When Your Dog Bites Someone on an Airplane

You’re up in the sky! You are looking to relax and look forward to your destination. But the person next to you has a service dog on their lap that the airline has allowed onto the plane. Ultimately, the airline approved this animal, as the passenger stated it was a service animal. It’s why it’s surprising when a dog bites someone on an airplane, creating a scenario happening more frequently than before.

The Scenario

Alicia is traveling on a well-known airline. Ultimately, she has taken her small dog on the flight with her, claiming it’s a service animal. She places the dog in her lap for the flight. However, she takes her seat in the middle, and the seat next to the window is empty. But that passenger arrives and attempts to make his way to his seat. Unfortunately, her dog does not appreciate the movement and bites the man.

The Claim

The man is filing a claim against Alicia, alleging that the dog was not a service animal. Furthermore, he claims that Alicia lied to get her dog onto the place with her. Alicia contends it is a service dog, and the passenger antagonized her dog.

The Air Carrier Access Act (ACAA) enables people with disabilities to take service animals in the cabin with them. However, that goes out the window if the dog is not actually a service animal. Alicia is responsible for her dog’s bite, and the passenger can also claim against the airline.

Takeaways

The airline should have taken all the precautions in the world to prevent this situation from occurring in the first place. Ultimately, not doing its due diligence can create liability. An airline can verify if a dog is a service animal in many ways. Moreover, Alicia taking her dog on the plane with her is reckless and something she could have prevented. She now faces a claims lawsuit after her dog bites someone on an airplane.

About Dog Bite Quote

At Dean Insurance Agency, we’ve been providing protection to dog owners since 2012, with more than 10,000 policies issued. Our underwriting criteria and years of experience providing this coverage enables us to offer competitive and fair policy premiums. Our policies are available in every state except Alaska and Kentucky. The quote is free, and there is NO obligation to purchase!