Dog attacks and bites can be traumatic and life-altering experiences, often leaving survivors with physical injuries, emotional scars, and ongoing financial burdens. While we’d all like to believe that dogs are “man’s best friend,” the truth is that every animal is different and even the friendliest pets can turn vicious under certain circumstances and provocation.
According to the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), 44.6% of households in the United States own a dog. Because dogs are so common, attacks occur often. If you’ve been a victim of a canine attack, or a loved one suffered a wrongful death, a Louisville dog bite lawyer can provide the support and guidance you need during this difficult time. Thomas Law Offices can help you with a potential legal claim.
Let’s take a look at some additional facts about dog attacks and the rights Kentucky law affords you if you’ve been injured.
There are many reasons why a dog might choose to attack a person or other animal. Many of those are associated with how a dog was raised, its breed, and its natural temperament.
Some of the most common reasons a dog might become physically aggressive include:
Dog bites are particularly susceptible to infection because there are over 60 kinds of bacteria in a dog’s mouth. The following are the most common diseases that can result from a bite that is not properly treated:
Children between the ages of five and nine are the most likely to be bitten by an animal of any age group. This is often because they don’t understand how to act around dogs or may be put in a situation that endangers themselves or the animal.
Children are also more likely to need medical attention after a dog bite as they tend to sustain more serious injuries than adults when bitten.
If a medical mistake harmed you or your newborn, we’ll investigate what went wrong and fight for funds for lifelong care. Start with a free case evaluation today.
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Exposed to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune (1953–1987)? This page explains what happened and potential harms—note the firm is no longer taking these cases. Explore the details and see other options.
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You have enough on your plate. Get a free case evaluation and clear answers from our experienced attorneys today — we’ll take it from here.
Kentucky Revised Statutes Section 258.235 outlines the laws attached to dog bites. Regarding animal attacks, Kentucky is a strict liability state. This means that the dog’s owner is responsible for all the damage caused to a person, animal, or property by their pet. The statute also states that any person may kill or seize any dog that is attacking a person.
After an attack, any dog that’s exhibited violent behaviors toward someone or something is declared to be dangerous and must be kept away from people.
Under these strict liability laws, the dog’s owner is strictly liable (and in some case the premises owner can also be liable), even if the owner had no prior knowledge that their dog might bite or act aggressively. This means that, if you’ve been bitten or otherwise injured, you don’t have to prove that the dog owner was negligent or that the dog had a history of biting to pursue a lawsuit.
If were lawfully on the property where the attack occurred, and you didn’t provoke the dog, you have a strong chance of holding the owner liable.
Kentucky also follows a “comparative fault” rule, which means that if you are found to be partially responsible for the dog bite, your compensation may be reduced by your percentage of fault.
For example, if you were found to be 20% at fault for provoking the dog, your total compensation might be reduced by 20%. This makes it crucial to work with a Louisville dog bite lawyer who can help minimize any potential fault attributed to you.
If you have been bitten by a dog and suffered injuries, you could be entitled to financial compensation for both economic and non-economic losses. The amount of the monetary award you may be eligible to receive will depend on the severity of your injuries and their impact on your life.
At Thomas Law Offices, we understand how sensitive a dog bite injury can be, especially if you or a loved one was bitten by an animal owned by a family member or friend.
No matter what relationship you have with the dog’s owner, it’s still vital to make sure that your needs and losses are taken care of after an attack, especially regarding medical expenses and unpaid time off work.
Our Louisville dog bite lawyer can help you get the compensation that you and your family deserve so that you can restore order to your life as quickly as possible.
Contact us today for a free consultation.
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