Douglasville Dog Bite Lawyer

While many dogs are trusted companions, the fact remains that they have the potential to cause serious injuries. Even smaller dogs carry millions of bacteria in their mouths that can cause infections. Larger dogs compound the seriousness with the potential to tear skin and break bones.

Dog bites that occur in Georgia place responsibility on the dog’s owner if the owner knew that the dog was dangerous, even if the dog had no history of prior violence. Douglasville dog bite lawyers work to help potential clients understand their rights and to hold dog owners responsible when their animals attack others. Contact a distinguished personal injury attorney as soon as possible to begin compiling the facts of your case.

Georgia’s Dog Bite Laws

Georgia provides two avenues for people bitten by dogs to hold the owner liable. The first is provided specifically by law in GA Code 51-2-7. Plaintiffs and their Douglasville dog bite lawyer must demonstrate that the dog was dangerous, that the dog’s owner was aware that the dog was dangerous, and despite this, the owner allowed the dog to run free.

Included in the law is a provision that the dangerous nature of the animal may be proven if there is a local law requiring the animal to be on a leash. This means of pursuing the case does not require that the dog have a history of violence, it merely needs to be described as a vicious animal and this does not require a prior bite. Georgia’s dog bite statute is somewhat complex, but skilled attorneys help victims to better understand the details and to identify the best course of action to pursue a civil claim.

Establishing Negligence

If the statute does not apply, a plaintiff and a Douglasville dog bite lawyer may pursue the claim under the traditional definition of negligence. The traditional definition of negligence means that the dog’s owner allowed the dog to attack the victim due to carelessness. However, Georgia’s courts have ruled that a plaintiff must prove that the dog owner knew, or had a reason to know that the dog may cause harm. Douglasville dog bite laws are somewhat complex, but experienced dog bite attorneys help individuals to better understand how the laws apply to their case and to choose the route that provides the best chance of success.

Statute of Limitations in Dog Bite Cases

Plaintiffs should also know that there is a limited time to file a dog bite case. All cases alleging personal injury must be started in court within two years of the incident. Known as the statute of limitations, any case that does not meet this requirement will be quickly dismissed in court and the plaintiff will be left with no recourse.

Georgia’s rules concerning plaintiffs’ rights after a dog bite are complex. In some situations, the dog’s past history of biting people is relevant. In others, the dog may be classified as dangerous despite no history of attacking people. Douglasville dog bite lawyers help victims to sort through Georgia’s laws to select the best course of action to hold the dog’s owner responsible. Some situations allow plaintiffs to sue not just the dog’s owner, but the property owner as well if the landlord knew that a dangerous animal was being kept on the land. Dog bite injuries can be quite serious and there is a limited time to file a claim.