I was on a run and got bit by a dog in my neighborhood. The dog ran from on the property, into the street, and bit me.
This wasn’t the first occurrence of the dog running from the property into the street and violently chasing after me. But it is the first time it bit me.
Whenever the dog is out, it is always off leash, and more often than not, unattended. After the bite, the person taking care of the dog admitted that the dog is problematic and violently chases after people often, though I am unaware if it bit anyone else.
One of the first times the dog did this, the person taking care of the dog was outside as it happened, and out of concern, I ran back towards the person and stopped so that they could get the dog before it would continue chasing me too far while in the street. Similarly, the time it bit me, I was again on a run, when the dog ran into the street and chased me. Catching a small child in the yard scared and staring, I stopped so that it would go back to the house to avoid the possibility of it getting run over in front of the child. However, instead, I was bitten.
After the bite, I talk to the person taking care of the dog. I’m reasonable and understanding, and make it clear that I know that shit happens, but since I got bit, I’m now in the position where we have to figure this out. I ask if the dog has its shots, they don’t know, and this is when I’m told that the person taking care of the dog isn’t the owner of the dog, but instead a person that the dog has been staying with for the actual owner of the dog. They call the owner, and no answer. So the person taking care of the dog tells me to go to the hospital and that the owner will cover the bill. I go.
At the hospital, I receive a tetanus shot and a rabies shot the same day, and three more rabies shots scheduled intermittently over the course of two weeks. When this is done, I contact the person taking care of the dog. I receive the owner’s contact information from them, and am told that the dog is now with the owner. The bill is close to $17,000.
I call the owner, inform them of everything that’s happened, and tell them the bill amount. They are audibly taken aback by the amount. So much so that any further conversation isn’t really possible; which, considering their perspective, is understandable. So I tell the owner I’ll give them some time to process everything and figure things out on their end.
A week later, I call back. They tell me they can’t afford the bill. They also ask for pictures of paperwork listing all of the medications given to me at the hospital. On one hand, I understand wanting to be sure, especially for such a large amount of money, so I oblige and provide pictures of said paperwork, and the hospital bracelet and arm cuff on top of it. But on the other hand, it feels like the beginning of trying to weasel out of paying.
Throughout this entire ordeal, I’ve been nothing but reasonable, compassionate, and kind (yet not weak). I was hoping this could be settled without having to go the legal route, but it’s been long enough, I don’t like where this is going, and I do not want to be stuck with a bill that I can’t pay due to being attacked and other’s negligence.
So before I call the owner again, I would like to know what my options are, and what I may need to do/gather in order to be prepared to take legal action if necessary. Location: North Carolina.
Currently:
It has been a month since the bite and first hospital visit.
I have dated documents of the first and last hospital visits stating medications received and scheduled dates of recurring shots.
I have the hospital bill.
The person who the dog was staying with at the time of the bite sent the dog back to the owner.
I know the owner’s first name and phone number.
I appreciate any help, thank you.
TLDR:
Got bit by a dog, agreed to go to the hospital and have the owner pay the bill, owner says they don’t have the money to pay the bill. What do?