Dog bite law is a complicated area of legal practice. Every state has a slightly different approach to owner liability. Many states have significant exceptions and exclusions which can affect the outcome of dog bite lawsuits. Still more complications are possible when municipality or county animal codes are factored into the situation.
Given the tangled web of criminal laws, civil codes and administrative rules that may be involved in a dog bite lawsuit, the assistance of a dog bite lawyer can be the difference between winning and losing a lawsuit.
A dog bite lawyer works extensively within the practice of personal injury and liability law. Rather than pursue cases within that general area of law, a dog bite lawyer has focused his or her attentions on the complex intersection of municipal codes, administrative laws, civil codes and criminal law that come into play when a dog attacks a person.
Depending on the state or city in which the dog bite attack occurred, the path to liability may take several twists and turns.
In a strict liability state, a dog bite lawyer has a clear cut route to compensation. Strict liability holds owners responsible for the injuries caused by their dogs regardless of whether the owner had any knowledge of an animal’s aggressive behavior.
In other states, the dog bite lawyer may pursue damages for his or her client through premises liability, which deals with injuries suffered while on the property of the dog owner. This is a possible route in states which have what is known as the one bite rule, which shields dog owners from liability for the first dog bite.
In some instances a dog bite lawyer will build a case based on the general negligence of the dog owner in order to recover damages. Other circumstances will warrant the use of a specific violation of state or city law in order to establish negligence-based liability.
No matter what the specific circumstances are in a dog bite lawsuit, a dog bite lawyer represents the best choice for the victim of a dog bite interested in receiving fair compensation for their injuries. A dog bite lawyer has the expertise and case knowledge needed to reliably deliver results to their clients.
If you have been bitten by a dog, you may want to consider hiring a dog bite lawyer.