Dog Bites Are Gruesome, Painful, and Traumatizing
Injuries from dog bites are, unfortunately, very common. Although a dog bite may sound trivial, it can result in serious impairment, injury, or death. In many states, a dog owner can only be held liable for the injuries their dog causes if they were negligent in some way. Arizona has laws that impose strict penalties and conduct on a dog owner. These laws are very beneficial to victims. You need an experienced attorney who knows how to find the potential avenues of recovery and who understands the intricacies of dog bite law and liability. Members of Goodnow|McKay are experienced with these claims and are here to help. We are committed to helping our clients recover fair compensation. We are often able to negotiate reasonable settlements with the responsible insurance companies, but we are willing to fight for our clients through trial if necessary.
Lawyers You Can Trust.
Proving Liability in a Dog Bite Case
Traditional accidents are handled under a theory of general negligence–meaning a person in a certain situation did something wrong and that improper action hurt another person. Dog bites are different–they are handled by specific statutes that impose strict standards of conduct on a dog owner. One statute governs conducts of dogs out in public and not properly controlled or leashed. Another statute specifically addresses bites. If the injury victim was in a public place or lawfully in a private place when bitten then the dog owner is liable for damages. Both impose virtual strict liability for a dog’s owner or caretaker for any damages inflicted by the dog. That means it does not usually matter why it happens, it just matters that the bite or attack occurred. The only way a person can lose an action in a strict-liability dog bite case is if they were a trespasser or did something to antagonize a dog to cause the attack.
How Are You Paid in A Dog Bite Case?
Injury victims are usually compensated for their injuries by homeowner’s or renter’s insurance. However, many policies have exemptions for dog attacks. Under Arizona law, the dog owner does not have to disclose the insurance information with the amount of coverage and the potential exemptions until after a lawsuit is filed.
Dog Bite Case Value
Every injury case is valued differently, but, damages are calculated based on man factors, including,:
- Cost of incurred medical care and expenses
- Estimated value of future medical care and expenses
- Value of emotional trauma
- Value of physical impairment
- Value of scarring and disfigurement
- Lost wages
- Estimated value of future lost wages
