Our Savannah Premises Liability Lawyers Can Help
Georgia is not a “strict liability” state when it comes to dog bite and animal attack rules. If you were bitten by another person’s dog, you may have a case and reason to sue for compensation. To find out if you do or not, call (912) 335-4977 to schedule a free consultation with Karsman, McKenzie & Hart and our Savannah dog bite attorneys.
What You Need to Prove in a Dog Bite Claim
The negligence law of Georgia means a dog bite victim has to prove that the dog owner was negligent in their handling of their animal at the time of the attack. Simply proving you were attacked might not be enough to win your case, especially if the dog has a reputation of being well-behaved or the owner claims you were acting out of line.
In your claim, you will need to be able to prove:
- Viciousness: A dog owner must have reason to believe their pet is vicious, dangerous, or aggressive. If the dog has never bitten anyone before, they may be excused from the majority of the liability the first time an attack occurs.
- Carelessness: Reasonable steps must be taken by a dog owner to ensure the animal does not bite anyone. If the dog was growling at you as you approached and the owner ignored it, this could be carelessness. If the dog was not on a leash in an area that had a leash law in place, this is negligence.
- Innocence: A person who was provoking or harming a dog before it bites is usually seen as directly responsible for their own injuries. The same can be said of a criminal that is unlawfully trespassing at the time of an attack.
It should be noted that Georgia’s negligence laws apply to any sort of animal attack and to most domesticated animals, not just dogs. For example, if someone’s cat pounced on you while you were at the top of a set of stairs, causing you to tumble backwards, you could sue for the same reasons a dog bite victim would sue.
Compensation for Traumatization
A person should be compensated for medical bills and lost wages, at the least, after being harmed due to someone else’s negligence. Following a dog bite or attack, the victim should also be offered monetary rewards for their emotional and mental anguish. A vicious dog on the attack is frightening, and dog bite victims often report feeling uncontrollably afraid of any sort of canine, even the friendliest, smallest hounds, after a dog bite incident. Nominal damages can be used to provide additional damages in a dog bite case in hopes of helping the plaintiff find peace of mind.
Multimillion Dollar Victories for Our Clients
At our Savannah personal injury law firm, we can proudly claim that we have won millions of dollars for our clients in all manners of personal injury and premises liability cases, including verdicts that ranged into the millions. After you or a loved one have been bitten by a dog, you can turn to us for the moral support and legal advocacy you deserve. Call us at 912.335.4977 for more information, or to ask for your FREE initial consultation.
