what type of lawyer do i need when neighbor's dog bites your dog

by Jadyn Berge 4 min read

Contact a Personal Injury Lawyer if Your Neighbor’s Dog Bites You If your neighbor’s dog bites you, you need to call an experienced Houston personal injury lawyer. They can sit down with you and answer any questions you may have.

If you're facing a lawsuit over an alleged injury caused by your dog, you should strongly consider speaking with a personal injury lawyer. An attorney experienced in this area can fully explain the defenses that are available in your situation and state, and can help protect your rights.

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What kind of lawyer do I need for a dog bite case?

Mar 02, 2022 · Below are the best information and knowledge on the subject what type of lawyer do i need when neighbor's dog bites your dog compiled and compiled by our own. Below are the best information and knowledge on the subject what type of lawyer do i need when neighbor's dog bites your dog compiled and compiled by our own ... ARE YOU A MEMBER? Login ...

What should I do if my Neighbor bites my dog?

Feb 28, 2022 · If you have been bitten or attacked by a dog, you should speak to a personal injury lawyer vitamin a soon as possible if : You have suffered injuries that require you to see a doctor, especially if you are going to require ongoing treatment such as surgeries or skin grafts. You are coping with disfiguring injuries after being mauled by an animal.

Who is liable for dog bites?

Answer. Most personal injury lawyers should be able to handle a dog bite injury case, and you typically don't need to worry about finding an attorney who specializes in "dog bite defense" cases as opposed to one who handles work on the plaintiff's side.

What to do if your dog attacks your pet?

In the same respect, the friend or neighbor who owns the dog, if an attack or bite occurs, [that person] needs to be considerate for the person who was bitten. John: Sure. Kevin: Any reaction should be proportionate to the type of incident or the extent of severity of the incident. Certainly, the communication should be open if it’s a friend ...

What do you do if a neighbors dog bites your dog?

There are a few steps you can focus on after an attack to protect your safety and your legal rights.Identify the dog's owner. ... Contact animal control. ... Get treatment for your injuries. ... Gather evidence of the attack. ... Contact an experienced dog bite attorney.

What is the law when a dog attacks another dog?

Rather, California law classifies dogs as personal property. [2] Therefore, if a dog injures another dog, the defendant must bring a property damage lawsuit (or a less common action for “trespass to chattels.”) When is an owner liable for a dog biting another dog?

Can you sue for a dog attacking your dog?

If you want to sue the owner of the other dog who attacked your dog you will need to prove that they were somehow negligent. This usually means that they failed to properly control or contain their dog. The negligence of the other dog owner will depend on the circumstances of the attack.Sep 21, 2020

Can my dog get put down for biting another dog?

Can a Dog Be Put Down for Attacking Another Dog? Yes, sometimes a dog is ordered to be put down after a dog fight. However, this usually only happens in cases where the owner was extremely negligent and knew their dog was aggressive but allowed another attack to happen.May 13, 2021

Should I report a dog that attacked my dog?

If a dog has bitten somebody, attacked another dog or seems likely to attack, you should report it immediately to the police on 101. They will need to know or find out who owns the dog that is believed to be dangerous before they can take action.Dec 29, 2016

What happens if a dog bite is reported?

Dogs are required to be quarantined for a minimum of 10 days after biting a person in California. Bites must be reported to local health officials, triggering the quarantine process. This mandatory quarantine process is to make sure the dog does not have rabies.Sep 27, 2020

What to do if someone accuses your dog of biting them?

If your dog is accused of an attack, he or she may be seized and put on “bite hold” at a local shelter. You will then generally be entitled to a hearing before your dog is declared dangerous. This hearing may be before an administrative hearing officer or before a judge.

What should I do if my dog got bit by another dog?

If you are unable to get to the vet right away it is essential to clean the wound as soon as possible, and keep it clean.Very gently wash the bite wound with soap and water and pat dry.Use hydrogen peroxide, chlorhexidene or betadine to dab the wound in order to help kill germs.More items...•Nov 19, 2020

When should you put a dog down for biting?

