You still can’t believe that it happened to you. You are now one of the more than 4.5 million Americans who suffer a dog bite injury each year. If you suffer that dog bite in Wisconsin and need medical attention, then you need to know something that you never needed to know before. You need to know what your legal rights are, who could be legally responsible for paying your damages, and how to take action before the statute of limitations expires. Discover exactly what you need to know here, including why you need to hire a Green Bay Dog Bite Lawyer.
Where Do Dog Bites Commonly Occur?
Approximately 4.5 million people in the United States suffer dog bite injuries every year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This statistic may surprise you and leave you with questions. Specifically, you may be wondering where these accidents commonly happen and who is legally responsible for paying the dog bite victim’s damages. Whether or not you have been hurt, it is important to know this information in case you are hurt by a dog in the future.
A dog bite can happen anywhere. Dog bite injuries that are not caused by your own pet often occur in or at…
- Businesses, stores, or vets’ offices. A dog owner may be liable for any injury caused by a dog in an office, store, vets’ office, dog grooming facility, or other business.
- Parks. Dogs may have the right to be in certain Wisconsin parks, but owners are still liable for any injuries caused by their animals in these parks.
- Sidewalks. Dog owners have a right to walk their dogs on public sidewalks. However, they are responsible for any injuries that their dogs cause when they are on the sidewalks or when their dogs escape from their own yards.
- Other people’s homes. You may know that your friend or relative has a dog when you enter the house or apartment, but you never know when the animal may become aggressive and cause a dog bite injury.
If you have been hurt anywhere, then you should get immediate medical attention and you should consider how you are going to pay for the damages that you’ve suffered.
Who Pays for the Damages From a Dog Bite Injury?
If you are bitten by a dog and you fail to take action, then you will be responsible for paying your own damages. However, you have the right to take action and to have the dog owner or other liable party pay for the injuries caused by the dog.
Wisconsin has a strict liability dog bite statute. Therefore, in most cases, the dog’s owner will be responsible for paying your damages after a dog bite incident. Additionally, in limited cases it may be possible to hold the person who was in control of the dog liable for your injuries too.
The first step in your legal recovery from a dog bite injury is to understand your rights. We encourage you to read more about your rights by browsing this website or reading a FREE copy of our dog bite brochure.
Signs You May Have an Infection From a Dog Bite
Some of the signs that an infection might be setting in after a dog bite are:
- Inflammation or swelling. The most common sign of an infection setting in from a dog bite is inflammation. This usually begins to occur from eight to 24 hours after the victim has been bitten by the dog.
- Warm skin. An infection can cause the skin around the puncture wound to become warm to the touch.
- Redness. The skin around the bite may become red as the infection develops. There may also be red streaks running up the arm or leg from the wound toward the center of the body.
- Discharge. The victim may notice the wound oozing pus or a whitish discharge. The discharge is caused by an infection.
- Fever. As the body tries to fight off infection, body temperature will rise. This will be noticed as the victim will develop a fever.
Dog bite infections can develop quickly. If left untreated, they can cause serious illness and even death.
You still can’t believe that it happened to you. You are now one of the more than 4.5 million Americans who suffer a dog bite injury each year. If you suffer that dog bite in Wisconsin and need medical attention, then you need to know something that you never needed to know before. You need to know what your legal rights are, who could be legally responsible for paying your damages, and how to take action before the statute of limitations expires. Contact our dog bite lawyer in Green Bay today to learn more about protecting your rights and what you may be entitled to from a canine attack.
Wisconsin is a Strict Liability Dog Bite Law State
Wisconsin law is clear as to who is liable for dog bite injuries. According to Wisconsin Statutes section 174.02(1), the owner of the dog is responsible for any damage done by his or her dog to a person, to a domesticated animal, or to property. You, as the dog bite victim, should not have to bear the expense of your injury. You should not have to pay for your medical expenses, lost income, vet bills, or property damage.
Why You Need to Hire a Green Bay Dog Bite Attorney After an Incident
Could Anyone Else Be Responsible for Paying Your Damages?
