If you are bit by a dog on private property...

[allison443]

Is "someone" the same person in both cases? Am I reading your sentence to mean "If Joe is careless and unintentionally causes an accident, you don't think that Joe should be able to sue for his injuries?"

No, I don't think Joe deserves extra compensation for his injuries, since he's the one who was careless and unintentionally injured himself. He might deserve to be reimbursed for his medical expenses (maybe) but he certainly doesn't deserve anything extra.

My grammar was really poor there, sorry! I don't mean Joe should sue himself. But if Joe is driving a car, and due to inattentiveness, carelessly gets in an accident, shouldn't someone in the other car, or in Joe's car, be able to sue Joe if they are injured? Not saying Joe did it intentionally-he definitely didn't intend to get in the accident, but he misjudged the distance or something.

 

[iwrbnd]

I think they should be able to sue for their injuries, I think most people would agree to that. It is the way some people over reach.

For example, in this case they parents should be able to sue for the actual cost of the ER visit and if it required them to leave work to take her to the ER an additional amount equal to the lost wages for the day. Nothing more.

If the ER bill is $500 and the parent lost out on 4 hours of work at a rate of $25/hour they are entitled to $600. If they sue for $10,000 that is a problem.

Exactly what I think!

 

[iwrbnd]

I agree, but the poster I quoted was talking about people not being able to recover if their injuries were caused unintentionally, in an accident.

I don't have a problem getting your medical bills paid but I do have a problem trying to sue for more money when the little girl is obviously fine. I know someone who was rear-ended in an accident and they were all fine. A few weeks later their little girl started waking up at night (which was developmentally normal for her age) and they decided to sue for emotional damage! That kind of stuff makes me mad! This little girl is obviously fine but the dad wants more. That's wrong.

 

[FergieTCat]

My grammar was really poor there, sorry! I don't mean Joe should sue himself. But if Joe is driving a car, and due to inattentiveness, carelessly gets in an accident, shouldn't someone in the other car, or in Joe's car, be able to sue Joe if they are injured? Not saying Joe did it intentionally-he definitely didn't intend to get in the accident, but he misjudged the distance or something.

Oh, that's a different story.

Answer: If the accident was Joe's fault, then he should be held accountable for any injuries. Does he deserve to be sued exhorbitant amounts of money for unintentional stupidity -- that I don't know.

 

[iwrbnd]

Did you have a lawsuit? Why wasn't it successful? Just curious, don't feel compelled to answer.

Why do you think you deserved a boatload?You got your medical bills paid a little extra. What more did you want?

 

[allison443]

Why do you think you deserved a boatload?You got your medical bills paid a little extra. What more did you want?

You quoted me but I wasn't the one who had that incident happen?

 

[allison443]

I don't have a problem getting your medical bills paid but I do have a problem trying to sue for more money when the little girl is obviously fine. I know someone who was rear-ended in an accident and they were all fine. A few weeks later their little girl started waking up at night (which was developmentally normal for her age) and they decided to sue for emotional damage! That kind of stuff makes me mad! This little girl is obviously fine but the dad wants more. That's wrong.

I understand...that emotional damage/pain and suffering thing is really vague.

 

[chicagodisneyfan]

If someone is careless and unintentionally causes an accident, you don't think that someone who is injured should be able to sue for their injuries? That is the entire basis of our liability insurance system.

No!!

Not if I am fine. Fender bender, dog bite, etc minor annoyances - what would be the point of suing except for the $$?

People who do stupid things and then get hurt deserve nothing.

 

[iwrbnd]

You quoted me but I wasn't the one who had that incident happen?

Oops, I quoted the wrong person! Sorry!

 

[robinb]

I guess I'm the odd one out again ...

I don't feel bad for the dog owner one little bit. Their dog was NOT "contained" IMO. He was loose behind an INVISIBLE "fence" and obviously an aggressive dog to bite the niece three times. That kind of animal should never be allowed to roam the yard like that. The niece did nothing wrong and she could not know the dog was aggressive when she entered the yard. The dog owners are completely at fault here and should be sued for medical expenses at the very least and possibly even more for their negligence in not containing an aggressive dog properly.

 

[iwrbnd]

I'm feeling really glad I have Golden Retrievers!

 

[chloelovesdisney]

I think the dog owner should sue your BIL because his dog was emotionally traumatized by a stranger invading his space.

 

[Art 1]

Why would they expect more than paying for the ER bill?

 

[CharityLynn]

When I was a kid (I'm 30) things like this were "accidents" and nobody sued anyone. It was basically a lessoned learned. My sister was bit by the neighbors dog we didn't sue, it didn't even cross our mind. My son was bit in the face by a friend's dog, he had to have stitches and no we didn't sue then either. They did choose to ahve the dog put down though and really went above and beyond after it happed. Sending our son treats etc. They apologized profusely and that was enough. Things happen especially when you have animals or children.

 

[Magalex]

I was just thinking about dog biting situations. Sorry I didn't read all the posts. Besides severe attacks by dogs, I remember growing up and if any kids were bit by dogs, our moms would say lets clean it off and you will survive. We would just know next time not to go near that certain yard or watch for "that dog". But I don't know any instance where any parents I knew called or visited the dog's owners. I grew up in 1970's/80's. I am not saying in this situation. But kids today get bit by a Yorkie and the owners go to court, the dog gets destroyed. Even today my DS's two neighbor friends(7 & 8) came over to the yard and I automatically put my dog inside with me. Not because my dog is mean. Because I am protecting my dog from any excitement or rough housing from boys.
He is a 30lb Brittany

 

[hereyago]

A few comments:

This was a little girl on a door-to-door fundraiser, not a kid just cutting across the yard. Labeling her a trespasser.

The person that owns the dog should no longer consider the dog to be safe. If it was my dog, I would have it put down.

As for the greedy father trying to profit from his daughter's pain...

Anyone who is NOT INVITED onto the property is a trespasser.

 

[DebbieB]

I think when a child is injured, any money beyond the medical bills should go into a trust fund for the child, the parents should not be able to collect. A friend's niece was injured in a car accident as a child, the settlement money went into a fund that she used for college.

 

[M5ward]

When I was a kid (I'm 30) things like this were "accidents" and nobody sued anyone. It was basically a lessoned learned. My sister was bit by the neighbors dog we didn't sue, it didn't even cross our mind. My son was bit in the face by a friend's dog, he had to have stitches and no we didn't sue then either. They did choose to ahve the dog put down though and really went above and beyond after it happed. Sending our son treats etc. They apologized profusely and that was enough. Things happen especially when you have animals or children.

Ditto..sort of. I'm not 30 (darn) but I also got bitten by a neighbor's dog when I was a kid..no, we didn't sue, and I learned to never turn my back on a dog. My son was also bitten on the face by a friend's dog (think this is a parallel universe thing?)..had to have stitches (which did leave a small scar), and we never considered legal action. Our health insurance covered all medical costs; my son still went to play at his friend's house (they did get rid of the dog, though.) My son was not traumatized by the event in the least; he loves dogs and has two of his own now.
Our society is far too litigious; it ends up costing us all.

 

[iwrbnd]

I think the dog owner should sue your BIL because his dog was emotionally traumatized by a stranger invading his space.

Good one!

 

[Buckalew11]

My dog (fenced) bit my nephew on Sunday. We'll be putting him down because of this. A yellow lab--I have no idea why he bit him. I'm hoping it doesn't cause horrible strife in my already stressed family.