Can A Vet Sue If Your Dog Bites Them?

It’s no secret that veterinarians regularly deal with unruly, injured, and agitated animals like cats, dogs, horses, birds, and more. Yet, few realize how often vets get injured.

According to recent statistics released by the American Veterinary Medical Association, an average of 12 percent of veterinary service professionals report work-related injuries and illnesses yearly. Many of these injuries are caused by dog bites.

Unfortunately, accidents happen. Sometimes, a dog can severely wound a vet, leading to lawsuits. So, if your dog has bitten a vet, it’s only natural to wonder if they can sue you. In this blog, our Ohio lawyers at Dyer, Garofalo, Mann & Schultz discuss a possible legal action by a vet.

Can A Vet Sue You If Your Dog Bites Them?

In Ohio, you won’t owe a vet any money for a dog bite until it has been proven that he or she has a valid case against you.

Unfortunately, a vet could use many viable legal theories to form the basis of a successful lawsuit. That’s why it’s usually best to hire a lawyer for legal advice when you believe a vet will sue you because of your dog biting them.

However, no matter which legal theory a vet utilizes when filing a case against you, they must provide evidence to support your case.

Likewise, you will need evidence to prove their viewpoint incorrect. This is another element of the legal proceedings an attorney can help you with.

But when exactly can a vet sue you? There are a few instances:

• When your dog has a proven biting history: According to Ohio’s one-bite doctrine, a vet can sue you if your dog has a history of biting others. This means that a vet cannot sue you unless they can prove your dog has bitten multiple people in the past. Usually, there will be records kept by animal control that can prove if your dog has a biting history or not.
• If your dog is known as ‘vicious’ or ‘dangerous’: Should an Ohio Animal Regulation Officer have declared your dog a ‘vicious’ or ‘dangerous’ animal, a vet could be well within their rights to sue you if your dog bites them.
• A negligent act led to the bite: Should evidence prove that your dog bit a vet because of a negligent act you committed, you could be sued by the vet. For example, if you brought your dog into an examination room during another exam, which triggered the dog to bite the vet, it’s a negligent act.

What Are My Defenses Against A Vet Bitten By My Dog?

Ultimately, you have a few defenses if your dog has bitten a vet. Namely, you can use the one-bite rule in your favor if your dog doesn’t have a history of biting people. In addition, you can use the defense that you weren’t negligent, nor were there any negligent acts committed by you that led to your dog biting the vet. Moreover, you can use the defense that your dog is not known as a ‘dangerous’ or ‘vicious’ animal.

Furthermore, you might also have the opportunity to dismiss a vet’s lawsuit if a court determines that a veterinarian is considered the keeper of the animal under his or her care. If the vet is found to be the animal’s keeper from a legal perspective, they are the dog’s owner while the animal is under their care. Thus, you might be able to have the lawsuit dismissed before it begins with the help of a dog bite attorney.

Contact An Experienced Ohio Dog Bite Lawyer Today

At Dyer, Garofalo, Mann & Schultz, we handle dog bite claims, represent injury victims, and determine the true liability for a bite. Contact us here, as we’re eager to apply our decades of experience to your case.

Doug Mann

Before establishing Dyer, Garofalo, Mann & Schultz L.P.A., Doug Mann, a top Ohio Injury Attorney served as a bodily injury claims adjuster at a major insurance firm. With over 40+ years of experience, Doug’s background has proven invaluable in securing maximum cash settlements for his clients swiftly. Since leaving the insurance industry, Doug has devoted his entire legal career to assisting injured clients during their times of greatest need.

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