Dog Bites: What Are Your Rights?

You may be the biggest dog lover around and have several of these friendly pets of your own. No matter how much you love animals, you can still become the victim of an aggressive dog. If you are bitten or otherwise injured, you need to seek medical help. Chances are you will also need legal help to recoup your medical expenses and other monetary needs.

Evidence

Immediately after the dog bite, you can take steps to gather evidence for your attorney. Try and get the name of the dog's owner, the name of the dog, and the name of the owner's insurance company. Take photos of your injuries and file a report with the city. All of this information will be invaluable to your lawyer and help you get the type of settlement that you deserve. 

Liability Laws

The dog owners' responsibility varies according to which state you are in. In some states, there is a "one bite" rule that protects owners of dogs that have not previously been aggressive. In these cases, owners are not held liable simply because they had no indication that their animal might act out. If the dog has been known to jump and knock people over, bite them, or hurt them in other ways, the owner knew about the danger and will be held responsible.

Some states have strict statutory liability laws, which mean no dog, no matter how friendly and lovable in general, gets a free pass at aggressive behavior. If you are injured by a dog in one of these states, your case will be far easier to prove since the dog's owners can be held accountable even if they had no indication that their pet might hurt someone. Of course, if the owners can prove that you provoked their pet in some way, you most likely will not receive compensation. Again, each state interprets these laws differently, making your case complicated. The only safe way to approach this matter legally is to hire an experienced personal injury attorney. 

Even if you love pets, you will need to take steps to protect yourself if you are bitten or otherwise harmed by a dog. Dog bites can be serious injuries and, on occasion, require stitches and rabies shots. Being attacked can also affect you emotionally and psychologically. If you suffer one of these injuries, gather what evidence you can, get medical help, and contact a personal injury attorney.