Euthanasia can be required after a dog bite in California if the dog has rabies, if the dog has bitten at least 2 people, or if the dog has bitten and seriously injured someone, and had been raised to attack people or fight. Unless the dog has rabies, a hearing is required before the dog is euthanized.

What happens if you bite a dog in Texas?

However, the Texas Supreme Court has adopted the “one bite rule.”. This states that if you’re bitten by a dog, then you can recoup damages if: The owner understood that the dog had previously bitten someone or behaved in a violent way.

How long do you have to file a dog bite claim?

The owner was neglectful in the supervision of their animal and the injury occurred due to this negligence. You have two years to file a claim in a dog bite case. After the statute of limitations runs out and a personal injury claim cannot be filed.

What happens if a dog bites you?

In Texas, there is no specific law for dog bites. However, the Texas Supreme Court has adopted the “one bite rule.” This states that if you’re bitten by a dog, then you can recoup damages if: 1 The owner understood that the dog had previously bitten someone or behaved in a violent way 2 The owner was neglectful in the supervision of their animal and the injury occurred due to this negligence

Is there a civil liability for dog bites in Texas?

In the state of Texas, there isn’t a civil liability law specifically addressing dog bites, but that doesn’t mean there’s no legal recourse if your neighbor’s dog bites you or your pup.

What is negligence in Texas?

The failure to meet duty caused injury or harm. The negligence rule in Texas applies to any injuries caused by dogs, not simply bites. So, if a dog knocks someone down and injures them, for example, then a claim can be filed for damages against the owner. As long as negligent handling can be proven, of course.

Can you get compensation for a dog bite in Texas?

The Texas courts have held that victims of dog bites can be compensated, but only if it can be shown that the owner was negligent in their handling of the dog. In order to recover a negligent handling claim, you must prove each of the following things:

What is the first thing that must be proven in a negligence claim?

In a negligence claim like that associated with a dog bite, the first thing that must be proved is that you were due a lawful duty by the dog owner. The second aspect that must be proven is that there was a breach of that duty.

What is a dog bite law?

laws or court decisions that make negligent dog owners liable if they were unreasonably careless in controlling their animals. The dog-bite laws in many states don't apply in certain circumstances—mostly commonly, when the injured person provoked the dog or was trespassing.

What is the liability of a dog bite victim?

States have different ways of dealing with the question of liability when dog-bite victims' own carelessness contributed to their injuries. In the majority of states that use some form of "comparative negligence" rule, the victims will receive less compensation in proportion to their share of the blame.

What happens if a dog bites someone?

Dog owners are usually responsible when their pets bite people or hurt them another way (such as by knocking them over or chasing them). That means that the injured person may sue the owner to seek compensation for the damages, including medical expenses. But it's not always fair to hold the owner responsible if the victim was to blame for the injury. Depending on the circumstances, dog owners (and their homeowners' insurance companies or attorneys) may fight back by arguing that the injured person: 1 provoked the dog 2 was trespassing or breaking the law at the time of the injury 3 voluntarily risked getting hurt by the dog, or 4 contributed to the injury by being unreasonably careless.

What is the one bite rule?

a legal principle known as the " one-bite rule " that makes owners liable if they knew their dogs posed a danger. "strict liability" dog-bite laws in most states that make owners responsible even if they didn't know the dog could be dangerous, and.

How can a dog owner avoid liability?

A dog owner might be able to avoid liability by proving that the injured person knew there was a risk of injury from the dog but voluntarily took that risk anyway. For instance, an owner might not be responsible if the victim ignored a prominent "Beware of Dog" sign ( Benton v.

What is the statute for dog bites in Massachusetts?

For instance, in Massachusetts and Connecticut, the dog-bite statutes presume that an injured child younger than seven didn't provoke the dog, which means that the owner would have to prove there was provocation ( Mass. Gen. Laws, ch. 140, § 155; Conn. Gen. Stat. § 22-357 ).

