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Owning a Dog can be Risky Business
By Michael Morse | September 29, 2008
Under certain circumstances, dog owners can be liable for injuries caused by their pet. Generally, if the owner knew the dog had a tendency to cause injury; if a state statute makes the owner strictly liable; or if the injury was caused by extreme carelessness on behalf of the owner, the owner will be liable for injuries caused by the dog. A dog owner who is legally responsible for an injury may be responsible for reimbursing the injured person for medical bills, pain and suffering caused by the attack, and lost wages.
There are three types of laws that impose liability on dog owners:
- Dog-bite statutes: these place liability upon the dog owner for any injury caused by the dog, regardless of the underlying circumstances.
- One-bite rules: In some states, the owner will not be liable for the first bite of his dog. However, once the dog has bitten someone it is considered to have demonstrated vicious behavior and the owner is on notice of its violent propensities and will be liable for any subsequent attacks.
- Negligence laws: Under this standard, the dog owner is liable if the injury occurred because of the unreasonable carelessness of the dog owner in controlling his dog.
For more information on dog bites and what to do if you are bitten by a dog in Michigan or Ohio, visit www.dogbite-attorneys.com.
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