Columbus Dog Bite Lawyer
Despite the fact that many people keep dogs as pets, dogs of any size have the potential to seriously injury people that they bite. With sharp teeth that are capable of puncturing skin, tearing tendons, or even breaking bones, dog bites can be very serious injuries.
While some states have passed statutes known as “one bite rules” that allow owners to escape liability in first instance attacks, Georgia allows plaintiffs to recover damages from dog owners, regardless of the dog’s history.
Columbus dog bite lawyers represent individuals who have been bitten by other people’s dogs, helping them to better understand their rights and to recover damages for their injuries. Contact a compassionate injury attorney for help pursuing damages.
Dog Bite Laws in Georgia
There are two ways that an injured person can collect damages from a dog owner. The first is statutory and is defined under OCGA 51-2-7. In short, plaintiffs must demonstrate that the dog was vicious, that the owner knew that the dog was vicious, and despite this, allowed the dog to run free.
As a means to demonstrate that the dog was vicious, a plaintiff may point to a city or county ordinance that required the animal to be on a leash.
If a plaintiff pursues a claim under the ordinance category, the requirement that the owner knows of the dog’s vicious behavior is eliminated.
Essentially, a free running dog that causes injury makes the dog’s owner liable. Georgia’s dog bite law is rather complicated, but skilled Columbus dog bite attorneys help victims to better understand the details and to identify the best course of action to pursue a civil claim.
Proving Negligence
The second theory of dog bite cases involves the common law theory of negligence. This requires that the plaintiff demonstrate that the owner has a reason to know of the dog’s tendency to cause harm.
“…a plaintiff must show that the owner or keeper has “reason to know of [the dog’s] propensity to do harm of the type which it inflicts.” Steagold v. Eason, GA: Supreme Court (2017) citing Torrance v. Brennan, 209 Ga. App. 65, 67 (2) (1993).
Statute of Limitations for a Dog Bite Claim
One more aspect to consider is the concept of a statute of limitations. The statute of limitations can be seen as a time limit for a plaintiff to come forward. GA Code 9-3-33 states that a complaint alleging personal injury must be filed within two years of the accident, and this includes dog bites.
While this can seem like a long time, medical treatment and negotiations with insurance companies can often stretch for months or even years.
Talk to a Columbus Dog Bite Attorney Today
If you have been injured as a result of being attacked by another person’s dog, you may have the right to seek compensation. In certain situations, you can ask not just for compensation for medical treatment, but also for any pain and suffering that resulted from the injury.
Just because the dog has no history of being violent does not mean that the owner is not responsible. Under Georgia law, all victims of dog bites whose owners knew of the dog’s propensity for violence, have the right to seek damages.
Columbus dog bite attorneys help the people injured in these attacks to better understand their rights under the law and to seek the fair compensation that they deserve. There is a strict time limit to file these claims so do not delay; contact today.
