Rabies Exposure: Landlord or Tenant Responsible for Medical Expenses

[Anonymous]

Can anyone point me to VA laws that would answer this question.

We rent in VA. A bat go into our home through a hole in the roof. The Health Department advised our family of 5 to get rabies vaccines which we did.

After insurance, the out of pocket cost is over $2k. Who is responsible for that cost? Us or our landlord?

Other info: we noticed the landlord right away about the bat and they acted quickly to address the situation. They are generally attentive and responsible and we have a good relationship. I’m just trying to figure out if I can reasonably ask them to pay.

[Anonymous]

What? Did the bat bite all 5 of you?!

[Anonymous]

I would not expect the landlord to pay.

[Anonymous]

Were you actually directed to get shots just because the bat was somewhat in the same vicinity? Seems a bit excessive if no one was bit or in danger? Did the bat even have rabies?

[Anonymous]

If the landlord knew about the hole and ignored it you'd have a case, but there's no evidence of that here

[Anonymous]

No way should the landlord pay. The five of you getting rabies vaccines because a bat got into your house is completely over the top. I never heard of such a thing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What? Did the bat bite all 5 of you?!

I hope not! It flew in while we were sleeping (I woke up and saw it) so we don’t know if it bit anyone (bat bites are hard to detect). However, rabies is 100% fatal so the Health Department advised us to all get vaccinated.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Were you actually directed to get shots just because the bat was somewhat in the same vicinity? Seems a bit excessive if no one was bit or in danger? Did the bat even have rabies?

The common recommendation is if anyone was asleep in the room with a bat to get the shots. You wo'nt see a scratch or bite.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If the landlord knew about the hole and ignored it you'd have a case, but there's no evidence of that here

Is there a VA tenant-landlord law you can point me to that confirms your response?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If the landlord knew about the hole and ignored it you'd have a case, but there's no evidence of that here

This.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No way should the landlord pay. The five of you getting rabies vaccines because a bat got into your house is completely over the top. I never heard of such a thing.

NP. I know a couple people who woke up with a bat in their home and their entire families got vaccinated. Bat bites are really hard to fine so if you are asleep, it's hard to know if you were bitten or not. If you wait until you have symptoms of rabies, it's too late to be vaccinated and rabies is 100% fatal. So, no answers on liability, OP, but good on you for protecting your family.

[Anonymous]

What does your lease say about maintenance of the property? Typically the LL is supposed to maintain the roof to keep it free of holes. The LL should have insurance to address your claim but likely would fall within LL deductible. I think you are well within your rights to ask though. A reasonable LL would at least offer to split it with you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Were you actually directed to get shots just because the bat was somewhat in the same vicinity? Seems a bit excessive if no one was bit or in danger? Did the bat even have rabies?

The common recommendation is if anyone was asleep in the room with a bat to get the shots. You wo'nt see a scratch or bite.

THIS! We were asleep. The health department advised us to follow the standard treatment protocol for when you’re exposed while asleep.

[Anonymous]

Please people, inform yourselves before posting.

It is definitely recommended to get rabies shots if you wake up in a house with a bat. Bats are common carriers and their bites are mostly undetectable.

The risk of rabies is high enough that it makes immediate treatment highly recommended. If you wait for symptoms, it’s too late.

[Anonymous]

Ask a lawyer