Who doesn’t love a man’s best friend? Even the most cold-hearted of us might look fondly down at a cute puppy from time to time. However, a dog is still an animal and when provoked could bite.
Dog bite cases are more common than we like to think. Many people don’t know or understand what might happen when a dog bites or who is responsible.
Need more information on these types of cases? Read on and we’ll walk you through what you should know.
1. Liability Can Be Hard to Determine
If a person is bit by a dog and injured, is the owner of the canine always liable for the injuries? You might think so, but the truth is actually a bit more complicated.
In order for a person to hold a dog owner liable, they must be able to prove that the dog owner in question acted negligently. They need to have been careless in some manner.
There are various ways to prove this: they might have ignored local leash laws and allowed their dog to run free in a public area. This is a common one.
In some instances, an injured individual will also need to prove that the owner of the dog knew that the canine had a tendency to bite. In some states, there is a law known as the ‘one-bite-rule,’ which means dog owners are only liable if there’s been a history of violent behavior from the dog in the past.
Some states, on the other hand, have stricter dog bite laws in place that hold owners responsible no matter the situation.
2. Actions Following a Dog Bite
What actions should take following a dog bite incident? If you’ve been bitten by someone else’s dog, it might throw you into a state of shock.
You’ll want to call for immediate medical attention if the bite is serious. If you can, take down the information of the dog owner. Document your injury by taking photos or videos.
If there are witnesses in the area, take down their contact information as well. Get their perspective of the incident, as they could be valuable assets, later on, should you decide to take legal action.
If you do think you’ll want to take legal action, you’ll need to hire an attorney who has a background in this kind of case. You can take a look at certain firms and see who might be best for your case.
3. When One Doesn’t Have a Case
In what instances might a person have to take responsibility for being bit by a dog? If it can be shown that an injured individual provoked a dog in some manner and was bitten as a result, they likely wouldn’t have a case that could stand up in court.
If they were trespassing, harassing a dog, or otherwise acting in a careless or harmful manner, they would not be able to pin liability on the dog owner.
Understanding Dog Bite Cases
Many people don’t know how dog bite cases work until it’s too late and they’ve been injured. The above information can ensure you know the basics of how these legal situations work.
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