Why You Should Get A Dog Bite Attorney

If you were attacked by a domestic animal it is shocking, frightening, and painful. Depending on how bad you are bitten you may have long-lasting physical damages that require intensive medical treatment and therapies. Additionally, these incidents are also emotionally straining. You should not be on the hook to pay for the treatment and care you need to recover from your injuries. In Wisconsin, statute 174.02 explains that injuries a dog inflicts on other domesticated animals, people, or to the property the responsibility falls on the owner. The dog’s owner holds full liability for any damages as a result of the bite.

Recent changes to the statute indicate that the bite must break the skin and cause permanent physical disfigurement, a change that has made it more challenging for victims to obtain compensation after an attack. Previously, the threshold for a victim to pursue compensation was much lower not requiring the injury to be as severe. The changes to the law and the details surrounding your attack make it wise to contact a Wisconsin dog bite attorney to examine your case.

Wisconsin Dog Bite Laws

If a dog bites a person the owner may be given a fine in the range of $50 to $2,500. If the dog has a history of aggression and has bitten twice the fines increase. After a second bite, the minimum fine is $200 while the maximum fine is $5,000.

A person who is bitten has the right under the law to use civil action to have a court order that the dog is put down. This is an extreme action, but it has happened. For this option to be considered, the dog must have caused significant injuries on two different occasions and have done so off of the owner’s property. It must be proved that there was no reason for the attack. For example, if a person provokes a dog and it bites them this is not considered an attack without reason. Additionally, the owner must be shown to have known that the dog had already attacked a person before the second attack took place. Finding the owner can sometimes be tricky. The law only recognizes individuals who have some custody, care, or control over the dog as an owner.

Finding A Dog Bite Attorney

The Beloit dog bite attorneys at the Alexander J. Smith Law Offices are knowledgeable about the law and have the experience with these types of cases that you want on your side. Dogs can be unpredictable and a dog that is not properly socialized can be dangerous. Because dogs are very common in the country, the public is vulnerable to attacks. The American Veterinary Medical Association reports that approximately 39% of all American households have dogs as pets.

The Janesville serious injury lawyers at Alexander J. Smith Law Offices will fight on your behalf so that you can obtain compensation for the complex damages that dog bite attacks impose. When you sustained injuries you need a strong personal injury claim to ensure you are successful with your suit. Call us today to set up a free consultation at (608) 237-7035 for residents of Wisconsin or (815) 2439686 for residents of Illinois.