When Dogs Attack: How to Receive Compensation for Dog Bite Incidents in Providence
Being attacked by a dog is a traumatic experience. Or, even worse, watching your child be attacked by a dog. What happened to “man’s best friend”? Why did the owner let this happen? You deserve compensation.
To best prepare yourself for filing a claim, there are a few key factors in every dog bite case that you need to know. In Providence, there is a “strict liability” statute that states that the owner is automatically liable for any damages that were incurred from an attack by their dog. Of course, there is a stipulation in order for this statute to be valid. The attack has to occur outside the owner’s enclosure. What this means is that if you are on the owner’s property, then the owner holds no liability for the damages you may sustain if their dog attacks you. In a case where you or your child were invited onto a property that had a vicious dog of whom you had no knowledge, the owner might not be held liable. Not fair, is it?
For these types of cases, there is a “one bite rule” that enables victims to still file a dog bite incident claim even if the attack took place on the dog owner’s premises. In the “one bite law,” you must prove that the owner knew about the dog’s vicious behavior before the incident. Through witness statements and previous police records, you and your attorney may be able to prove that the owner knew about the dog’s behavior.
However, even with the “one bite rule, you must also prove that this attack was unprovoked – that means no teasing, tormenting, or assaulting the dog before the incident. In this respect, you must gather witness statements that concretely show that you or your child did not interact with the dog in a way that would cause the dog to attack.
With all the complexities that are involved in a dog bite incident claim, it is important to consult with a Providence attorney seasoned in dog bite incident cases.
