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Who Can Sue For A Dog Bite
About 4.7 million victims suffer from dog bites each year in the United States. With about 75 million total dogs in America, almost 5 million bites is a high percentage. Dog bite losses can exceed $1 billion per year with more than $300 million paid by homeowners insurance.
The One Bite Law For Dog Owners
The key fact in a dog bite case is the “one bite rule.” The “one bite rule” shields a dog owner or harborer from liability, and criminal charges, until he has certain knowledge that their dog is dangerous or vicious. Once the owner knows his dog is dangerous, he is liable for any injuries cause by the dog. In addition, injuries caused by negligent handling or confinement of a dog, or by violating a leash law, also make a dog owner liable in almost all states. The “one bite rule” is observed by 18 states, while the other 32 have the owner liable for the first bite.
In addition to having prior knowledge of one’s dog attacking someone, if you choose to have a pet dog that is generally known as an aggressive breed you should also understand that you may have to take responsibility if your dog attacks someone.
It is important that even if the dog that bit you may have done this for the first time, if they are a vicious breed, the owner may be liable.
A dog bite victim may be able to get compensation or at least a voice in civil court and criminal court. If you or someone you know has been a victim of a dog bite, you should contact a dog-bite attorney or personal injury attorney to discuss you legal actions and file an injury lawsuit.
The Leash Law for Dog Owners
The leash law is that owners are not allowed to just let their dogs run around uncontained by a leash.
If you are a victim of a dog bite when the owner does not have the dog on a leash, you should contact a personal injury attorney to file a dog bite lawsuit. Some simple dog bites can be handled in small claims court with the fee of $20 to $30. For serious injuries from a dog bite, mental aggravation and hospital bills, most attorneys should be brought in and work on a contingency basis; they don't get paid until you do. A personal injury attorney is recommended and usually will do the consultation to interpret the law for free.
Neighborhood Dogs Who Bite
An aspect that usually prevents most victims from filing a dog-bite claim through a dog-bite attorney is that dog attack statistics report that most attacks, more than 50 percent, are caused by dogs that the victim is familiar with and knows. Most people do not want to sue their friends and neighbors. It might be important for you to take legal action through a dog-bite attorney to keep others safe. If you let your neighbor get away with a dog bit, it might happen to someone else, maybe children.
Sometimes a victim can recover compensation from people who, at first glance, might appear to have little to do with the dog. For instance, a property owner may be responsible if he knew that a tenant kept a dog that is prone to biting people, if the property owner had the ability to remove the tenant.
Dog bite law is confusing and varies from state to state. This is where a personal injury or dog-bite attorney can clear things up for you. It is recommended in cases like this find a local personal injury attorney to consult with.
Dog Bites and Children
A child is often the victim of the dog bite, which can leave more than just physical scars but emotional scars as well. You should be compensated for these emotional injuries through a dog-bite lawsuit.
For example, the family of a young boy who was the victim of a dog attack in Mother's Day 2005 recently received a $850,000 jury award, which included $500,000 in punitive damages due to the negligence of the dog owner. The 100-pound rottweiler left permanent scarring on the child's back and hips. The dog owner had been warned five times in the past to keep her dog on a leash and under control - warnings she apparently ignored.
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