What is a trespasser?

Basically, a trespasser is someone who wasn't invited on the property or doesn't have a good reason to be there. This could include sticking a hand through a fence to pet a dog (see Kenney v. Barna, 341 N.W.2d 901 (Neb. 1983)).

What to do if your dog attacks your house?

After a dog attack, contact the other dog’s owner as soon as possible. Confirm the dog owner’s name and contact information and ask for their homeowner’s insurance company name and policy number. Injuries and property damage caused by dogs is normally covered under the dog owner’s homeowners insurance policy.

What are the laws about dangerous dogs?

Dangerous dog laws: Check out your local state, municipal and neighborhood dog laws that ban or restrict the ownership of specific breeds of dog, or mixed breeds of dangerous dogs. When the dog who attacked your pet is a dangerous breed, the owner may be automatically negligent and liable for your losses.

What is the duty of care of a dog?

Duty of care is a legal phrase that means an obligation to be careful not to cause harm to others. Dog owners have a legal “duty of care” to keep their dog from hurting another person or damaging personal property.

What does it mean when two dogs attack each other?

This usually happens when two dogs pass one another closely. In a split second, they can be at each other’s throats.

Is a dog a personal property?

From a legal standpoint, dogs and cats are personal property. Unfortunately, liability does not extend to the mental anguish or emotional distress a dog owner suffers due to their dog’s injury or death.

Can you be a witness to an aggressive dog attack?

Witnesses to the actual event as well as witnesses to previous attacks by the aggressive dog are quite helpful. This is especially true in cases when the other dog owner is disputing your claim.

What happened to Buddy in the movie?

Buddy was badly injured, with bites to his face, ears, and neck. Sam carried his bleeding dog to the car and drove him to the vet. Sam ended up with $1,000 in vet bills for Buddy. Julie was an apartment dweller in a town with no breed-specific laws. Sam sued Julie in small claims court to recover his vet expenses.

What to do if your dog bit someone?

If your dog bit someone for a specific reason, you will of course need to prevent the same situation from occurring again. For example, if your neighbor's child poked your dog with a stick through the fence repeatedly just prior to being bitten, you'll need to find a way to keep the child from doing this again. Tact is the key here.

Can you sue a dog for biting someone?

From a legal standpoint, if your dog has bitten even one person, regardless of the circumstances, the case could be made that you knew or should have known that the dog would bite. This can open you up to a whole realm of lawsuits, both criminal and civil. Although it is true that every dog with teeth is capable of biting, your dog's past history will be used as proof that you should have had a heightened awareness of the possibility and should have taken extra precautions.

Dog Attack Attorney Serving Victims in Pennsylvania

Dog bites often occur from dogs that the victim knows. They may have even played with the dog, attended a neighborhood barbecue, or petted the dog repeatedly in the past without issue. One common source for dog attacks is that of a neighborhood pet.

What Should You Do if Your Philadelphia Neighborhood Dog Bites You?

If a friend or neighbor’s dog bites you, you want to keep things civilized, since you do still have to interact with these people and live near them. You may have a good relationship with that neighbor already, which might make the situation easier to handle.

Does My Neighbor Have to Pay Out of their Pocket?

You might feel awkward about asking your neighbor to pay for medical bills or lost wages from the attack because you live next to that person and do not want a contentious relationship. However, realize that your neighbor is rarely going to pay for the damages out of his or her pocket.

What Happens to the Dog?

When a neighbor’s dog bites you or your child, you might wonder what will happen to that dog. If this is a first-time event, the dog may be confined and monitored by animal control and then released back to its owner.

Speak with a Lawyer about Your Dog Attack Case

Handling a case when it is your neighbor’s dog that caused the injury is not easy. You do not want to harm that neighborhood relationship, but you also want compensation for injuries caused by someone else’s dog and should seek legal advice.