While you have little to fear from most dogs, some of these animals represent a serious threat to anyone they cross paths with. The unfortunate reality is that they often attack without notice, even in public places.
Dog attacks can lead to serious and even life-threatening injuries. If you were bitten, now is the time to discuss your legal options against the owner with a dedicated injury attorney. You could be entitled to damages based on the severity of your wounds. Contact a Lancaster dog bite lawyer as soon as possible.
Although pet owners are often liable for the harm their animals cause, every state has its own approach to determining liability. There are two common standards used in these situations: strict liability and negligence. Unlike most jurisdictions, Pennsylvania has adopted both approaches, depending on the circumstances.
The strict liability standard is easier for an injured person to meet, but it can only be used when seeking compensation for injury-related medical costs. A person must establish negligence in order to secure damages based on pain and suffering or other losses. A dog bite attorney in Lancaster could answer questions about meeting either of these legal burdens.
In these cases, it is unnecessary to prove the owner allowed an attack to happen or could have done something to prevent it. Under the law, a person is responsible for the cost of medical care any time their dog injures someone. It does not matter if there was no history of aggression or prior attacks, as strict liability can be satisfied without those details.
This standard is also commonly referred to as the “one-bite” rule. In order for a person to succeed with their injury case, they must be able to show the dog owner was negligent in allowing the attack to happen. Traditionally, this involved the animal previously attacking someone else.
It is possible to establish negligence without a prior attack. If the owner should have known their pet was dangerous due to their aggressive behavior, or if they let them roam the streets in violation of local leash laws, this standard could be met.
Pet owners in these cases have the opportunity to be heard, and the right strategy could make recovering damages difficult. This is true even when relying on the strict liability standard. For example, an injured person will not be successful if it is proven in court that they were trespassing at the time of the attack.
Alternatively, an individual is not entitled to compensation if they antagonized the dog or were otherwise responsible for instigating the attack. A property owner could even prevail if they can show their pet escaped a properly fenced yard before harming someone.
It is important to be prepared for any possible strategy. A dog bite attorney in Lancaster could ensure the injured party is prepared to make a strong case for damages.
You should not have to deal with the aftermath of a bite wound on your own. The right legal counsel could help you secure a settlement that pays for your medical bills and compensates you for what you went through.
Let a Lancaster dog bite lawyer help you maximize your financial recovery. Reach out right away to learn more.
