DOG BITE INJURY LAWYERS COLLEGE PARK

COLLEGE PARK DOG BITE LAWYER

While many people believe that their beloved pet would never hurt someone, the unfortunate truth is that dog bites frequently cause severe injuries. In the worst cases, an attack from a domesticated animal could render victims unable to go about their daily routine without experiencing pain and suffering.

If you or your child was injured by a dog, contact a College Park dog bite lawyer today to get to work holding the animal’s owner responsible for their negligence. A compassionate attorney could sit with you to review the details of your case and help you calculate the damages owed to you.

OWNER LIABILITY IN CANINE BITE CASES

When a dog hurts someone, the injured person may be able to file a lawsuit against the owner seeking damages for the injuries it caused. According to the Official Code of Georgia §51-2-7, an injured person must bring forth a lawsuit within two years of the bite to be eligible to seek damages.

To prove that a pet’s owner legally liable, the plaintiff must demonstrate that:

Proving each of these elements is necessary in order to obtain a positive outcome in a lawsuit. If one of the elements cannot be proven, the case may be dismissed, making it all the more imperative to allow a College Park dog bite lawyer to assist you with such legal matters.

DANGEROUS DOGS

A vicious or dangerous dog is one that the owner knows or should know has a propensity to bite. The animal may not have bitten a person before, but behavior such as charging at people, growling or snapping, aggressively barking, or lunging to attack may be considered a notice to an owner that their dog is potentially dangerous. However, if a dog owner has no reason to believe that their animal is vicious and there is no history of aggressive behavior, an injured person may not be able to prove their case.

LACK OF CONTROL

Dog owners have a responsibility to follow state and local leash laws and animal control laws. If an owner lets their dog run free onto other’s property or does not walk the dog on a leash, they might be liable for injuries their dog caused while it was uncontrolled.

NO PROVOCATION

Some dogs would never bite unless they are provoked. A person who injures, annoys, or irritates a dog until it attacks may find it difficult to successfully hold the dog owner accountable for their actions.

ATTACKS FROM DANGEROUS DOGS

When a dog has previously bitten a person, College Park law considers it “dangerous” and imposes several conditions on its owner. For instance, dangerous dogs cannot roam free or leave their owners’ property without being controlled with a leash or muzzle. When an owner is not controlling a dangerous dog, it must remain locked in a cage or secured behind a fence.

Owners of dangerous dogs must register their animal with the state, microchip it, and maintain at least $50,000 in liability insurance in case the dog bites someone else in the future. Dangerous dogs cannot be left with a minor, and an owner cannot have more than one dangerous dog at a time in their household.

Once a dog is legally considered dangerous, its owner faces strict liability in any dog bite cases brought against them by an experienced attorney in College Park. In addition to a civil case, the owner of a dangerous dog who bites or attacks the second time may also be subject to criminal fines and possible jail time.

GET IN TOUCH WITH A COLLEGE PARK DOG BITE ATTORNEY

If someone else’s dog caused you injury, you may be able to recover damages for your medical costs, lost wages, emotional trauma, permanent scarring, pain and suffering, and more in a personal injury case. Schedule an appointment with a College Park dog bite lawyer and learn more about your legal options after an attack. If you are not satisfied with our services during the first 30 days, we will give you your file back without any charges.