My jurisdiction is: Rhode Island
Last April I was bitten by my friend's dog while at his apartment. His dog had bitten family members twice before, so he begged me to tell the doctors at the emergency room that I was bitten by a stray. I was in a lot of pain, and quite upset, so I reluctantly agreed. He originally offered to help with the medical bills, but now says it's not his problem. I spent 3 days in the hospital, have numerous scars, and suffer from permanent nerve damage. Can I file a claim against him? Or did I ruin my chances because I didn't tell the truth when it happened?
Updated: The upstairs neighbors witnessed the attack (left hand, left wrist, left thigh, and right upper arm). Actually, the neighbor was the one who drove me to the emergency room, so proving it was his dog shouldn't be a problem. My friend wasn't home at the time, I was doing a favor by letting the dog out in the yard before I left to go home. When I tried to bring her back inside she started growling at me. When I called my friend to ask him what to do, he suggested I give her a treat, and then untie her to bring her in. After she got the treat is when she attacked me. Actually I was still on the phone with him when she took the first bite. It is already on record as having bitten his mother and nephew. I think that is why he asked me to lie, he was afraid that because this was the third incident, that it would be put down. The neighbors heard me screaming and came into the yard to try to help me, but I told them to stay back, for fear that she may attack them, too. So they had to stand there and watch for about 3 min until I could get her back into the apartment. I was trying to drag her while she was locked onto my thigh.
Originally he said he would help me. But now he takes no responsibility, saying it's MY fault because I should've given her one treat instead of two, or some kind of nonsense like that. I have medical insurance. But between the co-pays, prescriptions, dressings, etc. I'm already over $1000.00 out of pocket. I had to spend two months in physical therapy to regain use of my left hand.
My main concern is that because I lied at the emergency room, the court may say "tough luck". I am also very concerned that this dog will most definitely bite again.
Last April I was bitten by my friend's dog while at his apartment. His dog had bitten family members twice before, so he begged me to tell the doctors at the emergency room that I was bitten by a stray. I was in a lot of pain, and quite upset, so I reluctantly agreed. He originally offered to help with the medical bills, but now says it's not his problem. I spent 3 days in the hospital, have numerous scars, and suffer from permanent nerve damage. Can I file a claim against him? Or did I ruin my chances because I didn't tell the truth when it happened?
Updated: The upstairs neighbors witnessed the attack (left hand, left wrist, left thigh, and right upper arm). Actually, the neighbor was the one who drove me to the emergency room, so proving it was his dog shouldn't be a problem. My friend wasn't home at the time, I was doing a favor by letting the dog out in the yard before I left to go home. When I tried to bring her back inside she started growling at me. When I called my friend to ask him what to do, he suggested I give her a treat, and then untie her to bring her in. After she got the treat is when she attacked me. Actually I was still on the phone with him when she took the first bite. It is already on record as having bitten his mother and nephew. I think that is why he asked me to lie, he was afraid that because this was the third incident, that it would be put down. The neighbors heard me screaming and came into the yard to try to help me, but I told them to stay back, for fear that she may attack them, too. So they had to stand there and watch for about 3 min until I could get her back into the apartment. I was trying to drag her while she was locked onto my thigh.
Originally he said he would help me. But now he takes no responsibility, saying it's MY fault because I should've given her one treat instead of two, or some kind of nonsense like that. I have medical insurance. But between the co-pays, prescriptions, dressings, etc. I'm already over $1000.00 out of pocket. I had to spend two months in physical therapy to regain use of my left hand.
My main concern is that because I lied at the emergency room, the court may say "tough luck". I am also very concerned that this dog will most definitely bite again.
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