St. Helena Parish Dog Bite Lawyer

If you or a loved over were bitten by someone’s dog, you may be unsure of what to do next. Dog bite injuries can be extremely serious. People could sustain injuries such as broken bones, cuts, infected bites, and organ damage.

Sometimes dog owners fail to protect others from their animal and should be held responsible. There may be difficult and complex procedures between you and your compensation, and legal counsel may be able to help guide you through it. A dedicated St. Helena Parish dog bite lawyer could look at your circumstances and help you find possibilities for financial recovery.

Dog Bite Laws in St Helena Parish

The civil law governing dog bites and animal attacks in St. Helena Parish is listed in Louisiana Civil Code Article 2321. Animal owners are responsible for bites and injuries caused by their animals if four conditions are met:

  1. The owner knew or should have known the animal was likely to bite or attack someone else
  2. The danger to others could have been prevented with reasonable care
  3. The animal owner did not take reasonable steps to prevent injury
  4. 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,

Knowledge and Prevention of Dog Bite Attacks

Knowledge of a dog’s propensity for vicious behavior places a duty of care on the defendant owner to protect others that interact with their dog from unreasonable risk of harm. 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. Failing to exercise reasonable care could depend on the facts of each case. A few examples might be failing to place a muzzle on a dog in public or encouraging strangers to pet the dog even though the owner knows that the dog bit someone in the past.

Determining Fault for Dog Bites in St. Helena Parish

Dog bite plaintiffs in St. Helena Parish could be barred from recovering damages for their injuries if they provoked the attack in some way. Common examples of provocation might include teasing or trespassing on the dog owner’s property.

Pure Comparative Fault

In instances where both the plaintiff and the dog owner were at fault for causing the attack to occur, the court would apply a comparative fault analysis to decide whether the plaintiff could recover damages. In Louisiana, the state applies the pure comparative fault standard.

Under pure comparative fault, a plaintiff, no matter if they were 99 percent at fault for causing the accident, could seek any remaining damages against the defendant. However, their damages are reduced by the percentage of fault that they contribute to the incident.

Contact a St. Helena Parish Dog Bite Attorney Today

Dog bites could be severely painful and potentially crippling. For some, the attacks can even be fatal. Coping with such a challenging experience is hard enough, without having to fight for compensation. A St. Helena Parish dog bite lawyer may provide guidance and support as you pursue your financial recovery. Call now to get started on your case today.