Boston Accident Attorney Serving Hyde Park, Massachusetts and Surrounding Towns

Dog Owner’s Legal Responsibility for Dog Bites

I happen to have the nicest and friendliest dog you could possibly own, and I cannot imagine that he would ever bite or attack anyone. That is not the case for all dogs. Although referred to as “man’s best friend”, dogs can inflict significant damage upon men and women.

Under Massachusetts laws, if you are injured due to being bitten or attacked by a dog, the dog’s owner may be strictly liable for those injuries. Strict liability means that the dog owner is legally responsible no matter the circumstances, even if the dog had no prior history of such behavior. The exceptions to strict liability for dog bites and dog attacks is if you were trespassing on the owner’s property or were teasing or tormenting the dog prior to the attack. Although strict liability does not apply in those situation, the dog owner may still be found liable based upon the totality of the circumstances. If the victim of the dog bite is under the age of seven, the law presumes that the child was not trespassing and did not tease or torment the dog, and the owner will therefore still be strictly liable for whatever injuries are inflicted by the dog’s attack.

Dog owners are not only responsible for injuries caused by dog bites. An attack by a dog can still result in injuries even when the dog does not actually bite the person it is attacking. Someone who is being menaced by a dog may be injured due to falling down while trying to escape from the attack or from being thrown to the ground by the dog. In such instances, the dog owner will still be legally responsible for whatever injuries are caused by the dog’s attack.

Attorney Richard C. Hyman has over thirty years of experience handling personal injury claims, and has successfully obtained compensation for hundreds of clients who have been injured in accidents. To ensure that you have an attorney who has the right experience to get the best results on your injury case, call the personal injury Hyde Park Law Office of Richard C. Hyman today at 617-361-5310 for a free consultation.

Injuries From Dog Attacks

As seen on several news reports, the injuries resulting from dog bites and dog attacks can be quite severe. Sadly, with some dog breeds, such attacks, especially on young children, have even resulted in death. In many cases, the injuries caused by dog attacks include the maiming of hands, arms, legs and face and can leave the victim with permanent scarring, deformities or nerve damage. The treatment of those injuries can also leave you with large medical bills. You have the right to be compensated by the dog owner for your injuries and the incurred medical expenses (along with any lost wages) resulting from of a dog attack.

For more information or to schedule a free initial consultation with a dog bite attorney, please contact the Law Office of Richard C. Hyman today for a free consultation.

The Law Office of Richard C. Hyman handles all personal injury cases on a contingency basis, so you will not pay any attorneys fee unless you recover money on your case.