While dog owners are typically liable for the injuries caused by their pets, it is possible that other people may also be liable for your injuries. Here are a few examples:
- A dog sitter, dog walker, kennel, or the person or agency in control of the dog. Under certain conditions, the person who is keeping or caring for a dog may be held partially or wholly liable for the dog’s actions.
- The dog owner’s landlord. If a landlord is aware that there is a dangerous or aggressive dog living on his property, and he does not take action to protect others from the dog, he may share liability if the dog causes injury. Additionally, a Wisconsin landlord may be responsible for a dog bite accident injury if the landlord is also the owner of the dog.
- The dog owner’s parents. A parent may be held responsible for any dog bite injuries caused by a dog belonging to a child under age 18.
- The owner of the property where the dog bite occurred. Under some circumstances, the owner of the property where the dog bite occurred may be considered to share responsibility for the Wisconsin dog attack. For example, a property owner may be found liable if he knew that there was a dangerous dog on the property and did not take precautions to prevent the dog from causing an injury.
- The dog bite victim. It is possible for a Wisconsin dog bite victim can be responsible for his own injuries. The dog bite victim could be found responsible for a dog attack if he was harming the dog at the time of the bite, for example.
7 Preventable Factors That Contribute to Dog Bite Fatalities
The Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association (JAVMA) published a comprehensive multifactorial study of dog bite-related fatalities. The study’s authors were able to identify seven preventable factors that are significant and important for people to know about.
According to the study, the following factors may make dog bite deaths more likely:
Factors That Make Dog Bite Deaths More Likely | % Increase |
---|---|
There is no able-bodied adult present to intervene during the dog attack | 87% |
The victim is not part of the dog’s family | 85% |
The dog was not neutered or spayed | 84% |
Victim had a compromised ability to interact with the dog due to age or physical disability | 77% |
The dogs were kept as resident dogs or guard dogs, rather than as family pets | 76% |
The owner had previously mismanaged the dog | 37% |
The owner abused or neglected the dog | 21% |
Our Dog Bite Lawyer in Green Bay Will Protect Your Rights if Your Loved One Died From a Canine Attack
A dog owner is financially responsible if his dog injures or kills a person. The administrator of your loved one’s estate has the right to bring a wrongful death action against the owner of the dog that killed your loved one.
It is not necessary to prove negligence in a dog bite wrongful death action as it is in other types of wrongful death cases. Instead, the administrator of your loved one’s estate will need to prove who owned the dog that killed your loved one and should be ready to defend against any potential claim that your loved one contributed to the attack.
If the claim is successful, then the estate will be able to recover compensation for things such as medical bills incurred prior to death, funeral costs, lost income, and other damages.
While this is all well and good, trying to prove these things without the assistance of a dog bite attorney can be quit difficult. The best way to protect your rights after a canine attack is to hire a skilled and experienced Green Bay dog bite lawyer.
Know What You’re Facing If You’ve Suffered A Dog Bite in Green Bay
If you have been hurt or your loved one has been killed, then you probably have questions. How could this have happened? What can you do now to get the medical care that you need and the financial recovery that you deserve? Every dog attack is unique.
While dog bite laws in Green Bay usually holds the owner responsible for injuries caused by a dog, there are exceptions and there may be more than one party at fault. If you have been bitten by a dog anywhere in Eastern Wisconsin, we suggest you speak with our experienced dog bite lawyer in Green Bay about your injury.
Contact Our Green Bay Dog Bite Lawyer for a Free Consult
At Hupy and Abraham, we understand the significant injury you’ve suffered and the hard issues ahead of you. We are here to help you through this difficult time. Since 1969, we have represented personal injury victims—including those hurt by dogs. With over 170 years of combined experience, our large, skilled legal team has the knowledge and resources that you need to be successful with your case. Contacting our experienced Green Bay dog bite attorney is crucial to the success of your case.
Schedule a free consultation over the phone or at our Wisconsin office in Green Bay or by calling 1-800-800-5678 or start a live chat with us now.