Dog Bites – When You Can Sue and Why
Sep 8th, 2009 by ANorman
Personal injury cases can get a bit confusing, especially when it comes to something like an animal related accident. This bewilderment is often due to the fact that the lines can get a bit blurred since, unlike a car, a dog is a living breathing entity that can bite for a number of reasons, including self defense.
When an animal attack occurs, the case has to be examined to establish liability of the dog owner if the bite victims seek to file a personal injury lawsuit.
When You can’t Sue
In California, a dog is not held accountable for a bite if it was provoked. An example of this would be if the dog was being pummeled with rocks or beaten prior to the attack. In such an instance, the victim could be responsible for their own injuries.
When you can Sue
An individual can sue the dogs owner if the bite was unprovoked. He or she can further cement their case if they are able prove a prior record of the dogs viciousness or propensity for biting.
There is a school of thought however, that says that this proof is not demonstrated by dogs attacking and biting other dogs. The reasoning is that dogs will fight and/or bite one another on pure instinct and that this is normal animal behavior. There is a bit of a gray area here however, as growing evidence suggest that some bites occur after a dog attacks another dog. This could mean that the propensity for a canine to attack another animal makes it a hazard to humans as well.
Been Bitten—Now What?
Some bites can range from the mild to the fairly severe. There have been victims bitten and mauled to the point of death—others have to have reconstructive surgery to mend the part of their bodies that may have been disfigured in the attack.
While a mild bite may heal on his own, devastating injuries will need massive amounts of medical attention. This will translate into tremendous cost, especially if reconstructive surgery is required.
Many Americans are not financially prepared for such an occurrence and could find their nest eggs dwindling rapidly. With this in mind, a dog bite victim should look into the possibility of filing a personal injury lawsuit against the dog owner.
Contact Us Today
At the law firm of Slaughter and Slaughter we can get you the compensation you deserve after a vicious dog attack. This compensation can then go towards related medical costs and rehabilitation efforts. It will also hold a negligent dog owner accountable for unleashing a vicious animal onto the public.
Call us today to set up a free case evaluation and discover what your legal rights are in regards to dog bites and personal injury litigation.
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