Dogs do not always meet the cute, cuddly €man's best friend€ prototype that has been described of them. In fact, many canines are just as easily provoked to attack as are other undomesticated animals.
Several laws exist that serve to protect the unfortunate victims of dog attacks. While bites are among the more common forms of harm done by canines, they are not the only types of danger that the animal can inflict. From state to state, the general laws applied to dog bites and attacks are regulated by three grounds of liability.
The first of these regulations is €the one bite rule.€ This law is often the most difficult to apply because it requires that the dog previously demonstrated a tendency to bite without provocation. There must be proof that the canine had previously acted out or that it had displayed the propensity to attack. In these instances, it can be assumed that the dog owner should have known that their pet was capable of such dangerous and destructive behavior. As such, they can then be held liable for the harm inflicted. Although the law's title includes the word bite, it is somewhat misleading because the rules actually apply to any type of injury caused by the animal. Being knocked down by a dog is also applicable to the liability that can be applied to the animal's owner if there was damage done.
The second regulation governing the damages of dogs is that of negligence. This refers to a person's decision to partake in any actions that are unreasonably harmful, as they pertain to the involvement of a dog. Furthermore, the failure to take reasonable actions and responsibility for a pet can also lead to bites and attacks for which the owner will be held accountable. Examples of negligent behaviors may include letting a dog run loose among strangers, especially children who are often more vulnerable to attacks; tying the animal to a tree that is easily accessible to passersby who may try to pet the canine or even provoke it to attack; walking too many dogs at once, to the point that control of the canines cannot be maintained; or even failing to follow the leash rules in certain areas. Any of these situations could ultimately result in an attack that might leave an unsuspecting victim seriously injured if not worse.
Statutory liability is the third of the dog-bite regulations, and it is generally considered to be the most effective and protective for victims of the theses types of incidents. No accusations of the bite or proof of previous offenses need to exist in statutory liability cases. Usually, the only qualification for this type of law is evidence that the victim was attacked or bitten. The owner of the canine will be held responsible for any compensation needed to recover from the physical harm that was incurred as a result.
Pet owners, or more often their insurance companies, will be responsible for paying the medical expenses of any bite injuries or attacks. These could include recovery associated with physical damages done to a person's exterior, as well as any mental and emotional scarring that may have been inflicted. Furthermore, if the accident results in a loss of time at work or quality of life, expenses will need to compensate those costs as well.
Dog bite and/or attack claims are often complicated matters. In many cases, the victim is familiar €" even close €" with the owner of the animal that attacked them. This can lead to complications when deciding whether or not to make an issue out of the incident. Fortunately, a personal injury attorney can help. If handled correctly, the situation does not need to be one of hostile accusations and retaliatory defenses. Rather, it can simply be a means of acknowledging and attending to the damages incurred after an animal has bitten or attacked an undeserving individual.
Several laws exist that serve to protect the unfortunate victims of dog attacks. While bites are among the more common forms of harm done by canines, they are not the only types of danger that the animal can inflict. From state to state, the general laws applied to dog bites and attacks are regulated by three grounds of liability.
The first of these regulations is €the one bite rule.€ This law is often the most difficult to apply because it requires that the dog previously demonstrated a tendency to bite without provocation. There must be proof that the canine had previously acted out or that it had displayed the propensity to attack. In these instances, it can be assumed that the dog owner should have known that their pet was capable of such dangerous and destructive behavior. As such, they can then be held liable for the harm inflicted. Although the law's title includes the word bite, it is somewhat misleading because the rules actually apply to any type of injury caused by the animal. Being knocked down by a dog is also applicable to the liability that can be applied to the animal's owner if there was damage done.
The second regulation governing the damages of dogs is that of negligence. This refers to a person's decision to partake in any actions that are unreasonably harmful, as they pertain to the involvement of a dog. Furthermore, the failure to take reasonable actions and responsibility for a pet can also lead to bites and attacks for which the owner will be held accountable. Examples of negligent behaviors may include letting a dog run loose among strangers, especially children who are often more vulnerable to attacks; tying the animal to a tree that is easily accessible to passersby who may try to pet the canine or even provoke it to attack; walking too many dogs at once, to the point that control of the canines cannot be maintained; or even failing to follow the leash rules in certain areas. Any of these situations could ultimately result in an attack that might leave an unsuspecting victim seriously injured if not worse.
Statutory liability is the third of the dog-bite regulations, and it is generally considered to be the most effective and protective for victims of the theses types of incidents. No accusations of the bite or proof of previous offenses need to exist in statutory liability cases. Usually, the only qualification for this type of law is evidence that the victim was attacked or bitten. The owner of the canine will be held responsible for any compensation needed to recover from the physical harm that was incurred as a result.
Pet owners, or more often their insurance companies, will be responsible for paying the medical expenses of any bite injuries or attacks. These could include recovery associated with physical damages done to a person's exterior, as well as any mental and emotional scarring that may have been inflicted. Furthermore, if the accident results in a loss of time at work or quality of life, expenses will need to compensate those costs as well.
Dog bite and/or attack claims are often complicated matters. In many cases, the victim is familiar €" even close €" with the owner of the animal that attacked them. This can lead to complications when deciding whether or not to make an issue out of the incident. Fortunately, a personal injury attorney can help. If handled correctly, the situation does not need to be one of hostile accusations and retaliatory defenses. Rather, it can simply be a means of acknowledging and attending to the damages incurred after an animal has bitten or attacked an undeserving individual.