Every year there are thousands of people who are bitten by animals, usually dogs. A person bitten by an animal may have a legal right to recover damages from the animal’s owner or the party in control of the animal. If you are bitten by an animal you must seek medical attention immediately. If you are not treated, an animal bite can cause serious injury, such as an infection or even death, if the animal is diseased. After you have received medical care, you should consult with a lawyer who is experienced in animal bite claims.

Some States impose strict liability upon the owner of animals. Therefore, under the strict laws, the owner is liable for an animal bite regardless if the owner did anything wrong in respect to protecting others from an attack. If the animal bits someone, the owner would be liable for all injuries even if he had no reason to believe his animal would commit such an act.

There are some defenses to an animal bite case. In some situations if you are warned the animal is dangerous and yet you attempt to touch the animal, it could be used as a defense to your claim. If you are a cause for your injury, you can be liable for contributory negligence and recover less damages. A person is contributory negligent when that person fails to exercise a degree of care for his safety. A reasonable person would exercise under similar circumstances.

Parties who are responsible for the animals are normally parties who have control of the animal. However, there are many different people who may control the animal. Therefore, the parties who would be responsible would be the owners, animal keepers, if they are responsible for the care or custody of the animal, parents of a minor under 18 years of age and owns an animal at issue, property owners can be liable for injuries caused by animals on their property and landlords may also be held liable for animals that bite third parties.

If you are bitten by an animal, you can be compensated depending on the nature and extent of your injuries. You certainly have the right to medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering and property damages. In some circumstances, you may be entitled to punitive damages, which are awarded to punish someone for their behavior, but usually you need to show more than negligence such as reckless or intentional conduct.

Anyone bitten by a cat or dog who does not take proper care of the wound is at risk for developing an infection, but some people are at an increased risk. For example, people over 50 years of age, people with diabetes, circulatory problems, liver disease, people undergoing chemotherapy treatments and people who have had their spleen removed.If you or a loved one is bitten by an animal, you should seek medical care immediately. It is stated by some veterinarians that you should immediately and thoroughly cleanse the wound with soap and water. It may hurt to scrub a wound, but an infection will hurt much more. The idea is to get the bacteria and saliva out of the wound, which is the cause for an infection. Scrubbing is important for several minutes to cleanse the area with soap and water. It is sometimes recommended to apply antibiotic ointments and cover the wound with a bandage. Your doctor may want you to take an antibiotic to prevent an infection from developing.

Victims of dog bites often suffer severe physical injuries, emotional trauma and financial burdens. It is important for all injured victims of animal attacks to understand their rights. Depending on the circumstances of the incident, an injured victim may be able to hold animal owners civilly liable for the damages.

Animal bite cases can be very complex. Determining fault and liability may not be as easy as it appears.


 

If you or a loved one has been injured by an animal attack, please contact an experienced attorney who has knowledge of the laws relating to personal injury from animals. Our law firms have represented victims and their families for animal injuries. Please call David K. Kremin & Associates, for a free consultation at 1(800) ASK-A-LAWYER or 1(800) 275-2529. It is imperative you contact an attorney immediately to secure the evidence, but moreover, the statute of limitation limits the time period of which you are required to file a lawsuit. If you fail to file a lawsuit before the statute of limitation expires, you will be forever barred from bringing a claim and being compensated. Thus, we urge you to contact us immediately to protect your right to fair and adequate compensation.

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