Dog bite injuries can have lasting effects. According to the American Society of plastic surgeons, approximately 27, 000 people underwent reconstructive surgery in 2018. A dog bite injury that was not your fault can be devastating because this means you have to think about how much it would cost you to pay for your medical bills and other damages you incurred. The good news is that you can get the compensation that you deserve by hiring a Worcester dog bite lawyer.
According to the Insurance Information Institute, 4.5million people are bitten by dogs in America every year. More than half of dog bite injury victims are bitten by their own dogs at home or they are bitten by dogs familiar to them.
With so many people getting bitten by dogs each year, and the average cost of treating dog bite injuries personal injury firms have begun specializing in dog bite cases. This means you can easily find a dog bite injury lawyer near you in Worcester.
When Can You Sue a Dog Owner for a Dog Bite in Worcester?
What’s the Time Limit for Filing a Dog Bite Lawsuit?
The deadline for filing a dog bite injury claim is three years. This time limit is known as a statute of limitations. If you file a case after the statute of limitations has expired, your case will not be considered. However, you should consult with a Worcester dog bite injury lawyer near you because there are situations where you can be permitted to file a lawsuit even after the statute of limitations has expired.
Strict Liability Law
Massachusetts laws impose strict liability on dog owners whose dogs cause injury to other people. Strict liability means that you can hold the dog owner responsible for your dog bite injuries even if they did not intend to cause you harm. You can hold them liable if:
- The dog bites you or your pet
- The dog bit you or your pet while you were not on the dog owner’s property.
Strict liability applies to dog owners whose dogs injure people or pets that are not on their property. The law also comes into play if the dog injures you in some other way other than through a bite. For instance, if the dog pounces on you, knocking you down and causing you to break your back.
If the dog owner has previously been sued and held liable for dog bite injuries, they may be required to pay double the amount of damages to you.
One Bite Law
This law applies to dog bite injuries sustained while on the dog owner’s property. This rule relies on the fact that the dog owner knew or anticipated the dog’s aggressive behavior. There needs to be evidence that the dog owner knew about the dog’s aggressive behavior. You can retrieve the information by checking to see if they have a prior lawsuit or claim for dog bite injuries from previous victims. However, this isn’t the only way to prove previous aggressiveness and a dog bite injury lawyer in Worcester should be able to advise you further.
Do You Need to Hire a Worcester Dog Bite Lawyer?
You need to search for a Worcester dog bite injury lawyer if you’ve been injured by a dog and you need to be reimbursed for damages caused to you.
A dog bite injury lawyer will help you to build your case as well as to navigate through some of the defenses that a dog owner might use to avoid being held liable. For example, in the one-bite rule, the dog owner might claim that they didn’t know and didn’t anticipate that the dog would behave aggressively. If you can’t show that they had this knowledge, then the dog owner will not be held liable.
Damages a Dog Bite Lawyer in Worcester can Recover for You
Emotional Distress
It’s common for victims of dog bite injuries to suffer from PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) when they come into contact with a dog. You can, therefore, make a claim for emotional damage.
Lost Wages
If your injuries require you to get medical attention and take time off from work to recover. You deserve to get compensation for time missed from work and lost wages.
Property Damage
If the dog attack resulted in property damage such as torn clothes, broken glasses and so on, you can include them in your claim.
