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Dog Bite Accidents
 Dog bite accidents are governed by the general principles of negligence and premises liability previously set forth and the damages are governed by the personal injury damages section on this site.
Dog owners are responsible for keeping their dogs supervised and restrained. If you were attacked by a dog that was permitted to roam without a leash, you may be able to make a claim against the dog owner. Many dog bite injuries can cause severe scarring and extensive medical treatment as well as lost wages. Immediate medical attention should be sought for dog bite injuries as the nature of dog bite injuries (puncture type injuries) can cause an infection under the skin. Rabies is always a concern which is why medical attention is required as well as investigation of all the shots that the dog has obtained in recent years. Often, the Animal Control Commission, by whatever name it is known, can also provide some history on a dog, particularly if the dog has bitten or attacked anyone in the past. It is important for a proper investigation to be conducted immediately to determine if any neighbors or other persons are aware of the dog's vicious propensities.
Generally, there are two theories of recovery for a claim against the owner of a domestic animal. The first theory is known as strict liability. The owner of a domestic animal is responsible for injuries or damages caused by that animal if the owner knew, or by the use of reasonable care should have known, that the animal had a propensity, inclination, or tendency to engage in the particular conduct that caused the injuries or damages. MPJI 4:1. This might be particularly applicable to a pit bull or a rotweiller. The second theory is a simple negligence theory. The owner of an animal will be held liable for damage proximately caused by the animal if the owner exercised ineffective control of the animal in a situation where it would reasonably be expected that injury could occur. In determining the necessary degree of control, the past behavior of the animal and foreseeability of the injuries should be considered. MPJI 4:2.
Many jurisdictions have leash laws that are required to be followed by an owner. If a leash law has been violated by the owner, the violation may well give rise to evidence of negligence on the part of the owner.
If you or one of your family members has been attacked by an animal at large or unleashed animal, and has suffered serious injuries, you have a claim against the dog/animal owner or person who supposedly has control of the animal.
The legal information on this site is not intended to be legal advice. Contact one of our experienced dog bite attorneys or lawyers today to get specific information and answers for your specific situation.
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