We have all heard the saying, “Dogs are a man’s best friend.” This is very true for many people. However, there are some problems that owning a dog can lead to. We all understand that pets are family and they are, are in most cases, sweet to their owner. The same does not always translate for strangers or others. In the event that your dog is the cause of injury to another individual, you may find yourself in a legal and financial bind being held liable for your dog’s actions.
Many people have dogs simply as companions. Some have them because they grew up with them in the household. Some simply have them for protection. There are several cases where a dog reacts and causes injury to another individual. Should your dog be responsible for injuring someone, you could potentially be held responsible for any financial burdens that come with it. This may be any medical expenses or loss of income due to injury that the other person has suffered. Laws vary from state to state, but it is important to understand the laws from the state you reside in.
Different Dog Bite Laws
Usually there are three types of laws that will help you determine if you are responsible for the increase your dogs caused.
- “Strict liability,” which means you’re responsible for anything your dog does.
- “One bite,” which means the first bite is usually looked over. If there is more than one, you are deemed responsible.
- “Negligence,” which means you were negligent somehow. Maybe you did not have your dog on a leash in a public area, or maybe the leash you have the dog on was worn out.
Contact an Attorney
To protect yourself as a dog owner, you should make sure to know the laws in your state and take every precaution you can to inform others that you do have a dog and make sure your dog and those that may come in contact with you are safe. This can be frustrating for the dog owner and a victim. Should you own a dog or be a victim of a dog bite, contact an attorney, like a personal injury attorney in Atlanta, GA from Andrew R. Lynch, P.C., as soon as possible.
Dogs can be completely unpredictable and because they do not speak the same language, it is hard to probably communicate about what is and is not okay. In the event that an unpredictable incident occurs, contact an attorney for your protection.
