Dogs may make excellent friends, but they can pose a threat when they bite. The dog bite lawsuit allows you to receive compensation for the damages you suffer if someone else’s animal hurts you.
The following overview of dog bite lawsuits explains when and how to do so, as well as what you’ll need to prove to get compensated for the harm the dog did.
What Is a Lawsuit for a Dog Attack?
A complaint is made against the person with a pet whose dog attacked someone in a dog attack lawsuit. Any further harm that a dog’s masters are accountable for is also possible, such as being injured due to a crash caused by a dog chasing a scooter.
The victims might seek compensation by a lawsuit against the dog’s owners. The victim demands that they be “made complete,” considering the serious harm the animal brought on.
You need to contact a dog bite lawyer immediately because there are limited filing time frames.
What Must You Show to Win a Dog Attack Case?
You must show both exactly how the dog’s attack damaged you and because the owner should be held liable in order for you to prove a dog attack case for damages.
Depending on dog attack laws in effect where you reside, there are vastly different criteria for the proof you must provide. Some districts have strict liability laws, while others are known by “one-bite jurisdictions” since they demand proof that the dog’s owner was aware of the dog’s violent tendencies in the scenario that you suffer harm.
Individual Jurisdictions
A common regulation that says that a dog owner might truly be responsible for the consequences of a dog attack even though they believed or understood that their dog was potentially hazardous to the public gave a foothold to the concept of one-bite jurisdictions.
According to the legislation, even if a dog has only genuinely bitten someone once, the owner may still be liable under this regulation. If the dog’s owner takes any steps that might alert others that their animal may be aggressive, they could be liable if it attacks someone. This comprises:
- A history including actual bites
- Snarling or barking at individuals
- Pursuing pedestrians or bicyclists
- Jumping on humans and other animals
- Disputes between they and other dogs
- Complaints and concerns from others regarding the dog’s conduct
You might be awarded damages if you show that a person in charge did nothing to prevent or stop the assault.
States with Strict Liability
The common “one bite” restriction has been amended in several states by laws that increase animal owners’ culpability. If a dog injures someone, the owner is liable under strict liability laws regardless of whether or not there was any reason one would believe the dog may be hazardous.
Suppose you live in a jurisdiction that upholds personal liability. In that case, all you need to demonstrate is that a dog bit you without cause and that the injury resulted in compensable losses.
During a dog bite lawsuit, who can you blame?
In a bite lawsuit, you often file an accusation against the person who owns the dog. The owner often carries coverage in the form of insurance. This might be renters’, homeowners’, or umbrella coverage.
If you win a dog bite case at trial, the insurer will probably want to arrange to prevent you from going to court; otherwise, to reimburse you for damages up to the policy limits.
A settlement enables you to get compensation without bothering to appear in court. Still, if you accept it, you forfeit your ability to pursue other claims related to the biting occurrence.
There could, in some cases, be other parties in charge. Suppose a landlord knew a hazardous dog was residing on a rental property and took no action to resolve the condition. In that case, the landlord may be liable for damages if the dog attacked.
Indemnity for a Dog Bite Case
Dog bites can result in serious and occasionally deadly damage. You could need substantial medical care, including reconstructive surgery if you have been bitten. Click here for more on reconstructive surgery. You are entitled to compensation.
- Medical expenses incurred to treat wounds and the price of any potential ongoing treatment you might require
- Lost income if you were absent from work due to an injury caused by a dog bite or if it affected your ability to earn money in the future.
- Agony brought on by the bite and the harm it caused
- Emotional pain brought on by the attack
You must demonstrate the full amount of your damages when bringing a dog bite claim. You can get help from an accomplished personal injury attorney in compiling the evidence required to demonstrate the full amount of your injuries.
Defendants in a Dog Bite Case
In rare situations, the owner of a dog may try to avoid accountability by arguing that you were entirely or partially to blame for the biting occurrence. For instance, the dog owner can assert that you were on privately owned land (https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/private_property) when the dog attacked you or that your actions annoyed the dog.
Your capacity to get compensation may be impacted if the owner proves you were entirely or partially at fault.
Bite situations are frightful, so you might want to get therapy for your mental health in addition to your physical injuries to lessen your risk of developing the condition known as post-traumatic stress disorder or other anxiety-related illnesses following the bite.
Contact a knowledgeable dog bite attorney to discuss your options after you know the full nature of your injury. Your lawyer can assist you in negotiating a settlement through the insurance representing the dog’s owner or collecting the required proof to proceed with a claim.
