If you have been recently bitten by a dog or any other domestic animal on another person’s property, you may have the opportunity to pursue legal action in order to receive compensation for you injuries. Depending on the animal, the damages done from a bite can range from minor to fatal, which is why knowing you have a trusted Shreveport injury attorney on your side is so essential. At Simmons, Morris & Carroll, we are committed to helping those in our community who are wrongfully injured at the hands of negligent people, or in this case negligent animal owners.
Dog bites are among the most common, seeing as more people will own a house dog (or cat) than say a horse or chickens, etc. In the event that you are injured by a dog, it is important to realize that dog owners hold “strict liability” over their animals and can be held entirely responsible for an attack that is done by their animal, even when they are not around. For example, if a dog gets lose and attacks the people outside their home, the home owner will be held responsible for premises liability for not keeping their animal properly kept away. Whether or not the owner was responsible for the attack or holds any fault at all (say for not having them on a leash out front of their home or in the park) they can still be held completely liable for the injury of another person. Also, many times home owners insurance will cover injuries like this for common household pets, though there are a number of companies that refuse to provide liability coverage for vicious animals such as Rottweiler’s or Pit bulls.
However, there are certain exceptions for an owner being held liable for the attack of their animal. This exception is in the event that they can prove that the vicitim somehow instigated or provoked the animal to anger which then led to the attack, or if the person was trespassing. For example, many home owners will have a sign on their fence saying “guard dogs” or “No trespassing,” etc. Not only are these warnings for the people, but they also act as a reminder for those trespassing that the property owner can’t be held responsible for a dog attack on their property if the person was unwelcomed.
In the event that you are attacked by an unwanted animal, and you did not provoke them, be certain to contact Morris & Dewett Injury Lawyers today for the Shreveport injury lawyer you need on your side. We will do whatever it takes to help prove that the owner of the animal is responsible for your suffering. Please contact us today for more information!
