Every year, more than 4.5 million dog bites are reported and some experts suggest that an equal number go unreported. Nearly 1 million dog bites result in serious injury each year, with some ending in the death of the victim.

This Low Cost Legal guide gives you information you can use if you are a dog owner or if you’ve been bitten by a dog.

Dog Owners Bear Responsibility in Most Cases

If you’re a dog owner, then you should know that courts and juries almost always hold owners responsible for the actions of their dogs. If you have a dog, there are steps you can take to prevent it from biting someone.

• Train the dog or take it to obedience classes.
• Develop a healthy relationship with the dog so that it trusts and obeys you.
• Keep the dog on a leash when walking it.
• Never let the dog run free outside your fenced yard.
• Maintain control of the dog at all times when around people.
• Keep the dog away from young children that are not your own.
• If the dog is trained as a guard dog, keep it away from strangers.
• Watch the dog carefully as it acclimates to any new situation.

If you own a dog, make sure that your homeowner’s insurance or renter’s insurance covers liability for damages if your dog bites someone. If you have wealth, then a general liability policy is also a good idea. Talk with your insurance agent about your options.

What if You’ve Been Bit by a Dog?

As noted, dog owners are held liable for the behavior of their pet. If you have sustained injuries, incurred medical bills, missed work or been traumatized due to a dog bite, then you may have a case for being compensated by the owner of the dog.

Courts regularly pay settlements or damages to dog bite victims that cover medical expenses, lost wages, court costs and attorney fees. In cases where a dog owner knew the animal was vicious, courts have awarded punitive damages for pain and suffering.

Low Cost Legal Help for Dog Bite Victims

If you have been bitten by a dog, you may be able to get free legal help in pursuing compensation for your injuries and trauma. Most litigation attorneys work on a contingency basis. This means that if they don’t recover damages for you, then they don’t get paid.

These personal injury attorneys provide low-cost and no-cost legal assistance. They also give free case evaluations, so contact a litigation attorney to learn more about your options and to discuss your case.

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