Blog Post

What You Need to Know About Dog Bites

  • By Admin
  • •
  • 18 May, 2018
  • •
Law — Dog Barking in Aiken, SC
As many people know, having a family dog can be a wonderful and healthy addition to a family. Dogs can be very loyal and are capable of loving unconditionally. Unfortunately, dogs can also be unpredictable at times, particularly with people they are unfamiliar with. A dog that is normally fine with people can sometimes snap and bite someone with no rhyme or reason.

In some cases, dog bites can be extremely serious, even causing life-altering injuries. The first thought is often who is liable for the bite and the expenses that come with it. Many states have a one bite rule. This means that that the owner of the dog is liable for the bite, even if it has never bitten someone before.

The following is some information on dog bites and who will have to pay the damages caused by the injury.

Is Your Dog Deemed Dangerous?

Under state law, dogs can be considered dangerous based on certain criteria. For instance, any dog that has hurt a person through attacks or a bite is considered dangerous. Any dog that acts aggressively with or without provocation can also be considered dangerous.

In addition, dogs that have hurt or killed another domestic dog, cat, or another animal considered a pet can also be deemed dangerous. If your dog is deemed dangerous and bites someone, you will be responsible for damages under most circumstances.

What Are the Owner Requirements for Dangerous Dogs?

An owner of a dog that is deemed dangerous has to comply with rules set out by law if he or she wishes to retain ownership. You will need to register a dangerous dog in the state in which it resides. It must remain confined in a secure manner on its own property. When not on the property, the dog must be leashed and muzzled if required.

The owner should also make a notification somewhere visible on the property that states a dangerous dog is on the premises. Also, the owner must promise to notify animal control in certain circumstances, such as when the dog is sold, is given away, or gets out of its confined space.

What Happens if the Injured Party is a Child? 

Tragic injuries can result when a dog bites a child. Aside from the physical pain and possible disability, it can also leave the child traumatized for years. A dog will also bite a child if he or she is playing too hard or inadvertently hurts the dog.

It would seem reasonable that the parents of the child would be liable for paying the damages if the child provoked the dog. However, state laws make it clear that a young child under a certain age, as defined by the individual state, cannot be held liable for the injury, even if the child provoked the dog. As a result, the owner of the dog will be responsible for the bite and damages.

A dog bite can cause major injuries that can last for years. Bites can cause any number of injuries that can leave a person physically disabled permanently. If your dog injures someone else, it is crucial that you know how to respond.

You should first contact law enforcement to get the incident on record. Do not take any steps to pay for injuries until the matter has been investigated by law enforcement so fault can be determined.

Additionally, do not feel pressured to take drastic measures with your dog until you are legally required to do so. You should have your dog fully restrained, however, to prevent further issues while the matter is being sorted out.

If your dog bites someone, you will need to contact your attorney to see where you stand legally. For more information, please contact Anderson & Anderson LLP.

3 Types of Evidence to Collect for a Personal Injury Lawsuit

By Admin • April 21, 2018
If you have been in an auto accident and you want to get compensation for what you have been through, you need to make sure you have the right type of evidence together in order to move forward with a legal case. Here are three types of evidence you will need to collect.

Social Media After a Personal Injury Claim

By Admin • January 19, 2018
Whether you're injured in an auto accident or as a result of a faulty product, the steps you take after you're injured can either help or hurt your personal injury claim. While social media has become a regular part of our daily lives, using it can complicate your claim and have a negative impact.

Here's what you need to know about the ways using social media can hamper your personal injury claim.

Accident Aftermath: What to Do in the Days and Weeks After a Car Collision

By Admin • November 21, 2017
Car accidents seem like the type of thing that we only hear about happening to other people, so it can be devastating to be a victim of a collision yourself. One moment you're driving and thinking of your various obligations, and the next you're off the road wondering how everything changed so fast. Even if you were in a minor collision where the car was damaged a lot more than you were, you need to take care of yourself.

The trauma that can occur during an automobile accident can cause problems that show up days later, and of course there's the emotional aspect of coping with the fear of the moment and the hassle of having to get your car fixed or replaced. Below are a few things you should focus on now that the worst is over with and you're recovering from your injuries.

What Impact Could the Federal Tort Reform Proposal Have on Personal Injury Judgments?

By Admin • August 10, 2017
With healthcare costs continuing to rise, tort reform has been a hot topic in the news – so hot that the U.S. House of Representatives recently passed House Resolution 985 (HR 985), a bill designed to limit recovery and sometimes even litigation in certain types of personal injury lawsuits.

Although this bill must still pass muster with the Senate Judiciary Committee before being sent to the president and potentially signed into law, it represents a key part of Congress's plan to make the legal market more business-friendly and enjoys a broad base of support. What could passage of this bill (or a similar one) mean for a current or future personal injury claim?

Read on to learn more about how this type of tort reform could affect your ability to proceed in certain types of personal injury cases.
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