Has Your Child Been Bitten By A Dog? Here Are The Answers To 3 Common Legal Questions

Dog bite cases can be particularly heartbreaking, especially when the victim is a child. If your child is the victim of a dog bite and you're pursuing legal recourse, you probably have a few questions as to how the case will play out. Below are answers to three common questions that pertain to dog bite cases involving children.

Question #1: Is It Possible That Your Child Can Be Held Liable for Provoking the Dog?

In short, yes. Of course, this will depend on a number of factors and your lawyer can help you to determine whether this will be the case.

If your child is of a reasonable age and understands the repercussions for their actions, they may be held liable for the bite. Whether this will bar your child from recovering compensation will depend on the circumstances as well as whether your state practices contributory negligence or comparative negligence. There are cases, however, that don't involve provocation and this means the owner can be held totally liable for the attack and their negligence.

Question #2: What Kinds of Damages Can Be Recovered?

Damages awarded typically include medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and even property damage.

When your child is injured, such as in the case of a dog bite, you may be required to miss significant amounts of work to take care of them. These lost wages can add up quickly, and in certain states, can be recovered during your child's personal injury case. Other common damages that can be recovered are that of past, present, and future medical treatments, and even compensation for the pain and suffering your child went through due to the negligence of the dog's owner.

Question #3: What Can You Do If You Believe the Dog Will Attack Again?

When a dog bite is reported to the police--which should happen in every instance--this usually triggers an animal control investigation.

Depending on your state's laws, there are a number of things that can occur. The dog can be quarantined, ordered to be euthanized, or the owner can be let off with a warning. Your attorney can help you to sort through your state's dangerous dog laws and can help you to set a separate hearing and trial into motion. This is usually kept separate from the personal injury case.

If your child's been attacked by a dog, you probably have a number of questions relating to the injury case you'd like to pursue. For further answers to your questions, contact a personal injury lawyer today.