Many people are confronted with the dilemma of what to when they or their children are bitten by a neighbor’s dog and injured. Many people are hesitant to do anything because they are friendly and on good terms with their neighbors. They are concern that this will cause conflict with their neighbor. However, what you have to realize is that most homeowner’s insurance policies will provide coverage for injuries resulting from dog bites. Therefore, if your neighbor, the dog owner, has a homeowner’s insurance policy, you can simply make an insurance claim with their insurance for your injuries and damages.
The first question that comes up when your neighbor’s dog bites a family member is whether you must file a lawsuit against your neighbor. In the technical sense, they may be the named defendant, as the owner of the dog. However, from a practical standpoint, their insurance will provide coverage for the damages of the case, and there is no requirement to personally go after the money of your neighbor for compensation.
The very reason for insurance policies is to provide coverage for accidents and incidences like a dog bite. Accordingly, it simply makes sense to make a claim, if you have been injured by a neighbor’s dog. If it is between you, or the at fault party, to cover the loss, it only makes sense that the party with insurance, and owns the dog, should be held responsible for the damages. By filing a claim against insurance, you can recover for medical bills, pain and suffering, lost income, loss in future earning capacity, future medical expenses required, and any other damages caused by the dog bite.
If a neighbor’s dog bites you or a loved one, please contact the Law Firm of Rivers J. Morrell for a free consultation at (949)305-1400 to discuss your legal options, and how we will recover for your financial losses while preserving underlying relationships.
