My rights about hitting a dog!

a dog ran out into the street, i didn't see the dog and hit him. the dog is ok, but the owner didn't have him on a leash, and now he is demanding me to pay the vet bill. what rights do i have.

I am a law school graduate. What I offer is mere information, not to be construed as forming an attorney client relationship.

You do not mention your state, so I don't know exact law. But, most states do have strict leash laws that will negate your liability becauase the dog SHOULD HAVE BEEN LEASHED NEAR A CITY STREET FOR JUST THIS REASON.

I live in Canada, I think we have the same laws as the US in this topic. What happen is that i was driving down a street and didn't see the dog coming out of the car on to the street with no leash. The owner didn't know that i didn't see the dog. Now he thinks that i should help him pay for his vet bill because i hit his dog. Since i feel that i shouldn't pay him, he wants to take me to court for the bill. What can i do about this.



[Edited by DSWSheri on 03-14-2001 at 09:29 PM]

[I AM ALWAYS LIABLE]

Originally posted by DSWSheri
I live in Canada, I think we have the same laws as the US in this topic. What happen is that i was driving down a street and didn't see the dog coming out of the car on to the street with no leash. The owner didn't know that i didn't see the dog. Now he thinks that i should help him pay for his vet bill because i hit his dog. Since i feel that i shouldn't pay him, he wants to take me to court for the bill. What can i do about this.



[Edited by DSWSheri on 03-14-2001 at 09:29 PM]

My response:

If the laws in this regard are similar, if not exact, on this issue, then the dog owner has every right to file a lawsuit against you. You cannot stop that.

However, the judge will, in effect, tell the dog owner to "bite rocks". You should win such a lawsuit "hands down".

IAAL