Dog bite cases are serious and can lead to injuries requiring expensive medical treatment. In addition, dog bites are often caused by unprovoked attacks and may not be covered under insurance or homeowners’ policies.
A personal injury lawyer in Aurora can help you recover compensation for your medical bills and lost wages. In some cases, you may be entitled to receive punitive damages from the dog’s owner if its behavior was reckless or malicious.
In some cases, the dog owner may be liable for the injuries caused by their pet.
• Elderly people bitten by dogs. Elderly people who are bitten by dogs often suffer severe injuries because they are more likely to fall victim to a dog bite attack if they try to fend off an aggressive dog with their hands or feet (as opposed to kicking). Many older adults have poor balance and coordination, which makes them even more vulnerable to injury from a dog attack.
• Young children bitten by dogs. Young children who are bitten by dogs often suffer serious injuries because they tend not to be able to protect themselves from aggressive dogs as adults do (for example, running away). Many young children cannot run away quickly enough or climb high enough for an aggressive dog not to reach them in time.
Contact a lawyer immediately, if you or a loved one has been injured in a dog bite. The laws concerning dog bites vary from state to state, but some general guidelines apply nationwide.
In most cases, the dog owner is responsible for paying damages if his pet attacks someone. However, suppose you suffer injuries from a dog attack and have medical bills, lost wages and other expenses related to your injuries. In that case, you may be able to get compensation from the pet owner’s homeowner’s insurance policy. According to the Animal Legal Defense Fund, there are three types of animal liability laws:
• Strict liability: The owner is liable for all injuries caused by his dog, even if he never intended for his pet to hurt someone else
• Negligence: The owner is liable only if he knew or should have known that his pet could be dangerous
• Breach of duty: This type of law requires proof that the owner failed to take reasonable steps to prevent his pet from harming others.
Dog bites are typically categorized as either dog bites or dog mauling. The difference between the two is often determined by the severity of the injuries sustained by the victim.
For example, a person who a small dog has bitten may not even require medical attention, while someone who a large dog has bitten might need stitches and other types of treatment. A personal injury lawyer specializing in personal injury litigation to determine whether you have grounds for filing a lawsuit against the animal owner or whether your state will provide compensation through its insurance program.
