It is important for business professionals to understand the legal implications surrounding dog bites, and the consequences that can follow in the form of a dog-bite lawsuit. The legal term “dog-bite statute” refers to the body of law that governs the legal liability of dog owners when their animals bite and cause injury to someone else.
Under the dog-bite statute, a dog owner can be held financially liable—that is, they can be required to pay the victim compensation—if it can be shown that the injury to the victim was caused by the following two conditions being met:
1) The Injury Was Caused by the Dog’s Owner’s Negligence
The first condition is that the injury to the victim must have been a result of the dog owner’s negligence. What does this mean? Negligence can be defined as a lack of proper caution or attention. To use an example, if a property owner has a “Beware of Dog” sign at the entrance to their property, and a visitor ignores the warning, then the owner will not be held responsible in the event of a dog bite.
2) The Victim Had a Right to Be on the Property
The second condition for a dog-bite statute to be applicable to a particular case is to prove that the victim had a right to be on the property at the time of the injury. Again, to use an example, if the owner of a property has a “No Trespassing” sign, then a person who enters that property without the owner’s permission will not be able to successfully pursue a dog-bite lawsuit against the property owner, as the victim did not have a legal right to be on the property at the time of the injury.
It is important for business professionals to understand the two conditions necessary for a dog-bite statute to apply to a particular case. If you have questions about the legal implications of a dog-bite, it is best to consult with an attorney who specializes in dog-bite law.