Assumption Parish Dog Bite Lawyer
Dogs make great pets, however, sometimes they can viciously lash out at someone and cause serious injuries. If you or a loved one were attacked by a dog, you may be entitled to financial compensation for your injuries. An Assumption Parish dog bite lawyer can help you understand if you have a valid case and advise you on how to present your claim. Call to schedule to a consultation with an experienced personal injury attorney.
Dog Bite Laws in Assumption Parish
As an attorney can further explain, the civil law governing dog bites and animal attacks in Assumption Parish are listed in Louisiana Civil Code §2321. Animal owners are responsible for bites and injuries caused by their animals if four conditions are met:
- The owner knew or should have known the animal was likely to bite or attack someone else
- The danger to others could have been prevented with reasonable care
- The animal owner did not take reasonable steps to prevent injury
- The injured person did nothing to provoke the animal in question
The law is different for dogs as the owner of the dog is strictly liable for damages for injuries to persons or property caused by the dog and which the owner could have prevented. This means for dogs as compared to other animals there is no requirement that it be shown that the dog owner knew or should have known the dog was likely to bite or attack someone. Even so, it must be shown the injuries did not result from the injured person’s provocation of the dog.
How is Liability Impacted if an Owner Knows Their Dog is Dangerous?
If an owner knows their dog is likely to be dangerous to others or if the owner failed to properly train or restrain their dog, they may be held liable under negligence law in addition to strict liability for any injuries that their dog causes. Aggravated factors are if the owner trained or abused the dog to make the dog aggressive or dangerous to strangers.
The law in Louisiana also recognizes that a dog owner can take normal and reasonable steps to prevent their dog from harming others. This could be as simple as keeping their dog on a leash when out in public or fencing their yard to separate their dog from pedestrians on the sidewalk. An Assumption Parish dog bite lawyer can further clarify the scope of these laws and how they might apply to an injured individual’s case.
Proving Liability for a Dog Bite Injury in Assumption Parish
To recover compensation for dog bite injuries, the plaintiff must prove that the dog in question directly caused the injury. In some cases, the dog does not bite the victim but can still cause injuries. If a dog lunges at a person and knocks them over, causing them to injure their head, then the dog attack can still be said to have caused the injury.
Under Louisiana law, though, a dog bite victim cannot recover compensation for a dog bite if they provoked the dog into an attack. If the dog was provoked to attack by something the alleged victim knowingly did, the dog’s owner would likely not be considered at fault for any ensuing attack. A skilled Assumption Parish dog bite attorney can assist with proving liability.
Are There Time Limits to File a Dog Bite Lawsuit in Assumption Parish?
Like most personal injury claims in Assumption Parish, dog bite claims are subject to a statute of limitations. This means there is a limited time period to bring a dog bite claim before the plaintiff is time-barred from seeking compensation. An accomplished attorney can help an injured victim by filing a claim within the statute of limitations.
In Louisiana, the statute of limitations for dog bite cases is one year from the date of injury. Presenting and settling a case—or filing a lawsuit to recover damages—within one year of a dog bite’s occurrence would meet the statute of limitations.
How an Assumption Parish Dog Bite Attorney Can Help
An experienced Assumption Parish dog bite lawyer can advise you on all aspects of your case. To win a dog bite case, the facts of the attack must be identified and all evidence preserved, both of which a seasoned attorney can help with. Call today to meet with a dog bite attorney in Assumption Parish and get to work on your case.