3 Things To Know About Dog Bite Related Injury Cases
Did a dog end up biting you, and now you are wondering if the dog's owner can be held liable for your injury? If so, it helps to know about the following things related to dog bites
Know That A Police Report Is Necessary
One of the first things that you should do is contact the police and file a police report. A police report is a way for you to give an official statement about the dog bite so that it can be used to file an injury claim against the responsible party. The report is essentially you accusing the dog's owner for the dog bite, and the report is necessary to move forward with a personal injury lawsuit.
Know What The Local Laws Are
The next thing you should do is fully understand the laws in your state regarding dog bites because every state has different rules. Your state could fall into one of two categories. You have strict liability where the owner is always going to be liable for the incident. While there are some exceptions to the rule, such as a dog bite that happened while trespassing, the owner of the dog is typically held responsible in most situations.
On the other hand, your state may have a one-bite rule, where the dog essentially gets one dog bite without any legal repercussions for the owner. If this is the first time that the dog has bitten somebody, then there may not be anything you can do to seek compensation from the owner. There are other issues that can be at play as well, since some states have laws about dangerous breeds of dogs and injuries that they cause, so always know your local laws.
Know That The Dog Will Most Likely Be Fine
Many people are worried about filing a personal injury lawsuit against a dog's owner because they are worried about the safety of the dog. A common fear is that the dog may be put down for causing the injury, which usually is not true. This would only happen in extreme situations where the dog has a propensity with a history of doing it multiple times.
Have more questions about your dog bite related injury? Reach out to an injury law firm, such as The Harris Law Firm, in your area for assistance. They can help walk you through what your rights are as the victim and help guide your injury lawsuit.