Things You May Not Know About Kentucky Dog Bite Lawsuits

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.

A livestock owner or his agent, without liability, may kill any dog that trespasses on that owner’s property and is observed in the act of pursuing or wounding his livestock.  For example, a dog may sneak into a neighboring farmer’s pasture.  If that dog is observed stalking or displays the potential to attack the livestock in that pasture, the farmer is not liable for choosing to kill the dog to prevent an attack from happening.

Dogs that are temporarily placed in foster care become the legal responsibility of the owner of the foster home.  For example, a soldier may ask a friend or family member to care for his dog while he fulfills his military travel obligation.  If the dog bites someone while in the care of the friend or family member, they are legally responsible for the damages caused by the attack.  Written agreements, though they may seem trivial among friends and family, are necessary to protect foster dog caregivers from being legally responsible for damages.

The owner of a dog does not have to act negligently to be responsible.  It does not matter if a dog has never shown aggressive behavior before.  The owner of the dog is responsible for any injury or damage, even if they tried everything in their power to prevent the attack from happening.  Proof that the owner displayed careful and responsible behavior is not relevant to the case.

An aggressive act is not required for an owner to be responsible for injuries.  For example, if a dog is greeting a person and jumps up causing them to fall down, the owner of the dog is responsible for any injury that occurred as a result of the fall.

If you or someone you know has been the victim of a dog bite in Kentucky, contact Thomas Law Offices for more information.  Tad Thomas, Louisville, KY dog bite lawyer, and his team are dedicated to helping people understand the laws that protect dog bite victims and keep Kentucky safe.