I always assumed that personal injury cases where pretty straight forward. After being in an accident, any financial losses that you suffered would be reimbursed by the liable party's insurance company. Unfortunately, things only work this way in a perfect world. In the real world, personal injury cases are extremely complex and getting the insurance company to pay a fair settlement requires the expertise of an experienced injury lawyer. Unfortunately, it took me several months to finally seek out the legal assistance I needed. As a result, I waited much longer than necessary to get the compensation I so desperately needed. During this time, I learned more about personal injury law than I ever thought I would. It is my hope that this blog will allow me to share that knowledge with you so that you can avoid making some of the same mistakes that I did.
According to the American Pet Products Association, their 2015-2016 National Pet Owners Survey states that, in the United States, there are 77.8 million pet dogs that reside throughout 54.4 million households. Unfortunately, some of these dogs are not going to be friendly. If your dog has had the misfortune of being attacked by one of these 77.8 million other dogs, it is normal for you to wonder what rights you have.
Dog Bite Laws
According to Nolo.com, there are currently 31 states that impose strict liability laws. These laws hold the dog owner responsible in the event their dog causes injury, regardless of whether or not the dog owner knew or had reason to believe the dog was dangerous. The difference is that some of the states cover all types of injuries while the other states only cover bites. There are even some states that have dog bite laws, but not strict liability laws.
Liability for Dog Owners
Dog owners are responsible for their dogs and this holds true, especially in the event of their dog attacking another dog. Now, of course, one dog owner may blame the other dog owner and vice versa. If this is the case, you need to prove that their dog is at fault. If you have a Toy Poodle and the other dog was a Great Dane, you could argue the other dog was the cause of the attack simply by comparing size and weight of the two dogs. You can also ask around the neighborhood to see if any of your neighbors have had issues with the same dog. Contact the animal control office in your area to inquire if there have been warnings or citations issues against this particular dog.
Compensation for Your Dog's Injuries
Depending on your state law as well as the circumstances of the attack, the dog owner responsible for the dog attack may have to pay you some sort of compensation. This compensation can come in the form of paying for your dog's treatment for their injuries. It is for this reason that you should keep copies of your veterinarian bills, medication purchases, and hospitalization expenses.
No dog owner wants to have their dog attacked by another dog, and most dog owners don't want their dog to be the culprit of attacking other dogs. While you may not be able to do anything when the attack happens, you do have legal rights and options you can take after it is over. Just reach out to a personal injury lawyer – ideally one with dog bite experience like http://www.danielgoodmanlaw.com– and ask for guidance.
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