Dog bites can happen unexpectedly, and they can result in serious and deadly injuries. More often than not, a dog bite involves a dog you know, whether it is a dog in your own home or the dog of a neighbor, a colleague, a friend, or a family member. Yet dogs that are unknown to you and your family can also bite. No matter who owns the dog and regardless of whether you know the owner, the dog owner may be liable for injuries. Indeed, when a dog bite occurs, there is no need to prove that the dog owner was negligent, or that the dog had a history of viciousness. An experienced Crestwood dog bite lawyer at Meagher Injury Lawyers can provide you with more information and can begin working with you on your case.
Getting the Facts About Dog Bites in Crestwood
What do you need to know about dog bite injuries? The following facts and figures come from the American Veterinary Medical Association (AMVA):
- More than 4.5 million people sustain dog bite injuries every year in the United States.
- Approximately 800,000 people suffer dog bite injuries annually that require medical treatment.
- About 50 percent of all people in the U.S. who sustain dog bite injuries that require medical treatment are children, and kids are more likely to suffer severe and life-threatening injuries than adults.
- Around 20 percent of people who are bitten by dogs must receive medical treatment.
- Majority of dog bite injuries involving children happen when a child is interacting with a familiar dog or engaging in a normal activity with a dog.
Common Types of Injuries in Crestwood Dog Bite Cases
Dog bite injuries can vary in type and in terms of severity. The following are some common types of dog bite injuries that can affect people in Crestwood and throughout Kentucky:
- Cuts and lacerations.
- Puncture wounds.
- Facial and physical disfigurement.
- Traumatic amputations.
- Nerve damage.
Dog bites can also result in other types of injuries for which dog bite victims may be eligible to seek financial compensation.
Strict Liability in Kentucky Dog Bite Lawsuits
Kentucky is a strict liability state for dog bite cases. What does this mean for you? In short, in a case based on a theory of strict liability, there is no need to prove that the defendant was negligent in order to obtain compensation. Rather, the defendant can be strictly liable for injuries as long as other conditions are met. According to Kentucky law, “any owner whose dog is found to have caused damage to a person, livestock, or other property shall be responsible for that damage.”
In a dog bite lawsuit based on strict liability, there is no need for you to prove that the dog’s owner was negligent. Rather, merely owning a dog that bites — assuming that the dog was not provoked — is sufficient for the dog owner to be liable. To be clear, you will not need to show that the dog has any type of history of violence, or that it had shown any signs of viciousness in the past. As long as you were not responsible for provoking the animal, the dog owner will be liable for harm caused by the dog bite.
Timeline for a Dog Bite Lawsuit in Crestwood
After a dog attack in Crestwood, it is critical to pay attention to the statute of limitations for your case. The statute of limitations is the amount of time that a person has to file a lawsuit and to seek damages. Once the clock on the statute of limitations runs out, the lawsuit claim will be time-barred by Kentucky law.
The Kentucky personal injury statute of limitations is short, and most dog bite injury victims will have only one year from the date of the dog attack to file a lawsuit.
Contact a Crestwood Dog Bite Injury Attorney
If you or your child, or someone else you love, sustained serious injuries in an animal attack, it is critical to seek advice from an experienced Crestwood dog bite lawyer. We know how devastating dog bite cases can be, and we also know how essential it is to be able to obtain the compensation you need to cover extensive medical bills and to help make up for lost wages. An attorney at our firm can speak with you today about your case and your options for filing a claim. Contact Meagher Injury Lawyers by dialing (502) 309-9213 or schedule online for more information.
