Complicated issue regarding a dog causing someone to fall

[vt757hokies]

State: Virginia

I was taking my yellow labrador for a walk. I came out of my door and my dog saw someone and started running toward them. The leash slipped out of my hand and kept running towards the person, who happened to by a 60 year old woman. She was about to go down a flight of steps, and when she saw the dog she got startled, she slipped, fell down one step, and hit her side/back on the guardrail. She was obviously in pain, so I asked her if she needed help. Unfortunately, she only spoke Chinese, and she could not understand a word I said or communicate in any way. The woman became hysterical and I contacted her daughter on the phone to translate. She said her mother wanted to have an ambulance pick her up. I called 911 and the ambulance came. The medics said it was most likely just soft tissue damage, and would result in a bruise. Because the injury was on her side/back, the medics decided to put her on a stretcher in case there was any spinal damage. The daughter said that she was visiting her from China, and that she has no insurance. The dog is not at all aggressive, and was only running up to the woman to greet her.

A few questions from this situation:

1. What all am I liable for?
2. If the injury is just minor bruising, will I be liable to pay for the ambulance charge, even though an emergency room visit was not needed?
3. Can the woman sue me, even though she is not a citizen of the United States?
4. Will there be an ramifications for my dog? Again, she has no history of aggressiveness, and was running up to the woman to greet her.

Thanks for the responses.

[Zigner]

Originally Posted by vt757hokies

State: Virginia

I was taking my yellow labrador for a walk. I came out of my door and my dog saw someone and started running toward them. The leash slipped out of my hand and kept running towards the person, who happened to by a 60 year old woman. She was about to go down a flight of steps, and when she saw the dog she got startled, she slipped, fell down one step, and hit her side/back on the guardrail. She was obviously in pain, so I asked her if she needed help. Unfortunately, she only spoke Chinese, and she could not understand a word I said or communicate in any way. The woman became hysterical and I contacted her daughter on the phone to translate. She said her mother wanted to have an ambulance pick her up. I called 911 and the ambulance came. The medics said it was most likely just soft tissue damage, and would result in a bruise. Because the injury was on her side/back, the medics decided to put her on a stretcher in case there was any spinal damage. The daughter said that she was visiting her from China, and that she has no insurance. The dog is not at all aggressive, and was only running up to the woman to greet her.

A few questions from this situation:

1. What all am I liable for?

The lady's injuries...

2. If the injury is just minor bruising, will I be liable to pay for the ambulance charge, even though an emergency room visit was not needed?

Yes

3. Can the woman sue me, even though she is not a citizen of the United States?

Yes, of course.

4. Will there be an ramifications for my dog? Again, she has no history of aggressiveness, and was running up to the woman to greet her.

Nobody here will be able to say...

Thanks for the responses.

You're welcome!

[ecmst12]

I think you will be liable for her injury and all medical bills, regardless of whether YOU think the ambulance was needed or not. She can sue you even though she is not a citizen, but I bet if her bills are paid and she has no serious injuries, she won't. I do not think your dog will have any problems, dog didn't bite her or anything like that, this is really YOUR fault for not holding onto the leash tighter. If you have homeowners or renters insurance, that will likely take care of her bills.

[ariastar]

It comes down to this: You failed to control your dog.

It doesn't matter that your dog is friendly and just wanted to say hi. It doesn't matter if she's a citizen of the US or from Mars.

If you had controlled your dog, she wouldn't have been injured.