Category: Dog Bite

Dog bites can be scary and severe. In 2016, there were 31 U.S. fatalities from dog bites. Over $600 million of homeowners insurance liability claim dollars went to dog bites or dog-related injuries.

When a sudden attack happens, you will most likely need medical treatment. If bills start to pile up, you’ll probably think about suing for damages so you don’t have to take financial responsibility for the bite.

But these situations can also have added stress if you know the dog’s owner. While you might need to file a lawsuit so you can get compensation, you might worry about damaging your relationship with the dog owner. While this can potentially lead to awkward situations, you must take care of yourself.

Kentucky is a state that takes cases involving dog bites very seriously.  Dog owners are expected to take full responsibility for their dog at all times.  Kentucky is a strict liability state which is favorable for anyone who is attacked or injured in any way by a dog.  The owner or keeper of the dog is liable for all damage to a person, property, or the victim’s pet.

It is important for all dog owners to be aware of the laws that govern the behavior of their pet.  Here are a few things you may not know about Kentucky dog bite lawsuits:

Anyone who witnesses a dog attacking another person has the right to seize and kill the dog without any liability.  The person acting in protection of the dog bite victim cannot be held responsible for any harm done to the attacking dog.

Kentucky is one of several U.S. states that uses a “strict liability” law for dog bites. In strict-liability states, owners of dogs that bite another person are liable for those injuries, even if the owner had no idea the dog would act aggressively.

Kentucky’s strict-liability dog bite law, KRS 258.235(4), states that “Any owner whose dog is found to have caused damage to a person, livestock, or other property shall be responsible for that damage.”

According to a new study, dog bites cost insurance companies an estimated $479 million in 2011, which accounts for a large chunk of payouts under homeowners’ liability policies. A news report from MSNBC.com reveals that while the study did show a slight decline in the number of dog bite claims, the price per case has risen an astonishing 54 percent since 2003, resulting in an average cost of $29,400 in 2011. This amount makes up more than one-third of total liability claims paid out by homeowners according to the Insurance Information Institute, the group that conducted the study.

The Institute states that the increase can be attributed to a variety of factors, including medical costs and the size of settlements, judgments, and jury awards given to plaintiffs, all of which have increased above the rate of inflation. In addition, a Beverly Hills-based attorney who specializes in representing dog bite victims suggested that the popularity of pit bulls in the U.S. may also potentially be a contributing factor in the rising cost of claims paid by insurance companies. A study published in the Annals of Surgery showed that pit bull attacks are associated with higher morbidity rates, hospital charges, and a higher risk of death than attacks by other breeds of dogs.

A 10-year-old girl is recovering from severe injuries at a Louisville hospital following a recent Kentucky dog attack, according to WLKY.com. Metro Animal Services (MAS) was called around 7 p.m. on a Sunday evening to the neighborhood of the young child and when the respondents arrived the girl was reportedly bloodied and bitten with wounds on her neck, face, and arms.

The MAS report indicates the 10-year-old was playing with the children next door who had just moved in when the family’s pit bull puppy, who was chained on the front porch, became agitated. The neighbors put the dog inside the home, but the dog later broke through the front door of the house and attacked the little girl, pulling her to the ground and grabbing her face and arms.