Animal Attack Lawyer
If an animal attacks someone, the owner of that animal may be liable for the resulting injuries. This falls under personal injury law. The majority of animal attack claims involve dog bites, but claims may be made for any attack by any animal whether wild or domesticated. Depending on which state you live in, there may be specific statutes that govern animal attacks.
A personal injury attorney familiar with animal attack cases can help you determine if you have a case and how to best proceed.
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Table of Contents
Proving an Animal Attack Case
Animal attack cases can be more complicated than they first appear. These cases can either be governed by the theory of negligence or the theory of strict liability depending on the state. If the case is governed by the theory of negligence, the plaintiff must show that the owner of the animal acted carelessly or recklessly in allowing the attack. For example, if a dog was not properly secured behind a fence, escaped and bit someone, the owner would be clearly negligent. If the case is governed by strict liability, the plaintiff does not have to prove negligence.
One Bite Laws
In some cases, the knowledge of the owner is also considered. If the animal has never attacked anyone before, the owner may be shielded from liability on the first offense. This is known as the “one bite rule.” About half the states in the U.S. have this rule. Once an animal has attacked a human, however, the owner is no longer shielded from liability.
Animal Attack Exceptions
There are two circumstances in which an owner may not be liable for an animal attack. These include:
- Provocation – If the attack can be shown to have been caused by intentional provocation by the plaintiff, the victim’s claim may be limited or barred.
- Trespassing – If an attack occurs on the animal owner’s property, the owner is only liable for injuries to those who are legally permitted onto the property. This is treated as a premises liability case.
If you or a loved one has been injured in an animal attack, the lawyers at Ankin Law can help you seek compensation. Contact us today for a free consultation.
Personal Injury from Animal Bites or Attacks
Animal attacks can result in far more than physical pain. Disfigurement, a fear of rabies or other disease, and even a long-term fear of the type of animal that caused the injuries can ensue. A pet owner may be liable for such injuries when his or her animal bites or otherwise attacks another, meaning that he or she must compensate the injured party for the resulting damages.
Although animal attack claims most commonly involve dog bites, many other types of domesticated animals, such as ferrets, cats, and even birds, can also bite humans, causing injury and potential liability for their masters. Even non-domesticated animals, such as large cats ordinarily found in the wild, can attack children and adults. The liability for all such attacks, if any, will vary greatly from jurisdiction to jurisdiction.
A lawyer experienced in dog bite and personal injury law is the best source for accurate advice and information in animal attack cases.
The Plaintiff’s Burden of Proof in Animal Attack Cases
To succeed in most animal attack cases, the plaintiff must prove that the animal that caused the injury was owned and kept by the defendant. In the past, the plaintiff was also required to show that the owner knew or should have known that the animal was dangerous, mischievous, vicious, or prone to such undesirable and potentially threatening behaviors. Under current law, however, when proof is established that an owner was somehow negligent, such as by not properly restraining or containing the animal, the plaintiff may often recover without making a showing of the animal’s viciousness.
An owner of an animal may be found negligent under any circumstances in which he or she had knowledge of the animal’s viciousness but failed to act in order to prevent injuries to others. Accordingly, if an animal exhibits vicious or uncontrolled behavior, the owner should take steps to ensure that the animal is secured from access to the public. For example, if an individual owns a pit bull with a propensity to attack and bite without provocation, the owner should probably keep the animal indoors and, while outside, within a contained yard with a fence that the animal cannot escape. If he or she does not adhere to these common-sense guidelines and the animal attacks, the injured party may be able to recover his or her damages.
Those who harbor animals that are generally considered to be wild, such as lions, bears, and monkeys, are often held strictly liable for the harm that results if the animals escape, regardless of whether the particular animal is known to be dangerous. Such animals are presumed to have a natural tendency to revert to their wild mannerisms no matter how well trained or allegedly domesticated they are. Strict liability may not apply if the animal injures someone while it is confined or restrained on its owner’s property, but this is a factually dependent argument that will not apply in every case.
In some states, it is not always necessary for the animal to actually bite or attack the victim in order to hold the owner liable for an injury. A pedestrian who is walking past a yard and who becomes frightened by a dog snapping and barking, and who in an attempt to get away trips and falls, breaking an ankle, may nonetheless be able to sue the dog’s owner successfully if he or she can show that the actions of the dog led to the injury.
Possible Defenses in Animal Attack Cases
Animal attack victims are not always entitled to recover their damages. If the plaintiff is found to have provoked the animal, for instance, recovery may be denied. Say, for example, that a pet owner informs a neighbor that his pet parrot is not friendly and that it should not be touched, but the neighbor does not heed this warning and is thereafter pecked or bitten, recovery may be denied. If the owner merely stated that the parrot was not always friendly, on the other hand, but still encouraged the neighbor to pet it, liability for the injury could likely still be found.
Dog bite victims are also generally unable to recover in trespasser situations. In many states, in order to successfully bring suit under a dog bite statute, the plaintiff must show that he or she was lawfully in the place where the injury occurred. If it is found that the plaintiff was, instead, a trespasser at the time of the injury, liability will be avoidable on that ground. If, for example, someone jumps over a fence into an enclosed junkyard with “Beware of Dog” warnings posted and taunts the German shepherd guard dog with a stick, the junkyard owner may not be liable if the dog bites the trespasser.
Conclusion
Persons injured by biting or attacking animals should seek the counsel of skilled veterans of personal injury law in order to understand the complexities of their case and obtain guidance through the legal system toward the most favorable outcome.
If you or someone you know has suffered personal injuries as a result of an animal attack, an experienced and knowledgeable personal injury lawyer can advise you on whether you may have a claim against the pet owner and can help you receive the maximum damages recoverable under the applicable law.
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