Being attacked by a dog can cause serious physical injuries and emotional trauma that can last a lifetime. If you or your child were injured in a dog attack, you may be entitled to compensation for medical expenses, pain and suffering, and other damages.
Determining who is liable in a dog bite case is essential for victims who wish to recover compensation for their injuries. In almost all Connecticut dog bite cases, the “owner or keeper” of the dog is liable for any injuries or other damage caused by the animal. A dog bite attorney at The Lebedevitch Law Firm, LLC, can evaluate your situation, explain and help you evaluate your options, and fight for the compensation you deserve.
Under Connecticut law, the “owner or keeper” of the dog is almost always liable for any harm or damages caused by the dog. The only exceptions are if the injured person was trespassing or tormenting the dog. Even in these cases, the dog owner may still be liable if the dog injures a young child.
To pursue compensation, a dog bite attorney will likely use one of two legal theories to prove who is liable in a dog bite case.
To recover compensation, the injured person must prove the dog owner was negligent. “Negligence” is the failure to use the same level of care a reasonable and prudent person would use in the same or similar circumstances. If the dog owner failed to use reasonable care to prevent their dog from injuring someone, the dog owner can be held liable.
“Negligence per se” means the dog owner violated a law that requires dog owners to protect people from injuries caused by a dog bite. A typical example of negligence per se arises when laws require that dogs be leashed. If a dog is not on a leash and bites someone, the dog owner could be held liable for violating the leash law.
Most dog bite cases are covered by the dog owner’s homeowner’s or renter’s insurance policy. Once the injured person establishes that the dog owner is liable, the dog owner’s insurance company will provide insurance coverage up to the limits of the policy. The dog bite victim may be entitled to financial compensation for:
Although insurance is not required, our office will investigate whether the dog owner has an insurance policy that could pay for the cost of your damages.
There are limited situations in which the dog owner may not be liable for a dog bite. Under Connecticut law, the dog owner can seek to avoid liability by showing the injured person was:
However, if the victim was under the age of seven at the time of the dog bite, the law assumes the child was not trespassing or committing another tort, or teasing, tormenting, or abusing the dog. In this instance, the burden of proof lies with the dog owner to demonstrate that the victim was responsible for causing the dog bite.
If you or your child was injured by a dog bite, The Lebedevitch Law Firm can help. Connecticut personal injury attorney Stephen Lebedevitch represents people who were injured by a dog bite. He understands the physical and emotional damage a dog bite can cause, and he knows what it takes to obtain the compensation you deserve.
The Lebedevitch Law Firm handles personal injury cases on a contingency fee, which means you won’t pay an attorney’s fee unless we recover money for you.
To learn more about our approach to resolving Connecticut dog bite cases and put our experience to work for you, contact our law firm today to schedule an appointment to discuss your dog bite case and how we can help.
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