Dog Bites

 Dog bites injur nearly 5 million people each year and result in millions of dollars of in medical care, including emergency visits, surgeries, and at times, long term recovery. While people of all ages can be attacked and/or bitten by an animal, dogs often bite children, making this the second leading cause of injury to minors.

Dog bites fall under the broad area of law known as tort law, or personal injury, for which an injured party can seek compensation from the liable party. Dog bite claims fall under the umbrella of personal injury law, where an injured party has the legal right to seek compensation for injuries caused by another party’s actions or negligence. An example would be a party not keeping a dog secured in its yard and the dog then bites someone.

Generally speaking, a dog bite victim or their family, has the right to seek compensation from any liable party, which may include the dog owner, a property owner, any party in violation of leash or restraint laws, and any party who knowingly harbors a dog who has a history of aggression towards people.