In most cases of dog bites, the owner of the dog ends up as the liable party. However, this is not a rule, and non-owners can be liable for dog bites. Below are some non-owners who might be liable for dog bites.

Parents

Many states have laws that hold parents civilly liable for the negligence of their kids. Parental liability only applies to children under the age of majority. Therefore, if a child owns a dog, and the dog bites someone, the bite victim can hold the parent's liable for their damages.

Parental liability makes sense if you consider that kids usually don't have the financial means to compensate the victims of their negligence. Besides, young children might not have adequate knowledge of preventing their animals from injuring others. Parents who give young children pets assume the responsibility of keeping other people safe from those animals. 

Property Owner or Manager

In the event the bite occurs in a public place, then the property owner may also be liable for injuries. In this case, you will have to use premises liability laws. This means you have to prove that the property owner knew about the danger of dog bites but didn't take relevant steps to prevent it. An example is a retail store that allows pets but doesn't have a policy or measures in place to prevent animal attacks.

Professional Caretakers

A professional caretaker is anyone who takes care of a dog for a fee. Examples of professional caretakers include:

• Dog walkers
• Veterinarians
• Kennel operators
• Dog trainers

The rationale here is that anyone who works with animals or agrees to care for an animal assumes the liability that comes with the job. Thus, if a dog bites you at the vet, you may be able to pursue damages against the vet.

Landlord

Landlords are not automatically liable for their tenants' negligence. If a tenant's dog bites you, the tenant is the primary party liable for your injuries. However, the landlord's actions prior to the attack determine whether they share in the liability. For example, a landlord who allows a dangerous or aggressive dog on their property may be liable for any bites the animal causes.

In some cases, a non-owner might be liable for a dog bite in addition to the owner. The best way to get your full compensation is to file your claim against all the liable parties. A personal injury lawyer can help you identify all these parties.