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Dog bite laws in the United States vary from state to state. However, in most states, a dog owner is liable for injuries caused by his or her dog to a person who was on the property of the owner at the time of the attack. Of course, there are exceptions and to fully understand your options you should consult a personal injury lawyer Rockford Illinois. Call us today for a consultation at 312-622-2900.
If someone was trespassing or provoking a dog, then they may not be able to collect damages from the dog owner. If this sounds complicated, it’s because it is! If you are a dog owner, you have options and Carlson Bier Associates will help you explore those options.
The dog was provoked
If there was a dog bite attack, your best defense may be to claim the dog was provoked. If the victim of the attack provoked the dog, especially if they did so intentionally, the owner may be able to use this as a legal defense against a lawsuit and may not be held liable.
For example, when a victim was trespassing on private property without permission, was teasing or otherwise abusing the dog, or did something to threaten the property owner, the owner then may not be liable for the injuries suffered. To fully understand your options and the legal arguments, contact our personal injury lawyer Rockford Illinois today.
It’s important to note that there are some situations in which the victim may be found to have been trespassing, or at least in a situation where they were not expressly invited onto the property. If a dog owner can prove that the victim was trespassing on their property, they might not be liable for any injury caused by their dog. In addition, if you were trying to steal something from someone else’s home or car, you may be responsible for your injuries if your alleged theft resulted in an attack by their pet.
Dog owners have legal options
If you are a dog owner who has been sued for an attack, you do have legal options and our personal injury lawyer Rockford Illinois is here to help. The first thing to consider is whether the person or people who were injured were trespassing at the time of the injury. In many cases, they will be found to have been trespassing and therefore liable for their own injuries.
Another defense that may be available to you is provocation of your dog by others before or during its attack on another human being. In this case you would not be liable for any damages caused by this incident because it would fall under public policy considerations due to provocation by others.
As a dog owner, you should be aware of the risk of injury that comes with owning a dog. When it comes to dogs and their behavior, there is always an element of risk. The law recognizes this fact by placing responsibility on owners to take reasonable precautions to protect others from their pets’ dangerous tendencies. If you know that your dog has aggressive tendencies or a history of biting people, but still allow him off-leash in public places where he may come into contact with others, then you have assumed the risk associated with having such a dog.
You need to make sure you take the proper precautions to ensure the safety of those around you when you have a dog.
Contact our personal injury lawyer Rockford Illinois to better understand your legal options
As you can see, there are defenses available to dog owners. This doesn’t mean that dog owners should be reckless or negligent when it comes to their animals. It just means that if they do make a mistake, they may not be responsible. Dog bites are very serious incidents and there are many reasons why dogs might bite someone unexpectedly. Take the proper precautions with your pet and contact Carlson Bier Associates for legal help. Our personal injury lawyer Rockford Illinois is here to help.
