Is a landlord liable for a tenant's dog bite?

In West Virginia, a landlord is not liable for a tenant’s dog bite. However, a landlord can be held liable if a tenant’s dog causes an injury due to negligence. The law in West Virginia states that a landlord will be liable for injury or damage caused by the tenant’s pet if the landlord knew of the pet’s dangerous or vicious behavior or if the tenant had previously been informed that the pet was dangerous or vicious. In addition, a landlord may be liable if the tenant’s pet has caused or is likely to cause injury or damage and the landlord fails to take action to prevent the injury or damage. In most cases, a landlord will not be held liable for a tenant’s dog bite unless the landlord had knowledge of the dog’s dangerous or vicious behavior and failed to take appropriate action. For example, if a landlord was aware of a tenant’s dog’s propensity to bite and did not take steps to protect other tenants or visitors from being bitten, they could be held liable for the bite. However, if a landlord was unaware of the dog’s aggressive behavior and the injury was caused by the tenant’s negligence, the landlord would not be held liable. Ultimately, tenants are responsible for their own pet’s behavior and actions, including any resulting injuries. If a tenant’s pet has injured someone, the tenant may be liable for medical bills and other damages. Therefore, landlords should not be held liable for a tenant’s dog bite unless they had knowledge of the dog’s dangerous behavior and failed to take appropriate action.

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Is a landlord liable for a tenant's dog bite?

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