Frequently Asked Questions about Personal Injury, Medical Malpractice, and Insurance Disputes

Below are some initial questions many clients have when they first contact Benjamin W. Glass, III & Assoc. PC. The questions below may address many initial concerns you may have. If you don't find the answers here, you should contact us for answers to questions specific to your firm. The consultation is free.

Q: If a dog bites a person, is the owner liable for doctor's bills?

A: This answer varies state-by-state but generally speaking in Virginia a dog owner is only responsible for injuries that dog causes if the owner knew or should have known that the dog had a propensity for biting people.  This is sometimes known as the "one byte rule" which says that if a dog bite somebody but it is the first time the owner is not responsible.

Sometimes this knowledge might come from the breed of the dog but most often a person who has been bitten by a dog might show that the dog has bitten or threaten to bite someone in the past.  In some states owners are automatically liable if their dog bites another person.