Canines are capable of providing an infinite amount of love and company, yet even the gentlest dogs can cause harm to property or physical injury to people. If someone is bitten by your dog, or if you or your pet were wounded by the dog of another person, you may need to consult a dog bite lawyer Denver who specializes in cases involving dog bites. Dog biting regulations in each state are different. A local attorney who specializes in cases involving dog bites will be able to inform you whether or not you have a legal claim, the potential level of your culpability, the sorts of defenses that may be available, and the potential financial and legal repercussions of your dog bite case.
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What Should I Do If A Dog Causes Me Injury?
If you are bitten by a dog that belongs to another person, you have various choices available to you. To get things started, one option is to file a claim for compensation with the homeowner’s insurance provider. The majority of homeowner’s insurance plans will pay for a first dog bite claim if it occurs on the property of the insured. In addition, many policies will pay for a bite that occurs outside the property if the dog is owned or kept on the property.
When it comes to working with the insurance company and using their expertise and experience to negotiate a reasonable settlement, a lawyer who specializes in cases involving dog bites may be of great assistance.
You also have the option of bringing legal action for damages against the dog’s owner or carer. Not only can these cases be brought over dog bites, but also over other injuries that might be caused by dogs, according to the legislation of several states. Dog bite attorneys have a significant impact on the outcome of these cases because they are familiar with the laws that apply in your state, how to determine the number of damages, and how to most persuasively present evidence.
How To Prove Liability In A Case Involving A Dog Bite?
The rules of your state and the strength of your case will determine whether or not you can hold someone accountable for the damage you sustained as a result of a dog bite. The common law “one-bite” rule is still in effect in some jurisdictions.
Statutes about dog bites and carelessness create a situation in which the owner has a general responsibility to protect others from being harmed by their dog. This includes guests, workers on their property, and individuals who are on their land when it is open for business. In addition, owners are obligated to comply with municipal leash rules and statutes that impose legal responsibility on those who have certain kinds of dogs or animals known to be particularly hazardous.
Possible Defenses In A Case Involving A Dog Bite
The various defenses that someone may use against you in a dog bite case will vary based on the laws that are in place in your state; nevertheless, some frequent arguments that the opposing dog bite attorney might deploy include the following:
- Trespassing: Although trespassers are afforded some legal protections, the dog bite legislation in your state may require you to demonstrate that you were bitten while you were in a location where you were lawfully permitted to be to receive compensation for your injuries. According to those laws, a person will not be able to sue for damages if they are bitten by a dog while they are trespassing on private property.
- Provocation: Another popular defense is that a dog owner is not responsible because the person who was wounded provoked the dog before the bite happened. For instance, the injured person may have teased or cornered the dog and threatened it with an angry gesture.
- Comparative negligence or the assumption of risk: In some situations, the dog’s owner may try to establish that you are at least partially responsible for your injuries. This is known as comparative negligence or assumption of risk defense. For instance, if the dog’s owner gave you sufficient warnings about the dog’s behavior and you disregarded those warnings, this may lessen or eliminate your potential to claim damages for the dog’s behavior.
An experienced dog bite attorney will be aware of the points that your adversary’s dog bite attorney may use against you, as well as the most effective way to counteract such arguments.