Millions of people get bitten by dogs every year across the nation, and many of these incidents cause injuries that require medical care. Some of these bites may cause lifelong disfigurement or disability. As the victim of a dog attack, it’s important to know that you may be entitled to compensation from the owner of the dog for failing to protect the public from harm. If you have been bitten by a dog, you may be going through not only emotional trauma but physical pain from injury or infection. By learning how you can pursue legal action after a dog bite, you can receive the compensation you deserve.
It is estimated that almost 40% of homes have at least one canine. And while these animals can be furry companions for us and a part of the family, not all dog interactions are positive. Dogs are still animals and may be inclined to bite for one reason or another. Based on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) almost 1 in every 5 dog bites requires a visit to the doctor for treatment. Being bitten by a dog can result in costs and inconveniences for yourself, including medical expenses, mental trauma, and permanent disfigurement and scarring.
If you were a victim of a dog bite or attack, and suffered loss because of it, then you may be entitled to restitution for your losses. For victims of attacks, as a dog bite lawyer victims trust from Hayhurst Law PLLC knows, the most important consideration will be in your ability to prove liability. Dog owners have a duty to the public to take measures so the public is safe from harm. If they fail to do that, then owners may have to pay for the victims medical costs and other losses incurred due to the incident.
There are factors that can affect how successful your dog bite injury case is, such as whether you were trespassing at the time or had provoked the dog in some way. Under situations of trespassing, where you may have been bitten on a private property, the dog owner may not be liable for the injuries you sustained. However, there can be exceptions to this rule, particularly if the victim was a child. Dog owners may not be held responsible for situations where the dog was provoked before biting or attacking the injured person.
The laws for dog bite liability can vary based on the state. For some areas, the state has a strict liability law where bites from military dogs, police dogs, and other such incidents are exempt from liability. If a dog bite victim is considered to be at least partially responsible for the attack due to trespassing or provocation, their award damages may be reduced by the percentage they were deemed at-fault.
Dog bite or attack incidents must be taken seriously, as a lawyer from Hayhurst Law PLLC can attest, because they can occur again and again. Dog owners who fail to protect others from being bitten may have to pay for losses incurred by the victim, but whether there is enough reason for a case will depend on evidence and laws for that state.