. There are some exceptions to this rule in many states. For instance, if the person is a trespasser, this can be a defense to the case.

If a person was bit on your property, you may want to contact your homeowner insurance about a potential claim. You should also check on your coverage. These days, many homeowner insurance policies exclude coverage for dog bites.

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