If I live in an apartment and a couple weeks ago a man walked into my apartment by mistake and my dog bit him, am I liable for his doctor bill?
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If I live in an apartment and a couple weeks ago a man walked into my apartment by mistake and my dog bit him, am I liable for his doctor bill?
For the purposes of full disclosure, my dog 2 days prior to that bit another person accidentally walked into my apartment.
Asked on December 19, 2015 under Personal Injury, Minnesota
Answers:
SJZ, Member, New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 9 years ago | Contributor
In your state, a dog's owner is liable for all injuries caused by his/her dog--even a dog which has never been vicious or bit anyone--to someone *lawfully* in that place. However, someone who walks into your apartment without being invited, even if he did so by honest error (rather than with criminal intent) was not lawfully in that place; therefore, since he was a trespasser, you should not be liable for his injuries.
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