A recent American Pet Products Association survey discovered that almost 87 million U.S. households — or roughly two-thirds of all households in the country — have pets living in them. Dogs are more popular than any other pets, as they’re found in 65 million households. Most dogs won’t ever bite anyone, but the CDC reports that between four and five million Americans are bitten by dogs annually, with about 800,000 requiring medical attention.
Hiring a dog bite lawyer should be one of the first steps to take if a dog ever bites you. Accident Hotline can help you track down a dog bite attorney so that you can seek compensation for injuries sustained during a dog-related attack. Contact us today to connect with a trusted dog bite attorney in your area.
Understanding Dog Owner Liability and the Different Dog Bite Laws
All dog bites are not created equal, which is one of the big reasons you should bring a dog bite lawyer on board to handle your case if a dog ever attacks you. Each state has its dog bite laws that determine dog owner liability.
Here are the three common dangerous dog laws used as part of legal defenses throughout the country.
Strict Liability Laws
Strict liability laws are the harshest types of dog bite laws. Dog owners are almost always held responsible for dog bites in states with strict liability laws, as long as those bitten by dogs are on public property or lawfully on private property when dog attacks occur.
The only times dog bite owners can work around strict liability laws are when:
- A person provokes a dog before sustaining a dog bite
- A person trespasses on private property and sustains a dog bite
Otherwise, dog owners in states with strict liability laws are often forced to cover the costs that dog bite victims face, even if their dog hasn’t bitten anyone before.
One-Bite Laws
While strict liability laws don’t leave much leeway for dog owners to avoid responsibility for dog bites, the one-bite laws in some states operate differently. They only hold dog owners responsible for dog bites if there is any reason to believe the dog might bite beforehand.
The one-bite rule applies to dogs that have:
- Bitten people or animals
- Attempted to bite people or animals
- Shown aggression toward people or animals
You can still take legal action against a dog owner in a state with one-bite laws, but it won’t be easy. You’ll need to work with a dog bite lawyer who has experience handling this particular kind of case.
Negligence Laws
In states with strict liability and one-bite laws, you may pursue fair compensation if you can prove negligence on a dog owner’s part. You’ll need to show that a dog owner didn’t take the necessary steps to prevent their dog from biting.
Examples of negligence in a dog bite case may include:
- Failing to keep a dog on private property through the use of a fence or leash
- Neglecting to post signs about a dog living on private property
- Allowing a child to interact with a dog without issuing warnings
If a dog bit you, and you feel one or more of these examples of negligence apply, don’t hesitate to reach out to a dog bite lawyer for help through Accident Hotline.
Contact our team today so we can fight to help you get the compensation you deserve.
The Types of Damages You Can Seek With a Dog Bite Lawsuit
No matter which state you live in, a dog bite lawyer from Accident Hotline can assist in seeking damages related to your case. It’ll help to know about the two main types of damages.
The first type is called economic damages. These damages cover costs that directly affect your financial situation, such as:
- Medical bills
- Lost wages
- Decreased earning capacity
The second type is called non-economic damages. These damages cover other losses that don’t directly impact your financial situation, such as:
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional and psychological distress
- Reduced quality of life
An experienced dog bite lawyer from Accident Hotline can assess your case and let you know which damages you can seek by filing a dog bite lawsuit.
Why You Shouldn’t Put Off Filing a Dog Bite Lawsuit
You have the right to file a dog bite lawsuit, but depending on your state, you might only have a limited time to do it. The statute of limitations for a dog bite lawsuit typically lands somewhere between two and four years, though it varies from one state to the next.
Find out the statute of limitations for dog bite cases in your state and act quickly to ensure you don’t miss the opportunity to take legal action.
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How a Dedicated Dog Bite Lawyer Can Help You
When you track down the right dog bite lawyer through Accident Hotline to tackle your case, they can assist you in many ways. First and foremost, they can analyze your case and tell you how strong it is based on your state’s dog bite laws.
From there, a dog bite attorney can:
- Investigate your case further and collect key evidence
- Negotiate with the defendant in your case and try to iron out a settlement agreement
- Take your case to court and argue it in front of a judge and/or jury to try to win a judgment
Accident Hotline can point you in the right direction as you search for a dog bite lawyer. Let us highlight options in your area to get the legal ball rolling while you focus on recovery.
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Start Your Search for a Dog Bite Lawyer in Your Area
The dog bite attorneys that Accident Hotline recommends have a wealth of experience within the personal injury industry and have worked for everyone from prestigious law firms to Fortune 500 companies. Contact us at 888-340-7454 to locate a dog bite lawyer capable of handling a dog bite case who can answer further questions about your rights. Whether you reside in Minnesota, Nevada, or any other state nationwide, we are here to assist you in pursuing a lawsuit and moving forward.
For a free consultation, call 844-343-9609