Dog Bite

The Rhode Island supreme court has upheld a longstanding rule relating to dog bite liability for the pet owner.The rule in Rhode Island allows a dog “one-bite” before liability on the pet owner can be claimed. The pet owner is liable if the dog has bitten a victim at least once before, on the second or subsequent bites the owner is liable, for the damages caused by the bite. The damages from a dogbite can be severe, not only physical but psychological. The Rhode General assembly may address this in it’s upcoming session.