Nazareth, PA asked in Animal / Dog Law for Pennsylvania

Q: Boyfriends brothers friend accidentally stepped and broke leg on my dog can I sue him? My vet bill is 2,500, thank you!

I work nights and while I work I have my boyfriends brother watch my dog, but his brother invited his friend over and when he was leaving he was coming down the stairs and stepped and broke the back bone on my dog. When I came home I seen my dog in pain and took her to the vet, not only is the money expensive for all the procedures and medications it's the time I have to do alot of work to make her walk again and it is a possibility that she might not ever use her leg again. Thank you for reading this.

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1 Lawyer Answer
Peter N. Munsing
Peter N. Munsing
Answered
  • Wyomissing, PA
  • Licensed in Pennsylvania

A: I'm sorry to hear this but anyone making a claim has to show that the other person was careless. Was the dog visible? Was a light on? (I'm also wondering why the dog wasn't up and alert--normally when they hear feet on a step they are at least wakeful). As to time lost from work, you can try getting that but that's no a sure thing. You would first want them to pay for the vet bills. If they say no, you can sue them in small claims. Note, that person can then bring in your brother, saying in effect "it's not my job to watch the dog--he should have put it in a box if it was going to go to sleep on the steps or something"

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