Replies on Your Dog Bit Someone and Out of Date on Rabies Vaccine?

I flew from canada to usa annually for 7 years with my maltese and the rabies certificate was checked EVERY time coming and going.
Doesnt the person bitten by a dog without current rabies shot have to endure painful injections for rabies? And even if it turns out not to be rabies, arent you going to get sued for pain and suffering due to your negligence?

Thanks for this excellent but scary article. We, too, live in Ontario and have travelled many times to the U.S. Our experience over the past eight years has been that the request for rabies docs is completely random; we've crossed often without being asked for any proof. I have been asked for them on the way back into Canada more than on my way to the U.S.
My special boy (4yrs GSD) was diagnosed with idiopathic epilepsy ten months ago and has experienced twelve GM's to date, the last 48 hours ago. He is on three AED's and is considered a "serious epileptic" by his neurologist. (You'd never know it to look at him!!) His rabies is due in March of this year, so I am anxiously researching. Our regular vet does practice some homeopathy and is not a typical "whitecoat" and is not averse to giving medical notes where warranted, and tries to deal with the system while looking out for her patients and maintaining her professional integrity.
At this point, I am looking at having a titer done, as there is no way I want to introduce anything that could impact his seizures. On top of that, he is a very intelligent, vibrant, enthusiastic well behaved family pet but the reality is that he is a GSD and there are loads of pre and misconceptions about the breed. That can be scary enough even when vaccines etc are up to date.