Vermont Dog Bite Lawyer

Vermont does not have a dog bite statute. However, the Vermont Supreme Court has articulated a variation of the “one-bite” rule as the general rule in dog bite cases. Under this rule, dog owners can be held liable for injuries caused by their dog if they (1) knew or should have known that their dog had dangerous propensities; and (2) failed to take reasonable precautions to prevent the dog from injuring others. Whether or not the owner had knowledge about their dog’s dangerous propensities can be determined by evidence of any past incidents of the dog’s aggression or violence against people, or the type of restraints that the owner frequently or typically used. The owner’s negligence can be proven by evidence that, for example, the dog was improperly secured or restrained, or that the dog was unleashed in public.