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Connecticut Dog And Animal Bite Lawyer

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In Connecticut, if any dog does any type of damage to an individual's body or property, the dog owner, or, if the owner is a minor, the parent or guardian of the minor, will be liable for that damage. This happens unless the same damage has occurred to the body or property of a person who, at that same time the damage was sustained, had been committing a trespass or other offense, or may have been teasing, doing harm to or abusing the dog.

With over four million harmful incidents involving dogs in the United States each year attacks that range from minor bites and scratches to vicious attacks that could result in death it is no wonder hospitals around the country collectively report roughly 1,000 emergency visits per day due to dog bites. While death occurs in fewer than 100 of the reported dog bites that occur across the country annually, dog bites which require treatment or hospitalization, either for the bite itself or for a bacterial infection resulting from the bite, are all too common.

In recent Connecticut dog bite news, a family's golden retriever bit its 12-year-old owner, lacerating his face. Although the bite required stitches, the family decided not to euthanize the dog until several years later, after a second attack, this one to a 7-year-old child.

According to studies, 20 percent of dogs who bite have not been neutered, and most dog bite incidents involve an unrestrained dog on its owner's property. Men are most likely to be injured from a pet bite. Women and the elderly are at a higher risk of being bitten by a cat. In 30 percent of dog attack cases, the attacker was a pit bull.

A plaintiff may recover damages if the threatening attitude of a dog scares him and causes a fall.

The owner of the dog is liable to the plaintiff regardless if the dog has been vicious before, or if the owner had knowledge of the dog's previous viciousness. The liability statute permits the individual bitten by the dog to recover monetary damages without having to prove any fault by the owner of the dog. In Connecticut, it does not matter if the dog bite occurred at the owner's property, another public place or a private location.

If the victim is not committing a trespass or other tort, and not provoking the dog, there will be no defense available to the defendant. The Connecticut courts have upheld decisions which define the concept of trespass as more than mere entry onto another person's property. The strict liability statute in Connecticut bars recovery on the part of the plaintiff only where the plaintiff is committing, or intending to commit an injurious act.

Under the Connecticut liability statute, there is a three-year statute of limitation. This means that if you have been bitten by a dog, you need to file suit within three years of the incident, or risk losing all potential damages. For this reason, and because dog bite law is a highly specialized branch of personal injury law, it's important that you contact an attorney who has experience and expertise in trying dog bite lawsuits, and that you contact the attorney as soon as possible after the bite has taken place. A Connecticut dog bite lawyer can be retained to help in handling all the procedures of your case.

Personal injury lawyers like dog bite lawyers will offer an initial consultation free of charge, and will not charge any fees until after you have received a settlement or award. You can locate a dog bite attorney in the state of Connecticut by utilizing the lawyer locator at the website for the American Bar Association.