It’s a Dog-Eat-Dog World: Dog Bite Litigation

A dog has commonly been referred to as a person’s best friend. They can be loyal companions, and many of us treat them like family members, but not all dogs are friendly. Some dogs are vicious, dangerous, and have the propensity to bite even when unprovoked. If you are unlucky enough to run into a vicious dog, what happens if it bites you? Well, you should go to a doctor and get treated for your injuries of course. After that, you should consider your legal options.

Louisiana has a dog bite law that states, among other things, that “the owner of an animal is answerable for the damage caused by the animal.” Pursuant to the law, if you can show that the dog posed an unreasonable risk of harm, the owner will be presumed at fault because he or she failed to stop a preventable injury. The dog owner will be held strictly liable unless he or she can show that the injury was solely attributable to some third party and was in no way attributable to the owner. Or the owner must show that the injury was due to some unpredictable event. Thus, pursuing a cause of action according to the Louisiana dog bite law is a viable option.

In addition to the dog bite law, an owner may be held liable under a theory of negligence. Under a negligence theory, a plaintiff must prove

• The defendant owner had a duty to conform his or her conduct to a specific standard of care.
• The defendant owner breached that duty.
• That breach of duty by the defendant owner was the cause in fact and legal cause of your injuries.
• You have actual damages based on your injuries.

You have choices. To decide an appropriate course of action, you should consult with an attorney. But what kind of attorney? A personal injury attorney in Louisiana. 

Personal injury attorneys do not just handle car accidents. Many of them handle a variety of cases in which people are injured, including cases in which dogs bite people. People being bitten by dogs is not uncommon. You are not alone, and you deserve to be made whole. The pain you feel is real, and so are your medical bills if you require medical treatment. Additionally, if the traumatic experience caused you emotional damage, which requires therapy, you may also be able to recover for those expenses as well.

Call A Louisiana Personal Injury Attorney Today

If a dog bit you, a friend, or a family member, and you want to know if you can sue for your damages, do not hesitate to contact the Law Offices of Philip B. Adams today! We represent clients throughout the state of Louisiana and assist victims of injury accidents, including dog bites. You may have been bitten, but now it's time to bite back!

To learn more about our firm, you can call us at 318-230-7199. You are welcome to arrange a consultation with an experienced Shreveport personal injury lawyer to discuss your dog bite injury experience.

​