773-365-0040
There are an estimated 78.2 million owned dogs in the U.S. Though the vast majority of these dogs are friendly, well-adjusted companions, there is always the potential for a dog to cause harm to an individual. However, if a dog bites someone, then the fault shouldn’t be placed on the dog, but rather the dog’s owner. If you ever get bitten by a dog, here are a few signs that you may have a viable personal injury case.
- The injury is substantial
Though there are many serious dog bites in the U.S. every year, there are many more bites that aren’t so serious. In order to win a settlement from a personal injury claim, you need to have incurred substantial medical bills and other damages—no court will let you sue over a minor scrape and scare.
- You did not provoke the dog
While courts generally sympathize with dog bite victims, they will not have much sympathy if you had deliberately provoked the dog that bit you. Dogs have certain uncontrollable instincts—it you bother a strange dog while it’s eating, sleeping, or taking care of puppies, any aggressive reaction may be considered provoked. However, if you get bitten without provoking a dog in any way, you may have a viable personal injury case.
- You were not trespassing
Dogs are famous for guarding their territory; in fact, many owners specially train dogs to guard against intruders and even put up a “beware of dog” sign. If you get bitten while trespassing on a dog owner’s property, he is not liable for your injuries. If you get bitten in the park, however, you should call a lawyer.
If you have recently been bitten by a dog and sustained injuries, don’t hesitate to call Shea Law Group. We believe that careless dog owners should be held accountable for their pets’ actions—that’s why we’re proud to defend innocent dog bite victims at the settlement negotiation table or in court. Call us at (773) 365-0040 to learn more.
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