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Hawaii Dog And Animal Bite Lawyer

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Under Hawaii dog and animal bite law, dog owners are liable to the injured party in the event that their dog bit the injured individual. This means that no matter what occurred, the owner of the dog is always liable, even if that same dog has bitten no one else. There are nearly five million attacks involving dogs or animals each year which range from minor bites or scratches to vicious attacks that could result in death so it is no wonder that 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 United States annually, dog bites which require hospitalization or emergency treatment are much more common.

Hawaii does not have a dog bite statute. However, each county in the state has the authority to pass its own regulatory laws concerning dog owners with a dog that has bitten, injured, or disfigured a person at any time.

Under Hawaii common law liability, the plaintiff must prove that the owner of the dog was negligent and is liable for any damages incurred by the dog to the injured individual, if the owner had knowledge or should have had knowledge, that the dog had the tendency to bite or cause injury. Under Hawaii common law liability, Hawaii charges dog owners with the responsibility to take proper notice of their dogs aggressiveness and to provide reasonable care to make sure that the dog is guarded against any behavior that would harm an individual.

Not only are dog and animal bites traumatic and painful, but they can also put the victim at risk for different bacterial infections. One such infection from bites that is becoming more common is a bacterial strain known as MRSA. It is resistant to antibiotics, and can be contracted while the patient is hospitalized. Other serious infections, such as staph infections, can occur from a bite. Even though the dog bite victim may have treated the wound initially, and even though it may not look particularly serious, bacteria can nevertheless be planted deep into joints and tendon spaces during the course of a dog bite.

If you are a dog owner in Hawaii you must do whatever is deemed necessary to protect yourself against a lawsuit. Among the protective measures that should be taken are keeping the dog enclosed and/or restrained, and putting up a sign that warns others that your dog may bite. If someone tries to tease the dog and gets bitten, that individual may be partially negligent for any dog bite occurrence. There are specific defenses that an animal owner can use if they are being sued by someone who has been bitten by their dog. Dog and animal bite lawyers know these defenses and can assist you if you are in this situation. There is no dangerous dog statute law in the State of Hawaii that states that the owner is liable as it pertains to injury to such person by their dog.

If you have been attacked and bitten by a dog or another animal, you may want to consult with a personal injury lawyer in the state of Hawaii who specializes in dog and animal bites. A Hawaii dog bite lawyer can be retained to help in handling all aspects of your case. Please be advised that claims arising from an animal attack or dog bite are subject to a two-year statute of limitations in Hawaii. There are, however, some exceptions to this; claims against the City and County of Honolulu, and some other counties, that arise from dog bite actions, must be filed with the appropriate agency within six months of the incident. It\'s important to contact a dog bite attorney as soon as possible to make sure that your claim is filed in due time, otherwise your case may be dismissed, regardless of its merit.