Meter readers dont need common sense?

If this is the wrong section please put in the correct place.

Does anyone know anything about laws regarding power company meter readers and dog bites? I live in Texas.

A friend of mines dog (breed is not important) bit the meter man in the chest. So I am wondering how that works. Who is responsible when the dog is contained in your yard and the meter guy strolls on back there and gets bit. Is the homeowner or the meter guy responsible?
He is pissed off because they quarantined the dog for 10 days (he has never been apart from the dog at all in the last 8 years) for health and rabies reasons and he has to pay for the quarantine.
So I am wondering do they not go over that like the first day of training.
I mean in the past, I have had my meter man read my meter with a digital camera from the neighbors backyard. Just curious........

 

I don't think it matters if it's the Meter man, weather man, or Superman, if they step on your property and get bit by your dog, your dog was contained right...its not your Fault!

 

I don't know about that...
as far as criminal charges go, he's probably alright. But that doesn't mean you're off the hook in a civil suit. A civil suit doesnt need the extra shit that is necessary for a criminal case. So i guess if the guy took him to court, he could probably lose... as far as them taking his dog, he probably shouldn't of let them take it. Who came and got the dog, AC? The police would've had to come and force me to give my dog up if i didn't hide him already. They might try to get slick and euthanize my dog lol

 

That weather man or superman line had me lmao.
Yes the police came and got the dog. They told him whenever the hospital reports a dogbite here the dog is quarantined for 10 days for rabies etc..
My buddy said the guy left him a note saying he wasnt going to pursue any civil matters.
Im gonna try to look into it tomorrow if I can find the time.

 

Not entirely true sea serpent; and you don't want to take your chances in finding out. Best bet would be to nip it in the bud from the get go. Figure out who is scheduled to periodically and legally stop by your house/property, let these people know your "yard" situation and reiterate that, as much as you would like to, you cannot gaurantee their safety. Record every conversation with a hand-held recorder (concealed)(check laws which differ from state to state) and make sure it has been recorded in their records (jobs like these can have a high turn-around rate) so any "technician" can and should review any notes which may be "case-specific": Owners were explicit about not going on property-mean dogs!. Meter readers go straight to the front door like good little boys and hand the device over to my wife............... No problems in ten years

 

Solid information in here!
Thanks alot Junebug!
The frequent technician changes are very common. So what I took from your post is to notify the Electric company that the technicians are to not go into the backyard and make sure they put a note on the account that you called to notify them. Find out what day they come, if you can talk to the guy/gal, and document the conversation if possible.

 

If you do not keep proper vac records they have to take your dog and keep it for 10 days to make-sure it does not have rabies. That is being nice also some places they can put your dog down have the brain sent in to the local vet lab to be tested for rabies.

 

Here, where i live you must post signs, like no tresspassing, beware of dogs, if you don't you would be at fault for any injurys that incur on the property. Because you own the land and it is your property the signs are the best way from getting sued.

 

Yes, he relocated here in the last 6 months and said he didnt have the vacc. records and they were trying to get them faxed over from his old vet.

 

I suppose you need to get active! Legistlation is changing every year. closing the loops holes of personal and property rights that a animal, home owner once had. In the state of texas you can not padlock your gate limmiting acsess to utiliti workers. What you can do, is call your provider company's and request that they come at a scheduled time. Or you can pay to have the meters moved, wich is very costly.

 

Well, I wouldn't put up beware of dog signs. According to my attorney, that could be seen as admitting to having a dangerous dog. A better thing to do would be to get a "dog on premises" sign.

 

like holdndown said, in my county you must have a sign up if you own dogs. I went one step further and put a lock on each gate. Someone wants in the back the only way they're getting there is by asking my permission.

 

Was the Meter man Trespassing?...did your friend know the Metor man was on his property??

I understand Laws differ from state to state, country to country, example of South Dakota dog bite/Vicious Dog Law

40-34-15 Injury to person trespassing, teasing dog, or attempting to commit crime.


No dog may be declared vicious if an injury or damage is sustained to any person who was committing a willful trespass or other tort upon premises occupied by the owner or keeper of the dog, or who was teasing, tormenting, abusing or assaulting the dog or was committing or attempting to commit a crime.

 

In my state if they did not set up an appointment they are technically tresspassing so owner is at no fault. And i was told by my lawyer never to post a sign that is like admiting you knew there was a danger but laws are diff in each state.

 

i did some searching for info, and alotta gas companies state that their employees are NOT supposed to attempt to read a meter if their is a dog posing a threat

 

Wheres this at?

 

I went thru this before when i purchased my home the insurance person told me to post BEWARE OF DOG at the front and rear of my property NOT DANGEROUS DOG,because that"s like admitting that you knew your dog was vicious. and about a year later a cable man got bitten .and because of the signs they threw the case out of court and i haven"t heard anymore since then.

 

Since i moved to S.C. 3 years ago.I haven't seen a meter man,i think they read mine with a sattalite or something.My house is off the road a bit,and my meter in under the deck of my house.So unless they have something down the road at the power pole i don't know how they check it.

 

Don't sweat it he knew there was a dog, its a game he lost. Signing isn't necessary it does keep some out, but not a meter reader. Besides he has workers comp + med insurance and paid time off. It probably wasn't the first time he got bit or the last and he said he wasn't going to press anything. It's Cool I read meters for ten years you get good at reading dogs, Pit bulls were the best. Thats why I own them.

 

I agree with the other poster who said don't put up a sign that says Beware of Dog. Lawyers have successfully used those signs against people in situations on their own property in court. Get a sign that doesn't imply that you "knew the dog(s) were dangerous and chose to harbor them" to avoid lawyer bullshit....