Dog Attacks
For many of us, dogs are a part of our lives. We walk them, we pet them, some of us even knit them sweaters. With the right owner, dogs can be wonderful companions. But with the wrong owner, dogs can be dangerous animals. Unfortunately, it seems like more and more inexperienced or neglectful owners are getting dogs. Many owners are ignorant of proper care and training of their animals, and this leads to even more problems.
In Minnesota, a person who owns or “harbors” a dog is liable for any injuries the dog causes.
On average, someone in the United States is bitten by a dog once every seventy-five seconds. About a thousand people need emergency care to treat dog bites every day across the country. The most common injuries are cuts and lacerations, abrasions, crushing wounds, punctures and fractured bones. These wounds can often result in disfiguring scars. Tragically, on average 18 people are killed by dogs each year.
In Minnesota, a person who owns or “harbors” a dog is liable for any injuries the dog causes. A person “harbors” a dog if they allow it to stay on their property. This liability for injury is absolute, unless the victim provoked the dog or was not acting peacefully in a place he or she had a right to be. Most people have homeowner’s insurance that provides them coverage in case their dog (or a dog that they allow on their property) hurts someone.
Our attorneys have years of experience handling dog bite cases. If you or a loved one has been injured by a dog, please give us a call at our toll-free number, 1-800-241-9036.