Dogs make great pets and most are very nice to people. However, there are times when dogs may not be so nice and they attack humans. The resulting injuries can be very serious, even if they don’t look that way at first. What may be a simple puncture wound could turn into an injury with a major infection.
If you or a loved one has been attacked by a dog, you have rights. One of those rights is the ability to hold the responsible party accountable. The responsible party could be the dog owner and/or the dog’s handler. Whoever is responsible, your Minneapolis personal injury lawyer will work hard to hold accountable.
Using The Law to Benefit Your Case
Minnesota law is rather liberal in that it doesn’t necessarily favor the dog bite victim, but your dog bite attorney can build your case in a way in which it coincides with the law. The law says:
If a dog attacks a person or injures them without provocation, the owner of the dog is liable for the damages to the person and they are liable for the full amount of the injury sustained in the attack. The “owner” is defined as the person who is harboring or keeping the dog, but the owner is primarily liable.
What this means is that if you were not trespassing or provoking the dog in any way, the dog owner’s homeowner’s or rental insurance is going to pay the liability. A “dog bite” is defined as an actual dog injury or any tripping or chasing that may cause injury to a person. Dog attacks have been known to cause the following:
- Disfigurement
- Broken bones
- Torn muscles
- Deep lacerations
- Infections
- Permanent disability
- Death
Holding Negligent Owners Accountable
Your Minneapolis personal injury lawyer will work very hard for you in order to hold negligent dog owners accountable for the actions of the animal. The only exception to such cases is when the dog was provoked, such as throwing things at the dog or hitting it. Nonetheless, such provocation can be difficult to prove unless witnesses are present.
Nonetheless, your attorney will build a claim for you that shows what occurred, the resulting injuries, and the treatment needed for those injuries. Including all of the necessary details will help secure a settlement or jury award that is meaningful enough to pay all injury-related expenses.
Contact A Minneapolis Personal Injury Attorney
Animal attacks can be very serious, even if they don’t look that way at first. That is because infections can result and these infections can cause serious injury. If you or a loved one has been injured due to a dog bite, the right to pursue compensation from the dog owner or other individual responsible for the attack exists. With the help of an experienced dog bite attorney, you can hold the responsible party accountable. To learn more, call the Olson Law Firm at 612-816-2322 to schedule a free consultation.
