Dog owners are responsible for taking care of their dogs and keeping them under control at all times. When owners fail to control their pets and that pet causes an injury, they can be held responsible for ensuing injuries and losses.
Anyone who has experienced a dog bite knows how serious these injuries can be. Fortunately, Manchester and Connecticut law often favors the victim in such cases.
If you suffered physical injuries from a dog attack, contact a Manchester dog bite lawyer as soon as possible. Depending on the facts of your case, you may be entitled to pursue significant compensation from the owner of the animal, and a qualified personal injury attorney may be able to help you understand the specifics regarding how the law applies to your case. En Español.
When to Pursue Compensation
One of the most important aspects of any dog bite case in Manchester is learning whether or not a person’s claim merits the pursuit of compensation. In order to successfully recover civil damages, a plaintiff—or the lawyer representing them—first must be able to show that they have experienced significant physical harm as a result of the dog bite injury. Even then, though, there are some situations in which the person may be unable to pursue damages.
In order for a dog bite case to be viable in court, the following elements must all be true:
- The defendant was the owner or controller of the dog
- The injured person was not trespassing on private property
- The injured person did not tease or aggravate the dog unreasonably
There are some additional exceptions set forth in Connecticut General Statutes §22-357. For example, if the victim is a child seven years old or younger, they are presumed to be innocent of trespassing or incitement. The defense would have to prove that they trespassed or teased the dog in order to have the case thrown out.
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What Can Be Compensated?
Once an injured person has met with a skilled Manchester dog bite attorney, they should begin documenting the damages for which they would like to seek compensation. There are two main forms of damages available in dog bite cases: economic damages and non-economic damages.
Economic Damages
Economic damages include everything that is directly related to a bite victim’s finances. Examples of this kind of damage include lost wages, medical bills, and any other loss that has an objective price attached to it.
Non-Economic Damages
Non-economic damages are more subjective harms such as pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment in life, loss of consortium with a spouse, and others. For these damages, it may be necessary to enlist the aid of an expert witness who can attest to fair values.
Speak with a Skilled Manchester Dog Bite Attorney Today
After seeking medical care, the most important thing that an injured person can do is to speak to a Manchester dog bite lawyer as soon as possible. When an attorney is present early in your case, you may stand a better chance of collecting and preserving evidence, building a thorough list of damages, gathering expert witness testimony, and negotiating with opposing lawyers.
If you are injured due to the neglect of a dog owner, you should not have to pay for your hospital bills, and you should be compensated for the various losses you and your family may endure. Call today to begin working on your case.
