Are Landlords Liable For Dog Bite Injuries In Rhode Island?

If you were bitten by a dog at an apartment complex or a rental property, who actually owes you compensation? Most people assume only the dog’s owner can be held responsible. But is that always true, especially when a landlord knew a dangerous dog was living on the premises?

Rhode Island’s Strict Liability Rule for Dog Owners

Rhode Island law does not require a bite victim to prove the owner was careless. Under R.I. Gen. Laws § 4-13-16, an owner or keeper is automatically responsible when a dog bites, attacks, or otherwise injures someone outside the animal’s enclosure. There is no need to show the dog bit anyone before or that the owner had reason to suspect aggression. Location matters here. If the injury happens on the owner’s own property, inside a fenced yard or similar enclosure, a different standard applies, and the victim generally must show the owner knew about the dog’s dangerous tendencies.

Can a Property Owner Share the Blame?

Where does that leave the landlord? Doesn’t the person who owns the building have some responsibility for what happens there? Rhode Island addresses this directly. R.I. Gen. Laws § 4-13-17 extends civil liability to any person who keeps or harbors a dog, not just the titled owner. Courts have found that a landlord who knew a tenant’s dog had dangerous tendencies, and who had the ability to remove the dog or the tenant, may share responsibility for an attack. The same can be true if a landlord effectively cared for the dog, such as feeding it or supervising it regularly.

Negligence claims can also arise outside the harboring statute entirely. If a broken gate, a damaged fence, or another property defect allowed a dog to escape and injure someone, a property owner’s failure to maintain safe conditions could become a separate basis for a claim.

What Should You Do After Being Bitten on Rental Property?

Would you know what to look for if this happened to you? A few details tend to matter a great deal in these cases:

• Whether the attack happened inside or outside an enclosure
• Whether the landlord had any prior knowledge of the dog’s behavior
• Whether the property had a documented history of complaints about the animal
• Whether a lease or building policy addressed pets on the premises
• The condition of any fencing, gates, or common areas at the time of the incident

Documenting the scene, seeking medical care promptly, and reporting the incident to local animal control can all help preserve evidence that may otherwise disappear quickly.

Talk to Our Team About Your Rhode Island Dog Bite Claim

Every case involving a dog bite on rental property depends heavily on its specific facts, and figuring out who bears responsibility is rarely straightforward. If you were injured and are unsure whether a landlord’s conduct played a role, our team at Robert E. Craven & Associates is ready to review what happened and explain your options. Let our Rhode Island dog bite attorneys discuss your case during a consultation and learn how we can support you moving forward.

Source:

webserver.rilegislature.gov/Statutes/TITLE4/4-13/4-13-17.htm