For the most part, dogs fully deserve their reputation as “man’s best friend.” However, dogs are still animals, and it is not unheard of for them to lash out. Dog bites can not only cause physical injuries like deep lacerations, torn muscles, and even broken bones, but they can also develop life-threatening infections, potentially including rabies.
Connecticut state law gives dog bite victims legal options to sue over their injuries and subsequent losses. A skilled personal injury attorney can help you enforce your right to compensation. Connect with our Stamford dog bite lawyers at Berkowitz and Hanna, LLC to get started.
Under Connecticut General Statutes §22-357, both dog owners and dog “keepers” are strictly liable for any injuries their dog causes to another person by attacking them in any way, including but not limited to bites. “Pet keepers” refer to anyone responsible for restraining or otherwise controlling a dog under certain circumstances, such as a pet sitter.
This means that if a dog injures you, you do not need to prove that the owner or keeper acted carelessly or recklessly. Instead, you may pursue compensation from the person legally responsible for the dog at the time of the incident.
Connecticut also recognizes a variation of the “one-bite rule.” Under this principle, individuals may be held civilly liable if they fail to take reasonable precautions with a dog known to be aggressive, based on previous bites or threatening behavior. In some situations, this may allow you to hold a property owner, such as a landlord or business owner, legally accountable for a dog bite that occurs on their premises.
A Stamford dog bite attorney can help you determine who might be liable in your case and work to pursue compensation from them.
There are two scenarios outlined under C.G.S. §22-357 in which strict liability for a bite injury may not apply. If you were provoking the dog at the time of the attack, or if you were trespassing or committing a crime when the injury occurred, the dog’s owner may not be automatically responsible for your damages.
This does not necessarily mean that, if you were bitten under one of those two circumstances, you cannot still file suit over a dog owner’s negligence. However, your compensation could be reduced under Connecticut’s “modified comparative fault” rule, as described in C.G.S. §52-572h. A Stamford dog bite attorney’s help can make all the difference in recovering fairly under these circumstances.
Whether a dog bites out of fear, territorial behavior, or overexcitement, the consequences can be serious and long-lasting. If you or your child were injured in a dog attack, you may have substantial legal grounds to pursue compensation for medical expenses, emotional trauma, and other related losses.
Taking legal action on your own can be difficult, especially in the aftermath of serious injuries. You do not have to face this process alone. Call today to learn what a Stamford dog bite lawyer from Berkowitz and Hanna, LLC can do to help you.
Berkowitz Hanna
1177 Summer St 4th Floor
Stamford CT
06905
