A dog attack can cause serious injuries in seconds, even if it involves an animal that initially seems too small to be much of a threat. These attacks can lead to deep puncture wounds, nerve damage, broken bones, and infections, which can cause various other medical issues. Our skilled personal injury attorneys can help you seek compensation after a dog bite.
Unlike states that require an injured person to establish that an owner knew a dog was dangerous, Minnesota imposes a strict liability standard if your case meets the requirements of its dog injury law. An experienced Austin dog bite lawyer from our firm can explain what this standard means for you and help you recover the compensation you deserve.
The state uses a strict liability rule for dog attack injuries. This means the dog’s owner can be responsible for your injury even if this was the dog’s first attack. The law also defines an owner to include someone harboring or keeping the dog, although the dog’s owner remains primarily liable.
This standard can make an important difference in your claim, especially compared to traditional negligence claims. You generally do not need to establish that the owner acted carelessly in allowing an attack. Unlike other states, you do not need to prove that the dog has been aggressive or previously bitten someone. This can make recovering damages more straightforward.
The law also applies more broadly than its common description as a dog bite law suggests. Minnesota Statutes § 347.22 covers a dog that attacks or injures someone, so an actual bite is not necessary. This means that if a dog harmed you by knocking you to the ground, our dog bite attorneys can help you recover damages in an Austin injury claim.
Strict liability may make it sound like you are automatically entitled to compensation, but you must still prove certain elements for your claim to succeed. Our attorneys can help you understand whether these defenses may affect your Austin dog bite case.
First, you are only entitled to damages if the attack occurred in a location where you had a lawful right to be. Trespassers may not have the same right to pursue a dog bite case as someone bitten in public or on their own property.
State law also requires you to have been acting peaceably at the time of the incident. This requirement focuses attention on your conduct immediately before the dog attacked or injured you. This standard can be subjective, but our attorneys can help you understand what it means for your claim.
The statute applies to attacks or injuries that occur without provocation. Courts have treated provocation as one of the limited issues that can prevent recovery under the state’s strict liability dog injury law. If you provoked an animal, causing it to bite you, the owner may not be obligated to pay for your damages. Of course, factual disputes often arise over whether provocation occurred.
If a dog bit you, our attorneys are ready to help you seek justice. Call an Austin dog bite lawyer as soon as possible to review your options and learn about the strength of your claim.
